Not the most impressive win in Husker history, but as they say a "W" is a "W". From what I've read, Coach Pelini wasn't a happy camper after the game against the Jackalopes (errr...Jackrabbits). I imagine practice for the last week has been a little more intense than normal. See the article about the game from a SoDak writer below for a different perspective.
So now the Huskers get into the truly serious part of their schedule as they potentially meet some long time Big 8/Big 12 rivals for the last time. The first contest (victim) is Kansas State in a Thursday night ESPN battle that starts fairly early here on the west coast. Check the watch party info below for details.
The lady Huskers are doing great this fall. The Volleyball Team is back in stride and winning every match so far in the Big 12. The Soccer Team stumbled once against Baylor but has been having one of their best seasons so far.
There's a great article below about Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes who is a Husker alum and Nebraska native. I got an email from Jerry Murtaugh's daughter in law who wanted us to know about his radio show (see article below). Its on Saturday mornings and you can listen to it through the internet (see details below). I also heard from David Max (formerly with HuskerPedia) who has started another awesome Husker website with bulletin boards available for fan comments (details also below).
And of course there is a little fun stuff in the Husker Humor piece at the end of the email. Enjoy the reading and...
Go Big Red (White and Blue),
Carl
Watch Parties;
The game this week (tomorrow night) is an early matchup with K-State. Kickoff is set for 4:45 local on ESPN with coverage at 4:30. It may be tough to get off of work early but all of our watch sites will have the game on their big screens for fans to gather and cheer on the Huskers. And don't forget that Jack's in Fremont will have their famous Thursday Night Prime-Rib on the menu, so grab a good seat, enjoy some great pub grub and cheer on the team in their conference opener.
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HUSKERS HEAD TO KANSAS STATE IN BIG 12 OPENER...
Huskers Record: 4-0 Rankings: Coaches-6; AP-7 Last Game: def. So. Dakota St., 17-3 Coach: Bo Pelini Career/NU Record: 24-8/3rd year vs. KSU: 2-0 | Game 5: Nebraska vs. Kansas State Oct. 7, 2010 | Bill Snyder Family Stadium Manhattan, Kan. | 4:45 p.m. PDT Game Information Television: ESPN-HD Radio: Husker Sports Network Series Record: Nebraska leads, 77-15-2 Capacity: 50,000 Surface: Fieldturf | Wildcats Record: 4-0 Rankings: Coaches-RV; AP-RV Last Game: def. Central Florida, 17-13 Coach: Bill Snyder Career/KSU Record: 146-71-1/19th season vs. NU: 5-13 |
The Matchup
Nebraska opens its final season of Big 12 Conference competition with a tough test at undefeated Kansas State on Thursday, Oct. 7, in Manhattan. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN with kickoff from KSU's Bill Snyder Family Stadium set for 4:45 p.m. (PDT). It marks the second straight year Nebraska has opened conference play with a Thursday night game on the road. NU defeated Missouri in Columbia in 2009 on its way to a Big 12 North crown.
Both teams come into the contest with perfect 4-0 records, Nebraska's first perfect mark through four games since 2005. Nebraska completed an unbeaten non-conference season with a 17-3 victory over South Dakota State in Lincoln on Sept. 25. The perfect record places NU at No. 6 in the coaches poll and seventh in the AP poll heading into Thursday's game. A victory at Kansas State would give the Huskers their first 5-0 start to a season since the 2003 campaign.
Kansas State will be looking to take the inside track to the North Division with a victory. The Wildcats already own a division victory with a 27-20 win over Iowa State on Sept. 18 in Kansas City. K-State also owns home victories over UCLA, Missouri State and Central Florida. KSU is led by one of the nation's top running backs in senior Daniel Thomas, who ranks fourth in the country in rushing at 157.0 yards per game.
The Series
Nebraska owns a commanding 77-15-2 all-time record in the series between the schools, including a 34-7-2 edge in Manhattan. K-State won five of seven meetings in the series between 1998 and 2004, but Nebraska has won the past five meetings, including 2006 and 2008 victories in Manhattan. NU has won each of the last four matchups by at least two touchdowns.
The Coaches
Nebraska:
Bo Pelini (Ohio State, '90) owns a 24-8 record in his third season. Pelini has guided NU to nine or more wins in each of his first two seasons as head coach, joining Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne and Frank Solich in accomplishing that feat. Pelini is the first coach in Big 12 history to guide his team to at least a share of division titles in each of his first two seasons.
Kansas State: Bill Snyder (William Jewell, '63) is in his second stint as KSU's head coach and his 19th overall season on the Wildcats' sideline. Snyder owns a 146-74-1 overall record, including a 5-13 mark against Nebraska. Snyder has guided K-State to one Big 12 title and three conference championship game appearances.
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BLACKSHIRTS LEAD HUSKERS PAST JACKS...
Lincoln - In a game dominated by the defenses, No. 6 Nebraska survived a spirited effort by visiting South Dakota State for a 17-3 victory on Homecoming at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
Playing in front of the NCAA-record 307th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium and an FSN pay-per-view television audience, the Cornhuskers improved to 4-0 on the season, while the Jackrabbits slipped to 0-3.
Just days after Blackshirts were handed out to Nebraska's top-unit defenders, Lavonte David notched one of the top tackle efforts in school history. The 6-1, 210-pound junior linebacker from Miami, Fla., registered 19 tackles to tie for seventh on NU's all-time list, while adding a pair of pass breakups.
