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Sipple on Rocco.
by:Steven Sipple•about 15 hours•
steven_sipple
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Matt Rhule, Nebraska - © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Things I know, and things I think I know: Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule seems like he could be an extraordinary salesman for a variety of entities, if he were so inclined.
Marc Spindler, however, cautions against attaching the word “salesman” to Rhule. That’s because “salesman” often — and usually unfairly — has negative connotations. I’ve been unfair at times in attaching negative connotations to the word.
“I’m just saying Matt Rhule is a very genuine individual that has a lot of energy,” says Spindler, 55, whose son, offensive lineman Rocco Spindler, chose to play for Nebraska on Sunday after a whirlwind transfer-portal courtship by a handful of programs.
“Rhule’s positivity and other characteristics are contagious and different from a salesman that’s full of B.S. and just tells you what you want to hear. He’s sincere, and I think that’s why his words resonate with a lot of players. He’s a guy I’d want to run through a wall for.
“If you get the parent to feel that way, especially one who was a football player, the kid ought to feel that way as well.”
Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler discusses decision to join Nebraska
“There were a bunch of people, and we broke bread like a big Italian family,” Marc Spindler says. “We’re Italian. We had a big meal. It told us a lot. It just kind of feels like it’s the way Rhule runs his team. It’s like a big family to him. He treats people like family.
“You understand that in families, sometimes you’ve got to be tough. Sometimes you’ve got to be caring. When you’re the Godfather of the family, that’s how you’ve got to be sometimes. You sometimes have to weigh on people and hold them accountable. But he’s a completely genuine and sincere individual.
“That’s who he is. He’s a good dude, man.”
The elder Spindler wants to make it clear that Rocco made the decision to attend Nebraska, with the parents lending support during the process.
“We just felt at home, felt welcome,” Marc said. “They’re down-to-earth people.”
“What I really liked is Donovan took the time to go over film of his guys and then go over film of Rocco,” the Spindler says. “He said, ‘We’ve got to work on this with you, and we’ve got to work on that right there.’ He was very specific. He said, ‘If we work on those two things, we’ll improve your draft status tremendously.’
“That’s what Rocco wants because the byproduct of fixing those things is going to help that line and help this team. The byproduct of all that helps Rocco get to the next level. It’s really a win-win situation. That’s how I saw it, anyway.”
Still another Raiola is important in this discussion.
“You got the quarterback coming back,” Spindler says of Dylan Raiola. “He’s got a lot of moxie and a lot of talent to go along with it. You got another offseason of Dylan developing and, you know, I think a better offensive line and weapons around him.
“It all makes sense to me.”
“We were the flagship, and they were a pretty miserable football team,” Spindler said. “He’s a fiery dude, right? I’d talk ‘stuff’ about things that maybe weren’t specifically about him — maybe some were about him — but definitely about the entire team. They were just horrible.
“He called me out in the media a few times. When I was down at the team facility, I think he wanted to go after me a few times. He’s a passionate guy, and I’m a passionate guy, right? I was only saying what the reality was. It wasn’t personal, it was business.
“I do look forward to meeting him again because I just love the way his son plays football.”
Steven Sipple: Nebraska coach Matt Rhule evidently makes excellent impression in dinner setting; he also hits HR with Ekeler hire
steven_sipple
Read In App
Things I know, and things I think I know: Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule seems like he could be an extraordinary salesman for a variety of entities, if he were so inclined.
Marc Spindler, however, cautions against attaching the word “salesman” to Rhule. That’s because “salesman” often — and usually unfairly — has negative connotations. I’ve been unfair at times in attaching negative connotations to the word.
“I’m just saying Matt Rhule is a very genuine individual that has a lot of energy,” says Spindler, 55, whose son, offensive lineman Rocco Spindler, chose to play for Nebraska on Sunday after a whirlwind transfer-portal courtship by a handful of programs.
“Rhule’s positivity and other characteristics are contagious and different from a salesman that’s full of B.S. and just tells you what you want to hear. He’s sincere, and I think that’s why his words resonate with a lot of players. He’s a guy I’d want to run through a wall for.
“If you get the parent to feel that way, especially one who was a football player, the kid ought to feel that way as well.”
Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler discusses decision to join Nebraska
Rhule impresses elder Spindler in dinner setting
The elder Spindler, a former NFL defensive lineman, paints an intriguing picture of a dinner early last week at a Lincoln steakhouse. He and his wife and Rocco were there with Rhule and his wife. Donovan Raiola, Nebraska’s fourth-year offensive line coach, obviously was on hand.“There were a bunch of people, and we broke bread like a big Italian family,” Marc Spindler says. “We’re Italian. We had a big meal. It told us a lot. It just kind of feels like it’s the way Rhule runs his team. It’s like a big family to him. He treats people like family.
“You understand that in families, sometimes you’ve got to be tough. Sometimes you’ve got to be caring. When you’re the Godfather of the family, that’s how you’ve got to be sometimes. You sometimes have to weigh on people and hold them accountable. But he’s a completely genuine and sincere individual.
“That’s who he is. He’s a good dude, man.”
The elder Spindler wants to make it clear that Rocco made the decision to attend Nebraska, with the parents lending support during the process.
“We just felt at home, felt welcome,” Marc said. “They’re down-to-earth people.”
Donovan Raiola makes favorable impression
There’s no way Rocco Spindler chooses Nebraska if he would’ve had reservations about playing for Donovan Raiola.“What I really liked is Donovan took the time to go over film of his guys and then go over film of Rocco,” the Spindler says. “He said, ‘We’ve got to work on this with you, and we’ve got to work on that right there.’ He was very specific. He said, ‘If we work on those two things, we’ll improve your draft status tremendously.’
“That’s what Rocco wants because the byproduct of fixing those things is going to help that line and help this team. The byproduct of all that helps Rocco get to the next level. It’s really a win-win situation. That’s how I saw it, anyway.”
Still another Raiola is important in this discussion.
“You got the quarterback coming back,” Spindler says of Dylan Raiola. “He’s got a lot of moxie and a lot of talent to go along with it. You got another offseason of Dylan developing and, you know, I think a better offensive line and weapons around him.
“It all makes sense to me.”
Marc Spindler has history with Dominic Raiola
As one might expect, Marc Spindler is acquainted with Dylan’s father, Dominic Raiola. After Spindler’s playing days in the NFL ended in the late 1990s, he became an analyst for the Detroit Lions’ flagship radio broadcasts. Dominic Raiola played center for the Lions from 2001 to 2014.“We were the flagship, and they were a pretty miserable football team,” Spindler said. “He’s a fiery dude, right? I’d talk ‘stuff’ about things that maybe weren’t specifically about him — maybe some were about him — but definitely about the entire team. They were just horrible.
“He called me out in the media a few times. When I was down at the team facility, I think he wanted to go after me a few times. He’s a passionate guy, and I’m a passionate guy, right? I was only saying what the reality was. It wasn’t personal, it was business.
“I do look forward to meeting him again because I just love the way his son plays football.”
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