Hey Bay Area Husker Fans!WOW!
What a great picnic last weekend! We had over 90 Red Clad Husker fans in attendance for our 31st annual Big Red Roundup. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and the food and raffle were as good as anyone could remember. We even had a tasty Husker cake added to the menu this year thanks to Bill Tucker! The event seems to get better every year and this one was no exception. Thanks to all of the Bay Area Huskers Board Members who worked so hard to make the event look (and taste) great, and go smoothly. And a special thanks to Lloyd (Mac) and Donna McBeth who have been the central organizers of the event for many years, and provided a lot of the "sweat equity" to make it happen. Hope we see all of you at next year's picnic!
We had some Husker schedules and a Nebraska home town quiz for those in attendance. Rather than attach these documents to an email, our webmaster, Brian Dehning has posted them on our website so you can print them (right side of the home page). Go to http://www.bayareahuskers.com/ and check it out!. Thanks Brian!
Go Big Red (White and Blue),
Carl
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If you are headed back to Nebraska next month (or want to send this to friends/relatives back in the homeland)...
HUSKERS FOCUS ON FUN FOR FANS ON AUG. 18...
The day starts out with the annual Coach Callahan Charities Fun Run/Walk.
Beginning with the Coach Callahan Charities Fun Run on Stadium Drive and ending in the Coliseum for a volleyball national championship celebration and scrimmage, Saturday, Aug. 18 will be an incredible day for Husker Nation fans. Bring the kids and participate in Football Fan Day or take a tour of the new Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex.
Coach Callahan Charities Fun Run / Walk
Saturday, Aug. 18 will begin bright and early with the Coach Callahan Charities Fun Run / Walk -- sponsored by the Nebraska Heart Institute and Houchen Bindery. The one-mile walk / run for kids and adults is first at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K run / walk. The route will begin and end on the southwest corner of Memorial Stadium on Stadium Drive. The walk is $15 and the run is $25, with each participant receiving a free T-shirt. Proceeds from the event will again go toward Juvenile Diabetes Research and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Library Electronic Fund.
Annual Football Fan Day
At the conclusion of the Fun Run / Walk, the annual Football Fan Day will commence in Memorial Stadium at 10 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m. Fans can utilize Gates 3, 11, 15 and 24 to enter the stadium and follow designated lines to reach coaches and players, who will be seated by position groupings. For the second year, Special Olympic Nebraskans will join the Huskers in advance of Fan Day as the team takes position group and team photos. Public gates will open at 10 a.m. providing fans a great opportunity to meet their favorite players and coaches, take a snapshot, and get a favorite item autographed. Free blank autograph cards and rosters the day of the event.
The players and coaches will leave their seats at 11:30 a.m. to continue their schedules for the remainder of the day. Fans are asked to respect the time of the players, coaches, and other Husker fans and to limit their autograph requests to one item per coach or player. As always, there is not admission to attend Fan Day.
Public Tours of the New Husker Athletic Facilities
Back by popular demand, the Nebraska Athletic Department staff will welcome fans on a walking video tour of the Hawks Championship Center and the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex beginning at 10 a.m. and concluding at 2 p.m. Those interested in seeing the new facilities should meet at the tour’s starting point, the northwest corner of the Hawks Championship Center. More than 11,000 Husker Fans participated in the first public tour last fall, and while the actual walking video tour will last approximately 20 minutes, fans should expect that lines will form and there will be a waiting period. Please do not plan to leave children unattended in Memorial Stadium for Fan Day or allow Fan Day Participants to join you in line.
On the tour, fans will get to see the lobby of the Osborne Athletic Complex including the stunning 40-foot waterfall, the Strength Complex, Athletic Medicine areas and Hawks Championship Center, and will sneak a peek inside the football locker room. Please note that from 11:30 – 11:45 a.m., the locker room will close down for 15 minutes as the players come in from Fan Day to change. The tour will end at the northwest gate in Memorial Stadium as fans take the "Tunnel Walk" from the locker room out to the field. Tour fans will exit the Stadium through Gate 11.
Guided tours continue to be available on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. throughout the year, while self-guided tours can be taken anytime on weekdays from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. Guided tours and self-guided tours will allow fans to see the Osborne Athletic Complex lobby, strength complex, athletic medicine areas and the field, but do not allow access to the locker room.
Volleyball Team to Receive Championship Rings, Display Banner, Begin 2007 Season
The Husker volleyball team will also be in action on Saturday, Aug. 18 giving fans a chance to see the defending national champions in their first public scrimmage of the season. The day will begin with the Little Red Spikers Kids Clinic in the morning, sponsored by The Match Club (time TBA). All children participating in the clinic must pre-register at www.thematchclub.org. Later in the evening, the Red-White scrimmage will begin the 2007 volleyball season at the Coliseum at 7 p.m. Prior to first serve, the team will receive their 2006 National Champion rings and will unveil the new championship banners in the Coliseum. General admission prices for the scrimmage are $10 for adults and $8 for youth and seniors. Tickets are available through Huskers.com or through the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office (1-800-8 Big Red or 402-472-3111).
Nebraska officially opens its 2007 season at the Qwest Center on Friday, Aug. 24 against Tennessee in the AVCA Showcase. Volleyball season tickets are sold out, however, fans may purchase available single-match tickets from Ticketmaster for the games to be held at the Qwest Center (Aug. 24-25 vs. Tennessee and UCLA or Utah and Sept. 2 vs. Penn State).
Seats are also available for the Nebraska vs. Hawaii volleyball match at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Oct. 21. Those seats go on sale on Aug. 1 through Huskers.com or the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office. In addition, a limited number of single-match tickets for Husker volleyball matches played at the Coliseum will also go on sale on Aug. 1 through Huskers.com or at the Athletic Ticket Office.
Soccer
While the Nebraska women’s soccer team will not scrimmage on Aug. 18, its 2007 season will kick off with the annual Meet-N-Beat fan day at the Nebraska Soccer Field at Ed Weir Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. This free event is a great time for local youth to meet the Husker student-athletes and participate in basic soccer drills. NU will travel to Louisville, Ky. on Sat. Aug. 25 for an exhibition match with Louisville, before opening the season with Northwestern at home on Sunday, Sept. 2.
Parking
Parking for fans participating in the Fun Run has been reserved in the Stadium Drive Parking lot. Fans attending Fan Day or taking a tour should plan to park in the 14th and Avery parking garage for a minimal fee as determined by UNL parking services, or in lots 5 or 8 north of the stadium.
Huskers Authentic
Husker merchandise will be available throughout the day on Aug. 18 at the Huskers Authentic Team Store in the Stadium Drive Parking Garage. Huskers Authentic will open at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday to accommodate fans who arrive early. Huskers Authentic will also have two satellite locations, one near Gate 24 and one near Gate 2. In addition to all the merchandise normally available at Huskers Authentic, fans will also have an opportunity to purchase the 2007 football team posters, as well as the 2007 Nebraska Football Media and Recruiting Guide.Vendors will be selling Pepsi products and water throughout the stadium on Fan Day.
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HUSKERS MEET BIG 12 MEDIA...
Nebraska Football Coach Bill Callahan along with seniors Bo Ruud, J.B. Phillips and Terrence Nunn met with the Big 12 media Monday afternoon, as part of Big 12 Media Days in San Antonio, Texas. Click on the link above to see quotes from Callahan's interview session.
The Huskers were picked to finish second in the Big 12 North Division in the preseason media poll, while Ruud and junior offensive lineman Matt Slauson were tabbed as preseason all-conference selections. Ruud, a 6-3, 235-pound linebacker, was a first-team All-Big 12 pick by the league's coaches following last season, and Slauson is one of six returnees on the Husker offensive line with starting experience. In addition, Nebraska senior quarterback Sam Keller was chosen as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Video highlights of the 2007 Big 12 Media Days are available on Huskers.com.
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RUUD, SLAUSON PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 PICKS...
Senior linebacker Bo Ruud was a first-team preseason All-Big 12 pick, along with offensive lineman Matt Slauson.
Nebraska senior linebacker Bo Ruud and junior offensive lineman Matt Slauson have been chosen as preseason all-conference selections in a Big 12 Conference media poll. In addition, Nebraska senior quarterback Sam Keller was tabbed as the Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
The 6-3, 235-pound Ruud was a first-team All-Big 12 pick by the league's coaches following his junior season. The Lincoln native made 65 tackles as a junior, including seven tackles for loss. He has 162 career tackles and 21 tackles for loss entering his senior campaign.
Slauson is one of six returnees on the Husker offensive line who have starting experience. The 6-5, 335-pound Slauson was a second-team All-Big 12 pick as Nebraska's regular starter at right tackle last season. Slauson helped Nebraska rank in the top 25 nationally in all four major offensive statistical categories. Slauson will begin fall camp at offensive guard.
Keller joined the Nebraska program last August after a productive three-year stint at Arizona State. Keller was the Huskers' Offensive Scout Team MVP last season and racked up more than 3,000 passing yards with the Sun Devils.
The Big 12 media panel also picked Nebraska second in the Big 12 North behind Missouri. The media tabbed Texas as the preseason favorite in the South Division.
Nebraska will begin fall practice on Monday, Aug. 6, with the season opener against Nevada set for Saturday, Sept. 1 on ABC, beginning at 12:30 p.m. PDT.
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PERLMAN EXTENDS PEDERSON'S CONTRACT TO 2013...
Athletic Director Steve Pederson received a five-year extension until 2013.
Lincoln, Neb., July 23, 2007 -- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman today affirmed a five-year contract extension for Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson. Pederson's current contract would have expired on June 30, 2008; the extension places the new expiration date at June 30, 2013.
Pederson, who has served in his current role since 2003, led the development of the North Stadium project, which has given UNL athletics one of the best football facilities in the nation. Under Pederson's leadership, the academic focus for student-athletes continues as one of the nation's models. Nebraska has continued to lead the nation in the number of Academic All-Americans.
"Our athletic program is well-regarded in the highly competitive arena of collegiate athletics, due largely to the focus Steve has placed on balancing athletics and academics for our student-athletes," Perlman said. "Steve's leadership in the expansion of our athletic facilities and his selection and support of key coaching talent has placed Nebraska in a position of strength."
Perlman cited several factors that led to his decision to extend Pederson's contract, including:
* The continuation and enhancement of UNL's strong commitment to academic successes for its student-athletes. Nebraska leads the country in Academic All-Americans, and all men's and women's athletic teams satisfied the NCAA's new academic standards. Nebraska also leads the Big 12 in the graduation rate of student-athletes, at 94 percent.
* The recruitment and hiring of coaches who reflect the tradition of Husker athletics with high goals for success, accomplished in the right way, said Perlman. Pederson has been responsible for recruiting and hiring head football coach Bill Callahan, and men's basketball coach Doc Sadler.
* The financial management of the athletic department. The North Stadium project was constructed on time and within budget, a substantial amount of private donations were raised within a very short time frame, and the funding for the remainder of the project was identified without jeopardizing the other operations of the department, Perlman said. In addition, budget management has put the athletic department in a stable financial condition. Private donations to the department continue to increase.
* Athletic performance. In all sports, progress toward championship level play is evident.
"In these days of close scrutiny of intercollegiate athletics, the university is fortunate to have someone as its athletic director who is committed to the overall development of student-athletes, has adopted sound financial management practices, and insists on the highest standards of compliance with university and NCAA rules. I am delighted that he has agreed to this extension," said Perlman.
"I view this extension of my contract for a long term as a compliment to our coaches, administrative staff, and our student-athletes," said Pederson. "I see this as an opportunity to continue the work that we have started together. I am especially thankful for my fellow Nebraska fans who make this the best college atmosphere in the country, and I look forward to many fun and exciting times together in the coming years."
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UNK TO PLAY CHADRON STATE ON NATIONAL TV...
In the spirit of announcing all things football in Nebraska, here's another game to add to your watch party schedule. More details to follow about the watch parties for this game at Ricky's and Mr. C's organized by Duane Tucker and other UNK alums in the area.
Published Thursday July 12, 2007
UNK-Chadron football on national TV
The Chadron State-University of Nebraska at Kearney football game has been moved to Thursday, Oct. 18, and will be nationally televised.
The annual showdown had been scheduled for Oct. 20.
Kickoff for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup will be 5:05 p.m. PDT at Foster Field in Kearney .
The game is being broadcast as part of a multi-media partnership between CSTV and the NCAA.
The game also will be telecast on NET, which is viewed in all of Nebraska and portions of Colorado , Iowa , Kansas and South Dakota .
CSTV, the national cable network owned by CBS, is available in more than 65 million households nationwide via cable and satellite on DirecTV's Total Choice Premier Package channel 610 and Dish Network's Americas Top 120 Package channel 152.
The game also will air on Altitude Sports and Entertainment, available in 5.5 million households. And it will be available online at no charge through a Division II Web page that can be accessed through CSTV.com and NCAAsports.com.
RMAC officials say this is the most TV exposure for a live RMAC contest in league history.
Nine of the last 13 games between UNK and Chadron State have been decided by a touchdown or less. Last year, Chadron overcame a 10-7 halftime deficit to win 31-12.
The Eagles report to camp Aug. 1 and begin their season Aug. 25 against Washburn. UNK begins fall camp Aug. 7 and opens Sept. 1 against UNO.
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NEBRASKA SOCCER KICKS OFF WITH RED/WHITE SCRIMMAGE...
Nebraska kicks off the 2007 season with its annual Red/White Scrimmage at 2 p.m. on Aug. 18.
The Husker Nation will have yet another opportunity to enjoy Nebraska athletics on Saturday, Aug. 18, as the NU soccer team hosts its annual Red / White scrimmage at 2 p.m. The event is free and takes place at the Nebraska Soccer Field, located between Memorial Stadium and the NU Coliseum.
The game will give fans a chance to check out Nebraska’s returning players and promising incoming class.
The other events surrounding Nebraska’s Fan Day will start with the Coach Callahan Charities Fun Run / Walk – sponsored by the Nebraska Heart Institute and Houchen Bindery. The one-mile walk / run for kids and adults starts at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K run / walk.
The annual Football Fan Day will commence in Memorial Stadium at 10 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m. Fans are provided a great opportunity to meet their favorite players and coaches, take a snapshot, and get a favorite item autographed.