In addition to David's career tackle performance, Alfonzo Dennard and P.J. Smith both notched their third interceptions of the season to help hold the Jackrabbits to just 236 yards of total offense. Ricky Thenarse pitched in 10 tackles for NU, while DeJon Gomes added nine.
The Jacks threw down some defense of their own against a Nebraska offense that entered the game averaging 47.7 points and 513.3 yards per game. SDSU limited NU to just 345 total yards, including a season-low 205 rushing yards on 48 carries.
South Dakota State linebacker Derek Domino produced 16 tackles for the Jacks, while adding one of SDSU's two interceptions on the night. Mike Lien pitched in 11 tackles, while Dirk Kool added an interception for the Jacks. Winston Wright also contributed a fumble recovery.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez led NU with 75 rushing yards on 13 carries, while completing 6-of-14 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two interceptions.
Sophomore I-back Rex Burkhead added 14 carries for 66 yards and NU's first touchdown, while Roy Helu Jr. contributed 59 yards on 19 carries. Brandon Kinnie led the NU receivers with three catches for 34 yards, while Mike McNeill added a career-long 64-yard reception to set up Burkhead's touchdown.
Running back Kyle Minett led the Jackrabbits with 112 rushing yards on 28 carries, while adding five catches for 14 yards. Thomas O'Brien completed 12-of-28 passes for 95 yards while throwing a pair of interceptions.
In a scoreless first quarter, South Dakota State controlled the flow of play by maintaining possession for 10:44 in the opening period. The Jackrabbits gained two first downs on the game's opening drive to reel off four minutes. Martinez then fumbled deep in Husker territory on NU's first play from scrimmage.
The Blackshirts held on 4th & Goal from the one yard line, but SDSU forced a three-and-out on Nebraska's second drive. NU's defense shut down the Jacks on the next drive, but after a high snap forced SDSU punter Dean Priddy to retreat for the ball, he unleashed a 39-yard punt that was caught in the air by a Jack cover man at the NU 4.
Nebraska's offense got untracked on its third drive, as Roy Helu Jr. uncorked a 14-yard run for an NU first down at the 19. On NU's opening play of the second quarter, Martinez connected with Mike McNeill for a career-long 64-yard reception down to the SDSU 3. Rex Burkhead put the Huskers on the board with a three-yard run on the next play to give NU a 7-0 lead with 14:31 left in the half.
The Blackshirts forced a three-and-out on SDSU's ensuing drive, and Martinez and the Husker offense went to work again. This time, Martinez hit Kyler Reed for a career-long 33-yard reception for Reed's first career touchdown.
The two teams exchanged field goals in the second half, and while the outcome was never in question for the Huskers, Coach Bo Pelini was disappointed in Nebraska's play.
"I always believe when you walk out there you're going to get better or you're going to get worse. We got worse today," Pelini said. "I call it as I see it. I'm not going to try and paint a picture that is different. A lot of the same things that came out today were things that reach out and grab you in practice. When the errors aren't being corrected and people aren't making adjustments and are repeating their errors, that's a problem. It will reach up and get you. Across the board we just didn't execute, forget about everything else. We didn't take the field and do what we're coached to do. We didn't execute our offense, for a lot of times we didn't execute defensively. It all comes down to our football team wasn't ready to play for whatever reason. That comes squarely back to the guy in charge. I take responsibility."
Nebraska opens Big 12 Conference play by taking on Kansas State on Thursday, Oct. 7 in Manhattan, Kan. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PDT with live national television coverage provided by ESPN.
Scoring Summary
Final: #6 Nebraska 17, South Dakota State 3
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
First Quarter (0-0)
No Scoring
Second Quarter (NU, 14-0)
NU - 14:31 - Rex Burkhead 3 run (Alex Henery kick) - 6 plays, 96 yards, 3:01, NU 7-0
NU - 10:46 - Kyler Reed 33 pass from Taylor Martinez (Henery kick) - 4 plays, 54 yards, 2:13, NU 14-0
Third Quarter (NU, 14-3)
SDSU - 5:11 - Kyle Harris 35 field goal - 12 plays, 73 yards, 4:43, NU 14-3
Fourth Quarter (NU 17-3)
NU - 14:57 - Henery 30 field goal - 11 plays, 52 yards, 5:09, NU 17-3
Final: #6 Nebraska 17, South Dakota State 3
Attendance: 85,573
Time of Game: 2:55
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NEBRASKA CONTINUES TO PREPARE FOR KANSAS STATE...
Lincoln- On Tuesday afternoon the Nebraska Cornhuskers continued to prepare for their first Big 12 conference game of the season. The Huskers practiced indoors at the Hawks Championship Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields in helmets and shorts. After practice, Head Coach Bo Pelini addressed the media saying that it was a good practice.
"We had a good day," said Pelini. "It was a good practice and we had a good week. I think our guys are just anxious to play."
Thursday's game marks the second time this season that the Huskers will play an opponent on the road.
"Anytime you go on the road, it will be a different environment and a different football team," said Pelini. "If we play well, it won't be an issue. It doesn't matter where you're playing. Our guys will handle the road elements, we just got to make sure we execute our football."
Coach Pelini also touched on the progress of the defensive line saying, "The d-line has played well throughout. I don't think anyone on the football team played the way we wanted to against South Dakota State, but we're making strides. I think we're getting better."
