The Nebraska football team’s game against Penn State will serve as a homecoming for a few Nebraska players and coaches when the Huskers take on the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania, Saturday night.
Senior defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy, head coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator John Butler all have ties to the Philadelphia area.
Jeudy hails from Philadelphia, where he attended Northeast high school before starting his collegiate career at Texas A&M. He spent two seasons in College Station before transferring to Nebraska, developing into a key part of the Blackshirts defense this season. He’s started every game while racking up 16 tackles, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble.
Now, he’s returning home while representing Nebraska.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t high,” Jeudy said. “I’m really excited to be able to go back home. I got a lot of family that’s there that’s coming out. It’s just hometown, it’s like a homecoming game for me, so it’s big for me and for my family as well.”
Penn State is Rhule’s alma mater. He walked on for the Nittany Lions and filled multiple roles during his time there (1994-98), including serving as a volunteer assistant after his playing career ended. He’s handling his emotions very different than his linemen.
“I don’t have very many at all, to be honest with you,” Rhule said. “I spoke earlier to you guys about how much I loved my time there, but it’s just different for me, because I’ve been back so many times. The only things I feel to be quite honest was my grandfather had season tickets at Penn State, and he’s no longer living. My grandmother’s no longer living, so just the people that poured into me and meant a lot to me in my life, just they won’t be there for this.”
Butler grew up in Philadelphia, with coaching experience in both the NFL and college football, including a stop at Penn State. He served as the secondary coach in 2012 before a promotion elevated him to defensive coordinator in 2013.
“When I get there, it’s just another game,” Butler said. “I’ve coached in a bunch of cool stadiums and cool venues, but going back there, I’m going to have a bunch of family going to the game. I’ll have my son there flying in for Thanksgiving, so it will be cool.”
Senior corner Ceyair Wright developed a close relationship with Butler as Nebraska’s defensive backs coach last season, before Rhule promoted him to defensive coordinator. Wright knows the feeling of playing in your home state after doing so when Nebraska faced UCLA in California on Nov. 8. Therefore, he has an understanding of what Butler’s going through.
“I’m sure the game does mean a lot to him, but he’s definitely done a good job of making sure the focus is on the team,” Wright said.
Nebraska is going into a hostile environment when it plays Penn State, but Jeudy’s familiarity with the stadium is sure to bring the Huskers value.
“I always tell the guys it’s going to be an intense atmosphere, but we just can’t let the crowd get in our head,” Jeudy said. “We’ve got to stay focused on what the main goal is, rely on each other, fall back on each other and just get what we got to do done, take everything one play at a time.”
Although the Philadelphia Huskers are facing different emotions Saturday, they know it will be a business trip as they look to get another big win. Kickoff at Beaver stadium is set for 6 p.m. CT.