The Husker volleyball team will have their own Red / White scrimmage to begin the 2007 season at the Coliseum at 7 p.m. Prior to the first serve, the team will receive their 2006 National Champion rings and will unveil the new championship banners in the Coliseum.
The public can also meet the team at the annual Meet-N-Beat the Huskers fan day at the field on Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. This free event is a great time for local youth to meet the Husker student-athletes and participate in basic soccer drills. The NU soccer team will travel to Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, Aug. 25 for the Fourth Annual Jenna Cooper Memorial Exhibition match with Louisville that honors former Husker Jenna Cooper. The Huskers officially open their season against Northwestern on Sunday, Sept. 2 at the Nebraska Soccer Field.
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NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND...
* Callahan & Huskers Look To New Season - Pederson Has Six More Years
What a day for Nebraska football followers. What a day for every breathless, but windy, participant on sports-talk radio.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/24/46a64b41a62d0
* Callahan Says Purify Is Out For Season Opener
Despite his summer of legal troubles, Nebraska receiver Maurice Purify will only be suspended for one game. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/23/46a4f29a01b87
* Daub Says Folks Tell Him U.S. Should "Stick with it" In Iraq
Hal Daub. Remember him? http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/23/46a4efa764898
* Report Predicts Good Growth In Aggregate Farm Income
Aggregate farm income in Nebraska is expected to grow rapidly in the remainder of 2007 and into 2008-09.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/26/46a8cae499805
* More Counties Get Federal Disaster Declarations
Fifteen more Nebraska counties have received federal classification as portions of a major disaster area. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/25/46a7a2a047d37
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Visit our Bay Area Huskers website for additional Husker information, Links, Upcoming Events, Past Events, Watch Sites, and the Schedule of Games. Also order Merchandise online, and get information on Husker Scholarships. Check out the History of the Huskers and meet our Directors.
Say hello today, email us, sign up for our newsletter, and become a member of the Bay Area Huskers Alumni Chapter.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Bay Area Husker ENews 7-19-07
Hey Bay Area Husker Fans!
Hope everyone that plans on attending our picnic this Sunday has made their reservations. The price goes up if you have not told us you were coming in advance. At last count we have over 80 confirmed Husker fans coming, and boy are we going to have a great time! The weather looks like its going to be perfect, and I can smell those ribeye steaks cooking and taste that home grown corn (thanks Don!) already! Hope to see you there! There's still room for some last minute reservations so if you still want to attend, let Mac know ASAP! Call him at 408-241-3514 or email him at macndona@mindspring.com And see our terrific website for more information about the picnic and other upcoming events: http://www.bayareahuskers.org/
Lots of other Husker news to pass along, so I'll cut this short.
Go Big Red (White and Blue),
Carl
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Husker Football Countdown Website!
Click here: Husker Football Countdown
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HUSKERS EARN 18 CoSIDA PUBLICATION AWARDS...
The Nebraska baseball media guide was named Best in the Nation by CoSIDA.
Lincoln - The University of Nebraska Media Relations Office earned 18 publication awards from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) during the 2006-07 season. The awards were officially announced during CoSIDA’s national convention in San Diego in early July.
Nebraska’s 18 CoSIDA awards led the nation, as the NU Media Relations Office has finished among the top five schools nationally in the overall publications contest for seven consecutive years. The University of Oklahoma finished second nationally with 15 awards.
Among Nebraska’s impressive list of award-winning publications, five Husker media and recruiting guides were ranked "Best in the Nation" for their respective sports, while seven other publications ranked among the top five nationally in their contests.
Nebraska Media Relations Keith Mann, Director of Media Relations Operations Jeff Griesch, Assistant Media Relations Directors Shamus McKnight and Jerry Trickie, Athletic Department Photographer Scott Bruhn, Athletic Department Design Coordinator Megan McLaughlin and Administrative Assistant Vicki Cartwright all assist in coordinating and producing Nebraska’s award-winning publications. Nebraska's interns and student-assistants also play a major role in the Huskers' success.
"We enjoyed another outstanding year by leading the nation in the number of award-winning guides that we produced as a team in the Nebraska Media Relations Office," Griesch said. "Our success in winning publication awards over the past seven years is just another example of the entire athletic department’s commitment to all of its programs. We have talented students, interns and full-time employees who come together and work as a team to produce all of our guides."
The Nebraska baseball media guide created and designed by McKnight was voted "Best in the Nation," as was intern Matt Smith's Nebraska softball media and recruiting guide. The men's track and field guide created by intern Andy Anderson added "Best in the Nation" honors, while media relations student-assistant Jess Schwager added a pair of No. 1 publications with her Husker bowling guide and rifle guides.
The Nebraska wrestling media guide designed and edited by Nate Rohr produced runner-up honors, while Schwager's rifle guide added another national award by finishing third in the single-sport brochure contest.
Another NU student-assistant, Brandon Gries, added a pair of fourth-place honors with his work on the Nebraska women's swimming and diving media guide and on the men's and women's cross country media guide.
Anderson's track and field guide added a fourth-place honor on the men's side, while the Nebraska soccer guide added a fifth-place showing under the direction of student-assistant Kelli Kremlacek. Griesch added a fifth-place award with the Nebraska women's golf guide.
The Nebraska football media guide designed and edited by Mann and Trickie added district runner-up honors, as did McLaughlin's Nebraska baseball poster.
Although CoSIDA formally announced its publication winners, the results of two contests remain unannounced, including volleyball and men's basketball.
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HUSKER BASEBALL SIGNS THREE PLAYERS...
University of Nebraska Baseball Coach Mike Anderson announced Wednesday the signings of three student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent to play baseball for the Husker program next season. The trio includes a pair of right-handed pitchers in Casey Hauptman (Omaha) and Aaron Pribanic (Plano, Texas) and catcher Drew Gray (Harrisonville, Mo.).
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HUSKER BASEBALL PLAYERS IN THE SUMMER LEAGUES...
Erik Bird is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in eight appearances in the Cape Cod League.
With the summer leagues at the midway point, Huskers.com makes a quick swing around the country to check on Nebraska players in nation's best summer baseball leagues.
Two Huskers have spent the summer in the Cape Cod League, competing in the nation’s toughest summer league. Reliever Erik Bird has enjoyed a dominant summer, going 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA and two saves in eight games. The right-hander has allowed just seven hits in 11.2 innings and has an 8-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Second baseman Jake Opitz has also played a significant role for the Harwich Mariners, hitting .189 with a pair of RBIs in the wood-bat league.
A pair of Huskers helped Fayetteville (N.C.) to the Coastal Plains League first-half title with a 23-5 mark. Left-hander Brian Feekin has been one of the most impressive performers during the summer, going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts. He allowed and struck out 30 over 30.0 innings and opponents are hitting just .103 off the southpaw. Feekin earned player-of-the-week honors last week, allowing one hit and striking out six over nine innings against Outer Banks, a game Fayetteville eventually won 1-0 in 10 innings. He is joined in the Fayetteville lineup by Brett Sowers, who is hitting .198 with a homer, six doubles and five RBIs in 26 contests.
Another team that is on the verge of clinching a league title is Beatrice in the M.I.N.K. League, and it is no surprise that a couple of Huskers are leading the way for the Bruins. Thad Weber has been a strong two-way performer, hitting .357 with 18 RBIs in 13 contests, while also going a perfect 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA in five games. The right-hander has struck out 37 and surrendered just 15 hits over 30.0 innings of work for the Bruins. Another pitcher who is excelling in Beatrice is left-hander Zach Herr, who is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA as the team’s closer. He has struck out 18 and allowed just eight hits in 13 innings on the mound.
A number of Huskers are spending the summer in the Northwoods League. DJ Belfonte has followed up an impressive freshman season for the Big Red by hitting .250 with a pair of triples, 18 runs scored and swiping eight bases for the St. Cloud Riverbats. In Alexandria, third baseman Jeff Tezak is hitting .271 with 16 RBIs and eight stolen bases. Left-hander Dan Jennings has moved to the starting rotation for the Waterloo Bucks, going 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 30 innings of work, averaging nearly a strikeout per inning.
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NEBRASKA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2007 CLASS...
All-American Jason Peter led Nebraska to three national with fellow Hall of Fame inductee Eric Anderson.
All-American Jason Peter, who was a member of three national championship teams for the Huskers between 1994 and 1997, headlines a list of seven former Huskers players to be inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame this September, Nebraska Chapter President Irving Veitzer announced Thursday.
The Nebraska Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The 10-memberinduction class, which includes seven former Huskers and three members from the state college ranks, will be enshrined at a special reception on Friday, Sept. 21, and will be introduced at the Ball State game on Sept. 22.
The seven-player class of Huskers includes Lincoln native Eric Anderson, who helped NU to three national titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997 as a teammate of Peter's. Donta Jones helped Coach Tom Osborne claim his first title in 1994. Erik Wiegert was a captain on NU's 1991 Big Eight title squad and joins his younger brother Zach (1995) in the Hall of Fame. Peter also joins his older brother Christian (2006) in the Hall. Tyrone Legette, Kevin Ramaekers and Pioneer Division selection Adolph Wenke, round out NU's contingent in the 2007 Hall of Fame class.
The Nebraska Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The College Football Hall of Fame opened in South Bend, Ind., in 1995.
In addition to the Hall of Fame class, the Nebraska Chapter will present its Clarence Swanson Memorial Award to Joe Silverman of Lincoln, and its Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award to former Husker assistant coach George Darlington.
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FROM NEBRASKA TO THE NFL...JOSH AND DANIEL BULLOCKS, RUSS HOCHSTEIN...
Josh Bullocks will enter his third season as a safety with the New Orleans Saints in 2007.
By Jeff GrieschHuskers.com:
All this summer on Huskers.com, we are featuring football players who have enjoyed outstanding professional careers by making the transition from Nebraska to the NFL. Twin brothers Josh and Daniel Bullocks both played in the defensive backfield for the Huskers and have made their moves to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions.
Daniel, a captain for the Huskers as a senior in 2005, enjoyed a strong rookie season with the Detroit Lions in 2006. The native of Chattanooga, Tenn., led all NFL rookie defensive backs with 70 tackles, including 52 solos. The Hixson High School graduate added seven tackles on special teams and five pass breakups. He appeared in 15 games for the Lions, including seven starts.
Daniel joined the Lions after being chosen in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft with the 40th overall pick.
The younger of the twins by one minute, Josh preceded his older brother in the NFL by choosing to enter the draft following his junior season at Nebraska. Like his brother, Josh was chosen with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the draft, heading to the New Orleans Saints. Josh enjoyed a strong second season in the Big Easy, leading the Saints' secondary with 95 total tackles, while adding a pair of interceptions. In the NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears, Josh led the Saints with 11 total tackles.
In the NFC Divisional playoff win over Philadelphia, Josh added five tackles and three pass breakups to help the Saints. On the season, he started all 16 games for the club. His second season followed a solid rookie campaign in 2005, when he appeared in 16 games with 13 starts. He posted 70 tackles and an interception from his free safety position.
Josh earned All-America honors as a defensive back for Nebraska in 2003, when he ranked second nationally with 10 interceptions, which he returned a total of 154 yards. He tied a school record by intercepting a pass in four straight games, helping the Huskers lead the nation with 32 interceptions and 47 forced turnovers as a team on the season.
By Jeff GrieschHuskers.com:
All this summer on Huskers.com, we are featuring football players who have enjoyed outstanding professional careers by making the transition from Nebraska to the NFL.
Russ Hochstein has helped New England to a pair of Super Bowl titles in his five seasons with the Patriots. He enters his seventh NFL season in 2007.
Hochstein, a native of Hartington, Neb., and a graduate of Cedar Catholic High School, earned All-America honors from The Sporting News as an offensive guard at Nebraska in 2000. A team captain for the Huskers as a senior, Hochstein helped Nebraska to an NCAA rushing crown in 2000, when NU averaged 349.3 yards per game on the ground.
Hochstein was a contributor to Nebraska's 1997 national championship season as a freshman, and helped the Huskers to a Big 12 championship and a No. 2 final national ranking in the ESPN/USA Today/Coaches Poll as a junior in 1999. His senior season, Nebraska ended with a 10-2 mark that included a 66-17 pounding of Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. He started the final 29 games of his NU career.
Following his All-America career at Nebraska, Hochstein was chosen in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent just one season in Tampa, before joining the Patriots in 2002. He has spent five seasons in New England and helped the Patriots to championships in Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXVIV. He is one 45 former Huskers to make an appearance on football's grandest stage.
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FUTURE HUSKER SOFTBALL PLAYERS NAMED ALL-AMERICAN...
Incoming freshmen Ashley Guile and Kelli Linke were named first-team high school All-Americans.
Incoming freshman softball players Ashley Guile (Olathe [Kan.] East) and Kelli Linke (Lincoln Northeast) were both named to the 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA High School All-America first team, released on Tuesday, July 17, by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Guile and Linke were two of 16 players selected to the first team, with Guile being named as a first baseman and Linke as a utility player. Guile was named a first-team All-American for the second straight season, joining former Olathe East teammate and current Husker sophomore Alex Hupp as a two-time high school All-American. Linke was honored as an All-American for the first time in her career.
Guile helped lead East to its fourth consecutive Kansas 6A state title as a senior in 2007. She hit .507 with 30 RBIs and posted a .526 on-base percentage and .826 slugging percentage in her senior season, while ending her career as a four-time state champion in Kansas’ largest class.
Linke is the younger sister of former Husker Katie Linke (2003-06). In her senior season at Northeast in 2006, Kelli led the city with a .509 average, 11 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs, 37 runs scored and 34 RBIs, while earning her second straight first-team Super State selection from the Lincoln Journal Star.
Guile and Linke are among seven freshmen who will join the Nebraska softball team this fall. Fans can get their first look at the newcomers when the Huskers host their annual Big Red Fall Classic on Oct. 6 and 7 at Bowlin Stadium.
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Oklahoma to appeal NCAA decision
By MURRAY EVANS, Associated Press WriterJuly 12, 2007OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The University of Oklahoma plans to appeal the NCAA's ruling that the school was guilty of a "failure to monitor" the employment of players and must erase eight football victories from the 2005 season.