The Huskers will have a walk-through tomorrow before they board the buses to travel south to Manhattan Kan. Thursday night's game will be nationally televised on ESPN and kicks off at 4:45 p.m. PDT
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MORE THAN A MORAL VICTORY WAS WITHIN THEIR GRASP...(a recap from the other side)
By Stu Whitney of the Argus Leader (Sioux Falls newspaper) 9/26/10
LINCOLN, Neb. - Depending upon your sources, South Dakota State was either going to lose 113-0 to mighty Nebraska on Saturday or lose so many players in the process that their program would cease to exist.
Like so many other Football Championship Subdivision teams this season, however, the Jackrabbits turned conventional wisdom on its ear.
With a spirited defensive effort that triggered a quarterback controversy in Cornhusker Nation, the visitors stayed within two touchdowns and kept the outcome in question until late in the fourth quarter of a 17-3 defeat at Memorial Stadium.
Call it a moral victory if you wish. For the sixth-ranked Huskers, it felt like a loss.
"I thought they outplayed us," said Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, who benched quarterback Taylor Martinez in the fourth quarter in favor of Cody Green.
"They out-hit us and flew around the field with more passion than we did. For us to walk out of our stadium after playing like that, I'm embarrassed."
The Jacks, booed on their home field in last week's listless loss to Illinois State, had two touchdowns erased by penalties Saturday and couldn't manage the offense to match their defensive mastery.
"We're 0-3, and that's all that matters," said linebacker Derek Domino, who had 16 tackles and nearly pulled SDSU within 17-10 with 11 minutes to play with an interception return that was nullified by an illegal block.
But it's not that simple. When a still-growing FCS program walks into one of the nation's most storied stadiums and humbles the sixth-ranked team in the land, something happened besides a loss.
"Nebraska's a good football team," said SDSU senior Kyle Minett, who rushed for 113 yards and had a first-quarter touchdown plunge erased by an illegal procedure call. "But we thought they were beatable."
It wasn't exactly a rousing homecoming for the Huskers, whose supporters spent much of the week chortling about SDSU's last trip to Lincoln, a 58-7 loss to the Big Red back in 1963.
"We heard one (commentator) on the radio say that if they didn't score 100 points, they would consider it a loss," said Jacks coach John Stiegelmeier.
"And as we drove in here, we heard someone predict the score as 63-7. We didn't really talk about that stuff, but I think our kids responded to it."
That's the funny thing about moral victories, though. They still go down as a defeat, and in this case a series of missed opportunities.
Quarterback Thomas O'Brien, who completed just 12 of 28 passes for 95 yards and two interceptions, said Saturday's loss hurt more than any loss in his career, with the possible exception of last year's playoff meltdown at Montana.
Stiegelmeier acknowledged the excitement of the SDSU fans in attendance, whose pockets of blue tried to stay afloat amid the sea of red.
"They don't want to hear this, because there were so many positive comments (after the game), and there should be," he said. "But our guys are hurting. There is a pride they have for playing their tails off, but there is also a hurt."
Of course, the hurt has been mixed with hope for FCS teams walking into the previously forbidden land of major-college football, with plenty of shakeups this season.
Entering Saturday's action, FCS teams were 6-63 against their FBS brethren, including four victories against Bowl Championship Series hosts.
North Dakota State accounted for one of those against Kansas, and of course the University of South Dakota stunned Minnesota back on Sept. 11.
That last FCS flag-flier was particularly painful for Jackrabbit fans, who heard an earful about how the Coyotes had pulled off the landmark win that SDSU could not.
Saturday presented a chance for the state's Division I trailblazers to make a statement at a place they had only seen on TV, and no one knew what to expect.
This was quite different from 2008, when the Jacks opened the season at Iowa State for their first game against a BCS school since they made the D-I leap.
Ames is a nice place and all, and that game was symbolic, but comparing Jack Trice Stadium to the scene in Lincoln is an exercise in futility.
The same goes for TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where SDSU nearly upset the hapless Gophers last year before settling for an ego-lifting 16-13 loss.
This was Nebraska, where a statewide culture surrounds a team that has captured five national titles and appeared on its way back to elite status under Pelini.
"At one point in the huddle I sort of peeked at the crowd and thought, 'Whoa, there are a lot of people here,' " said O'Brien of the 85,573 in attendance. "But that didn't last long."
Hours earlier, during the buildup to the game, SDSU fans walked among the homecoming throng in Lincoln, somewhat starry-eyed but playing the part.
There was plenty of blue in evidence, but it was a non-threatening color if there was ever was one. Husker fans, not knowing what was to come, tolerated this minor menace and even helped celebrate it.
Cori Bortnem, a former Miss SDSU who graduated from the school last year, was among a group of friends who soaked up the atmosphere at the Sidetrack, a popular Lincoln watering hole.
"They played our fight song!" Bortnem said of the tavern's iconic house band. "Nebraska fans were clapping and everything!"
Asked about her team's chances, though, she reverted to conventional wisdom, just like most everyone else.
"If I were an extreme optimist, I would have to say that it's possible," Bortnem said. "But I'm a realist, and we're playing the Huskers. I love my Jackrabbits, but come on!"
Several hours later, after another near-magical FCS moment, it didn't seem quite so absurd.
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HUSKERS IN THE NFL - WEEK 4...
