Bay Area Husker ENews 9-6-07

Hey Bay Area Husker Fans!

Great turnout at our first game of the season. Steve said 54 Husker fans showed up at Final-Final in San Francisco and Dave's headcount showed 66 were at Jack's in Fremont to watch the Huskers roll over Nevada. Our next game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons will be broadcast on ESPN at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. All of our watch sites will be open early (and Jack's has a special football breakfast menu), so set the alarm clock, put on your Big Red Duds and head out for a cup of joe and some good grub at our four watch sites. Hope to see you there.

Great job by the Volleyball team so far this year. Undefeated, Ranked No. 1, and they beat No. 3 Penn State last weekend...Go Lady Huskers!!!

Interesting Husker Trivia piece at the end of the email from the Lincoln Journal Star about Nebraskans in Hollywood...no fair looking up the answers until you are done with the quiz.

Enjoy this weeks email.

Go Big Red (White and Blue),
Carl


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HUSKERS FACE ROAD TEST AGAINST DEFENDING ACC CHAMPS...

The Huskers take on Wake Forest on Sept. 8 at 9 a.m. Pacific on ESPN.

A difficult non-conference schedule continues for Nebraska this weekend when the Huskers travel east to take on Wake Forest, the defending champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game will be carried nationally on ESPN, with kickoff set for Noon EDT, (9 a.m. PDT) at Groves Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Nebraska will take a 1-0 record into Saturday’s game after a 52-10 victory over Nevada in the season opener at Memorial Stadium. The victory marked Nebraska’s nation-leading 22nd consecutive victory in a season opener and showcased a Husker offense with explosive potential.

The Huskers rolled up 625 yards of total offense, including 413 yards on the ground, while churning out 35 first downs and holding the football for more than 40 minutes. The total offensive output was Nebraska’s best since 2001 and the rushing total was the highest by a Nebraska team in five seasons.

Wake Forest will enter Saturday’s contest coming off a 38-28 loss at Boston College in the season opener for both teams. Despite the loss the Demon Deacons showed off an impressive passing attack, throwing for 366 yards in the game. The offensive output was not a surprise as Wake returned 10 offensive starters from last year’s Orange Bowl team. The Deacons also showed an opportunistic defense, returning an interception and a fumble for a touchdown.

The matchup with Wake Forest is the second of eight 2007 games against teams that participated in bowls last season. It is also a rare matchup for the Huskers with an ACC foe. Nebraska’s 2005 victory over Wake Forest was the Huskers’ first matchup against an ACC foe (at game time) in the regular season since 1973. In fact, Saturday’s game at Wake Forest will mark Nebraska’s first-ever road game against an ACC opponent.

Nebraska Opens Season with Offensive Explosion Against Nevada

Nebraska opened the 2007 season in impressive fashion, rolling up huge offensive numbers in a 52-10 victory over Nevada at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers racked up their top offensive effort in several seasons, amassing 625 yards of total offense, 413 rushing yards and 35 first downs, while holding the football for more than 40 minutes.

Nebraska’s offensive explosion was paced by junior running back Marlon Lucky, who rushed for a career-high 233 yards and accounted for four touchdowns. Lucky’s big day started on the Huskers’ first scoring drive and continued until he went to the sidelines for the day at the end of the third quarter. Lucky accounted for 52 yards on a first-quarter scoring drive, capped by a 16-yard touchdown reception from Sam Keller to give NU a 7-0 edge.

Nevada held its own through the middle of the first half, driving for a field goal early in the second quarter, then taking the lead on an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown with 10:53 left in the first half. The return gave Nevada a 10-7 edge, but Nebraska quickly responded to the adversity, scoring the game’s final 45 points.

The Huskers went to the ground game on the ensuing drive, moving 39 yards on nine straight rushes to take the lead. Cortney Grixby set NU up in great field position with a 42-yard kickoff return. Lucky capped the drive with a one-yard TD run for a 14-10 lead. The Huskers stayed on the ground on their next drive, capped by a one-yard TD run by Quentin Castille to push the lead to 21-10 at half.

Lucky led a third-quarter offensive explosion, rushing for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the quarter. He scored from 17 yards out with 11:30 to play in the quarter, then ran in from three yards out with 8:59 left in the third to give NU a 35-10 edge. Freshman Adi Kunalic connected on a 46-yard field goal, and Castille went in from two yards out to extend the NU edge to 45-10 after three quarters. Nebraska capped the scoring with 8:31 left in the game, when sophomore I-back Major Culbert scored on a 17-yard run.

While the offense grabbed most of the headlines on the afternoon, the defense also held its own, allowing just 185 yards of total offense and nine first downs. Steve Octavien led the way with five tackles, and he was in on two tackles for loss, including a sack. Corey McKeon, Armando Murillo and Larry Asante added four tackles each.


Noting Game One...Nebraska 52, Nevada 10
►Nebraska’s 52-10 victory marked the Huskers’ 22nd straight win in a season opener, continuing the longest streak in the nation. The Huskers have won eight straight home games in the month of September and eight of their past nine home games overall.

►Junior I-back Marlon Lucky rushed for a career-high 233 yards on a career-best 30 carries. Lucky’s 233 rushing yards marked his third career 100-yard rushing game (also vs. Troy and Nicholls State in 2006). Lucky has 1,090 career rushing yards, and became the 56th 1,000-yard career rusher in school history.

