Ouch...that one will hurt for a long time...or at least until we win the Big 10 crown next year ;o) I have to say that if we had to lose to someone, I guess I'm glad it was Oklahoma and not one of the other southern conference teams. Even though I believe we should have won, I can live with that. If you look at the thin margins for all of our losses this year (far lower number per game than the rest of the conference), it would have only taken a few changes in turnovers or other plays going our way to have a much different outcome. So...its time to lick our wounds and support the team as they end up with a great 10-3 season. The Huskers should hold their heads high and be proud of their accomplishments this year. GO BIG RED!
All kinds of nasty stuff being tossed around on the internet about the screw job we got in the bowl selection process...guess our departure from the Big 12 is going to be like getting a bad divorce...messy, expensive and lots of finger pointing. See the article below by John Bishop of KLIN radio (and a couple of blogs from the comment stream on the ESPN website) to get a flavor for the 'cussin' and discussin' going on. With all that said its apparent the Athletic Department is concerned that folks may not be making the trek to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl this year. I know how they feel, and there's been a lot of 'been-there, done-that' talk in our circle of Husker friends. Many of those who went last year (and had a great time), were also the same group that make the trek up to Seattle to watch the Huskers whallop Washington at home 56-21. However I agree with John Bishop that boycotting the bowl game isn't the way to go...it would give people the wrong impression about the "Best College Football Fans" in the country. So, even if you can't (or don't want) to travel to San Diego, show your support for the Athletic Department (ticket sales request below) and buy the tickets and donate them to some well-deserving Sailors and Marines based in San Diego.
I believe the real payback solution for being left out of the good bowl picks by the Big 12 would be a total shut-out shellacking of the Huskies in the first half of the game (50 something to nothin' or better). The deafening sound of channels being changed all across the nation before the high priced advertisers get a chance to sell stuff at half time would send the Holiday Bowl, ESPN and the Big 12 commissioner a big message about their choice of match ups for the rightful #2 team in the Big 12 conference. The Holiday Bowl may never again be a selection for the Big 12!
OK...enough soapbox for now. The Volleyball team is playing Washington (how fitting) tonight with hopes of going on to the next level of the NCAA Championship Tournament (check info below). If they win the team will play Saturday night, and that game (8:30 p.m. Pacific time) will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.
Will Shields was recently selected to receive the Walter Camp Man of the Year award...amazing that he is the first Husker to make the list. And its fitting that Prince Amukamara was selected for this year's Walter Camp All-America Team.
There are some Holiday Bowl travel offers, a pitch for tickets to a great holiday concert by our own Emily Ray conducted Mission Chamber Orchestra on December 19th, a little Husker Humor at the end of the email and a number of other good articles below for your reading pleasure.
Don't forget to continue voting daily for Alex Henery for the Rudy Award at:
http://www.collegerudyawards.com/cfra-2010-nominees.htm ...lets hope he gets the recognition he deserves.
Go Big Red (White and Blue),
Carl
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HUSKERS TO MAKE RETURN TRIP TO HOLIDAY BOWL...
Nebraska is set to make its 47th all-time bowl appearance and its second straight trip to the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl to take on Washington on Thursday, Dec. 30, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. The game against the 6-6 Huskies will be a rematch of a 56-21 Nebraska victory in Seattle on Sept. 18.
The bowl appearance is Nebraska's third straight under Head Coach Bo Pelini and its 47th overall in school history, the fifth-most of any school in the country. It is Nebraska's third overall appearance in the Holiday Bowl, having appeared in the game in 1998 and 2009. This will be the first-ever postseason meeting between Nebraska and Washington.
Kickoff for the Holiday Bowl is set for 7 p.m. PST (9 p.m. CST) on Dec. 30, with ESPN providing the telecast to a national audience.
The Huskers are coming off a 23-20 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game, dropping Nebraska to 10-3 on the season. Nebraska's three losses have come by a total of 13 points, and the 10-win season has given NU back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time since 2000 and 2001.
Nebraska's 35-point victory over Washington in Seattle in September was the eighth all-time meeting between the schools, with NU holding a 4-3-1 edge. The Huskers have won the past three meetings, and the schools will meet again in Lincoln on Sept. 17, 2011.
Nebraska rushed for 383 yards and rolled up 533 yards of total offense in the victory over UW earlier this season. Nebraska also limited a talented Husky offense to just 246 yards of total offense.
Washington heads into the bowl game on a three-game winning streak with victories over UCLA, California and Washington State. The win streak allowed UW to even its record and qualify for its first bowl game since 2002.
Nebraska will receive an allotment of 11,000 tickets for the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. The remaining tickets in Nebraska's allotment will be available to the general public at Huskers.com, beginning at 8 a.m. Monday morning.
The Athletic Ticket Office (Stadium Drive Parking Garage) will also be open on Monday morning for over-the-counter sales, and can be reached by phone at 1-800-8-BIG-RED. Tickets for the game range in price from $30 to $75.
Other Nebraska Bowl Notes
--Nebraska has a 24-22 record in bowl games. The Huskers have won 10 of its last 14 bowl games and four of its past five since 2003.
--This year's game will be Nebraska's fifth bowl game in the state of California, including the three Holiday Bowl appearances and the 1941 and 2002 Rose Bowl games.