The NCAA also said Wednesday that the Sooners must cut two scholarships for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years in the case involving two players kicked off the team last August for being paid for work they didn't perform at a Norman car dealership.
Oklahoma president David Boren said the university will appeal the NCAA's "failure to monitor" finding and the ruling that Oklahoma must erase the 2005 wins. As of Thursday, Oklahoma had 14 days to notify the NCAA in writing of any such appeal.
"We do not believe that erasing the 2005 season from the record books is fair to the over 100 student athletes and coaches who played by the rules and worked their hearts out for a successful season that year," Boren said.
The Sooners went 8-4 and beat Oregon in the Holiday Bowl to end the 2005 season. Records from that season involving quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn must be erased, the NCAA said, and coach Bob Stoops' career record will be amended, dropping it from 86-19 in eight seasons to 78-19.
Oklahoma also will have two years of probation added to an earlier penalty, extending the Sooners' probation to May 23, 2010.
Those sanctions are in addition to those already self-imposed by Oklahoma, which has banned athletes from working at the car dealership until at least the 2008-09 academic year and moved to prevent the athletes' supervisor at the dealership, Brad McRae, from being involved with the program until at least August 2011.
Oklahoma also will reduce the number of football coaches who are allowed to recruit off campus this fall. The Sooners also dismissed Bomar, Quinn and walk-on Jermaine Hardison from the team.
Paul Dee, the athletic director at Miami and the interim chairman of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, said Oklahoma will be allowed to keep the money it received for playing in the 2005 Holiday Bowl, because the NCAA does not regulate bowl games.
"Although this case centered on a few violations involving three student-athletes, the committee finds this case to be significant and serious for several reasons," the NCAA report said, noting the length of time of the violations and the fact that Oklahoma had appeared before the committee in April 2006 regarding violations in its men's basketball program.
On Aug. 3 -- the day before the Sooners began preseason practice -- Stoops dismissed Bomar and Quinn from the team after the university determined they had been paid for work they didn't perform at Big Red Sports and Imports.
That led to an NCAA investigation, which found that Bomar, Quinn and Hardison had been paid for time they didn't work at the dealership and that Hardison had received payment for time he spent participating in a scrimmage and spring game.
The players and McRae engaged "in a deliberate scheme to deceive both the employer's payroll system and the university's employment monitoring system in an attempt to violate NCAA rules of which they were real aware," the report stated.
The committee found that Oklahoma "demonstrated a failure to monitor" the employment of several athletes, including some football players who worked during the academic year. The NCAA said that failure led to the university not detecting NCAA rules violations.
During the investigation, the university disputed that allegation, arguing that the NCAA should applaud, not penalize, its efforts to root out violations and noted that NCAA president Myles Brand told one news outlet that the university "acted with integrity in taking swift and decisive action."
Dee said Wednesday that Oklahoma should be praised for quickly dismissing the players from the team, calling that action "very influential on the committee."
Still, the committee said Oklahoma should have undertaken more extensive efforts to monitor the players' employment, because the dealership apparently was the largest employer of Oklahoma athletes.
Boren disagreed, saying in a statement that "any mistakes made by the athletic department compliance staff while monitoring would not have prevented the intentional wrongdoing by the student athletes and the employer involved."
Stoops said he "strongly supported" Boren's decision to appeal.
"Our current team is focused on the upcoming season," Stoops said. "The university is dealing with a matter that relates to the 2005 season. This group of players and those that will join our program later have no reason to be concerned about our goals or the direction of our program. Those things remain unchanged."
Both Bomar and Quinn lost a season of eligibility. Bomar has been ordered by the NCAA to pay back more than $7,400 in extra benefits to charity, while Quinn was told to pay back more than $8,100. Both players transferred to Division I-AA schools -- Bomar to Sam Houston State and Quinn to Montana -- where they can resume their careers this season.
Through Sam Houston State athletic department spokesman Paul Ridings, Bomar declined comment Wednesday.
When reached on his cell phone, Quinn said he didn't pay any attention to the infractions committee's ruling on Oklahoma, calling it "dumb" and referring to it with an expletive.
"I have no idea," Quinn said. "I don't care."
Oklahoma officials also appeared before the Committee on Infractions in April 2006 following an investigation into hundreds of improper recruiting phone calls by former basketball coach Kelvin Sampson's staff.
Oklahoma escaped major sanctions in that case, as the infractions committee also found the university guilty of a "failure to monitor," a less severe ruling than "lack of institutional control," which had been recommended by the NCAA's enforcement staff.
The committee mostly accepted the university's self-imposed sanctions, which included reductions in scholarships, recruiting calls and trips and visits to the school by prospective recruits.
Updated on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 2:58 am EDT
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NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND...
* Media Picks NU To Be No. 2 In Big 12 North
Reporters who cover Big 12 football have picked Nebraska to finish second in the Big 12 North Division. Missouri was picked to win the North and Texas was selected to win the South. Missouri returns 15 starters from last...
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/19/469fb78310957
* Purify Receives Sentences - Hopes To Make More Receptions For Huskers
Nebraska receiver Maurice Purify left court Wednesday knowing he must spend 12 months on probation and pay $1,250 in fines as a result of being convicted on four charges that resulted from two incidents that involved alcohol.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/18/469e9ecb64b10
* Kickoff For A Marriage Can Be Delayed For College Football
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/16/469b7589cf685
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Hope everyone that plans on attending our picnic this Sunday has made their reservations. The price goes up if you have not told us you were coming in advance. At last count we have over 80 confirmed Husker fans coming, and boy are we going to have a great time! The weather looks like its going to be perfect, and I can smell those ribeye steaks cooking and taste that home grown corn (thanks Don!) already! Hope to see you there! There's still room for some last minute reservations so if you still want to attend, let Mac know ASAP! Call him at 408-241-3514 or email him at macndona@mindspring.com And see our terrific website for more information about the picnic and other upcoming events: http://www.bayareahuskers.org/
Lots of other Husker news to pass along, so I'll cut this short.
Go Big Red (White and Blue),
Carl
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Husker Football Countdown Website!
Click here: Husker Football Countdown
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HUSKERS EARN 18 CoSIDA PUBLICATION AWARDS...
The Nebraska baseball media guide was named Best in the Nation by CoSIDA.
Lincoln - The University of Nebraska Media Relations Office earned 18 publication awards from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) during the 2006-07 season. The awards were officially announced during CoSIDA’s national convention in San Diego in early July.
Nebraska’s 18 CoSIDA awards led the nation, as the NU Media Relations Office has finished among the top five schools nationally in the overall publications contest for seven consecutive years. The University of Oklahoma finished second nationally with 15 awards.
Among Nebraska’s impressive list of award-winning publications, five Husker media and recruiting guides were ranked "Best in the Nation" for their respective sports, while seven other publications ranked among the top five nationally in their contests.
Nebraska Media Relations Keith Mann, Director of Media Relations Operations Jeff Griesch, Assistant Media Relations Directors Shamus McKnight and Jerry Trickie, Athletic Department Photographer Scott Bruhn, Athletic Department Design Coordinator Megan McLaughlin and Administrative Assistant Vicki Cartwright all assist in coordinating and producing Nebraska’s award-winning publications. Nebraska's interns and student-assistants also play a major role in the Huskers' success.
"We enjoyed another outstanding year by leading the nation in the number of award-winning guides that we produced as a team in the Nebraska Media Relations Office," Griesch said. "Our success in winning publication awards over the past seven years is just another example of the entire athletic department’s commitment to all of its programs. We have talented students, interns and full-time employees who come together and work as a team to produce all of our guides."
The Nebraska baseball media guide created and designed by McKnight was voted "Best in the Nation," as was intern Matt Smith's Nebraska softball media and recruiting guide. The men's track and field guide created by intern Andy Anderson added "Best in the Nation" honors, while media relations student-assistant Jess Schwager added a pair of No. 1 publications with her Husker bowling guide and rifle guides.
The Nebraska wrestling media guide designed and edited by Nate Rohr produced runner-up honors, while Schwager's rifle guide added another national award by finishing third in the single-sport brochure contest.
Another NU student-assistant, Brandon Gries, added a pair of fourth-place honors with his work on the Nebraska women's swimming and diving media guide and on the men's and women's cross country media guide.
Anderson's track and field guide added a fourth-place honor on the men's side, while the Nebraska soccer guide added a fifth-place showing under the direction of student-assistant Kelli Kremlacek. Griesch added a fifth-place award with the Nebraska women's golf guide.
The Nebraska football media guide designed and edited by Mann and Trickie added district runner-up honors, as did McLaughlin's Nebraska baseball poster.
Although CoSIDA formally announced its publication winners, the results of two contests remain unannounced, including volleyball and men's basketball.
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HUSKER BASEBALL SIGNS THREE PLAYERS...
University of Nebraska Baseball Coach Mike Anderson announced Wednesday the signings of three student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent to play baseball for the Husker program next season. The trio includes a pair of right-handed pitchers in Casey Hauptman (Omaha) and Aaron Pribanic (Plano, Texas) and catcher Drew Gray (Harrisonville, Mo.).
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HUSKER BASEBALL PLAYERS IN THE SUMMER LEAGUES...
Erik Bird is 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in eight appearances in the Cape Cod League.
With the summer leagues at the midway point, Huskers.com makes a quick swing around the country to check on Nebraska players in nation's best summer baseball leagues.
Two Huskers have spent the summer in the Cape Cod League, competing in the nation’s toughest summer league. Reliever Erik Bird has enjoyed a dominant summer, going 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA and two saves in eight games. The right-hander has allowed just seven hits in 11.2 innings and has an 8-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Second baseman Jake Opitz has also played a significant role for the Harwich Mariners, hitting .189 with a pair of RBIs in the wood-bat league.
A pair of Huskers helped Fayetteville (N.C.) to the Coastal Plains League first-half title with a 23-5 mark. Left-hander Brian Feekin has been one of the most impressive performers during the summer, going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts. He allowed and struck out 30 over 30.0 innings and opponents are hitting just .103 off the southpaw. Feekin earned player-of-the-week honors last week, allowing one hit and striking out six over nine innings against Outer Banks, a game Fayetteville eventually won 1-0 in 10 innings. He is joined in the Fayetteville lineup by Brett Sowers, who is hitting .198 with a homer, six doubles and five RBIs in 26 contests.
Another team that is on the verge of clinching a league title is Beatrice in the M.I.N.K. League, and it is no surprise that a couple of Huskers are leading the way for the Bruins. Thad Weber has been a strong two-way performer, hitting .357 with 18 RBIs in 13 contests, while also going a perfect 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA in five games. The right-hander has struck out 37 and surrendered just 15 hits over 30.0 innings of work for the Bruins. Another pitcher who is excelling in Beatrice is left-hander Zach Herr, who is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA as the team’s closer. He has struck out 18 and allowed just eight hits in 13 innings on the mound.
A number of Huskers are spending the summer in the Northwoods League. DJ Belfonte has followed up an impressive freshman season for the Big Red by hitting .250 with a pair of triples, 18 runs scored and swiping eight bases for the St. Cloud Riverbats. In Alexandria, third baseman Jeff Tezak is hitting .271 with 16 RBIs and eight stolen bases. Left-hander Dan Jennings has moved to the starting rotation for the Waterloo Bucks, going 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 30 innings of work, averaging nearly a strikeout per inning.
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NEBRASKA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2007 CLASS...
All-American Jason Peter led Nebraska to three national with fellow Hall of Fame inductee Eric Anderson.
All-American Jason Peter, who was a member of three national championship teams for the Huskers between 1994 and 1997, headlines a list of seven former Huskers players to be inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame this September, Nebraska Chapter President Irving Veitzer announced Thursday.
The Nebraska Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The 10-memberinduction class, which includes seven former Huskers and three members from the state college ranks, will be enshrined at a special reception on Friday, Sept. 21, and will be introduced at the Ball State game on Sept. 22.
The seven-player class of Huskers includes Lincoln native Eric Anderson, who helped NU to three national titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997 as a teammate of Peter's. Donta Jones helped Coach Tom Osborne claim his first title in 1994. Erik Wiegert was a captain on NU's 1991 Big Eight title squad and joins his younger brother Zach (1995) in the Hall of Fame. Peter also joins his older brother Christian (2006) in the Hall. Tyrone Legette, Kevin Ramaekers and Pioneer Division selection Adolph Wenke, round out NU's contingent in the 2007 Hall of Fame class.
The Nebraska Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The College Football Hall of Fame opened in South Bend, Ind., in 1995.
In addition to the Hall of Fame class, the Nebraska Chapter will present its Clarence Swanson Memorial Award to Joe Silverman of Lincoln, and its Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award to former Husker assistant coach George Darlington.
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FROM NEBRASKA TO THE NFL...JOSH AND DANIEL BULLOCKS, RUSS HOCHSTEIN...
Josh Bullocks will enter his third season as a safety with the New Orleans Saints in 2007.
By Jeff GrieschHuskers.com:
All this summer on Huskers.com, we are featuring football players who have enjoyed outstanding professional careers by making the transition from Nebraska to the NFL. Twin brothers Josh and Daniel Bullocks both played in the defensive backfield for the Huskers and have made their moves to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions.
Daniel, a captain for the Huskers as a senior in 2005, enjoyed a strong rookie season with the Detroit Lions in 2006. The native of Chattanooga, Tenn., led all NFL rookie defensive backs with 70 tackles, including 52 solos. The Hixson High School graduate added seven tackles on special teams and five pass breakups. He appeared in 15 games for the Lions, including seven starts.
Daniel joined the Lions after being chosen in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft with the 40th overall pick.
The younger of the twins by one minute, Josh preceded his older brother in the NFL by choosing to enter the draft following his junior season at Nebraska. Like his brother, Josh was chosen with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the draft, heading to the New Orleans Saints. Josh enjoyed a strong second season in the Big Easy, leading the Saints' secondary with 95 total tackles, while adding a pair of interceptions. In the NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears, Josh led the Saints with 11 total tackles.
In the NFC Divisional playoff win over Philadelphia, Josh added five tackles and three pass breakups to help the Saints. On the season, he started all 16 games for the club. His second season followed a solid rookie campaign in 2005, when he appeared in 16 games with 13 starts. He posted 70 tackles and an interception from his free safety position.