►The 233 rushing yards were the most by a Husker since quarterback Jammal Lord had 234 yards rushing against Texas in 2002. The 233 yards fell one yard shy of the top 10 on the NU single-game rushing chart, and was the 33rd, 200-yard rushing day in school history. Lucky is the 15th different Husker to rush for 200 yards in a game. The 233 rushing yards were the most ever for a Husker in a season opener, bettering the 208 yards by Dan Alexander against San Jose State in 2000.

►Lucky also caught three passes for 33 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. The touchdown catch was the first of Lucky’s Nebraska career.

►In addition to the most rushing yards in a season opener, Lucky also set NU records for most all-purpose yards (266) and most touchdowns (4) in a season opener.

►The 266 all-purpose yards tied for the fifth-most in school history and were the most by a Husker since Calvin Jones had a school-record 298 all-purpose yards at Kansas in 1991.

►Lucky accounted for a career-high four touchdowns, bettering his three rushing TDs last year against Troy. The four touchdowns by Lucky marked the first time a Husker had scored four touchdowns in a game since David Horne had four rushing touchdowns at Texas A&M on Oct. 26, 2002 in a 38-31 Nebraska win.

►Nebraska continued two trends it established last season–Red Zone efficiency and dominance of the time of possession. The Huskers were 7-of-8 in the Red Zone after taking a knee inside the five-yard line on the game’s final play. In terms of time of possesion, Nebraska controlled the football for 40:38, including more than 20 minutes in each half.

►Nebraska rushed for 413 yards, marking the most by the Huskers under Bill Callahan, bettering the 363 yards against Western Illinois in the 2004 season opener. The rushing total was the highest for the Huskers since rushing for 444 yards against McNeese State in 2002. Nebraska has topped 200 yards on the ground six times in the past two seasons.

►Nebraska finished with 625 yards of total offense, the most in Callahan’s four seasons as head coach and the sixth time NU has bettered 500 yards under Callahan. The game was the first time Nebraska had topped 600 yards of total offense since putting up 688 yards of total offense against Baylor in 2001.

►Nebraska senior Cortney Grixby returned a second-quarter kickoff 42 yards to set up a TD drive that put the Huskers ahead 14-10. The 42-yard return was longer than any return by a Husker player last season (32 yards was season-long).

►Freshman place-kicker Adi Kunalic connected on a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter, the longest for Nebraska since David Dyches hit a 46-yarder at Texas Tech in 2004. The last time a Nebraska player made a field goal longer than 46 yards was a 49-yarder by Dale Endorf against Colorado in 2002.

►Nebraska scored 24 points in the third quarter. A year ago, Nebraska totaled 49 third-quarter points in 14 games.

►Nebraska used seven true freshmen in the season opener. True freshmen who saw their first action as Huskers included I-backs Quentin Castille and Roy Helu, receiver Niles Paul, cornerback Anthony Blue, place-kicker Adi Kunalic, linebackers Thomas Grove and Blake Lawrence.

►Nebraska’s 52 points marked the seventh time in the past eight home games NU has scored at least 34 points. The Huskers averaged 41.6 points per game at home in 2006. Nebraska has now topped 50 points five times under Callahan.

BIG RED REVIEW...HUSKERS POUND PACK...

Lincoln - Marlon Lucky erupted for a Nebraska season-opening record 233 rushing yards and three scores to power No. 20 Nebraska to a 52-10 victory over Nevada at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Playing in front of an NCAA record 283rd consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium and an ABC regional television audience, Lucky stole the show as the featured back in Nebraska's high-powered rushing attack that racked up 413 yards on 70 attempts against the Wolf Pack. Lucky's 233 yards marked a career high while he added 33 more yards receiving and another score to post the best all-purpose yardage total by a Husker in an opener with 266.

With Lucky leading the way, the Huskers provided the 84,078 fans in attendance at Memorial Stadium with a good, old-fashioned display of smashmouth Nebraska football while racking up NU's 22nd straight season-opening victory.

For more info about the Nevada game see...
http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB
_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=1206149

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HUSKERS PREPARED FOR STRONG DEMON DEACON DEFENSE...

Junior running back Marlon Lucky hopes to have another big day on the ground when the Huskers face Wake Forest Saturday.

Lincoln – The Husker football team continued preparations for its first road contest of the year by going through a 2 1/2-hour practice inside Memorial Stadium Wednesday afternoon.

Head coach Bill Callahan addressed the media following the workout and primarily spoke about the challenge the Nebraska running game could face against a tough Wake Forest defense. WFU gave up just 54 yards rushing to Boston College last Saturday.

“I feel their front seven is the strength of their football team, no question,” Callahan said. “It’s outstanding. I can see why they had the success they had a year ago on defense. They harass, make plays and disrupt. They’re well coordinated and have excellent fundamentals.”

Callahan said this year’s match-up with the Demon Deacons will be more competitive than the 2005 contest when the Huskers defeated Wake Forest in Lincoln, 31-3. Since the 2005 season when the Demon Deacons went on to a 4-7 record, WFU rebounded by winning the 2006 ACC Championship with an 11-3 record last season.

“They’re much bigger, thicker and more physical, especially the two tackles inside,” he said. “They’re playmakers and run-stoppers. They have an excellent system.”

Junior defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler was in uniform for Wednesday’s practice, but his status for Saturday’s game is still listed day-to-day.

