Matt Rhule sends his thoughts to victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina

Matt Rhule sent a heartfelt message to North Carolinians experiencing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. THE Nebraska Coach has a personal connection to the state, where he lived at two different times in his life.

Of course, he most recently coached the NFL’s Carolina Panthers before becoming coach of the Cornhuskers. Additionally, he worked for four years as an assistant at Western Carolina, located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, from 2002 to 2006.

Rhule said he knows people affected by the storms in that area, including a current Nebraska staff member. Assistant coach Jarrett Wishon played for Rhule at Western Carolina and has family still living there.

“I’ve had two stints in North Carolina,” Rhule said. “I was in Charlotte and it was great and we have a lot of good friends there and people we love. Our concern and our heart are therefore there. When Julie and I were first married for a few years, we lived in Western Carolina, just beyond Asheville, in Cullowhee, where Western Carolina University is located. Jarrett Wishon, who’s right there, was one of my best guys and I coached him there. All these wonderful people in all these little towns from Tennessee all the way down to Georgia. My heart is certainly with them.

Due to internet and cell service still being down in the Cullowhee area, Western Carolina University has suspended classes until this week. With cell service down in the area, Wishon is also having trouble reaching her family to see if they are okay.

Rhule hopes the best for him and all the countless others currently in this situation.

“As someone who has been in a few of these disasters, you start to see the absolute worst and sometimes you also get to see the absolute best as well,” he said. “People are picking themselves up and abandoning their lives to run and help. But it’s sad and it’s unfortunate. I met so many wonderful people during my two stays in North Carolina, and really in South Carolina. My girls still go to camp in Western North Carolina.

“We were on the phone and we were worried. We spoke to some people and others we didn’t have a chance to speak with. Jarrett’s family is still there, so our hearts are a little heavy about all this. Our hope is that the best part of man will step up in that moment.