Josh earned All-America honors as a defensive back for Nebraska in 2003, when he ranked second nationally with 10 interceptions, which he returned a total of 154 yards. He tied a school record by intercepting a pass in four straight games, helping the Huskers lead the nation with 32 interceptions and 47 forced turnovers as a team on the season.
By Jeff GrieschHuskers.com:
All this summer on Huskers.com, we are featuring football players who have enjoyed outstanding professional careers by making the transition from Nebraska to the NFL.
Russ Hochstein has helped New England to a pair of Super Bowl titles in his five seasons with the Patriots. He enters his seventh NFL season in 2007.
Hochstein, a native of Hartington, Neb., and a graduate of Cedar Catholic High School, earned All-America honors from The Sporting News as an offensive guard at Nebraska in 2000. A team captain for the Huskers as a senior, Hochstein helped Nebraska to an NCAA rushing crown in 2000, when NU averaged 349.3 yards per game on the ground.
Hochstein was a contributor to Nebraska's 1997 national championship season as a freshman, and helped the Huskers to a Big 12 championship and a No. 2 final national ranking in the ESPN/USA Today/Coaches Poll as a junior in 1999. His senior season, Nebraska ended with a 10-2 mark that included a 66-17 pounding of Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. He started the final 29 games of his NU career.
Following his All-America career at Nebraska, Hochstein was chosen in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent just one season in Tampa, before joining the Patriots in 2002. He has spent five seasons in New England and helped the Patriots to championships in Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXVIV. He is one 45 former Huskers to make an appearance on football's grandest stage.
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FUTURE HUSKER SOFTBALL PLAYERS NAMED ALL-AMERICAN...
Incoming freshmen Ashley Guile and Kelli Linke were named first-team high school All-Americans.
Incoming freshman softball players Ashley Guile (Olathe [Kan.] East) and Kelli Linke (Lincoln Northeast) were both named to the 2007 Louisville Slugger/NFCA High School All-America first team, released on Tuesday, July 17, by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Guile and Linke were two of 16 players selected to the first team, with Guile being named as a first baseman and Linke as a utility player. Guile was named a first-team All-American for the second straight season, joining former Olathe East teammate and current Husker sophomore Alex Hupp as a two-time high school All-American. Linke was honored as an All-American for the first time in her career.
Guile helped lead East to its fourth consecutive Kansas 6A state title as a senior in 2007. She hit .507 with 30 RBIs and posted a .526 on-base percentage and .826 slugging percentage in her senior season, while ending her career as a four-time state champion in Kansas’ largest class.
Linke is the younger sister of former Husker Katie Linke (2003-06). In her senior season at Northeast in 2006, Kelli led the city with a .509 average, 11 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs, 37 runs scored and 34 RBIs, while earning her second straight first-team Super State selection from the Lincoln Journal Star.
Guile and Linke are among seven freshmen who will join the Nebraska softball team this fall. Fans can get their first look at the newcomers when the Huskers host their annual Big Red Fall Classic on Oct. 6 and 7 at Bowlin Stadium.
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Oklahoma to appeal NCAA decision
By MURRAY EVANS, Associated Press WriterJuly 12, 2007OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The University of Oklahoma plans to appeal the NCAA's ruling that the school was guilty of a "failure to monitor" the employment of players and must erase eight football victories from the 2005 season.
The NCAA also said Wednesday that the Sooners must cut two scholarships for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years in the case involving two players kicked off the team last August for being paid for work they didn't perform at a Norman car dealership.
Oklahoma president David Boren said the university will appeal the NCAA's "failure to monitor" finding and the ruling that Oklahoma must erase the 2005 wins. As of Thursday, Oklahoma had 14 days to notify the NCAA in writing of any such appeal.
"We do not believe that erasing the 2005 season from the record books is fair to the over 100 student athletes and coaches who played by the rules and worked their hearts out for a successful season that year," Boren said.
The Sooners went 8-4 and beat Oregon in the Holiday Bowl to end the 2005 season. Records from that season involving quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn must be erased, the NCAA said, and coach Bob Stoops' career record will be amended, dropping it from 86-19 in eight seasons to 78-19.
Oklahoma also will have two years of probation added to an earlier penalty, extending the Sooners' probation to May 23, 2010.
Those sanctions are in addition to those already self-imposed by Oklahoma, which has banned athletes from working at the car dealership until at least the 2008-09 academic year and moved to prevent the athletes' supervisor at the dealership, Brad McRae, from being involved with the program until at least August 2011.
Oklahoma also will reduce the number of football coaches who are allowed to recruit off campus this fall. The Sooners also dismissed Bomar, Quinn and walk-on Jermaine Hardison from the team.
Paul Dee, the athletic director at Miami and the interim chairman of the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions, said Oklahoma will be allowed to keep the money it received for playing in the 2005 Holiday Bowl, because the NCAA does not regulate bowl games.
"Although this case centered on a few violations involving three student-athletes, the committee finds this case to be significant and serious for several reasons," the NCAA report said, noting the length of time of the violations and the fact that Oklahoma had appeared before the committee in April 2006 regarding violations in its men's basketball program.
On Aug. 3 -- the day before the Sooners began preseason practice -- Stoops dismissed Bomar and Quinn from the team after the university determined they had been paid for work they didn't perform at Big Red Sports and Imports.
That led to an NCAA investigation, which found that Bomar, Quinn and Hardison had been paid for time they didn't work at the dealership and that Hardison had received payment for time he spent participating in a scrimmage and spring game.
The players and McRae engaged "in a deliberate scheme to deceive both the employer's payroll system and the university's employment monitoring system in an attempt to violate NCAA rules of which they were real aware," the report stated.
The committee found that Oklahoma "demonstrated a failure to monitor" the employment of several athletes, including some football players who worked during the academic year. The NCAA said that failure led to the university not detecting NCAA rules violations.
During the investigation, the university disputed that allegation, arguing that the NCAA should applaud, not penalize, its efforts to root out violations and noted that NCAA president Myles Brand told one news outlet that the university "acted with integrity in taking swift and decisive action."
Dee said Wednesday that Oklahoma should be praised for quickly dismissing the players from the team, calling that action "very influential on the committee."
Still, the committee said Oklahoma should have undertaken more extensive efforts to monitor the players' employment, because the dealership apparently was the largest employer of Oklahoma athletes.
Boren disagreed, saying in a statement that "any mistakes made by the athletic department compliance staff while monitoring would not have prevented the intentional wrongdoing by the student athletes and the employer involved."
Stoops said he "strongly supported" Boren's decision to appeal.
"Our current team is focused on the upcoming season," Stoops said. "The university is dealing with a matter that relates to the 2005 season. This group of players and those that will join our program later have no reason to be concerned about our goals or the direction of our program. Those things remain unchanged."
Both Bomar and Quinn lost a season of eligibility. Bomar has been ordered by the NCAA to pay back more than $7,400 in extra benefits to charity, while Quinn was told to pay back more than $8,100. Both players transferred to Division I-AA schools -- Bomar to Sam Houston State and Quinn to Montana -- where they can resume their careers this season.
Through Sam Houston State athletic department spokesman Paul Ridings, Bomar declined comment Wednesday.
When reached on his cell phone, Quinn said he didn't pay any attention to the infractions committee's ruling on Oklahoma, calling it "dumb" and referring to it with an expletive.
"I have no idea," Quinn said. "I don't care."
Oklahoma officials also appeared before the Committee on Infractions in April 2006 following an investigation into hundreds of improper recruiting phone calls by former basketball coach Kelvin Sampson's staff.
Oklahoma escaped major sanctions in that case, as the infractions committee also found the university guilty of a "failure to monitor," a less severe ruling than "lack of institutional control," which had been recommended by the NCAA's enforcement staff.
The committee mostly accepted the university's self-imposed sanctions, which included reductions in scholarships, recruiting calls and trips and visits to the school by prospective recruits.
Updated on Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 2:58 am EDT
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NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND...
* Media Picks NU To Be No. 2 In Big 12 North
Reporters who cover Big 12 football have picked Nebraska to finish second in the Big 12 North Division. Missouri was picked to win the North and Texas was selected to win the South. Missouri returns 15 starters from last...
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/19/469fb78310957
* Purify Receives Sentences - Hopes To Make More Receptions For Huskers
Nebraska receiver Maurice Purify left court Wednesday knowing he must spend 12 months on probation and pay $1,250 in fines as a result of being convicted on four charges that resulted from two incidents that involved alcohol.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/18/469e9ecb64b10
* Kickoff For A Marriage Can Be Delayed For College Football
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/07/16/469b7589cf685
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Visit our Bay Area Huskers website for additional Husker information, Links, Upcoming Events, Past Events, Watch Sites, and the Schedule of Games. Also order Merchandise online, and get information on Husker Scholarships. Check out the History of the Huskers and meet our Directors.
Say hello today, email us, sign up for our newsletter, and become a member of the Bay Area Huskers Alumni Chapter.
Bay Area Husker ENews 7-3-07
Happy Independence Day Bay Area Husker Fans,
Since its been awhile since my last email, there is lots of other great news to pass. Great academic success, Pavan named Women Athlete of the Year, Volleyball team goes to the White House, and other Husker news below. You should also check out the Declaration of Independence and an audio website narration of the Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton near the end of the email. And of course there is some Husker Humor at the end. Enjoy and have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Go Big Red (White and Blue), and Happy Birthday America!!!
Carl
Bay Area Husker Big Red Roundup Picnic...
We're gearing up for our big Bay Area Husker event of the summer and we'd like to make sure everyone gets a chance to attend. Our annual picnic is just around the corner and we hope you have already registered. If not check out our registration form on our website: http://www.bayareahuskers.org/ , print the form and send it in.
The old saying for corn growers in Nebraska used to be "Knee High By the Fourth of July", and the song "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" from the play "Oklahoma" claims "The corn is as high as an elephant's eye, an' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky." Well, neither one of these phrases holds a candle to what Kernel (aka Corn King) Don Pace is growing in Stockton for our annual picnic.
Here is his take on this year's corn crop:
"THE HAY IS IN THE BARN, WE ARE GO FOR PICNIC. To quote the great Red Skelton, WE DOOD IT. This is the most phenominal corn I have ever grown. Two months ago today, we planted the seed. Today, much of the corn plants are from seven to nine feet tall. If it tastes as good as it looks, we have found a new picnic corn. Its name is Temptation. As tall as the corn is, I probably will need a ladder to pick it. So, gang, get the steaks, the beans, the potato salad and Charlie's Band ready, WE ARE GOING TO EAT!!!!! GO BIG RED!!!"
So get your reservations into Mac as soon as you get done reading this and join the rest of the Bay Area Huskers on the 22nd for our Big Red Roundup picnic.
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HUSKER PRODUCE STELLAR ACADEMIC RESULTS...
Sarah Pavan became the first Husker to win the Honda-Broderick Cup in 2007.
Husker student-athletes added another chapter to the University of Nebraska’s tradition as a national academic leader in 2006-07. Nebraska’s academic success reached new heights, as the Huskers increased their nation-leading total of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans across all sports to 248 with four new honorees.
Nebraska also celebrated the crowning of its first-ever Honda Broderick Cup winner - Husker volleyball star Sarah Pavan - who also claimed the Honda Award, CoSIDA Academic All-American-of-the-Year and National Player-of-the-Year awards for NU’s national champion volleyball team.
Nebraska led the nation with nine CoSIDA Academic All-Americans across all sports, including five first-team honorees. Coach Gary Pepin’s Husker track and field team produced the most impressive academic accomplishments with five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, including a nation-leading four first-team honorees (Jenny Green, Nate Probasco, Ashley Selig and Issar Yazhbin).
Nebraska’s academic excellence was also demonstrated on the football field and the classroom by senior fullback Dane Todd, who became NU’s second winner of a prestigious Walter Byers NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship worth $21,500. Todd, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, was also the winner of a $7,500 Prentice Gautt Big 12 Conference Postgraduate Scholarship. Nebraska women’s swimmer Lauren Bailey was also honored with Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship worth $7,500 from the Big 12.
Across all sports, Nebraska student-athletes claimed 131 Academic All-Big 12 selections across all sports, including 109 first-team Academic All-Big 12 honorees. NU student-athletes also earned a Big 12-leading 525 spots on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall and Spring Academic Honor Rolls, 46 more than a year ago. To earn a spot on the honor roll, a student-athlete must earn a 3.0 grade-point average during the semester. During the fall and spring semesters combined, a Big 12-leading 79 Husker student-athletes produced perfect 4.0 semester GPAs, seven more than 2005-06.
The University of Nebraska Athletic Department took one special night to honor its own student-athletes on April 15 at the 17th annual Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet. Approximately 800 people were in attendance at the Bob Devaney Sports Center to see 206 student-athletes honored during the banquet, including Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Dane Todd (football) and Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Stephanie Carter (women’s gymnastics).
The Nebraska rifle team earned the department’s most coveted team award by capturing the 13th annual Herman Award. The rifle team, which posted a top-five team finish at the NCAA Championships, produced a stellar 3.675 team GPA to claim the women’s award. Coach Jay Dirksen’s cross country team earned the Herman Award on the men’s side with a 3.096 combined GPA in 2006, marking the sixth time the team has won the award, including each of the last five seasons.
The hard work, dedication and commitment of Nebraska’s student-athletes in the classroom resulted in 95 current or former student-athletes earning degrees from August of 2006 through May of 2007.
In fact, the Huskers continued to set the graduation standard among Big 12 Conference schools by increasing their Exhausted Eligibility Graduation Rate to 94 percent. The Exhausted Eligibility Rate surveys the graduation rate of scholarship student-athletes who entered the University of Nebraska from 1990 through 1999 and exhausted their athletic eligibility at Nebraska.
Coach Bill Callahan’s Husker football program was one of just 34 teams honored nationwide by the American Football Coaches Association with its 2007 Academic Achievement Award in May. Nebraska, which has earned the AFCA award seven straight seasons, was recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of its football student-athletes from the freshman class of 2001-02.
In the community, Husker student-athletes reached nearly 100,000 people throughout the state of Nebraska in 2006-07. Cornerstone outreach programs included the statewide Tour of Excellence, American Education Week and "School is Cool" Celebration. In addition to those programs, individual student-athletes continued to make countless appearances in classrooms and community groups throughout the year.