A total of 21 former Huskers saw action in Week 4 of the NFL season.
A pair of former Huskers helped Denver to a come-from-behind 26-20 road victory at Tennessee when running back Correll Buckhalter caught the eventual game-winning touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle Orton with 1:33 remaining. Buckhalter had five receptions for 38 yards in Orton's 341-yard passing performance, while Russ Hochstein saw action on the offensive line.
Rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh started his fourth game of the season for the Lions and tallied his third sack of the year while contributing three tackles in the 28-26 loss to the Packers. On the winning end, running back Brandon Jackson rushed nine times for 33 yards in his second start of the year.
Linebacker Scott Shanle had three tackles in the Saints' 16-14 home win over the Panthers, while offensive lineman Carl Nicks earned his fourth straight start. Fellow linebacker Stewart Bradley had the most tackles of any former Blackshirt, although his six-stop effort against Adam Carriker's Redskins was not enough to give the Eagles a win in the 17-12 loss.
Offensive guard Richie Incognito started his fourth game on the Miami line, while offensive tackle Lydon Murtha appeared in his first game of the year in the Dolphins' Monday night setback to the Patriots.
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GAME-WORN JERSEYS FOR TEXAS GAME UP FOR AUCTION ON HUSKERS.COM...
Huskers.com is offering up for auction 157 game-worn jerseys from the Oct. 16 Nebraska-Texas game at Memorial Stadium.
"We are always looking at new ways to create revenue to support our student-athletes," said Michael Stephens, Nebraska's Assistant Athletic Director who oversees Marketing and Licensing. "We feel the game-worn jersey auction is a great way to do this while also giving our fans a chance to be part of the special celebration. With the bids we've already received, we feel like we're off to a great start." .
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Nebraska's first national football championship, the Huskers' 1970 team will be honored during the Red Out Around the World festivities.
"In addition to connecting our fans everywhere, we feel it's appropriate to salute the team that put Nebraska on the national map with an unbeaten season and a 17-12 win over LSU in the Orange Bowl," Stephens said.
The 1970 team will be feted at a private reception the night before the Texas game.
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VOLLEYBALL:
HUSKERS TAKE WINNING STREAK TO MISSOURI...
Nebraska at Missouri
No. 3 Nebraska at Missouri • Wednesday, Oct. 6 • Hearnes Center • 6:30 p.m.
TV: Metro Sports/NET 2 | Lincoln - (Time Warner: SD-17) Omaha - (Cox: SD-16)
Radio: Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and KTWI 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Web Video: MUTigers.com (Premium Subscription)
Live Stats: MUTigers.com
The No. 3 Nebraska volleyball team (14-1, 6-0) will look to extend its 13-match winning streak on the road this Wednesday with a 6:30 p.m. match against the Missouri Tigers (11-5, 3-3) at the Hearnes Center.
Both teams are coming off wins on Saturday, as Nebraska downed No. 13 Texas, 3-1, while Missouri swept Colorado. The Tigers are 1-2 at home this season during Big 12 play, while the Huskers are a perfect 3-0 on the road in conference matches.
Wednesday night's match will mark the first time Nebraska has met a north division opponent in two weeks after playing three straight matches against south division programs, including Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas.
Metro Sports out of Kansas City will be providing a broadcast of the match, which will be shared on NET2 in Nebraska. NET2 can be seen in Lincoln on Time Warner Cable channel 17 and is on channel 16 on Cox Communications in Omaha. A web stream of the match will also be available at MUTigers.com, but a subscription is required.
Fans can also listen to all of the action with John Baylor and Lindsey Peterson on the 25-station Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha. Fans outside the state will also be able to catch the live audio feed for free on Huskers.com.
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VOLLEYBALL:
HUSKERS WRANGLE LONGORNS...
Lincoln - The No. 3 Nebraska volleyball team snapped a four-match losing streak to the No. 13 Texas Longhorns on Saturday afternoon at the NU Coliseum 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20) in front of a national TV audience on FSN. The Huskers are now 14-1 overall and remain the Big 12's only undefeated team in conference play at 6-0.
It felt like there was a little bit of pressure on Nebraska to win this match," Head Coach John Cook said. "I thought our kids did a nice job of holding their composure and fighting off Texas as they made those runs against us."
Nebraska's pair of 6-5 right side hitters in Lindsey Licht and Morgan Broekhuis paced the Huskers with 13 kills apiece, while Hannah Werth and Brooke Delano also reached double-figured with 11 kills each. Werth also added a match-high 18 digs to chart her sixth double-double of the season.
Lauren Cook fed the Husker attackers with a team-high 27 assists and Sydney Anderson was right behind her with 23 dishes. The Huskers' offense got stronger as the match went on, as they hit a match-high .417 in set four after failing to hit above .300 in the previous three sets.
"No lead ever felt safe tonight and I assume Texas feels the same way," Cook said. "Both teams are really good in transition, so if they dig a ball and get a rally they have a really good chance of winning it."
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VOLLEYBALL:
HUSKERS SURVIVE TOUGH MATCH IN NORMAN...
Norman, Okla. - The No. 3 Nebraska volleyball team stayed undefeated in Big 12 play Wednesday night with a hard-fought 3-1 win (18-25, 25-17, 25-17, 26-24) over the Oklahoma Sooners at the McCasland Field House.
Lindsey Licht led the way with 15 kills on 36 swings (.361) and added eight blocks, while Tara Mueller also hit double-figure kills with 10.
