Amie Just: Matt Rhule's single-digit jersey tradition could become something special for Nebraska

Of the 110 rostered players this spring, none of them have single digit numbers.

Marques Buford, instead of No. 1, is donning No. 24.

Chubba Purdy isn’t wearing his No. 6. Instead, he’s in No. 12.

Ajay Allen isn’t in No. 9. He’s sporting No. 23.

Even Quinton Newsome isn’t running around in his No. 6. He’s currently No. 15.

“I want my six back for sure,” Newsome said, through a smile, of the number he’s worn for four years.

There’s a method to the madness for Matt Rhule.

Single-digit numbers aren’t just handed out; they must be earned through hard work, toughness, leadership and tenacity, among other traits Rhule emphasizes.

Rhule, following in the footsteps of former Temple coach Al Golden (2006-10), revoked the single-digit jerseys when he arrived at Temple in 2013 and again at Baylor in 2017 before bestowing the numbers to players annually who deserved them. For what it’s worth, Baylor’s Dave Aranda has continued the single-digit tradition.

Rhule hasn’t spoken about the jersey number policy at Nebraska just yet, in 2013 he said: “It’s just sort of a rite of passage for those guys. It's something they’ve earned, and they wear it."

For a program steeped in meaningful traditions, like the Blackshirts, the Tunnel Walk and the walk-on program, this single-digit jersey practice could become something special for Nebraska, too.

A few schools have legacy jerseys, specific numbers handed out annually based on predetermined characteristics.

LSU, for example, gives No. 7 to its top playmaker and No. 18 to the player(s) displaying high-character and leadership. Texas A&M gives No. 12 to a walk-on. Virginia Tech rotates No. 25 each week to honor a specialist. Montana hands out the No. 37 jersey to a native Montanan who represents the spirit of the state through toughness and dedication.

While that’s slightly different than what Rhule has implemented, the mindset behind it remains the same.

Rhule’s players at past stops seemed to embrace it.

In 2013, Temple senior receiver Ryan Alderman was given No. 4 after he’d worn No. 87 and No. 27 in his previous four seasons — telling the Temple News that he was “extremely humbled by it.” That same year, junior receiver Jalen Fitzpatrick earned his No. 5 back.

“It means a lot knowing that I’m one of the toughest nine they call it on the team,” Fitzpatrick said then to the Temple News. “I wasn’t here when they did it before but I can see it’s taken pretty seriously, so it’s a great honor to wear it.”

Before Rhule took over at Nebraska, 14 players wore single-digit numbers. Based on precedent, it’s doubtful that many wear single-digits again.

There haven’t been duplicates of the single jerseys for Rhule’s squads.

In 2013 at Temple, there were eight – no one in No. 1. In 2014-16, there were nine. In 2017 and 2019 at Baylor, there were nine. In 2018, there were eight – no one with No. 2.

One question: will No. 0 be handed out? The NCAA added No. 0 as a potential number for football players to use beginning in 2020. Rhule left the college ranks in 2019. You’d think Nebraska would use it just based on roster size, but will there be any extra meaning attached to it?

I guess we’ll find out.

While the reception at Rhule’s previous spots was positive, the same seems to be the case here too, as Newsome was the first former (and possibly future) single-digit player to speak to the media on Thursday.

“Basically, with coach, everybody’s starting off new," Newsome said of Rhule. "Basically, everyone has to earn a single digit – whoever they think are the guys who deserve it is who will get a single-digit number.

“... I honestly don’t know specifically (how that will be determined), but I would say the toughest guys – even from mat drills and the stuff we were doing to now, what we’re doing with spring ball, just seeing who the competitors are and the people who really deserve it.”

Who will that small group of men be?

It’s far too early to say, but whomever they are, they’ll be the standard for this new tradition.

Hopefully for years to come.