The Huskers will practice in Lincoln for the final time this week Thursday afternoon, before leaving for Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday morning.

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NEBRASKA VS. BALL STATE GAME SET FOR FSN PAY-PER-VIEW BROADCAST...

(We'll be checking with our watch sites to see if they will be willing to pay for the broadcast or we will look into passing the hat to help defray the cost)...

Lincoln - The University of Nebraska and FSN announced today that the Nebraska-Ball State football game on Saturday, Sept. 22 will be telecast via pay-per-view on participating cable systems and nationwide to satellite dish customers. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 AM PT from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Suggested retail price for residential purchase is $29.95. Big 12 Special Order Sports, Fox Sports Net’s pay-per-view division, will produce and distribute the telecast. Additional information about how to purchase the telecast, including a list of participating cable systems and satellite providers, will be announced leading up to the game. Further details will be posted on Huskers.com and FoxSports.com, search: Midwest as they become available.

The game is being televised on pay-per-view because it was not selected for over-the-air broadcast or cable television coverage. Participating cable and satellite providers will offer the telecast to their customers on a specially designated pay-per-view channel. The telecast will not pre-empt FSN’s regularly scheduled programming.

The Nebraska-Ball State game will be the ninth Nebraska football game distributed on pay-per-view, following: Oct. 12, 2002 vs. Missouri; Oct. 25, 2003 vs. Iowa State; Sept. 4, 2004 vs. Western Illinois; Oct. 2, 2004 vs. Kansas; Sept. 3, 2005 vs. Maine; Oct. 15, 2005 at Baylor; Sept. 23, 2006 vs. Troy; and Oct. 14, 2006 at Kansas State. Nebraska won all eight of those games.

OFFENSE PREPARES FOR WAKE FOREST...

Following an impressive 52-10 season-opening victory over Nevada, the No. 16 Nebraska football team returned to Memorial Stadium for a two-and-a-half hour practice on Tuesday afternoon, focusing its attention on the Huskers’ upcoming road test against Wake Forest on Saturday, Sept. 8.

Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson praised the Nebraska offensive line for its play against Nevada. The O-Line helped the Huskers rack up 625 total yards of offense, including 413 rushing yards, the highest total in each category during Head Coach Bill Callahan’s four years at Nebraska.

“We were very physical and you could see that on film,” Watson said. “There were times when Marlon (Lucky) didn’t get touched until he was well into the third level of the defense.”

Watson suggested yards might come at more of a premium against the defending ACC Champion Demon Deacons, who the Huskers will face at 11 a.m. in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Saturday.

“We have a lot of respect for them,” Watson said. “I think it will be strength on strength. They’re very, very good in their front seven. They’re very well-coached and they’re a disciplined team, and they’re going to make us earn everything we get.”

Nebraska’s game with Wake Forest will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN, the second of three consecutive television contests for the Huskers in 2007. The Huskers, who climbed four spots in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll from No. 20 to No. 16, will also face No. 1 USC on Saturday, Sept. 15, in a nationally televised prime-time showdown.

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XOS NETWORK ISSUES STALL HUSKERS.COM...

Lincoln - Like more than 150 other official athletic web sites across the nation, Huskers.com is powered by the XOS Network, a broadband business unit that was purchased last Friday by Toronto-based JumpTV, Inc., a leading distributor of live international television and sports over the Internet.

"College football's first major weekend was a disappointment for us on Huskers.com, and we understand a disappointment for many of the other schools that use the XOS Network," said Jeff Griesch, content manager for Huskers.com. "Obviously we were thrilled with the Nebraska football team's season-opening victory. Unfortunately, most of our fans around the world were unable to follow the action on Huskers.com.

"We want all Husker fans to know that we shared in their frustrations with the accessibility of Huskers.com on Saturday, and we'll do whatever we can to assist XOS in resolving its network issues for this coming week's game at Wake Forest."

According to Griesch, from approximately 9 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m., Sunday, few fans were able to access Huskers.com, before near-normal usability returned to the site in the early morning hours on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Nebraska football fans around the world hoping to listen to the free game-day radio call provided by the Husker Sports Network - or follow the game through the free live stats program on Huskers.com - experienced slowed or stalled connections, navigation difficulties or were dropped from the web site entirely throughout the game.

Premium subscribers to HuskersNside experienced similar problems with the live pre- and post-game coverage provided on the subscription site.

The problems were even greater after the game, when the site stalled almost entirely, limiting fans access to the complete post-game coverage provided by the Huskers.com staff. The problems also prevented the HuskersNside staff from uploading much of its normal post-game content.

Live Event Registration Still Means Free Radio for Fans

Many Nebraska fans who love to listen to the free radio coverage provided by the Husker Sports Network on Huskers.com were greeted by a new registration link on Huskers.com this week.

Husker fans are asked to "Sign In" and follow the steps to register for a free audio subscription. The registration is a push by the XOS Network, powered by JumpTV, to accumulate information from Husker fans to provide them with future promotions and benefits.

Huskers.com has provided free radio coverage since the inception of the web site and is committed to continuing its free radio broadcasts over the Internet of Nebraska football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball, along with its Sports Nightly radio show.

Huskers.com is one of the few official collegiate web sites in the country that provides free radio coverage to fans.
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CALLAHAN SIGNS NEW FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT....

Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan signed a five-year agreement on Tuesday that will keep him at Nebraska through at least the 2011 season.

Lincoln – Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson announced Tuesday that NU Head Football Coach Bill Callahan has signed a new five-year contract that runs through Jan. 31, 2012.

"I have said on numerous occasions that we want Coach Callahan to be the coach at Nebraska for a long time," Pederson said. "This commitment to Bill and his staff is a result of our belief that all the right ingredients are in place for long-term success. Bill has assembled a top-notch staff, and they are recruiting outstanding young men. He also has set a very high standard for discipline, integrity and work ethic that makes us proud as Nebraskans."

The new five-year agreement was reached late last week, but the final contract was not signed by both sides until today.

"We have a nationally televised game Saturday, and we want to focus all of our attention on Wake Forest because we have such great respect for that program," Callahan said. "Obviously, I also have the utmost respect for the University of Nebraska, the state of Nebraska and all the fans who support our players and our coaches. We’ve been given the support and the resources we need to achieve at the highest levels. I’m very excited to get that kind of commitment, and I’m also very grateful to Harvey Perlman and Steve Pederson."

Callahan’s original six-year contract, signed in 2004, included an annual compensation of $1.5 million. That contract has now been replaced with a new five-year agreement that calls for compensation of $1.75 million annually. It also includes a potential $425,000 in bonuses on an annual basis. The new contract is retroactive to July 2007.

Callahan, 51, is in his fourth season as head coach at Nebraska, and is in his 30th year overall in the coaching profession.

Last season, Nebraska won its first Big 12 North title since 1999, and Zac Taylor was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Callahan is the only active college head football coach to guide a team to a Super Bowl appearance (the Oakland Raiders in 2002). Nine of his previous 29 seasons were spent in the National Football League.
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LUCKY EARNS BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS...

Junior Marlon Lucky was named the Bi6 12 Offensive Player-of-the-Week.

Lincoln – Junior I-back Marlon Lucky continued to rack up recognition on Tuesday for his career performance in Nebraska’s 52-10 win over Nevada, by earning Big 12 Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors.

The award comes just two days after Lucky was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week.

Lucky’s award-winning week comes as no surprise, as the North Hollywood, Calif., native pounded out a nation-leading and career-best 233 rushing yards to help the Huskers to 625 total yards against the Wolf Pack, the most during Head Coach Bill Callahan’s four-year tenure. Lucky was also responsible for four of Nebraska’s seven touchdowns, including a grab for Nebraska’s only passing score of the afternoon.

This is the second player of the week accolade for Lucky, who also earned the honor following his performance against Troy in 2006, when he notched 156 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns.

Also gathering league recognition this week was Missouri strong safety Pig Brown on defense and Colorado place-kicker Kevin Eberhart for special teams, giving the North division all three Big 12 honors in the opening week of 2007.

LUCKY NAMED WALTER CAMP OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK...

Nebraska I-back Marlon Lucky quickly began to collect honors for his career performance in Nebraska’s 52-10 win over Nevada on Sept. 1, by being selected as the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week on Sunday.

The award recognizes the most outstanding offensive and defensive performances of the week as selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.

Lucky was awarded the recognition following a landmark afternoon this past Saturday, when he pounded out a career-best 233 rushing yards on 30 carries for the Huskers and scored four total touchdowns. The North Hollywood, Calif., native’s 266 all-purpose yards led the way for 625 total yards of offense by Nebraska, the most under Head Coach Bill Callahan.

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RANDY YORK'S N-SIDER...

Meet Kirk Hartman, the creative force behind HuskerVision and the famed Nebraska Tunnel Walk.

It’s Friday morning, 29 hours before another Nebraska season football opener. A little more than a dozen people are sitting patiently in the HuskerVision studio inside Memorial Stadium.

They’re waiting to see what more than 85,000 fans are going to witness the next day on one of the biggest scoreboards in all of college football.

The lights dim. The screen comes to life. There’s a new 30-second promo for Nebraska basketball season tickets, a new 30-second spot on how to evacuate the stadium, a clip on how well some ex-Huskers did in NFL preseason games the past week and a new feature on how fans can text their cell phone pictures so they might see themselves on the scoreboard later in the game. Next up is a new approach to introducing Nebraska’s offensive and defensive starters.

Everyone in the room knows what’s coming next. You can almost cut the anticipation with a knife. What kind of new twist to Nebraska’s famed Tunnel Walk has Kirk Hartman come up with now?

As the sound amps up and the secret is revealed, no one in the room moves an inch or takes their eyes off the screen. As the lights begin to come back on, someone tries to clap, but gives it up to stay as professional as possible.

Every person in the room has a satisfied look, but no one’s smile is bigger than Steve Pederson’s. Nebraska’s athletic director extends his right arm and shakes the hand of Kirk Hartman, the creative force behind HuskerVision since 1994.

“Great!” Pederson says.

“Thanks,” replies Hartman, 44, who grew up on a farm three miles north of Paxton in the shadows of the Nebraska Sandhills on the North Platte River.

Pederson, a native of North Platte, has more than a vested interest in the Tunnel Walk.

“I didn’t create this monster. Steve did. The Tunnel Walk was his idea,” Hartman says. “When we bought our new scoreboard in 1994, Steve and I were discussing how we’d been coming to football games since we were little kids. We were in a meeting, and Steve (who was Nebraska’s recruiting coordinator at the time) said the most exciting part of the game for him as a kid was watching the team come out of the tunnel.”