Sydney Anderson posted a team-high 24 assists and Lauren Cook chipped in 22 more to help the Huskers hit .276, while the Kayla Banwarth's 15 digs and Brooke Delano's career-high 10 blocks held the Sooners to .149 hitting.
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VOLLEYBALL:
DELANO EARNS SECOND BIG 12 HONOR OF 2010...
Lincoln - Nebraska junior middle blocker Brooke Delano earned her second Big 12 Player of the Week honor of the season on Monday as she was named the league's defensive player of the week. Previously, Delano was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 13 after she earned MVP honors at the Ameritas Players Challenge.
A native of Bellevue, Neb., Delano helped lead the Huskers to wins over Oklahoma and No. 13 Texas last week with 13 total blocks in the two matches, as she led the league with 1.62 blocks per set for the week.
Delano's week was highlight in Norman when she showed her dominance over the Sooners with a career-best 10 stuffs. It was the most blocks by a Husker in over two years, as Amanda Gates produced 10 blocks in 2008 against Kansas State. The 10 blocks also marked the top performance by any player in Big 12 play this season.
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SOCCER:
HUSKERS TAKE ON IOWA STATE AND MIZZOU...(all time central)...
Game 14: Iowa State (6-5-2, 1-2-0) vs. Nebraska (9-4-0, 2-2-0)
Date: Oct. 8, 2010
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Nebraska Soccer Field, Lincoln, Neb.
Capacity: 3,500
Series History: NU leads, 12-2-1
Live Audio: 90.3 KRNU
Live Stats: Huskers.com
Promotion: Free T-Shirt Giveaway
Game 15: Missouri (4-5-2, 2-1-0) vs. Nebraska (9-4-0, 2-2-0)
Date: Oct. 10, 2010
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Nebraska Soccer Field, Lincoln, Neb.
Capacity: 3,500
Series History: NU leads, 15-3-0
Live Audio: 90.3 KRNU
Live Stats: Huskers.com
Promotion: Power of Pink Game
Following a 5-4 overtime thriller at Texas Tech, the Nebraska soccer team returns to Lincoln for a pair of Big 12 home match-ups against Iowa State (6-5-2, 1-2-0) and Missouri (4-5-2, 2-1-0) this week at the Nebraska Soccer Field. The Huskers are in a five-way tie for third place in the league standings and hope to climb the ladder beginning Friday when the Cyclones come to Lincoln for a 4:30 p.m. contest. The match will be T-shirt Giveaway Day at the Nebraska Soccer Field, as the first 100 UNL students and 100 general public fans receive free Husker soccer T-shirts. The Huskers then turn around to host the defending Big 12 champion Tigers on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a Power of Pink game to raise breast cancer awareness. A live radio broadcast of both matches will be available on 90.3 KRNU (krnu.unl.edu) in addition to live stats on Huskers.com.
Nebraska is 9-4-0 overall with a 2-2-0 record in Big 12 play after it split road matches over the weekend at Baylor and Texas Tech. The Huskers are ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA Central Region, moving up one spot from last week. Iowa State carries a winning 6-5-2 overall record with a 1-2-0 Big 12 mark after it dropped a pair of close one-goal contests to Oklahoma (3-4) and No. 8 Oklahoma State (0-1) after a 2-0 win over Kansas. Missouri is one of the Big 12's most intriguing teams, as the Tigers have faced one of the nation's toughest schedules en route to a 4-5-2 overall record before winning two of its first three Big 12 matches over Kansas (4-1) and Oklahoma (2-1), while falling to No. 8 Oklahoma State (1-3). Missouri was 13-6-3 last season and won the 2009 Big 12 regular season championship before it was controversially left out of the NCAA Tournament field.
Nebraska sophomore Morgan Marlborough will pose a strong offensive threat to both the Cyclones and Tigers. The forward is the Big 12's leading scorer with 29 points and 12 goals, numbers that rank second and third nationally. Marlborough has scored in six consecutive games to run her career-goal total to 33, the seventh-most in school history. Sophomore teammate Jordan Jackson is atop the league rankings as she is tied with Texas' Kylie Doniak in assists with six. Jackson also ranks fourth in goals with seven after she scored twice in Sunday's 5-4 win at Texas Tech.
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SOCCER:
ROMERO NAMED BIG 12 NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK...
After scoring the game-winning goal in Nebraska's overtime win at Texas Tech, freshman Ari Romero has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, announced Tuesday by the league office. Romero is the fourth Husker to earn a weekly honor this season, joining senior Tara Macdonald (Defensive; Sept. 21), sophomore Jordan Jackson (Offensive; Sept. 21) and sophomore Morgan Marlborough (Offensive; Sept. 28).
A native of Surprise, Ariz., Romero attempted only one shot in Sunday's match against the Red Raiders, but made it count as her rebound header in the 92nd minute gave the Huskers a thrilling 5-4 road victory. NU led the match 4-2 in the final minutes before Texas Tech made an improbable comeback to force overtime. Just two minutes into the extra period, sophomore Morgan Marlborough took a free kick from 40 yards away that was saved by the goalkeeper and hit the post to give Romero the opportunity.
It was the first-career goal for Romero, who has started all 13 matches and been playing as a defender for most of the 2010 season.
