Matt Rhule isn’t pretending to be Nebraska’s fashion director.
When the Huskers unveiled their black alternate uniforms for the Oct. 31 game against Washington on Saturday morning, Rhule made it clear the uniform rollout isn’t really his lane. He was on the field scrimmaging when the news hit, and by his account, everyone outside the program was seeing the look before the people inside it.
“I think that hit while we were on the field so they're probably seeing them now for the first time,” Rhule said. “The releases and the release dates, and what they film and all that, none of that's really me - I don't get too involved in the uniforms ... You see the way I dress, I dress the same way every day.”
Still, Rhule sees why Nebraska keeps leaning into the Blackout concept. Last year’s version against USC left an impression on the people he cares about most: the players, recruits and the crowd.
“Kids who came to that game, as I've gone back and recruited them, they talk about the energy and the passion that was in the crowd that night.”
He also pointed to the time of year. Nebraska fans, he said, usually have a black jacket ready once November gets close, which makes the idea fit naturally.
“And I thought our fans rallied around it last year. Like all things, some people might like it, some don't.
But certainly the recruits and the players like it. And it looked like last year a lot of people liked it.”
Rhule’s own verdict on the uniforms was simple enough.
“They looked nice. Beyond that, ask someone else.”
“I don't know much style-wise. So if the guys like it, great.”
He also wasn’t ready to say whether Nebraska-Washington will land under the lights the way last year’s USC Blackout did.
“But it times well with Halloween. And I think the thought process here is just to do one alternate jersey uniform a year being black - having a Blackout.
Then having our iconic uniforms - red and white, white and red - every other game. We're going to wear black cleats.
We're not going to wear white cleats, we're not going to wear red cleats.
“We're going to just wear the same thing every game and let the football speak for itself.”
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