Hartman agreed. Then Pederson, who wanted a more dramatic opening-game effect, asked the HuskerVision team if a camera man could walk backwards as the team came out of the tunnel. Jeff Schmahl, then the director of HuskerVision and now an associate athletic director at Texas A&M, was more than willing to give the idea a try.

And the rest is history.

Soon after Nebraska installed what was then the largest video screen in the history of college football, the Tunnel Walk was born. Hartman has directed every single version of it over the past 13 years. Three national championships in its first four years of existence only enhanced what the Tunnel Walk means to players, coaches, fans and others who have watched it climb the popularity charts.

Hartman appreciates Pederson’s support. But he’s even more interested in what his much larger target audience thinks. Remember, this is a guy who raised cattle, fed hogs and grew corn and wheat before he moved on to Kearney State College and then came to Nebraska as a freelance producer.

Everyone who works around Hartman calls him the textbook team player . . . a man driven by technical perfection and a deep-seeded fervor for Nebraska Athletics. “I run almost everything I do through the entire HuskerVision Team. They help me take it to the next level,” he says. “I have another important focus group, too – my wife, Linda, and our two kids (Megan, 11, and Cole, 8). We’re all devout Husker fans. It’s a family passion.”

Every year, Hartman adds a special touch. This year, it’s a combination of video and animation. That’s all he’ll say. “We like our place at the top of college football polls that describe the best traditions and experiences,” he says. “The Tunnel Walk seems to always battle it out with the Texas A&M band and the pre-game smoke in Miami.”

Hartman plans a little fireworks of his own Saturday at approximately 2:30 p.m. Check out Huskers.com right after the game and let us know what you think.

Ed. Note: And here is the weblink to Randy's site where you can click on the video of the new Tunnel Walk video...AWESOME!!!http://www.huskers.com

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THE 4-1-1 WITH STEVE TAYLOR...

Courtesy: UNL Photographic Services
Name: Steve Taylor
Address: Lincoln, Neb.
Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
Years played at Nebraska: 1985-89
Professional Career: Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders (Grey Cup), Hamilton Tiger Cats, Ottawa Roughriders, all of the Canadian Football League
Honors: First-Team All-American (1987), First-Team All-Big Eight (1987, 1988), several conference and national Player-of-the-Week honors, selected for East-West Shrine Bowl (1989), selected in 12th round of the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts
Family: Wife:Stephanie; Daughters: Sydney (12), Skylar (9), Samantha (5)

One of Nebraska’s most prolific quarterbacks, Steve Taylor wrote the school’s record books during his time as a Husker, in both rushing and passing statistics.

He was the only player to score a touchdown in Nebraska’s 7-3 victory over Oklahoma in 1988, which snapped the Sooners’ 31-game Big Eight win streak and helped the Huskers earn an outright Big Eight title and an Orange Bowl berth for the first time in five years.

After graduation, Taylor was drafted into the pros, and spent several years in the Canadian Football League. He retired in 1997, and—then what?

Get the inside info with Husker 411 with Steve Taylor.

Who is Steve Taylor?
I am a loving father and husband, avid golfer and am active in the community.

What’s the most significant personal achievement or event that’s happened in your life since you left Nebraska?
Eight years of the CFL playing in three Grey Cups and winning one championship. Married 15 years to Stephanie and have three beautiful girls, Sydney, 12, Skylar, 9, and Samantha, 5. I have a Real Estate business in Lincoln, where I have been a top producer for the last 10 years.

What’s the one thing you learned through your student-athlete experience at Nebraska that’s helped you the most?
Hard work, integrity, tenacity and being committed to whatever you are trying to accomplish.

What are you doing now?
I am a Real Estate Professional with Home Real Estate in Lincoln. My web site is Taylormadehomes4u.com.

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HUSKER VOLLEYBALL CONTINUES HOMESTAND WITH AMERITAS PLAYERS CHALLENGE...

Ameritas Players Challenge - all times Central
Friday, Sept. 7: New Mexico State (6-1) vs. Louisville (3-3) • NU Coliseum • 4:30 p.m.

No. 11 Duke (5-1) at No. 1 Nebraska (5-0) • NU Coliseum • 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept 8:Third-place match • NU Coliseum • 4:30 p.m.
Championship match • NU Coliseum • 7 p.m.

The EssentialsTickets: Tickets for both days at the Nebraska Coliseum (4,030) are sold out Television: None
Radio: Nebraska matches will be carried on selected Husker Sports Network stations, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and KHUS 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on the Internet at Huskers.com
Live Stats: Huskers.com
Internet Video: Both of Nebraska’s matches will be carried live on HuskersNside

The top-ranked Nebraska volleyball team continues its challenging non-season schedule by hosting the Ameritas Players Challenge this weekend at the Nebraska Coliseum. The four-team tournament features No. 11 Duke (5-1) and a pair of NCAA qualifiers from a year ago in Louisville (3-3) and New Mexico State (5-1).

Action gets underway in Lincoln on Friday with a doubleheader featuring New Mexico State and Louisville at 4:30 p.m., before the Huskers and Blue Devils square off at 7 p.m. The two winners of Friday’s matches square off at 7 p.m. on Saturday with the third-place match starting at 4:30 p.m.