In addition to Romero, Texas' Kristin Cummins (Offensive) and Baylor's Courtney Seelhorst (Defensive) earned the other two weekly awards from the Big 12 Conference.
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BASEBALL:
THREE FORMER HUSKERS SET FOR 2010 MLB PLAYOFFS...
A trio of former Huskers are set to compete in the 2010 Major League Baseball Playoffs, as the teams of Dan Johnson (Tampa Bay), Joba Chamberlain (New York Yankees) and Brian Duensing (Minnesota) all qualified for postseason play.
Chamberlain and Duensing, both pitchers for the 2005 Huskers, will meet up in the American League Division Series that begins Wednesday night at Target Field. Chamberlain will be making his third playoff appearance after going 3-4 with a 4.40 earned-run average this season to go along with three saves. Duensing has quietly put together a strong 10-3 record for the American League Central Division champion Twins with a 2.62 earned-run average. He has one game of playoff experience from the 2009 postseason and is scheduled to start Game 3 this Saturday for Minnesota.
A member of Nebraska's first-ever College World Series team in 2001, Johnson and the Rays will be on the other side of the American League Division Series when they begin play Wednesday afternoon against the Texas Rangers. Johnson embarked on another late season tear, as he hit seven home runs in 40 games to help Tampa Bay claim the AL East title over the Yankees.
Johnson, Chamberlain and Duensing were each All-Big 12 selections during their NU careers. Johnson was a consensus first-team All-American in 2001 as he led the team with a .361 batting average and hit a league-leading 25 home runs. Chamberlain shined during the 2005 season with a 10-2 record and 2.81 earned-run average, while Duensing produced a perfect 8-0 mark with a 3.00 earned-run average the same year.
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BASEBALL:
RED-WHITE SERIES DATES, TIMES ANNOUNCED...
Lincoln - Nebraska Baseball Coach Mike Anderson and the Nebraska baseball program have announced the dates and times for the annual Red-White Series at Hawks Field. This year's three-game series begins Thursday, Oct. 14 at 3 p.m., with games scheduled for Friday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 16 at 9 a.m.
This year's Red-White Series will be held in close proximity to the Nebraska-Texas football game, giving Husker fans a chance to see an early look at the 2011 Husker baseball team. Admission is free for all three games and a concession stand will be open at Hawks Field.
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SOFTBALL:
OSTERMAN LEADS ALL-STARS PAST HUSKERS...
Lincoln - Olympic Gold Medalist Cat Osterman tossed a no-hitter and struck out 20 to lead the National Pro Fastpitch all-stars to a 7-0 victory over the Nebraska softball team in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader at Bowlin Stadium.
The exhibition game featured a unique format, as each batter began her at bat with a 1-1 count. Osterman used that to her advantage, striking out 20 without issuing a single walk. Only two Huskers put the ball in play against her and the only runner to reach base was freshman Taylor Edwards, who reached first safely on a wild pitch following a strikeout.
Junior right-hander Ashley Hagemann took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 3.0 innings. Freshman right-hander Tatum Edwards relieved Hagemann and allowed one run on only one hit in 1.0 inning, as she walked three. Junior right-hander Haley Workman finished the game, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits in 3.0 innings.
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SOFTBALL:
HUSKERS SWEEP CREIGHTON IN OMAHA...
Omaha - The Nebraska softball team continued its fall exhibition season on Sunday with a doubleheader sweep of Creighton at the CU Sports Complex. The Huskers won the opener 6-2 and completed the sweep with a 1-0 victory in game two.
Nebraska never trailed in the doubleheader and Head Coach Rhonda Revelle credited the Husker pitching staff for an excellent performance.
"I think the story of the day was that all three of our pitchers pitched really well and pitched with a lot of purpose," Revelle said.
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FROM ASHLAND TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD, WEARING RED...(thanks to Donna for sending the link to this article)
By DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star
Posted: Saturday, September 25, 2010
University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken (left) and Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes (right) discuss initiatives in water resources during half time at Husky Stadium Saturday, September 18, 2010. (Heidi Hoffman)
SEATTLE - Peering down from the press box atop Husky Stadium, beyond the boats clustered on Lake Washington, you can see houses perched on the hills.
Jeff Raikes is pointing.
Above that white structure, up there to the right - that's his house.
That's where Raikes and his wife, Tricia, hosted 120 visiting Nebraskans at a festive party the night before the big game.
"Cheap flag!" Raikes suddenly interjects as, far down on his left, an official nails a Husker with a holding call in the final minute of the first half of the game.
Now Raikes is reaching out to greet J.B. Milliken before he and the University of Nebraska president head down the narrow hallway to Booth C for a halftime interview on Nebraska radio.
This is a man of moving parts.
And he's wearing a red Husker shirt and a black Nebraska cap with a red "N" emblazoned on it.
Nebraska, Nebraska.
His roots, but it's more than that.
It is a tree, visible and sturdy, nourished by connection, commitment and passion.
And this moment is a metaphor.
Here, in the blimp-level section of the stadium, you sit on top of the world.
Your view is expanded.
But you know there's much more beyond the horizon.
And you can soar.
Hey, what's with the big "M" dropped in my parking space?
That's the question Raikes asks Gates Foundation employees who have filed in for a town hall forum the day before the football game between Nebraska and Washington.
Of course, it was a big "W" that greeted the CEO as he arrived at work at the unmarked office building near the Space Needle.
And no one is claiming ownership.
