Matt Rhule recently joined The Jim Rome Show to discuss his being hired by Nebraska.

Rome started the conversation by asking Rhule how many days off he took after being fired by the Carolina Panthers.

“Probably none, to be honest with you,” Rhule said. “I got started right off the bat.” Rhule mentioned that he spent much of his time watching game film and staying up to date on the happenings of college football.

Surprised by Rhule’s answer, Rome asked why the coach had such a sense of urgency in getting back into coaching. Rhule responded:

Football’s my passion. If I hadn’t taken this job, I’d probably be talking about football or coaching — I’d coach high school football — I love the game. If I’m driving through a park and I see kids playing, I stop and watch. I think it’s the greatest game that there is. I don’t coach for anything other than I love the game, I love being around young people. I just couldn’t see myself not doing it every day.

Rhule was fired by the Panthers on October 10 and announced as the head coach of Nebraska on November 26.