The 2006-07 season marked the fourth year of the Huskers’ innovative Life Skills Award of Excellence Team Competition, which honored the team that demonstrated the strongest commitment to all phases of the life skills program, including outreach, education and leadership. Coach John Cook and the Nebraska volleyball team captured the team trophy for the first time. This award was presented at Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Academic Recognition Banquet in April.
Academic All-America Tradition - Huskers Increase Nation-Leading All-America Total to 248
Nebraska student-athletes brought home nine CoSIDA Academic All-America awards during the 2006-07 campaign to increase Nebraska’s NCAA record total of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans to 248 - 59 more than No. 2 Notre Dame.
Nebraska’s CoSIDA Academic All-America contingent included Sarah Pavan (volleyball, first-team), Jenny Green (track, first-team), Nate Probasco (track, first-team), Ashley Selig (track, first-team), Issar Yazhbin (track, first-team), Dane Todd (football, second-team), Imke Reimers (women’s tennis, second team) and Stephen Tetrault (men’s gymnastics, third team).
Nebraska was one of only three schools in the nation across all divisions with more than eight CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in 2006-07, joining Tennessee and Notre Dame. The Huskers increased their nation-leading total of first-team All-Americans to an amazing 128 across all sports.
Five of Nebraska’s nine CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in 2006-07 will return to action for the Huskers in 2007-08, and 2005 volleyball Academic All-American Christina Houghtelling is also expected to return for her final season.
Academic All-Big 12 Conference - 131 Huskers Earn League HonorsNebraska was one of five league schools to have more than 100 student-athletes honored on Academic All-Big 12 teams in 2006-07. The Huskers brought home 131 Academic All-Big 12 awards across all sports, including Big 12-leading totals in women’s track and field (22), volleyball (8) and women’s golf (5). Coach Bill Callahan’s Nebraska football team added 22 Academic All-Big 12 awards, including a conference-leading 15 first-team honorees.
Coach Gary Pepin’s men’s track and field squad added 18 Academic All-Big 12 awards, giving the combined program a league-leading total of 40, three more its total from a year ago that also led the conference.
Among the 131 NU student-athletes named to Academic All-Big 12 teams, 109 earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors, which requires a 3.20 grade-point average or higher and a minimum participation requirement. Missouri was the only other school in the conference to put more than 100 student-athletes on various first-team Academic All-Big 12 teams. Twenty-two other Husker student-athletes grabbed second-team honors by posting a GPA between 3.0 and 3.19.
Overall, Nebraska had 525 student-athletes honored on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll during the fall and spring semesters combined, including a Big 12-leading 79 student-athletes who posted perfect 4.0 GPA semesters in either the fall or spring. NU totals represented an impressive increase of 46 honorees, including seven more 4.0 GPA semesters than a year ago, and a total of 14 more than 2004-05.
255 HUSKERS EARN SPOTS ON BIG 12 HONOR ROLL...
An impressive list of 255 Nebraska student-athletes across all sports claimed spots on the Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll released on Monday, June 11. Among the 255 student-athletes who achieved 3.0 or better grade-point averages during the semester, 46 Huskers posted perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Overall for the academic year, Nebraska student-athletes earned 525 spots on the Big 12 fall and spring honor rolls, including 79 perfect 4.0 semesters.
Nebraska's approach to recruiting the nation's finest student-athletes yielded a remarkably diverse contingent of spring academic honorees that included representatives of 23 U.S. states and 17 foreign countries, including honor roll members from four Canadian provinces. The Huskers' Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll class also carried a distinct state flavor with 104 native Nebraskans among the 255 award winners.
A talented and remarkably diverse group of Nebraska student-athletes received diplomas during spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 5, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The Huskers’ 53-member graduating class consists of student-athletes from 20 U.S. states and five foreign countries, including Austria, Canada, Colombia, Poland and Serbia. All 23 of Nebraska’s varsity sports are represented by at least one student-athlete in the graduating class, while the Huskers graduated with nearly 30 different majors in their fields of study. While the class is strikingly diverse, 16 native Nebraskans make up nearly a third of the class.
Nebraska’s graduating class includes nine student-athletes who combined for 16 All-America awards, including 2006 NCAA air rifle champion Kristina Fehlings.
AFCA HONORS NEBRASKA FOR FOOTBALL GRAD RATE...
Nebraska was one of 34 schools nationally to have its football program recognized Thursday with the 2007 Academic Achievement Award by the American Football Coaches Association.
The Huskers were one of just 34 Division I-A schools to be honored for graduating 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes. Just four of the 34 schools were honored for graduating 90 percent or more of its student-athletes.
Nebraska has been honored by the AFCA for its 70 percent or better graduation rate for seven straight years and 11 times since 1994. The Huskers were one of four Big 12 schools honored by the AFCA, joining Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech that also graduated 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes.
Northwestern and Notre Dame led the nation with 95 percent graduation rates for their freshman classes of 2001-02, while Duke and Vanderbilt had rates of 90 percent or better.
In addition to Nebraska and the other Big 12 schools, those honored at the 70 percent or higher level were Alabama, Arkansas State, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, TCU, Toledo, Troy, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington State and Wisconsin.
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TODD AWARDED HIGHEST NCAA ACADEMIC HONOR...
Former Husker fullback Dane Todd completed his undergraduate work with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
Former Husker fullback Dane Todd continued to gain recognition for his academic excellence this week, as he was awarded the Walter Byers Scholarship, the NCAA’s highest academic honor. Todd was selected as the men’s recipient of the award, while Katie Kingsbury (women’s tennis) of Washington & Lee University was selected among the women.
The Walter Byers Scholarships were established in 1988 and recognizes the contributions of former NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. The awards encourage academic achievement of student-athletes and each Byers Scholar receives a $21,500 scholarship. Winners have the option of renewing the scholarship for a second year based on his or her academic standing.
Todd, who graduated from Nebraska with a degree in biological sciences in May of 2006 with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, finished his career with the Huskers in 2006. During his time at NU, Todd was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection for his work on the field, while adding multiple awards for his academic excellence. Todd was a CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American in 2005 and a second-team pick last fall. He was a four-time member of the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team and a two-time Wuerffel Award finalist. Todd was also recently honored as the Nebraska Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Todd’s superior performance extends to his community involvement, where he has volunteered his time with American Education Week, "School is Cool" Week, the Dads of Kids with Disabilities, the UNL Shadowing Program, and numerous hospital visits and speaking engagements. Todd has been a representative on the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee each of the past three years and is also a Big 12 Community Champion.
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HUSKERS EXPAND CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION IN 2006-07...
The Nebraska volleyball team won the Huskers' 23rd national title across all sports in 2006-07.
University of Nebraska athletic teams continued to grow their championship tradition in 2006-07, highlighted by 15 NCAA Tournament appearances by Cornhusker teams, including a third NCAA title for the NU volleyball program, and a New Year’s Day bowl game for the football team.
The Huskers also re-established themselves as the dominant athletic program in the Big 12 North. Along with conference championships won by the volleyball, women’s gymnastics and men’s indoor track and field teams, the Nebraska football team won the Big 12 North Division title. The women’s basketball, women’s indoor and outdoor track, men’s and women’s golf and men’s tennis teams were also the best North Division teams in the Big 12. Overall, Nebraska teams finished first or second among the Big 12 North schools in 18 of NU’s 23 sports.
Coach John Cook’s Nebraska volleyball team enjoyed the greatest success, winning the program’s third national championship in the last 12 seasons. The Huskers advanced to the NCAA title match for the sixth time in school history and rolled to a victory over Stanford in front a record crowd at the Qwest Center Omaha. NU also stretched its streak of consecutive home sellouts at the Coliseum to 90 and won the Big 12 Conference title. The national title made Nebraska one of just 28 Division I schools across the country to capture at least one of the NCAA’s 36 championships in 2006-07.
The volleyball team’s amazing success came despite losing 2005 AVCA National Player-of-the-Year Christina Houghtelling to injury before the start of the 2006 campaign. The returning Huskers more than picked up the slack, as Sarah Pavan captured 2006 AVCA National Player-of-the-Year honors, while also being named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year.
Nebraska will return both Houghtelling and Pavan along with All-Americans Jordan Larson, Tracy Stalls and Rachel Holloway to make a run at back-to-back national titles in 2007.
The Nebraska volleyball team was not alone in producing its second straight National Player-of-the-Year, as Coach Bill Straub’s Husker bowling team featured 2007 National Player of the Year Amanda Burgoyne and 2006 National Player-of-the-Year Lindsay Baker. Burgoyne and Baker, along with 2007 National Rookie-of-the-Year Cassandra Leuthold, helped the Huskers to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Individually, 28 Nebraska student-athletes captured 37 All-America awards in their respective sports, including NCAA 125-pound wrestling champion Paul Donahoe. The sophomore from Davison, Mich., will return to lead Coach Mark Manning’s wrestling team in the years to come.
Across the board, the future looks bright for Nebraska’s athletic programs. Among NU’s 28 All-Americans, 19 were underclassmen who will return in 2007-08, including five freshmen, six sophomores and eight juniors that combined to claim 25 All-America certificates in 2006-07.
The Nebraska rifle program added a top-five NCAA finish in 2006-07, by finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships. The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team led by Coach Dan Kendig continued its outstanding tradition by adding a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships after advancing to the NCAA Super Six Finals for the eighth time in the past 10 years. The women’s gymnastics team also reclaimed the Big 12 Conference crown, while featuring one of the best gymnasts in school history - Emily Parsons. The Big 12 Co-Gymnast of the Year, Parsons smashed the school record for individual event titles in her career while claiming her ninth career All-America award at the NCAA Championships. The junior from St. Charles, Mo., will return to lead the Huskers again next year.
The Husker men’s gymnastics team earned its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships and finished 10th overall to give Nebraska’s its fifth top-10 national team finish across all sports in 2006-07. Junior Stephen Tetrault and sophomore T.J. Schmidt combined for three All-America awards to lead Coach Francis Allen’s young squad that featured 11 newcomers.
Coach Gary Pepin’s Nebraska track and field programs added to their remarkable tradition of success with the men claiming the Big 12 Conference title indoors. Men’s and women’s track and field athletes combined to capture 13 All-America awards during the indoor and outdoor seasons, including an NCAA runner-up finish from Dusty Jonas in the indoor high jump.
The Nebraska football team added to the Huskers’ Big 12 hardware haul in 2006-07 by winning the Big 12 North Division title to earn a bid in the Big 12 Championship Game. Nebraska finished the season with nine victories and earned a New Year’s Day bowl bid to the Cotton Bowl in Coach Bill Callahan’s third season at the helm. Nebraska also stretched its NCAA-record consecutive home sellout streak to 282 games, while Memorial Stadium’s capacity expanded beyond 80,000 for the first time in school history. Quarterback Zac Taylor rewrote Nebraska’s career passing record book and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Four Huskers were chosen in the NFL Draft, including first-round pick Adam Carriker who became the 32nd Husker in history to be drafted in the first round. Carriker was also named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Coach Connie Yori’s Nebraska women’s basketball team continued its progress by earning its fourth consecutive postseason tournament berth by advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. Honorable-mention All-American Kiera Hardy was chosen in the third round of the WNBA Draft, while sophomore Kelsey Griffin joined Hardy as a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
On the men’s side, first-year coach Doc Sadler jump-started the Nebraska basketball program, leading the Huskers to a win over No. 20 Creighton and a regular-season sweep of Missouri, along with a road win at Texas Tech and a home win over Oklahoma State in NU’s regular-season finale. Sadler will hope to lead the Huskers to increased success in the future after signing one of the nation’s top 20 recruiting classes for 2007-08.
Coach Mike Anderson’s Nebraska baseball team earned an NCAA Regional berth for the eighth time in nine years and advanced to the championship round of the Tempe Regional. Following the season, eight Huskers were chosen in the top 35 rounds of the Major League Draft.
The Nebraska softball team led by Coach Rhonda Revelle advanced to its 13th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and played host to an NCAA Regional at Bowlin Stadium for the fourth time in the past five years. NU finished with a 37-20 record, as the Huskers posted at least 35 wins for the 10th straight season.
The Nebraska men’s and women’s golf teams both advanced to NCAA Regional competition for the second straight seasons.
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HUSKERS FINALIZE 2008/09 FOOTBALL SCHEDULES...
2008 Nebraska Football Schedule
2009 Nebraska Football Schedule
Memorial Stadium will play host to eight home games in 2008.
Nebraska has announced the addition of five non-conference home games during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, completing the schedules for those two seasons.
The games announced for the 2008 season include Sept. 6 against San Jose State, Sept. 13 against New Mexico State and Sept. 27 versus Western Michigan. In 2009 Nebraska has finalized contracts with Louisiana-Lafayette (Sept. 12) and Arkansas State (Sept. 26). Each of the five schools agreed to one-game contracts to play the Huskers in Lincoln.
The non-conference contests complete the Huskers’ schedules for both the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. Previously, Nebraska announced a home-and-home series with Virginia Tech that will bring the Hokies to Lincoln on Sept. 20, 2008, with Nebraska traveling to Blacksburg on Sept. 19, 2009. Additionally, Nebraska previously announced a Sept. 5, 2009 home matchup against Florida Atlantic.
“We are pleased to have the 2008 and 2009 schedules finalized,” Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson said. “We are extremely excited about Virginia Tech highlighting our schedule for those two seasons. That should be a great intersectional home-and-home series against one of the nation’s top programs, and I know our fans are looking forward to the trip to Blacksburg.
“The additional games we have added complement the Virginia Tech series very well. With the permanent 12-game schedule, we have talked regularly about trying to play eight home games on occasion and we are excited the 2008 season will present us that opportunity.”
The addition of three home games to the 2008 schedule will give Nebraska eight home games during that season. The 2008 campaign will mark the sixth time in school history Nebraska will play host to eight home games. Nebraska most recently played eight home games in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
In addition to opening the season with four non-conference home games, the Huskers are also scheduled to open Big 12 action at home. Nebraska will host Missouri on Oct. 4 at Memorial Stadium, giving the Huskers five straight home games to begin the season. The 2008 season will mark the fifth time in school history Nebraska has opened the year with five consecutive home games, most recently in 2005.