After expressing "some appreciation for their creativity," Raikes briefly pops a big yellow cornhead hat atop his head before sitting down to share the stage with "my high school buddy."
Clay Anderson, Nebraska's astronaut, is the featured guest.
Chris Greene, another Ashland buddy who is a renowned atomic physicist at the University of Colorado, is in the audience.
So is Chuck Niemeyer, who was Raikes' high school golf coach.
Roots all over the place.
With Raikes prompting and Anderson delivering nuggets from his small-town boyhood to walking in space atop the dome of the world, the pair engage in an extraordinary dialogue that would have made an engaging hour of television.
Here's a quick smattering from Anderson:
"In a small town, you couldn't do anything without your parents finding out."
"Jeff's mother (Alice) was my seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher."
"I applied to be an astronaut 15 times."
"A little effort every day is better than a lot one day."
"I opened the hatch and I looked at total blackness. I knew I was born to do this and be right here right now."
They hug afterward.
Jeff Raikes, 52, journeyed from the family farm near Ashland to college at Stanford University and then burst into endeavors that changed the world.
That's not hyperbole; that's fact.
After landing a job as a software development manager at Apple Computers, he took a chance in 1981 with a relatively new company and a guy named Bill Gates.
It was there Raikes took his own rocket ride.
He emerged as president of the Microsoft Business Division and a member of the company's senior leadership team, helping to establish strategy and direction for what now is an iconic American enterprise.
Along the way, it became a global game-changer.
Raikes was the chief strategist behind Microsoft's success in graphic applications for the Apple Macintosh and the Microsoft Windows operating system and creation of the Microsoft Office array of productivity applications.
In 2008, Raikes retired from Microsoft and today is CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administering a $33 billion endowment fueled by the wealth accumulated by Gates and Omaha's legendary investor, Warren Buffett.
For the rest of the article go to: http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_370fbca4-c926-11df-912a-001cc4c002e0.html
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TOUCHDOWN TOMMIE WILL MISS MANHATTAN, BUT HE WON'T MISS TOKYO...
Randy York's N-SIder
Tommie Frazier went to a Cub Scout meeting Tuesday night with his 7-year-old son. Thursday morning, he'll jump in the car with a couple buddies and take one last drive from Lincoln to Manhattan, Kan.
"I always looked forward to playing Kansas State because you knew they were well coached, you knew they were going to play hard, and you knew they were never going to bring anything less than their A-game," Frazier said.
High praise, don't you think, from a quarterback who arguably was the MVP of three consecutive national championship games in the mid-1990s?
You remember Frazier outperforming Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward while leading Nebraska within a whisker of a national title in an 18-16 loss to Florida State as a sophomore. As a junior, Frazier came back from an injury to cut down Miami (24-17) for Tom Osborne's first national championship. Then, for an encore as a senior, Frazier lit the torch that blew up Florida, 62-24, for another national title.
What you've probably forgotten is one of Frazier's last games as a freshman quarterback starter - a 38-24 triumph over Kansas State on Dec. 5, 1992, in, of all places, Tokyo, Japan - a mutually agreed upon replacement for a K-State home game.
No Comfort between Two Offensive Linemen
"I'll never forget that 13-hour plane ride from Kansas City to Vancouver and then on to Tokyo - the longest plane ride in my life at the time," Frazier recalled. "I was sitting between two big offensive linemen - Zach Wiegert and Lance Lundberg. For awhile, I thought it would take forever to get there."
Fortunately, though, like all good offensive linemen, Wiegert and Lundberg created some extra room for their quarterback and kept him happy.
"Zach wandered off somewhere, and Lance laid down and went to sleep on the floor," Frazier said.
When the 6-5, 310-pound Wiegert and the 6-4, 300-pound Lundberg vacated their seats, that opened things up for Touchdown Tommie, who put the arm rests down, threw a pillow next to the window and spread himself across three large seats for a well-deserved long winter's nap.
Nebraska had left Lincoln on a Tuesday morning before hooking up with the K-State team in Kansas City. When the plane landed in Tokyo, it was 4 a.m. in Lincoln and 7 p.m. Wednesday in Tokyo.
"It was a long week, a long game and a long trip," Frazier said. "It was different preparing for a game in a foreign country, especially when the fans didn't know anything about football. But it was memorable. I enjoyed it."
Frazier's Trip to Iraq was to "Salute the Troops"
For a college freshman, it was the trip of a lifetime, superseded only by a 13½-hour flight to Iraq last December when Frazier joined a fun group on a USO "Salute the Troops" Tour that pitted Barry Switzer against Tommy Bowden coaching flag football teams in Kuwait City and Baghdad.
"I went over there with Brian Bosworth, Bruce Smith, Rocket Ismail, Tony Casillas, Ty Detmer and Joe Washington," Frazier said. "We had a great time, and it felt good to help raise the spirits of our troops."
Frazier couldn't say the same thing about his flight home from Japan 18 years earlier. "The plane ride home wasn't real friendly," he said. "It isn't very fun for the losing team."
The trip had other odd moments as well.
"We had some downtime, but mostly we would just hang out with each other because we didn't know where to go," Frazier said."We couldn't stray from the hotel unless there was an event to attend. I mean, we were there to play a conference football game, so there was no time to slack off."
Nebraska won the game in front of 50,000 fans in Tokyo.
