How Matt Rhule turned a possible NFL move into a positive at Baylor
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FRISCO, Texas – The crowd of reporters surrounding Baylor head coach Matt Rhule’s booth at Big 12 Media Days had mostly dispersed and he was able to cut loose with the few that were wrapping up their time with him.
They were able to see the green sport coat he was wearing, a perfect copy of the university’s trademark hue, but he didn’t stop there.
He asked them, “Have you seen the shoes?”
With that, he pulled up and plopped down his right foot on the table in front of him, proudly displaying a matching green Italian oxford as he recounted having to personally drive to Philadelphia to pick up his kicks.
That moment was another example of how Rhule has so convincingly engrained himself into the Baylor program and presented a jovial public face for a program that was in dire need of one. When more people were listening to him, he couldn’t have been more insistent that the culture of the embattled program has been changing for the better and everyone, from the top-down, is nothing less than family.
Counterintuitive to such an image was the news that Rhule, fresh off a 1-11 debut season, had some form of communication with the Indianapolis Colts about a possible coaching position in January. When such news leaks elsewhere, it’s often followed with sour reactions from those it directly affects most: the players. In Rhule’s case, it proved to be a case study that what he’s preached about having within the program is built on more than just buzzwords and slick footwear.
“I told some of these seniors about it before it even happened,” Rhule said. “I said ‘Hey, just so you guys know, this opportunity is out there. I’m not saying I’m leaving, but I am going to look into it.’
“I think some of the younger players were a little scared, a little angry, but at the end of the day, as I told them, when the NFL calls I’m probably going to talk and listen. I’m not saying I’m going to go, but it’s me being honest with you just like when they’re looking to draft you, you’re going to go and I’m going to be happy for you.”
Perhaps it shouldn’t be some big surprise that the reaction he received from his older players, who had already been through two other coaching changes, was widely supportive.
“He did tell us before the news came out, so that really helped to gain my trust with him,” senior wide receiver Chris Platt said. “I wish nothing but the best for him, but if that was the best thing for him, I would have been happy for him in that situation.”
“To be honest, it was just there – the moment was there,” senior safety Verkedric Vaughn recalled. “I was happy for him. He has goals for himself, so whatever he has to do to accomplish whatever he wants to achieve, I’m behind him because I know what kind of person he is.”
For Baylor, having to find its fourth coach in as many seasons would have been another devastating turn what’s been a turbulent run over the past few years. To Rhule’s credit, the backing of his team and the strength of his message have helped him to quickly move past what could have been a damaging situation in his locker room and on the recruiting trail.
Six months later, he was speaking in Frisco about readying the Bears for a run at a bowl game this season. Further proof that his eternal optimism still makes him the man for the job at Baylor – and not elsewhere.
“I think it was one of those deals where you could see it one of two ways,” he said. “You could be upset about it or you could be like ‘shoot, we have a coach – we just went 1-11 and NFL people are still wanting to talk to him.’ So I think one of the things we pride ourselves on is that we’re going to help you get a great education, we’re going to help you be the man you’re supposed to be, but we’re also going to train you like a pro.”