Nebraska’s meeting with San Jose State will mark the second between the two schools, and the second time Nebraska has met the Spartans in a season opener. The Huskers opened the 2000 season with a 49-13 victory over San Jose State at Memorial Stadium.
San Jose State is a member of the Western Athletic Conference and finished the 2006 season with a 9-4 record and a victory over New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl. SJSU is coached by former Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, who completed his first season at the school in 2006. This fall the Spartans will play non-conference road games against Arizona State, Kansas State and Stanford.
The 2008 matchup against New Mexico State will mark the third meeting on the football field between the two schools. Nebraska defeated the Aggies, 57-0, at Memorial Stadium in 1979 and shut out New Mexico State, 68-0 in Lincoln in the 1982 season.
New Mexico State finished with a 4-8 record in 2006 and capped the year with victories over Utah State and Louisiana Tech. The Aggies are coached by Hal Mumme and ranked second nationally in passing offense, averaging 399.3 yards per game. NMSU also ranked third nationally in total offense and 15th in scoring offense.
Nebraska and Western Michigan will meet for the first time on the gridiron in 2008. The game will also mark the second straight season the Huskers will play a member of the Mid-American Conference, including a home game this fall against Ball State on Sept. 22. Prior to this season’s meeting with Ball State, Nebraska has played just three games against current members of the MAC, a 1997 contest against Akron and 1989 and 1990 games against Northern Illinois.
Western Michigan is coached by Bill Cubit, who is entering his third year with the Broncos in 2007. Last season Western Michigan finished with an 8-5 record, including a 6-2 record in the Mid-American Conference, good for second in the league’s Western Division. The Broncos lost to Cincinnati in the inaugural International Bowl, the school’s first bowl bid since the 1988 California Bowl, the school’s only other bowl trip. Western Michigan was powered by a strong defense in 2006, as the Broncos finished 11th nationally in total defense. This fall the Broncos will face non-conference games against Indiana, Missouri, Iowa and West Virginia.
With non-conference games against three teams that played in bowl games in 2006, the Huskers’ 2008 schedule will include seven teams that played in bowl games last fall.
In 2009, the Huskers will play three non-conference home games, sandwiched around the road trip to Virginia Tech. Nebraska will open the season at home on Sept. 5 against Florida Atlantic, a game that was finalized last summer.
The meetings with Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State in 2009 are the first for Nebraska against both schools. Both Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
Lousiana-Lafayette finished the 2006 campaign with a 6-6 overall record, highlighted by a road win at Houston. The Ragin’ Cajuns are coached by Rickey Bustle and featured a powerful rushing attack in 2006, finishing 11th nationally in rushing offense.
Arkansas State also finished the year with a 6-6 record in 2006, including a 4-3 conference record and a victory over Sun Belt champion Troy. The Indians are led by coach Steve Roberts, who is entering his sixth year at the school in 2007. Arkansas State’s 2007 schedule includes road trips to Texas, Tennessee and Southern Miss.
In addition to the 2008 and 2009 schedules, Nebraska has previously announced future home-and-home series with Washington (2010, 2011), UCLA (2012, 2013) and Tennessee (2016, 2017).
HUSKERS-USC SET FOR PRIME TIME ABC TELECAST...
Nebraska and Southern California will play in prime time before a national television audience for the second straight season this September. The Sept. 15 game will kick off at 7 p.m. CDT from Memorial Stadium and will mark the second straight year the clash between two of college football’s traditional powerhouses will be part of ABC’s Saturday Night Football television package.
The Nebraska-USC game is one of five confirmed games in the Saturday night television package. Additional Nebraska games could be selected for the Saturday night package six to 12 days in advance of the game day.
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MARK MYER HIRED AS HUSKER FOOTBALL ATHLETIC TRAINER...
Lonnie Albers announced today the hiring of Mark Mayer (pronounced Meyer) as Nebraska’s Head Football Athletic Trainer. He will begin his duties on Monday, May 14.
Mayer comes to Nebraska with more than a dozen years of experience in athletic medicine and has been the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Oakland Raiders for the past nine years.
Mayer looks forward to his new position. “I’m very excited to be a part of the Nebraska family and the great Cornhusker football tradition,” Mayer said. “I look forward to working with Coach Callahan, Dr. Lonnie Albers, Jerry Weber and the rest of the medical staff.”
Prior to joining the Raiders, first as an athletic trainer intern in 1995 and gaining full-time status in 1998 as a strength and conditioning assistant for the Raiders, Mayer served as a student athletic trainer for UC Davis from 1992 to 1994. He was named a full-time assistant athletic trainer for Oakland in 1999 and served in that capacity for Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003 when the AFC Champion Raiders faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his 11 years with the Raiders, Mayer worked with Coach Callahan and former Husker players Adam Treu, John Parrella, Eric Johnson and Fabian Washington and also worked with current Husker assistant coach and former Raider Randy Jordan.
Originally from San Leandro, Calif., Mayer graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1994. He earned his bachelor’s of science degree in physical education and is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Married to the former Kira Schoeneman, Mayer and his wife have two children, 4-year old daughter Savannah Audren and 1-year old son Boston Zachary.
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HUSKER BASEBALL RECAP....LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL VISIT STANFORD NEXT YEAR FOR A FOUR GAME OPENER...
(Thanks to Duane for catching this...hopefully we can gather the clan to cheer them on!)...
http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/06/09/
huskerextra/doc4669db2e8fea7055003511.txt
ERIC NEWMAN NAMED HUSKERS PITCHING COACH...
University of Nebraska Baseball Coach Mike Anderson announced the hiring of Eric Newman as the Huskers’ pitching coach. Newman comes to Nebraska after five years at Dallas Baptist University, serving the last three seasons as head coach of the Patriots program.
Anderson said that Newman’s ability to develop pitchers and pitching staffs and his proven ability to recruit in the Big 12 region stood out when choosing Newman for the opening on the Husker coaching staff.
CHAMBERLAIN NAMED TO XM ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME ROSTER...
Former Nebraska All-American Joba Chamberlain received another honor on Thursday, as he was selected by Major League Baseball and Baseball America for the 2007 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game.
Chamberlain, a second-team All-American at Nebraska in 2005, will lead a group of 25 prospects on the Team USA Roster that will go against 25 prospects on the World Roster on Sunday, July 8, at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. The game will be televised nationally at 3 p.m. (central) on ESPN2 to begin All-Star game week activities. The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 176) beginning at 2:30 p.m. that day.
A first-round draft pick in 2006, Chamberlain has opened his professional career with a flourish, going 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in nine starts between Class-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in the New York Yankees organization.
FIVE HUSKERS SIGN PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS AND SEVEN DRAFTED...
Five members of the 2007 Nebraska baseball team have signed with Major League teams and are in the process of beginning their professional careers. Pitchers Drew Bowman, Matt Foust, Tony Watson and Luke Wertz and first baseman Andrew Brown were among the eight Huskers recently selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Seven Husker baseball players, including six pitchers, were taken on the second day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Friday afternoon.
The Huskers picked during the final 45 rounds included pitchers Matt Foust (sixth, Pittsburgh), Tony Watson (ninth, Pittsburgh), Luke Wertz (13th, Philadelphia), Steve Edlefsen (16th, San Francisco), Charlie Shirek (23rd, Chicago) and Thad Weber (35th, Cincinnati). In addition, senior first baseman Andrew Brown was an 18th-round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals.
The eight selections ties for the second-highest single-season total in school history and was one off the school record of nine set in 1983. It also marks the eighth straight year where at least four Huskers were selected.
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NU's PAVAN IS NATIONAL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR...
Congratulations Sarah! National Female Athlete of the Year. That's a good as it gets, even for a perfectionist, on the court and in the classroom, like young Ms. Pavan. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/27/4682b876c32e1
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HUSKER VOLLEYBALL NOMINATED FOR ESPY....
The Huskers volleyball team received an ESPY Award nomination on Tuesday.
The Nebraska volleyball team’s performance during the 2006 season was rewarded this week, as it earned an ESPY Nomination.
The Huskers, who went 33-1 en route to the school’s third national title, is one of six nominees for the “Undeniable Performance” – honoring the best female collegiate team of the year.
Nebraska was ranked No. 1 the entire season and won the national championship with a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Stanford in front of an NCAA record crowd of 17,209 at Qwest Center Omaha last December.
Fan voting is now underway for the ESPYs (http://www.espys.tv/?DB_OEM_ID=100) from now until 10:59 p.m. on July 7, as fan voting will determine the winners in each category. Other nominees for the award include Arizona softball, North Carolina soccer, Northwestern Lacrosse, Tennessee basketball and Wisconsin hockey.
The event will be televised nationally on ESPN on Sunday, July 15 at 8 p.m, (central) from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
COOK RECEIVES FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION...
University of Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson announced this week that Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook has signed a five-year contract extension.
Cook, who has guided the Husker volleyball program to a 220-14 record since taking over in 2000, will now be under contract through the 2011 season. This extension replaces the four-year contract Cook signed in 2004.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY RAY!!!!....
In the 7/1/07 Sunday's Mercury News Entertainment Section is a fine picture of Emily and Mike Ray (BAH Board Member), and a story about Emily's honorary award which she received at the Italian American Heritage Foundation Achievements Awards event for her work as the musical director of the Mission Chamber Orchestra. (thanks to Donna McBeth for sending this)
http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_6222861
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NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND...
* ASUN President Says NU Tuition Hike Results From Bureaucratic Inaction
This piece by the head of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska is worthy of a read in like of the 6 percent hike in tuition rates. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/19/467820844fc87
* Nebraska's Big 3rd Is Biggest Recipient Of Farm Subsidy Dollars
This one has generated lots of commentary and more is welcome. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/12/466ee0d63f401
* Industry Targets More At UNL For Pirating Music
The RIAA is not letting up. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/08/466997d8297f9
* NU Receiver Busted For DUI
Receiver popped twice by the cops in two months. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/08/46699ec425509
Since its been awhile since my last email, there is lots of other great news to pass. Great academic success, Pavan named Women Athlete of the Year, Volleyball team goes to the White House, and other Husker news below. You should also check out the Declaration of Independence and an audio website narration of the Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton near the end of the email. And of course there is some Husker Humor at the end. Enjoy and have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Go Big Red (White and Blue), and Happy Birthday America!!!
Carl
Bay Area Husker Big Red Roundup Picnic...
We're gearing up for our big Bay Area Husker event of the summer and we'd like to make sure everyone gets a chance to attend. Our annual picnic is just around the corner and we hope you have already registered. If not check out our registration form on our website: http://www.bayareahuskers.org/ , print the form and send it in.
The old saying for corn growers in Nebraska used to be "Knee High By the Fourth of July", and the song "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" from the play "Oklahoma" claims "The corn is as high as an elephant's eye, an' it looks like its climbin' clear up to the sky." Well, neither one of these phrases holds a candle to what Kernel (aka Corn King) Don Pace is growing in Stockton for our annual picnic.
Here is his take on this year's corn crop:
"THE HAY IS IN THE BARN, WE ARE GO FOR PICNIC. To quote the great Red Skelton, WE DOOD IT. This is the most phenominal corn I have ever grown. Two months ago today, we planted the seed. Today, much of the corn plants are from seven to nine feet tall. If it tastes as good as it looks, we have found a new picnic corn. Its name is Temptation. As tall as the corn is, I probably will need a ladder to pick it. So, gang, get the steaks, the beans, the potato salad and Charlie's Band ready, WE ARE GOING TO EAT!!!!! GO BIG RED!!!"
So get your reservations into Mac as soon as you get done reading this and join the rest of the Bay Area Huskers on the 22nd for our Big Red Roundup picnic.
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HUSKER PRODUCE STELLAR ACADEMIC RESULTS...
Sarah Pavan became the first Husker to win the Honda-Broderick Cup in 2007.
Husker student-athletes added another chapter to the University of Nebraska’s tradition as a national academic leader in 2006-07. Nebraska’s academic success reached new heights, as the Huskers increased their nation-leading total of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans across all sports to 248 with four new honorees.
Nebraska also celebrated the crowning of its first-ever Honda Broderick Cup winner - Husker volleyball star Sarah Pavan - who also claimed the Honda Award, CoSIDA Academic All-American-of-the-Year and National Player-of-the-Year awards for NU’s national champion volleyball team.
Nebraska led the nation with nine CoSIDA Academic All-Americans across all sports, including five first-team honorees. Coach Gary Pepin’s Husker track and field team produced the most impressive academic accomplishments with five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, including a nation-leading four first-team honorees (Jenny Green, Nate Probasco, Ashley Selig and Issar Yazhbin).
Nebraska’s academic excellence was also demonstrated on the football field and the classroom by senior fullback Dane Todd, who became NU’s second winner of a prestigious Walter Byers NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship worth $21,500. Todd, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, was also the winner of a $7,500 Prentice Gautt Big 12 Conference Postgraduate Scholarship. Nebraska women’s swimmer Lauren Bailey was also honored with Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship worth $7,500 from the Big 12.
Across all sports, Nebraska student-athletes claimed 131 Academic All-Big 12 selections across all sports, including 109 first-team Academic All-Big 12 honorees. NU student-athletes also earned a Big 12-leading 525 spots on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall and Spring Academic Honor Rolls, 46 more than a year ago. To earn a spot on the honor roll, a student-athlete must earn a 3.0 grade-point average during the semester. During the fall and spring semesters combined, a Big 12-leading 79 Husker student-athletes produced perfect 4.0 semester GPAs, seven more than 2005-06.
The University of Nebraska Athletic Department took one special night to honor its own student-athletes on April 15 at the 17th annual Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet. Approximately 800 people were in attendance at the Bob Devaney Sports Center to see 206 student-athletes honored during the banquet, including Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Dane Todd (football) and Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Stephanie Carter (women’s gymnastics).
The Nebraska rifle team earned the department’s most coveted team award by capturing the 13th annual Herman Award. The rifle team, which posted a top-five team finish at the NCAA Championships, produced a stellar 3.675 team GPA to claim the women’s award. Coach Jay Dirksen’s cross country team earned the Herman Award on the men’s side with a 3.096 combined GPA in 2006, marking the sixth time the team has won the award, including each of the last five seasons.
The hard work, dedication and commitment of Nebraska’s student-athletes in the classroom resulted in 95 current or former student-athletes earning degrees from August of 2006 through May of 2007.