Fans can listen to both of Nebraska’s matches across the state on the Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and KHUS 93.3 FM in Omaha, as well as on the Internet at Huskers.com. HuskersNside subscribers can also watch both of the Huskers’ matches this weekend, as every home match and selected road contests will be carried on the site.

The Huskers, who have three wins over nationally ranked foes in their first five contests, come off a dominant defensive performance over the weekend, holding Creighton, third-ranked Penn State and No. 17 Cal Poly to a combined .127 hitting percentage. The Huskers have held four of their first five opponents under .150 hitting and lead the Big 12 with 18.19 digs per game. Although the season is still in its infant stage, Nebraska’s dig total would be the highest in school history, topping the school mark of 17.42 set in 2004. In fact, the Huskers have only averaged 17.00 digs per game twice in school history with the other coming in 1993.

NU Volleyball Quick Hits•
-Nebraska has won its last 15 matches against ranked opponents dating back to the start of last season.

•-With 1,596 kills, Sarah Pavan could pass both Nancy Metcalf (1,603) and Allison Weston (1,633) on NU’s career kills list this weekend. Pavan has been in double figures in kills in 49 of her last 50 matches at NU.

•-Kori Cooper is hitting .468 and averaging 2.60 kills per game in three matches against ranked opponents this season, including 10-kill outbursts against No. 5 UCLA and No. 3 Penn State.

NO. 1 NEBRASKA SWEEPS PAST NO. 3 PENN STATE...

Jordan Larson totaled 11 kils and 12 digs in the No. 1 Huskers' 3-0 sweep of No. 3 Penn State.

Omaha – The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team used a stout defensive effort to sweep past Penn State, 30-20, 30-21, 30-27, Sunday afternoon in front of 13,081 fans at the Qwest Center Omaha, the largest regular-season crowd in NCAA history.

The Huskers (4-0) held Penn State to just .134 hitting, a mark over .150 points below its season average. Nebraska received double-figure dig efforts from outside hitters Christina Houghtelling and Jordan Larson, who totaled 12 digs apiece, as well as libero Rachel Schwartz, who totaled a team-high 14 digs. NU also held Penn State All-American outside hitters Nicole Fawcett and Megan Hodge in check for most of the match, as the duo combined for 21 kills on .081 hitting on 74 swings.

Nebraska Coach John Cook said it was important to play well defensively against a potent Nittany Lion offensive attack that features three returning All-Americans and has hit over .300 as a team in each of the past three years.

“We talked to our team and said you’re going to have to play great defense when you play teams that have as many hitters as Penn State and they hit the ball that hard,” Cook said. “I thought we set the tempo right away in the first game, and we dug some shots. I think that sent a really strong message. Our team did a great job of following the game plan. That’s probably what I was most pleased with from a team perspective, that they executed the game plan really well and stayed with it, even when things weren’t working.”

HUSKERS SWEEP BLUEJAYS...

Lincoln -- Sarah Pavan and Jordan Larson combined for 33 kills, lifting No. 1 Nebraska to a 30-23, 30-18, 30-26 sweep of Creighton Friday night at the Nebraska Coliseum.

The Huskers, who improved to 3-0 on the season and extended their home winning streak to 55 matches, used strong performances from their first-team All-Americans to pick up their 10th win in as many matches against its in-state rival.
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Husker Soccer Hosts Bears and Aztecs in Weekend Series

Nebraska will continue its hectic early season schedule with two home games on Friday and Sunday, after a 1-1 tie at Drake on Wednesday night. The Huskers welcome Missouri State to Lincoln on Friday at 5:30 p.m. as the teams face off for the first time in school history. San Diego State makes the trip east to face Nebraska at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

HUSKERS BATTLE BULLDOGS TO 1-1 TIE...

Des Moines, Iowa – A foul-filled affair between the Nebraska and Drake soccer teams ended in a 1-1 overtime tie in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday night.

Nebraska (1-0-1) set a physical tone for the match as it racked up 29 fouls, while Drake (0-1-1) recorded 10.

The Huskers played the second half and two overtimes with only 10 players after Anna White received her second yellow of the match and an automatic red card in the 79th minute.

Drake applied early offensive pressure as it out shot the Huskers 19-10. However, NU got on the board first after a Bulldog mistake. A Drake defender attempted to head the ball back to her goalkeeper but put the ball over her head. Speedy sophomore Shay Powell capitalized on the mistake and scored her first goal of the season in the 55th minute.

FRESHMEN FUEL 2-0 HUSKER WIN OVER WILDCATS...

Lincoln – Nebraska freshmen Alexa Cardona and Jessica Mills produced key performances to propel the Nebraska soccer team to a season-opening 2-0 victory over Northwestern at the Nebraska Soccer Field on Sunday.

Cardona’s first career goal proved to be a game-winner as her goal in the 71st minute snapped a scoreless tie and gave the Huskers the win in front of more than 500 fans on a perfect day for soccer in Lincoln
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NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND...

