Husker_Power
Starter
BY STEVE TAKABA
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINK
LINCOLN — It's 90-something degrees and sticky to boot at Nebraska football practice. You could fire up a frying pan on the FieldTurf.
Yet there's new tight ends coach Joe Rudolph, decked out in a long-sleeve shirt under a red pullover with black sweat pants. Perspiration drips from him as he volunteers to line up on defense while the Huskers practice long snaps.
"If they complain about the heat, I always have a comeback," he said.
The ruthless weather is one thing. The Huskers certainly aren't griping about Rudolph.
He joined Bill Callahan's staff in February when former offensive coordinator Jay Norvell left for UCLA. Shawn Watson, NU's tight ends coach last season, was promoted to offensive coordinator, and Rudolph took Watson's spot.
Callahan said bringing in Rudolph was a no-brainer. While at Wisconsin from 1992 through 1994, Rudolph earned All-Big Ten honors as an offensive lineman when Callahan was the offensive line coach. Rudolph also spent two seasons in the NFL.
Callahan said he wanted to hire Rudolph as a graduate assistant three years ago, but Rudolph took a GA position at Ohio State, where he spent the past three seasons. Now the 34-year-old Rudolph is in Lincoln, and his old mentor is elated.
"I always thought Joe possessed great passion for the game," Callahan said. "He's highly intelligent, he's got a great demeanor and a super personality with people. He's got a lot to give, so I thought he would be dynamic not just from a coaching perspective but from a recruiting aspect as well."
Callahan wasn't exaggerating about the intelligence part.
Rudolph received his bachelor's degree in biology and his master's in business administration from Carnegie Mellon. He'll even use words like "physiology" in a football conversation.
Rudolph said he considered going into the medical field but just couldn't get away from the field he's truly fond of.
"Hands down, there was nothing comparable to me than to work with young people and coach them in the great game I love," he said. "And at the same time, help them develop as young men and develop into great sons, great husbands and great fathers."
And with some work, great tight ends, too.
Nebraska didn't get much receiving production from the position last season, but Rudolph says he's got the personnel to change that.
He said he loves returning regular J.B. Phillips' smarts, toughness and dependability. As for Sean Hill and Josh Mueller, "the sky's the limit in their abilities," the coach said.
Rudolph also said he was impressed with Hunter Teafatiller's prowess in the passing game and didn't leave out praise for freshmen Mike McNeill, Ryan Hill and Dreu Young.
"We talked about earning the respect and the trust of the quarterback through spring ball and now through fall camp," Rudolph said. "It was our No. 1 goal, and hopefully in doing that, we'll be utilized more."
Rudolph is the Huskers' third tight ends coach in three seasons, following Scott Downing and Watson. Phillips said that isn't a problem. Watch the coach interact with his players, and it's easy to see why.
After Monday's practice, Rudolph showed off his throwing arm by heaving a ball from the goal line to near midfield. Soon after, the guys in the group took turns punting the ball. Shank after shank, each got laughed at.
"He knows his stuff," Phillips said. "He's a hard worker, he pushes us and expects a lot out of us. He's come in and we've really fit in with him pretty well."
After spending the past three seasons at Ohio State, Rudolph said that the Huskers aren't far off from a talent standpoint.
Not too bad, considering that the Buckeyes played for the national championship last season and had the Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Troy Smith. Ohio State also had eight players taken in the NFL draft, including two in the first round.
"Nebraska is extremely impressive to me," Rudolph said. "Talent-wise, I think they're very comparable (to Ohio State). The depth that we're developing here is key, and the players that are out there performing compare very favorably.
"I hope they understand how close they are because they are a very talented group. I think it's going to be a fun year."
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINK
LINCOLN — It's 90-something degrees and sticky to boot at Nebraska football practice. You could fire up a frying pan on the FieldTurf.
Yet there's new tight ends coach Joe Rudolph, decked out in a long-sleeve shirt under a red pullover with black sweat pants. Perspiration drips from him as he volunteers to line up on defense while the Huskers practice long snaps.
"If they complain about the heat, I always have a comeback," he said.
The ruthless weather is one thing. The Huskers certainly aren't griping about Rudolph.
He joined Bill Callahan's staff in February when former offensive coordinator Jay Norvell left for UCLA. Shawn Watson, NU's tight ends coach last season, was promoted to offensive coordinator, and Rudolph took Watson's spot.
Callahan said bringing in Rudolph was a no-brainer. While at Wisconsin from 1992 through 1994, Rudolph earned All-Big Ten honors as an offensive lineman when Callahan was the offensive line coach. Rudolph also spent two seasons in the NFL.
Callahan said he wanted to hire Rudolph as a graduate assistant three years ago, but Rudolph took a GA position at Ohio State, where he spent the past three seasons. Now the 34-year-old Rudolph is in Lincoln, and his old mentor is elated.
"I always thought Joe possessed great passion for the game," Callahan said. "He's highly intelligent, he's got a great demeanor and a super personality with people. He's got a lot to give, so I thought he would be dynamic not just from a coaching perspective but from a recruiting aspect as well."
Callahan wasn't exaggerating about the intelligence part.
Rudolph received his bachelor's degree in biology and his master's in business administration from Carnegie Mellon. He'll even use words like "physiology" in a football conversation.
Rudolph said he considered going into the medical field but just couldn't get away from the field he's truly fond of.
"Hands down, there was nothing comparable to me than to work with young people and coach them in the great game I love," he said. "And at the same time, help them develop as young men and develop into great sons, great husbands and great fathers."
And with some work, great tight ends, too.
Nebraska didn't get much receiving production from the position last season, but Rudolph says he's got the personnel to change that.
He said he loves returning regular J.B. Phillips' smarts, toughness and dependability. As for Sean Hill and Josh Mueller, "the sky's the limit in their abilities," the coach said.
Rudolph also said he was impressed with Hunter Teafatiller's prowess in the passing game and didn't leave out praise for freshmen Mike McNeill, Ryan Hill and Dreu Young.
"We talked about earning the respect and the trust of the quarterback through spring ball and now through fall camp," Rudolph said. "It was our No. 1 goal, and hopefully in doing that, we'll be utilized more."
Rudolph is the Huskers' third tight ends coach in three seasons, following Scott Downing and Watson. Phillips said that isn't a problem. Watch the coach interact with his players, and it's easy to see why.
After Monday's practice, Rudolph showed off his throwing arm by heaving a ball from the goal line to near midfield. Soon after, the guys in the group took turns punting the ball. Shank after shank, each got laughed at.
"He knows his stuff," Phillips said. "He's a hard worker, he pushes us and expects a lot out of us. He's come in and we've really fit in with him pretty well."
After spending the past three seasons at Ohio State, Rudolph said that the Huskers aren't far off from a talent standpoint.
Not too bad, considering that the Buckeyes played for the national championship last season and had the Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Troy Smith. Ohio State also had eight players taken in the NFL draft, including two in the first round.
"Nebraska is extremely impressive to me," Rudolph said. "Talent-wise, I think they're very comparable (to Ohio State). The depth that we're developing here is key, and the players that are out there performing compare very favorably.
"I hope they understand how close they are because they are a very talented group. I think it's going to be a fun year."