In fact, the Huskers continued to set the graduation standard among Big 12 Conference schools by increasing their Exhausted Eligibility Graduation Rate to 94 percent. The Exhausted Eligibility Rate surveys the graduation rate of scholarship student-athletes who entered the University of Nebraska from 1990 through 1999 and exhausted their athletic eligibility at Nebraska.
Coach Bill Callahan’s Husker football program was one of just 34 teams honored nationwide by the American Football Coaches Association with its 2007 Academic Achievement Award in May. Nebraska, which has earned the AFCA award seven straight seasons, was recognized for graduating 70 percent or more of its football student-athletes from the freshman class of 2001-02.
In the community, Husker student-athletes reached nearly 100,000 people throughout the state of Nebraska in 2006-07. Cornerstone outreach programs included the statewide Tour of Excellence, American Education Week and "School is Cool" Celebration. In addition to those programs, individual student-athletes continued to make countless appearances in classrooms and community groups throughout the year.
The 2006-07 season marked the fourth year of the Huskers’ innovative Life Skills Award of Excellence Team Competition, which honored the team that demonstrated the strongest commitment to all phases of the life skills program, including outreach, education and leadership. Coach John Cook and the Nebraska volleyball team captured the team trophy for the first time. This award was presented at Nebraska’s Student-Athlete Academic Recognition Banquet in April.
Academic All-America Tradition - Huskers Increase Nation-Leading All-America Total to 248
Nebraska student-athletes brought home nine CoSIDA Academic All-America awards during the 2006-07 campaign to increase Nebraska’s NCAA record total of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans to 248 - 59 more than No. 2 Notre Dame.
Nebraska’s CoSIDA Academic All-America contingent included Sarah Pavan (volleyball, first-team), Jenny Green (track, first-team), Nate Probasco (track, first-team), Ashley Selig (track, first-team), Issar Yazhbin (track, first-team), Dane Todd (football, second-team), Imke Reimers (women’s tennis, second team) and Stephen Tetrault (men’s gymnastics, third team).
Nebraska was one of only three schools in the nation across all divisions with more than eight CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in 2006-07, joining Tennessee and Notre Dame. The Huskers increased their nation-leading total of first-team All-Americans to an amazing 128 across all sports.
Five of Nebraska’s nine CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in 2006-07 will return to action for the Huskers in 2007-08, and 2005 volleyball Academic All-American Christina Houghtelling is also expected to return for her final season.
Academic All-Big 12 Conference - 131 Huskers Earn League HonorsNebraska was one of five league schools to have more than 100 student-athletes honored on Academic All-Big 12 teams in 2006-07. The Huskers brought home 131 Academic All-Big 12 awards across all sports, including Big 12-leading totals in women’s track and field (22), volleyball (8) and women’s golf (5). Coach Bill Callahan’s Nebraska football team added 22 Academic All-Big 12 awards, including a conference-leading 15 first-team honorees.
Coach Gary Pepin’s men’s track and field squad added 18 Academic All-Big 12 awards, giving the combined program a league-leading total of 40, three more its total from a year ago that also led the conference.
Among the 131 NU student-athletes named to Academic All-Big 12 teams, 109 earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors, which requires a 3.20 grade-point average or higher and a minimum participation requirement. Missouri was the only other school in the conference to put more than 100 student-athletes on various first-team Academic All-Big 12 teams. Twenty-two other Husker student-athletes grabbed second-team honors by posting a GPA between 3.0 and 3.19.
Overall, Nebraska had 525 student-athletes honored on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll during the fall and spring semesters combined, including a Big 12-leading 79 student-athletes who posted perfect 4.0 GPA semesters in either the fall or spring. NU totals represented an impressive increase of 46 honorees, including seven more 4.0 GPA semesters than a year ago, and a total of 14 more than 2004-05.
255 HUSKERS EARN SPOTS ON BIG 12 HONOR ROLL...
An impressive list of 255 Nebraska student-athletes across all sports claimed spots on the Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll released on Monday, June 11. Among the 255 student-athletes who achieved 3.0 or better grade-point averages during the semester, 46 Huskers posted perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Overall for the academic year, Nebraska student-athletes earned 525 spots on the Big 12 fall and spring honor rolls, including 79 perfect 4.0 semesters.
Nebraska's approach to recruiting the nation's finest student-athletes yielded a remarkably diverse contingent of spring academic honorees that included representatives of 23 U.S. states and 17 foreign countries, including honor roll members from four Canadian provinces. The Huskers' Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll class also carried a distinct state flavor with 104 native Nebraskans among the 255 award winners.
A talented and remarkably diverse group of Nebraska student-athletes received diplomas during spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 5, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The Huskers’ 53-member graduating class consists of student-athletes from 20 U.S. states and five foreign countries, including Austria, Canada, Colombia, Poland and Serbia. All 23 of Nebraska’s varsity sports are represented by at least one student-athlete in the graduating class, while the Huskers graduated with nearly 30 different majors in their fields of study. While the class is strikingly diverse, 16 native Nebraskans make up nearly a third of the class.
Nebraska’s graduating class includes nine student-athletes who combined for 16 All-America awards, including 2006 NCAA air rifle champion Kristina Fehlings.
AFCA HONORS NEBRASKA FOR FOOTBALL GRAD RATE...
Nebraska was one of 34 schools nationally to have its football program recognized Thursday with the 2007 Academic Achievement Award by the American Football Coaches Association.
The Huskers were one of just 34 Division I-A schools to be honored for graduating 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes. Just four of the 34 schools were honored for graduating 90 percent or more of its student-athletes.
Nebraska has been honored by the AFCA for its 70 percent or better graduation rate for seven straight years and 11 times since 1994. The Huskers were one of four Big 12 schools honored by the AFCA, joining Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech that also graduated 70 percent or more of their football student-athletes.
Northwestern and Notre Dame led the nation with 95 percent graduation rates for their freshman classes of 2001-02, while Duke and Vanderbilt had rates of 90 percent or better.
In addition to Nebraska and the other Big 12 schools, those honored at the 70 percent or higher level were Alabama, Arkansas State, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, Miami (Ohio), Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn State, Rice, Rutgers, Syracuse, TCU, Toledo, Troy, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington State and Wisconsin.
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TODD AWARDED HIGHEST NCAA ACADEMIC HONOR...
Former Husker fullback Dane Todd completed his undergraduate work with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
Former Husker fullback Dane Todd continued to gain recognition for his academic excellence this week, as he was awarded the Walter Byers Scholarship, the NCAA’s highest academic honor. Todd was selected as the men’s recipient of the award, while Katie Kingsbury (women’s tennis) of Washington & Lee University was selected among the women.
The Walter Byers Scholarships were established in 1988 and recognizes the contributions of former NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. The awards encourage academic achievement of student-athletes and each Byers Scholar receives a $21,500 scholarship. Winners have the option of renewing the scholarship for a second year based on his or her academic standing.
Todd, who graduated from Nebraska with a degree in biological sciences in May of 2006 with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, finished his career with the Huskers in 2006. During his time at NU, Todd was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection for his work on the field, while adding multiple awards for his academic excellence. Todd was a CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American in 2005 and a second-team pick last fall. He was a four-time member of the Brook Berringer Citizenship Team and a two-time Wuerffel Award finalist. Todd was also recently honored as the Nebraska Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Todd’s superior performance extends to his community involvement, where he has volunteered his time with American Education Week, "School is Cool" Week, the Dads of Kids with Disabilities, the UNL Shadowing Program, and numerous hospital visits and speaking engagements. Todd has been a representative on the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee each of the past three years and is also a Big 12 Community Champion.
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HUSKERS EXPAND CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION IN 2006-07...
The Nebraska volleyball team won the Huskers' 23rd national title across all sports in 2006-07.
University of Nebraska athletic teams continued to grow their championship tradition in 2006-07, highlighted by 15 NCAA Tournament appearances by Cornhusker teams, including a third NCAA title for the NU volleyball program, and a New Year’s Day bowl game for the football team.
The Huskers also re-established themselves as the dominant athletic program in the Big 12 North. Along with conference championships won by the volleyball, women’s gymnastics and men’s indoor track and field teams, the Nebraska football team won the Big 12 North Division title. The women’s basketball, women’s indoor and outdoor track, men’s and women’s golf and men’s tennis teams were also the best North Division teams in the Big 12. Overall, Nebraska teams finished first or second among the Big 12 North schools in 18 of NU’s 23 sports.
Coach John Cook’s Nebraska volleyball team enjoyed the greatest success, winning the program’s third national championship in the last 12 seasons. The Huskers advanced to the NCAA title match for the sixth time in school history and rolled to a victory over Stanford in front a record crowd at the Qwest Center Omaha. NU also stretched its streak of consecutive home sellouts at the Coliseum to 90 and won the Big 12 Conference title. The national title made Nebraska one of just 28 Division I schools across the country to capture at least one of the NCAA’s 36 championships in 2006-07.
The volleyball team’s amazing success came despite losing 2005 AVCA National Player-of-the-Year Christina Houghtelling to injury before the start of the 2006 campaign. The returning Huskers more than picked up the slack, as Sarah Pavan captured 2006 AVCA National Player-of-the-Year honors, while also being named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year.
Nebraska will return both Houghtelling and Pavan along with All-Americans Jordan Larson, Tracy Stalls and Rachel Holloway to make a run at back-to-back national titles in 2007.
The Nebraska volleyball team was not alone in producing its second straight National Player-of-the-Year, as Coach Bill Straub’s Husker bowling team featured 2007 National Player of the Year Amanda Burgoyne and 2006 National Player-of-the-Year Lindsay Baker. Burgoyne and Baker, along with 2007 National Rookie-of-the-Year Cassandra Leuthold, helped the Huskers to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Individually, 28 Nebraska student-athletes captured 37 All-America awards in their respective sports, including NCAA 125-pound wrestling champion Paul Donahoe. The sophomore from Davison, Mich., will return to lead Coach Mark Manning’s wrestling team in the years to come.
Across the board, the future looks bright for Nebraska’s athletic programs. Among NU’s 28 All-Americans, 19 were underclassmen who will return in 2007-08, including five freshmen, six sophomores and eight juniors that combined to claim 25 All-America certificates in 2006-07.
The Nebraska rifle program added a top-five NCAA finish in 2006-07, by finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships. The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team led by Coach Dan Kendig continued its outstanding tradition by adding a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships after advancing to the NCAA Super Six Finals for the eighth time in the past 10 years. The women’s gymnastics team also reclaimed the Big 12 Conference crown, while featuring one of the best gymnasts in school history - Emily Parsons. The Big 12 Co-Gymnast of the Year, Parsons smashed the school record for individual event titles in her career while claiming her ninth career All-America award at the NCAA Championships. The junior from St. Charles, Mo., will return to lead the Huskers again next year.
The Husker men’s gymnastics team earned its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships and finished 10th overall to give Nebraska’s its fifth top-10 national team finish across all sports in 2006-07. Junior Stephen Tetrault and sophomore T.J. Schmidt combined for three All-America awards to lead Coach Francis Allen’s young squad that featured 11 newcomers.
Coach Gary Pepin’s Nebraska track and field programs added to their remarkable tradition of success with the men claiming the Big 12 Conference title indoors. Men’s and women’s track and field athletes combined to capture 13 All-America awards during the indoor and outdoor seasons, including an NCAA runner-up finish from Dusty Jonas in the indoor high jump.
The Nebraska football team added to the Huskers’ Big 12 hardware haul in 2006-07 by winning the Big 12 North Division title to earn a bid in the Big 12 Championship Game. Nebraska finished the season with nine victories and earned a New Year’s Day bowl bid to the Cotton Bowl in Coach Bill Callahan’s third season at the helm. Nebraska also stretched its NCAA-record consecutive home sellout streak to 282 games, while Memorial Stadium’s capacity expanded beyond 80,000 for the first time in school history. Quarterback Zac Taylor rewrote Nebraska’s career passing record book and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Four Huskers were chosen in the NFL Draft, including first-round pick Adam Carriker who became the 32nd Husker in history to be drafted in the first round. Carriker was also named the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Coach Connie Yori’s Nebraska women’s basketball team continued its progress by earning its fourth consecutive postseason tournament berth by advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000. Honorable-mention All-American Kiera Hardy was chosen in the third round of the WNBA Draft, while sophomore Kelsey Griffin joined Hardy as a first-team All-Big 12 selection.
On the men’s side, first-year coach Doc Sadler jump-started the Nebraska basketball program, leading the Huskers to a win over No. 20 Creighton and a regular-season sweep of Missouri, along with a road win at Texas Tech and a home win over Oklahoma State in NU’s regular-season finale. Sadler will hope to lead the Huskers to increased success in the future after signing one of the nation’s top 20 recruiting classes for 2007-08.
Coach Mike Anderson’s Nebraska baseball team earned an NCAA Regional berth for the eighth time in nine years and advanced to the championship round of the Tempe Regional. Following the season, eight Huskers were chosen in the top 35 rounds of the Major League Draft.
The Nebraska softball team led by Coach Rhonda Revelle advanced to its 13th straight NCAA Tournament appearance and played host to an NCAA Regional at Bowlin Stadium for the fourth time in the past five years. NU finished with a 37-20 record, as the Huskers posted at least 35 wins for the 10th straight season.
The Nebraska men’s and women’s golf teams both advanced to NCAA Regional competition for the second straight seasons.
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HUSKERS FINALIZE 2008/09 FOOTBALL SCHEDULES...
2008 Nebraska Football Schedule
2009 Nebraska Football Schedule
Memorial Stadium will play host to eight home games in 2008.
Nebraska has announced the addition of five non-conference home games during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, completing the schedules for those two seasons.
The games announced for the 2008 season include Sept. 6 against San Jose State, Sept. 13 against New Mexico State and Sept. 27 versus Western Michigan. In 2009 Nebraska has finalized contracts with Louisiana-Lafayette (Sept. 12) and Arkansas State (Sept. 26). Each of the five schools agreed to one-game contracts to play the Huskers in Lincoln.
