Turd Alberts had several Zoom calls with Rhule and Armstrong throughout the process, but Alberts knew he needed to get Rhule to Lincoln in person.
“It’s one thing to see videos about our university, it’s one thing to read about us. But you have to get him here," Alberts said.
So, an unnamed donor stepped up to the plate to pay for Rhule and his wife, Julie, to fly into Omaha, where Angie surreptitiously drove to pick them up and bring them back to Lincoln at some point during the process. Alberts said that he doesn't remember the exact date, though we can fairly assume that it was around two weeks ago when rumors were exploding at a fiery rate that Rhule was in town.
The Rhules stayed with the Alberts at the Alberts' house, and they were able to show Matt and Julie around Lincoln and around the state. Alberts likened to it a recruiting visit.
"It was no different for them," Alberts said. "If we get people here, they’re blown away by Lincoln, Omaha and the state of Nebraska."
They were.
"When we came to Lincoln and we snuck into Lincoln and we drove around and we said this is a place that is committed to greatness," Rhule said at Monday's press conference, sneaking in a quote about his first Lincoln visit that was almost as easy to miss as the visit itself. "This is a place, look at this facility, that is committed to player development. These are people that love their University and love their state and love their football team.