Huskers coach Rhule talks LSU transfer Mac Markway, sideline switch, hype for season

We're just two days away from the start of another Nebraska football season, one of the most anticipated campaigns in several years.

Huskers head coach Matt Rhule met with the media again on Thursday and touched on a variety of topics, including switching sidelines, the plan at kicker and importance of special teams, how LSU transfer Mac Markway landed at Nebraska and the hype leading into the season.

Here are some five takeaways from Rhule's availability on Thursday:

Advantages of switching sidelines

The Huskers are moving from the east to the west sideline on game-day this year, and the head coach said he "absolutely" sees some benefits of the move.

"The teams that communicate best on game-day are gonna win and so our students are amazing," Rhule said. "Our Boneyard Bash, we had thousands of people here, so I think having the students and having the band makes that more of a hostile — we’re a very kind group, it’s Nebraska nice, which is awesome, but we can cheer after the game. For like two hours, three hours, four hours, let’s make it hard on them. We go places sometimes and it’s hard, right, it’s hard to communicate on the bench, that’ll be hard, the sun shines on that side into your eyes a little bit, and then the chains.”

The coach added, “The students have an opportunity to impact the game and our band, who’s fantastic, has an opportunity to impact the game, so that’s great. And our crowd on third down impacts the game.”

Related: Rhule roundup, Week 1: Not easing Raiola in or overlooking UTEP

How Markway ended up at Nebraska

Markway, who played in 12 games as a true freshman tight end at LSU last season, showed up and enrolled at Nebraska on Monday.

Rhule said Markway, who was a four-star recruit out of high school, according to 247Sports, never entered the transfer portal and didn't have any contact with the Huskers' staff, so he was shocked.

"It was really a surprise to be quite honest with you and a great surprise. He’s a heck of a player," Rhule said.

The coach added that the staff will try to get Markway acclimated and ready to play — he is eligible this season — but noted that he hasn't been around during camp and the tight end room is already strong, indicating he may not see a ton of action in 2024.

Rhule said he didn't know of any specific connection that brought Markway to the Huskers but reiterated, “It’s an unbelievable surprise."

The importance of special teams

Rhule said the Huskers have a goal to steal a possession on special teams each game and not give any away, something UTEP will test them on.

The head coach added that he doesn't want to just kick every ball into the endzone but wants it to be an advantage for the Huskers.

“I wanna put the ball to the 2 (yard line) with great hang-time and want us to cover. I want us to play football, we’re not here to not play football,” he said.

As for who will handle the kicking for the Huskers, that may still be a bit in flux. Rhule said redshirt freshman John Hohl may handle farther kicks while sophomore Tristan Alvano takes care of shorter opportunities, but special teams coordinator Ed Foley is getting the final say. Hohl, however, is expected to handle kickoffs.

Hype for 2024 season?

Rhule was asked if he had any sense of how excited the fanbase is for the upcoming season and said he doesn't pay too close of attention to that. However, he added:

“I hope people are excited and I hope we earned their excitement. I hope they’re excited but after the game I hope they’re proud. I hope they’re proud not just the result, I hope we play well and they’re proud of the progress and they’re proud of seeing a team that’s better than the team they saw last year.”

Emotions leading up to Game No. 1

Rhule said he still gets nervous before the game but is mostly excited for his players.

“This is a good football team. Now, we have to make the step of playing like a good football team but we are a good football team,” he said.

He added that the Huskers are spoiled by their fanbase and that creates more excitement leading up to the home games, saying, “there’s nothing like game-day here.”

Kickoff on Saturday vs. UTEP is set for 2:30 p.m.

Related: Dylan Raiola's message to Huskers fans: 'Buckle up, it's gonna be a fun ride'