The non-conference contests complete the Huskers’ schedules for both the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. Previously, Nebraska announced a home-and-home series with Virginia Tech that will bring the Hokies to Lincoln on Sept. 20, 2008, with Nebraska traveling to Blacksburg on Sept. 19, 2009. Additionally, Nebraska previously announced a Sept. 5, 2009 home matchup against Florida Atlantic.
“We are pleased to have the 2008 and 2009 schedules finalized,” Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson said. “We are extremely excited about Virginia Tech highlighting our schedule for those two seasons. That should be a great intersectional home-and-home series against one of the nation’s top programs, and I know our fans are looking forward to the trip to Blacksburg.
“The additional games we have added complement the Virginia Tech series very well. With the permanent 12-game schedule, we have talked regularly about trying to play eight home games on occasion and we are excited the 2008 season will present us that opportunity.”
The addition of three home games to the 2008 schedule will give Nebraska eight home games during that season. The 2008 campaign will mark the sixth time in school history Nebraska will play host to eight home games. Nebraska most recently played eight home games in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
In addition to opening the season with four non-conference home games, the Huskers are also scheduled to open Big 12 action at home. Nebraska will host Missouri on Oct. 4 at Memorial Stadium, giving the Huskers five straight home games to begin the season. The 2008 season will mark the fifth time in school history Nebraska has opened the year with five consecutive home games, most recently in 2005.
Nebraska’s meeting with San Jose State will mark the second between the two schools, and the second time Nebraska has met the Spartans in a season opener. The Huskers opened the 2000 season with a 49-13 victory over San Jose State at Memorial Stadium.
San Jose State is a member of the Western Athletic Conference and finished the 2006 season with a 9-4 record and a victory over New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl. SJSU is coached by former Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, who completed his first season at the school in 2006. This fall the Spartans will play non-conference road games against Arizona State, Kansas State and Stanford.
The 2008 matchup against New Mexico State will mark the third meeting on the football field between the two schools. Nebraska defeated the Aggies, 57-0, at Memorial Stadium in 1979 and shut out New Mexico State, 68-0 in Lincoln in the 1982 season.
New Mexico State finished with a 4-8 record in 2006 and capped the year with victories over Utah State and Louisiana Tech. The Aggies are coached by Hal Mumme and ranked second nationally in passing offense, averaging 399.3 yards per game. NMSU also ranked third nationally in total offense and 15th in scoring offense.
Nebraska and Western Michigan will meet for the first time on the gridiron in 2008. The game will also mark the second straight season the Huskers will play a member of the Mid-American Conference, including a home game this fall against Ball State on Sept. 22. Prior to this season’s meeting with Ball State, Nebraska has played just three games against current members of the MAC, a 1997 contest against Akron and 1989 and 1990 games against Northern Illinois.
Western Michigan is coached by Bill Cubit, who is entering his third year with the Broncos in 2007. Last season Western Michigan finished with an 8-5 record, including a 6-2 record in the Mid-American Conference, good for second in the league’s Western Division. The Broncos lost to Cincinnati in the inaugural International Bowl, the school’s first bowl bid since the 1988 California Bowl, the school’s only other bowl trip. Western Michigan was powered by a strong defense in 2006, as the Broncos finished 11th nationally in total defense. This fall the Broncos will face non-conference games against Indiana, Missouri, Iowa and West Virginia.
With non-conference games against three teams that played in bowl games in 2006, the Huskers’ 2008 schedule will include seven teams that played in bowl games last fall.
In 2009, the Huskers will play three non-conference home games, sandwiched around the road trip to Virginia Tech. Nebraska will open the season at home on Sept. 5 against Florida Atlantic, a game that was finalized last summer.
The meetings with Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State in 2009 are the first for Nebraska against both schools. Both Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
Lousiana-Lafayette finished the 2006 campaign with a 6-6 overall record, highlighted by a road win at Houston. The Ragin’ Cajuns are coached by Rickey Bustle and featured a powerful rushing attack in 2006, finishing 11th nationally in rushing offense.
Arkansas State also finished the year with a 6-6 record in 2006, including a 4-3 conference record and a victory over Sun Belt champion Troy. The Indians are led by coach Steve Roberts, who is entering his sixth year at the school in 2007. Arkansas State’s 2007 schedule includes road trips to Texas, Tennessee and Southern Miss.
In addition to the 2008 and 2009 schedules, Nebraska has previously announced future home-and-home series with Washington (2010, 2011), UCLA (2012, 2013) and Tennessee (2016, 2017).
HUSKERS-USC SET FOR PRIME TIME ABC TELECAST...
Nebraska and Southern California will play in prime time before a national television audience for the second straight season this September. The Sept. 15 game will kick off at 7 p.m. CDT from Memorial Stadium and will mark the second straight year the clash between two of college football’s traditional powerhouses will be part of ABC’s Saturday Night Football television package.
The Nebraska-USC game is one of five confirmed games in the Saturday night television package. Additional Nebraska games could be selected for the Saturday night package six to 12 days in advance of the game day.
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MARK MYER HIRED AS HUSKER FOOTBALL ATHLETIC TRAINER...
Lonnie Albers announced today the hiring of Mark Mayer (pronounced Meyer) as Nebraska’s Head Football Athletic Trainer. He will begin his duties on Monday, May 14.
Mayer comes to Nebraska with more than a dozen years of experience in athletic medicine and has been the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Oakland Raiders for the past nine years.
Mayer looks forward to his new position. “I’m very excited to be a part of the Nebraska family and the great Cornhusker football tradition,” Mayer said. “I look forward to working with Coach Callahan, Dr. Lonnie Albers, Jerry Weber and the rest of the medical staff.”
Prior to joining the Raiders, first as an athletic trainer intern in 1995 and gaining full-time status in 1998 as a strength and conditioning assistant for the Raiders, Mayer served as a student athletic trainer for UC Davis from 1992 to 1994. He was named a full-time assistant athletic trainer for Oakland in 1999 and served in that capacity for Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003 when the AFC Champion Raiders faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his 11 years with the Raiders, Mayer worked with Coach Callahan and former Husker players Adam Treu, John Parrella, Eric Johnson and Fabian Washington and also worked with current Husker assistant coach and former Raider Randy Jordan.
Originally from San Leandro, Calif., Mayer graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1994. He earned his bachelor’s of science degree in physical education and is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Married to the former Kira Schoeneman, Mayer and his wife have two children, 4-year old daughter Savannah Audren and 1-year old son Boston Zachary.
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HUSKER BASEBALL RECAP....LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL VISIT STANFORD NEXT YEAR FOR A FOUR GAME OPENER...
(Thanks to Duane for catching this...hopefully we can gather the clan to cheer them on!)...
http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/06/09/
huskerextra/doc4669db2e8fea7055003511.txt
ERIC NEWMAN NAMED HUSKERS PITCHING COACH...
University of Nebraska Baseball Coach Mike Anderson announced the hiring of Eric Newman as the Huskers’ pitching coach. Newman comes to Nebraska after five years at Dallas Baptist University, serving the last three seasons as head coach of the Patriots program.
Anderson said that Newman’s ability to develop pitchers and pitching staffs and his proven ability to recruit in the Big 12 region stood out when choosing Newman for the opening on the Husker coaching staff.
CHAMBERLAIN NAMED TO XM ALL-STAR FUTURES GAME ROSTER...
Former Nebraska All-American Joba Chamberlain received another honor on Thursday, as he was selected by Major League Baseball and Baseball America for the 2007 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game.
Chamberlain, a second-team All-American at Nebraska in 2005, will lead a group of 25 prospects on the Team USA Roster that will go against 25 prospects on the World Roster on Sunday, July 8, at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. The game will be televised nationally at 3 p.m. (central) on ESPN2 to begin All-Star game week activities. The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio (Ch. 176) beginning at 2:30 p.m. that day.
A first-round draft pick in 2006, Chamberlain has opened his professional career with a flourish, going 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in nine starts between Class-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in the New York Yankees organization.
FIVE HUSKERS SIGN PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS AND SEVEN DRAFTED...
Five members of the 2007 Nebraska baseball team have signed with Major League teams and are in the process of beginning their professional careers. Pitchers Drew Bowman, Matt Foust, Tony Watson and Luke Wertz and first baseman Andrew Brown were among the eight Huskers recently selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Seven Husker baseball players, including six pitchers, were taken on the second day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Friday afternoon.
The Huskers picked during the final 45 rounds included pitchers Matt Foust (sixth, Pittsburgh), Tony Watson (ninth, Pittsburgh), Luke Wertz (13th, Philadelphia), Steve Edlefsen (16th, San Francisco), Charlie Shirek (23rd, Chicago) and Thad Weber (35th, Cincinnati). In addition, senior first baseman Andrew Brown was an 18th-round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals.
The eight selections ties for the second-highest single-season total in school history and was one off the school record of nine set in 1983. It also marks the eighth straight year where at least four Huskers were selected.
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NU's PAVAN IS NATIONAL FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR...
Congratulations Sarah! National Female Athlete of the Year. That's a good as it gets, even for a perfectionist, on the court and in the classroom, like young Ms. Pavan. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/27/4682b876c32e1
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HUSKER VOLLEYBALL NOMINATED FOR ESPY....
The Huskers volleyball team received an ESPY Award nomination on Tuesday.
The Nebraska volleyball team’s performance during the 2006 season was rewarded this week, as it earned an ESPY Nomination.
The Huskers, who went 33-1 en route to the school’s third national title, is one of six nominees for the “Undeniable Performance” – honoring the best female collegiate team of the year.
Nebraska was ranked No. 1 the entire season and won the national championship with a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Stanford in front of an NCAA record crowd of 17,209 at Qwest Center Omaha last December.
Fan voting is now underway for the ESPYs (http://www.espys.tv/?DB_OEM_ID=100) from now until 10:59 p.m. on July 7, as fan voting will determine the winners in each category. Other nominees for the award include Arizona softball, North Carolina soccer, Northwestern Lacrosse, Tennessee basketball and Wisconsin hockey.
The event will be televised nationally on ESPN on Sunday, July 15 at 8 p.m, (central) from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
COOK RECEIVES FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION...
University of Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson announced this week that Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook has signed a five-year contract extension.
Cook, who has guided the Husker volleyball program to a 220-14 record since taking over in 2000, will now be under contract through the 2011 season. This extension replaces the four-year contract Cook signed in 2004.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY RAY!!!!....
In the 7/1/07 Sunday's Mercury News Entertainment Section is a fine picture of Emily and Mike Ray (BAH Board Member), and a story about Emily's honorary award which she received at the Italian American Heritage Foundation Achievements Awards event for her work as the musical director of the Mission Chamber Orchestra. (thanks to Donna McBeth for sending this)
http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_6222861
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NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND...
* ASUN President Says NU Tuition Hike Results From Bureaucratic Inaction
This piece by the head of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska is worthy of a read in like of the 6 percent hike in tuition rates. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/19/467820844fc87
* Nebraska's Big 3rd Is Biggest Recipient Of Farm Subsidy Dollars
This one has generated lots of commentary and more is welcome. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/12/466ee0d63f401
* Industry Targets More At UNL For Pirating Music
The RIAA is not letting up. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/08/466997d8297f9
* NU Receiver Busted For DUI
Receiver popped twice by the cops in two months. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/06/08/46699ec425509
* Crime Scene Investigation (the job) Will Be Offered At UNL
Crime investigators are a bit like undertakers. They are never going to want for work. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/A
RT/2007/06/04/466418a6128d6
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!!! Here's the Declaration of Independence and some interesting facts about those who signed it. And check out the link at the end for an audio interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance...
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
Crime investigators are a bit like undertakers. They are never going to want for work. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/A
RT/2007/06/04/466418a6128d6
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!!! Here's the Declaration of Independence and some interesting facts about those who signed it. And check out the link at the end for an audio interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance...
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
In CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
New Hampshire:
Massachusetts:
Rhode Island:
Connecticut:
New York:
New Jersey:
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:
Maryland:
Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:
South Carolina:
Georgia:
Stories About the Signers
The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge, age 27 years.
Delegates Clinton, Alsop, R. R. Livingston, Wisner, Humphreys and Rogers never did sign the Declaration.
Although delegates Thornton, Rush, Taylor, Clymer, Smith and Ross signed the Declaration, they were not members of Congress when it was adopted on July 2nd nor when it was ratified on July 4th.
Those who voted steadfastly against the adoption of the Declaration were delegates Dickinson, Humphreys and Willing, all of Pennsylvania.
The longevity of the signers is remarkable. Three lived to be over 90, ten over 80, eleven over 70, fourteen over 60, eleven over 50, six over 40 and one died at 30.
Nine of the signers died before the war ended and the peace treaty was signed. They were Philip Livingston, George Taylor, John Morton, George Ross, Richard Stockton, John Hart, Thomas Lynch, Jr., Joseph Hewes, and Button Gwinnett.
The signers represented many vocations. Twenty-four were lawyers, fourteen were farmers, four were doctors, one was a minister, three prepared for the ministry, one was a manufacturer and nine were merchants.
The original signed copy of the Declaration was in the hands of the President of the United States until after the war of 1812. When Washington was invaded during that struggle and after President Madison had fled the White House, the President's wife, Dolly Madison, who had stayed behind to the last minute, saved the Declaration by carrying it away with her. Subsequently she returned it and it was placed under the charge of the State Department. It was hermetically sealed in 1894 and is now exhibited in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives and Records Administration, Constitution Ave NW [between 7th and 9th St.], in Washington, DC. The document has faded badly—largely because of poor preservation techniques during the 19th century. Today, this priceless document is maintained under the most exacting archival conditions possible.
===
Red Skelton Describes the "Pledge of Allegiance"...
If you haven't heard this before, take a few minutes to appreciate a different view of our Pledge of Allegiance as we celebrate our Nation's birthday! Click on, or paste the link into your browser...
http://www.poofcat.com/july.html
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HUSKER HUMOR (Thanks Buck!)
FRIENDS VS. Nebraska FRIENDS
FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Always bring the food.FRIENDS VS. Nebraska FRIENDS
FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
FRIENDS: Will say "hello".
Nebraska FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.
FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad
FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Cry with you.
FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.
FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowds' back-ends that left you.
FRIENDS: Would knock on your door.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Walk right in and say, "I'm home!"
FRIENDS: Are for a while.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Are for life.
FRIENDS: Might ignore this.
Nebraska FRIENDS: Will forward this.
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