* Nebraska Readies for Pass-Happy Demon Deacons
Can the Huskers handle them? From Sam McKewon. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/09/05/46df46262ab51

* Red Ambition: The Vision of Nebraska's Brain Trust
Almost immediately, Steve Pederson saw that Bill Callahan was a little different from most football coaches.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/09/04/46de0113cb68e

* Keller Fights Jitters, Drops in First Game
There was only one question Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller couldn't (or wouldn't) answer after NU's 52-10 victory over Nevada Saturday. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/09/02/46da575fe8d0f

* Nebraska Volleyball Team Rolls Over Ranked Opponents
A group of Cal Poly players seated behind press row froze when the defending national champions loped onto the Coliseum hardwood Friday night. The Husker women are awesome. http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/09/04/46dd8030aee7f

* Sand Hills Golf Course One Of America's Best
The exclusive, private Sand Hills golf course in Mullen has again been selected by Golf magazine as one of the country's ten best.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/
ART/2007/09/04/46dd7b042dbd0

* The Husker Nation Should Offer A Great Salute To Appalachian State
Cheers should go up throughout the Husker nation for the heroes of Appalachian State. Good and loud. The big dogs like to cock their legs on runts early in the fooball season, but this time overranked Michigan got bit in the butt. Great! http://nebraska.statepaper.com

* PSC Lifts Grain Warehouse License Of Former NU Regent
The state has revoked the license for a grain warehouse in Scottsbluff owned by former University of Nebraska Regent Dave Hergert. http://nebraska.statepaper.com

* After A Century The NU Czech Language Program Keeps Growing
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first Czech language course taught at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com
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HUSKER TRIVIA CORNER...(thanks to several fans for sending this along...)

Nebraskans in Hollywood: Take this quiz on who's who
By the Lincoln Journal Star
Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 - 12:10:26 am CDT

For a low-population state, Nebraska has had an inordinate impact on Hollywood. Consider this: The man considered to be the greatest movie actor ever was born here.

So was the founder of one of Hollywood’s biggest studios — a hands-on mogul with little education beyond his Nebraska common sense.

There have been silent film stars from Nebraska and late-night TV icons. And that tradition continues with recent Oscar-winners for acting and screenwriting having Cornhusker connections.

There aren’t any names being used here for a reason. We’ve compiled a quiz about Nebraskans in Hollywood — in both movie and TV with a couple of questions about music related to the screens, big and small.

Here’s a chance to see how much you know about Nebraska’s connections in the movies and on the tube: (See answers at bottom of quiz.)

1. This Lincoln-born actress has two Academy Awards. She won the first for playing another woman from Lincoln. Name the actress and the movie.

2. “The Catalog of Cool” lists “The President’s Analyst” as the coolest movie of all time. Name the Nebraskan who starred in the 1967 nutty political thriller.

3. A movie and a TV mini-series have been based on Charles Starkweather’s murder spree. Name the movie and its stars and the mini-series.

4. This actor was born in Grand Island and became a major star in the 1940s. But he didn’t win an Academy Award until his final picture — in 1981. Name the actor, listed as the 10th greatest movie star of all time by Premiere magazine, and the film for which he won the Oscar.

5. This Oscar-winner is one of Hollywood’s new rising stars — as a writer and as a director. He’s made three of his movies in Nebraska. But won his Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for the fourth, which was set in California’s wine country. Name the writer/director and the movie.

6. Born in Omaha in 1899, this actor began his career at age 5 and was on Broadway and in vaudeville before he hit the big screen. Once he found a partner, he defined onscreen dancing from the 1930s to the 1950s. Name the actor and his partner.

7. This Hastings born jazz trumpeter and composer wrote one of the most enduring television theme songs — an instrumental that captured the spirit of the men-in-tights, comic-based show. Name the composer and the song.

8. Widely considered the greatest movie actor of all time, he was born in Omaha and grew up at the community playhouse there. He won two Oscars and exerted a profound influence on succeeding generations of actors that continues today.

9. She was born in Hastings, grew up in Kenesaw and Lincoln and attended the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Wesleyan University. A multiple Tony Award winner for her stage acting, she got a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in one of the most important films of the 1960s. Name the actress and the movie.

10. This Omaha-born actor got kicked out of Central High and has played football players, bums, cops, ministers, criminals, Neal Cassady and Thomas Jefferson.

11. Born in Wahoo in 1902, abandoned by his parents at 13 and in the Army at 15, he was a genius at movie plots. In 1933 he left Warner Brothers to co-found Twentieth Century Films, which soon absorbed the bankrupt Fox. He ruled the studio for decades as the most “hands-on” studio boss. Name this movie mogul.

12. This Lincoln East High graduate got her start at the community playhouse and changed her first name when she moved to New York. After starring in films like “Parenthood” and “Arachnophobia,”she’s become a highly respected mystery writer.

13. This actor was a senior at Millard West when he was chosen by Alexander Payne to play a high school jock in “Election,” then went on to co-star in the hit “American Pie” and was romantically linked with Katie Holmes.

14. Born Spangler Arlington Baugh in Filley, this actor was known as “The Man With the Perfect Profile” and starred in such films as “Camille” and “Quo Vadis.”

15. This former fashion model from Omaha dated Kid Rock, played twins Goldie and Wendy in “Sin City” and had recurring roles on TV comedies “Kitchen Confidential” and “Class.”

16. This Burchard native became one of the biggest stars of the silent film era, earning more than $1 million a picture in the 1920s and is best known for his classic “Safety Last,” in which he’s seen hanging from the face of a clock.

17. This Omaha-born actress received an Oscar nomination playing opposite Gregory Peck in 1948’s “A Gentleman’s Agreement.”

