For Rhule, the bowl game is about more than just football. It’s a homecoming. New York City, the concrete jungle that shaped who he is, will be the backdrop as Bethpage, New York native Bill O’Brien’s Boston College Eagles face his team.

“We believe we’re here for something really special at Nebraska,” Rhule said. “We’re trying to kind of dig our way out of this [bowl] drought, and to have it start and have it be the same place coach Devaney started, is really cool. We look forward to following in his footsteps with some other things moving forward.”

Rhule has fond memories of riding the subway to see Yankees games as a kid. He remembers cheering on stars like Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield. “It’s a chance to reconnect with friends. I grew up kind of in Park Slope and 32nd and second when I lived over on Roosevelt Island, so I had all my buddies from Roosevelt Island hit me up, ‘Are you coming over? What are we gonna do?”

Rhule, who stands to take on the Big Apple with trips to see the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, is no stranger to the city’s vibrant tapestry. During his time between coaching jobs with the Carolina Panthers and Nebraska, he explored the city with his three children: his 20-year-old son, and daughters aged nine and twelve.

Rhule takes pride in sharing pieces of his teenage years and early adulthood with his players. He wants them to experience the city’s energy, especially during the holiday season. Just as he once did.

“It’ll be fun. It’ll be fun for my parents. It’ll be fun to obviously see my sister. But it’ll be fun for my wife and I and our kids,” said Rhule.The Nebraska roster boasts six players from New York City and the surrounding areas, including senior running back Rahmir Johnson, who prepped at Bergen Catholic in New Jersey.

Rhule tapped local players to share insights with the team, seeking to give their teammates a feel for the atmosphere thatawait.

“I think it’s a really good practical experience for these guys,” Rhule said. “New York City is a place with great food, great people, and a lot of things to do. Let’s be honest. It’s an exciting opportunity for some guys who want to get here and enjoy the city’s diversity as part of a bowl trip.”

Pinstripe Bowl Executive Director Mark Holtzman outlined events beyond the game itself:

Visiting the

Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center;

Seeing the Radio City Rockettes perform;

Paying their respects at the 9/11 Memorial,

Ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange

going on a boat tour to see landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Engaging in community outreach activities at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the American Red Cross Greater New York Region.

“The night before the game itself, we’re going to light up the New York skyline with the colors of the BC Eagles and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

” Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen mentioned plans to bring about 150 band members.

This marks a return to playing in the Big Apple for Nebraska. The Huskers last appeared in a bowl game in New York City in 1962, when Bob Devaney’s team defeated Miami in a game known as the Gotham Bowl.