It Was 21-0 Midway Through the Second Quarter
Frazier, the Big Eight's Offensive Newcomer-of-the-Year in 1992, staked Nebraska to a quick 21-0 lead, throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Corey Dixon and sprinting 19 yards for another TD in the first quarter.
Six minutes into the second quarter, Frazier ran for another touchdown, and the game was never really in doubt after that.
Frazier didn't earn his nickname Touchdown Tommie until his last two years as a starter, but he remembers how a Japanese crowd had no interest in touchdowns.
"They applauded more for a fan that jumped over a barricade than they did for any touchdown that was scored," he recalled. "They had music going the whole game, and I remember them broadcasting fake crowd noise, so it sounded like they were excited, even when they really weren't."
Thursday, Frazier will think about playing a K-State team he always respected. "Bill Snyder will make sure they bring their best game in the last game these two teams will play against each other in the Big 12," he said. "It's a sad deal in one way, but you understand where you're going, and it's time to move on."
Like everyone else, Frazier is eager to see how Nebraska redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez will bounce back from the South Dakota State game 12 days earlier.
A Freshman's Brain Can Get Overcrowded
"That's part of the game when you play a freshman quarterback," Frazier said, recalling some of his own challenges. "Taylor got off to a great start, but he hit a wall. His brain became overcrowded, and when you don't have that experience to rely on, sometimes it's hard to think straight."
In Frazier's opinion, the tendency for great athletes is to try to do too much. "That's the mistake all young guys make," he said. "You over-think and try to do more than you should when you're better off letting your teammates pick up the slack."
Frazier puts his own spin on Forest Gump's favorite expression that life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get. "Freshman quarterbacks are like a box of chocolates, too - you never know what you're going to get until you see what the other team throws at you."
Frazier encourages Nebraska fans to be patient with Martinez as he adapts to a variety of defenses.
"The reason everybody loves college football is because you can never predict what's going to happen," Frazier said. "With 18 &19 and 21 & 22-year-old kids, you can't take anybody lightly, and you have to play every game like it's your last."
The best thing about Martinez, Frazier said, is his speed and the respect he commands from a defense. "With a guy like him, you can't focus on the other backs," he said, "because he can take off and score. I love it when we put points on the board - on the ground or in the air. It doesn't matter to me."
Frazier finished his career with a remarkable 33-3 record as a starter. He won nearly every award imaginable except the Heisman, finishing second his senior year. A member of Sports Illustrated's All-Century Team, Sport Magazine went one step beyond that, naming Frazier one of the 10 greatest college football players of the century.
Frazier Thinks the Huskers Will Take Manhattan
A quarterback with those credentials wouldn't think of putting any more pressure on Martinez than he already has.
"I'm looking for our defense to force the pass in this game, and I like the way our secondary can shut people down," Frazier said. "I know K-State will bring their A-game, and I know the crowd will be loud and crazy, but I'll be surprised if Nebraska doesn't win."
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HUSKERMAX.COM OFFERS BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE...
Long time friend and Husker website legend, David Max (formerly with Huskerpedia) has a new website for Husker Fans that includes some great Bulletin Boards to post your comments and share your Husker expertise. Check it out at http://www.huskermax.com
David also invites all members of our Bay Area Huskers group to join his tailgate parties (FREE) when you are back in Lincoln for a game. They normally meet at the corner of 10th and N...look for the HuskerMax sign. (Thanks David!!)
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HUSKER LEGENDS RADIO SHOW (Hosted by Jerry Murtaugh)...
Hi! My name is Melissa Murtaugh and the reason for this e-mail is to tell you about my father-in-law's radio show and to ask if you would kindly send this out to the other chapter members. If you would like you could also add a link to his website from your web-page!
Jerry Murtaugh is a former Co-Captain and All American linebacker for the 1970 Nebraska Cornhusker Football Team. He spent 18 months conceptualizing strategies and creating a business plan for the Legends Radio Show. Legends Radio Show just kicked off it’s third year at the beginning of the football season.
This radio shows focus is on Husker Legends, athletes who represented the crimson and cream for over 100 years of Nebraska athletics. It promises to be entertaining, insightful, informative and poignant when the lives of the Legends are shared with their fans. The Legends Radio Show is broad-casted in six surrounding states and is streamed live at www.legendsradioshow.com. Legends Radio Show is also available for Alumni Groups around the Country.
Legends Radio Show is Co-hosted by Gary Java and Jerry Murtaugh. Guests are Husker Legends; former players, men and women of any and all sports. Past guests have been Eric Crouch, Jerry Tagge, Johnny Rodgers, Trev Albert, Tommie Frazier and many others.
Legends Radio Show airs LIVE on the Journal Broadcast Group on channel 590 AM from 9:00am-10:00am CST every Saturday morning out of Omaha, Nebraska, 52 weeks a year. You can call in to the show toll-free Saturday mornings at 1-877-244-0590 or e-mail us at legendsradioshow@gmail.com- We would love to hear from you!
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HUSKER HUMOR...(Thanks to Bill Tucker for sending this along)...
Copper Wire
After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years, and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.
Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: 'California archaeologists, finding traces of 200 year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.'
Just last week The Grand Island Independent, a local newspaper in Nebraska, reported the following: After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Stromsburg, Nebraska, Ole Olson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Ole has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Nebraska had already gone wireless.
Thank Heavens for Ole.
Who said Nebraskans are hicks?!?
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.
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