18. This member of the Omaha Tribe got his first national notice playing the intense Wind in His Hair in Kevin Costner’s 1990 Oscar winner “Dances With Wolves.”

19. This Lincoln-born rocker has had songs in 20 movies and TV soundtracks, including the “Austin Powers” pictures, “Beavis and Butt-head” and this summer’s “Nancy Drew.”

20. He was born in Kenesaw, grew up in Lincoln, worked for Jack Paar, hosted his own late-night talk show and has appeared in movies like “Forrest Gump” and “Annie Hall” playing himself.

21. This Norfolk-raised comedian/actor was a candidate to play Rob Petrie in a Carl Reiner-created sitcom, but became a cultural icon as a late-night talk show host instead.

22. The grandson of prominent Nebraska railroad builder John Fitzgerald, this late Omaha actor was best known as Bosley on the 1970s detective series “Charlie’s Angels.”

23. This Omaha-born news personality recently concluded a longtime stint at CNN, which included hosting her own show, after holding positions at ABC, CBS and Fox News.

24. She starred as a cheerleader opposite “Spider-Man’s” Kirsten Dunst in the film “Bring It On.” The Omaha actress’s later credits include “Bad Boys II” and short-lived ABC drama “Night Stalker.”

25. This Lincoln actress gained fame as Ned Bigby’s pal “Moze” in Nickelodeon’s “Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide” and now will star in The CW’s new comedy “Aliens in America.”

26. This Omaha actor got his start on CW’s “One Tree Hill” before landing the lead in the ABC drama “October Road.”

27. Before Harrison Ford played the big-screen “Fugitive,” this actor from Naponee played the accused doctor searching for the one-armed man in the 1960s TV series.

28. He recently appeared in episodes of “The Office” and “Boston Legal,” but this Omaha actor is best known as an original cast member on the Fox sketch comedy series “MadTV.”

29. Raised in North Bend, she once worked in a Schuyler meat-packing plant before becoming a five-time Emmy nominee and a forensic investigator on the CBS drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

30. This Lincoln-born, Emmy-nominated casting director has found actors for such TV shows as “Nip/Tuck,” “Saving Grace,” “Supernatural” and “Battlestar Galactica.”

31. Known for his Holiday Inn commercial campaign, this Lincoln actor/stand-up comic recently has appeared in independent comedies about the Pinewood Derby and church league basketball.

32. This stand-up comedian from Lincoln worked as a producer on his good friend Rodney Carrington’s sitcom for two seasons, meriting writing credits for two episodes.

33. This Omaha-born actor’s first professional job was the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival’s “Shakespeare on the Green. Today, he plays a by-the-book, socially awkward detective on FX’s Emmy-nominated “The Shield.”

34. This actor from Omaha starred as Matthew in the original off-Broadway production of “Altar Boyz” before becoming the paralyzed high school quarterback on NBC’s Peabody-winning drama “Friday Night Lights.”

35. The Lincoln-born “Extra” host and correspondent was a running back at Nebraska before breaking into his broadcasting career.

36. This stand-up comedian grew up on a farm outside Pawnee City and is now one of the nation’s premier comics, a best-selling author, a movie star and creator of the catch-phrase “Git-R-Done.”

37. This Holdrege-born artist began drawing comic strips as a youngster. Today, he’s the technical director and lead animator for Comedy Central’s “South Park.”

38. She is Texas-raised, but Lincoln born. Her father was a pilot, which, coincidentally, was the occupation of the character she played on the quirky dramedy “Northern Exposure.”

39. From the 1920s through the 1940s, this cowboy actor from Tekamah was a major film attraction, ranking second only to Tom Mix as a Western film box office draw.

40. “American Pie’s” Seann William Scott will star in the big-screen comedy “Gary the Tennis Coach” this fall, the first movie from this screenwriting duo with Lincoln roots. Name the pair of writers.

Bonus question
This Tilden native is responsible for the book that was the basis of one of the worst movies of all time. His teachings have been embraced by the likes of Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Allie. Name him, the group he founded and the terrible movie.

Answers
1. Hilary Swank, “Boys Don’t Cry”
2. James Coburn
3. “Badlands” with Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek and “Murder in the Heartland”
4. Henry Fonda, “On Golden Pond”
5. Alexander Payne, “Sideways”
6. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
7. Neal Hefti, “The Batman Theme.”
8. Marlon Brando
9. Sandy Dennis, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
10. Nick Nolte
11. Darryl F. Zanuck
12. Harley Jane Kozak
13. Chris Klein
14. Robert Taylor
15. Jaime King
16. Harold Lloyd
17. Dorothy McGuire
18. Rodney A. Grant
19. Matthew Sweet
20. Dick Cavett
21. Johnny Carson
22. David Doyle
23. Paula Zahn
24. Gabrielle Union
25. Lindsey Shaw
26. Bryan Greenberg
27. David Janssen
28. Craig Anton
29. Marg Helgenberger
30. Eric Dawson
31. Ross Brockley
32. Mark Gross
33. Jay Karnes
34. Scott Porter
35. Jon Kelley
36. Dan Whitney, aka Larry the Cable Guy
37. Ryan Quincy
38. Janine Turner
39. Hoot Gibson4
40. Rick Stempson, Andrew Stock

BONUS QUESTION
L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology, “Battlefield Earth”Questions and answers compiledby Jeff Korbelik and L. Kent Wolgamott.

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