--Nebraska is 1-3 against the Pac-10 in bowl games, with last year's Holiday Bowl victory over Arizona being NU's first bowl win against the league. In addition to last year's game, NU lost the 1998 Holiday Bowl against Arizona, and also lost bowl games against Stanford (1941 Rose) and Arizona State (1975 Fiesta).
--Six of Nebraska's 2010 opponents are appearing in bowl games. Looking forward to the 2011 schedule, nine of the 11 currently scheduled opponents are set to play in a bowl game this fall, including BCS Bowl participants Wisconsin and Ohio State.
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OKLAHOMA COMEBACK DOWNS HUSKERS, 23-20...
Arlington, Texas - Nebraska took a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter, but Oklahoma outscored the Huskers by 20 points the rest of the way to come away with a 23-20 win in the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium. Four Nebraska turnovers led to 13 Oklahoma points as the Sooners came back from the 17-point deficit.
Oklahoma outgained Nebraska 454-293 in total yardage, including a 342-148 advantage through the air. The Huskers outrushed the Sooners 145-112, led by a 91-yard effort from senior Roy Helu and 90 yards by sophomore Rex Burkhead. Senior placekicker Alex Henery became Nebraska's all-time scoring leader in the contest with 396 career points.
After holding a 20-17 halftime lead, Nebraska was unable to put any points on the board in the second half. With the game tied at 20-20 in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma placekicker Jimmy Stevens kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8:28 remaining to account for the final score. The Blackshirts had forced Oklahoma into a 3rd and 24 situation, but quarterback Landry Jones completed back-to-back passes to Cameron Kenney to push the Sooners into field goal range.
The Huskers would get the ball three more times in the fourth quarter, but was unable to come away with points on any possession. Nebraska's final effort came short following a incomplete pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez to junior wide receiver Brandon Kinnie on 4th-and-4 from the Huskers' 47-yard line.
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HUSKERS HONORED FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS...
Lincoln - The Nebraska football program was one of 42 programs recognized by the American Football Coaches Association on Wednesday for its performance in the classroom.
The AFCA awards recognizes programs that graduate more than 75 percent of their football student-athletes, based on the latest NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR). It is the12th time the Husker program has been recognized by the AFCA for its academic achievement, while Nebraska was one of only three Big 12 schools recognized by the AFCA in 2010.
Northwestern and Rice shared the Academic Achievement Award, as both programs recorded a 100 percent graduation rate for members of their freshman football student-athlete class of 2003.
Forty-two other institutions will be recognized for graduating 75 percent or more of their football student-athletes. Thirteen of those institutions - Air Force, Army, Boston College, BYU, Duke, Iowa, Marshall, Miami (Fla.), Navy, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and West Virginia - achieved a rate of 90 percent or better. The remaining 29 institutions are: Arizona State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Auburn, Boise State, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Illinois, Kentucky, LSU, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Southern Mississippi, SMU, Stanford, Temple, TCU, Texas Tech, UNLV, Utah, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest and Washington.
The GSR is based on a six-year graduation window for student-athletes, which is a change from the five-year window used by the CFA and AFCA. The GSR was developed by the NCAA as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. The GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for mid-year enrollees.
Nebraska's 2010 football senior class already features six graduates, while eight others are on track to have their degrees before this month's Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Twenty two members of the senior class are expected to complete their degrees by the end of the 2011 spring semester. Nebraska's exhausted eligibility graduation rate among all sports is at an impressive 95 percent.
The Academic Achievement Award was established by the College Football Association in 1981. The award recognized the CFA-member Football Bowl Subdivision institution with the highest graduation rate among members of its football team. When the CFA disbanded in 1997, the AFCA stepped in to present the award and conduct a graduation rate survey that encompassed all members of the FBS.
2010 Conference Breakdown of Winners and Honorable Mentions: ACC- 6, Mountain West- 6, Big Ten- 5, SEC- 5, Big East- 4, Big 12- 3, Conference USA- 3, Independents- 3, MAC- 3, Pac-10- 3, WAC- 2, Sun Belt- 1.
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NEBRASKA DENIES BO PELINI REPORT...
AP/ESPN
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska's athletic director is denying a report that coach Bo Pelini is a candidate for Miami's coaching job.
Athletic director Tom Osborne told the Lincoln Journal Star that he has not given Pelini permission to speak to Miami about the job, and Pelini says he didn't seek permission to interview for another job. Pelini wouldn't otherwise comment publicly on the report.
Pelini's Cornhuskers (No. 18 BCS, No. 17 AP) are 10-3 heading into the Dec. 30 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl game against Washington (6-6).
Miami fired Randy Shannon last month after a 7-5 season. The Miami Herald, citing a University of Miami source it did not identify, reported Thursday that school officials planned to talk to the third-year Nebraska coach.
Pelini and Nebraska football officials didn't immediately return messages left Thursday. A secretary for Osborne said he had told her to tell callers: "There's nothing to comment on."
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AMUKAMARA CLAIMS INAUGURAL POP WARNER NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARD...
Orlando, Fla. - Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara has been named the recipient of the inaugural Pop Warner National College Football Award. The honor, given by Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., recognizes a Pop Warner alumnus who has exemplified excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
Amukamara will accept the award this week in Orlando, Fla., at the 54th Annual Pop Warner Super Bowl. The 2010 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Amukamara will be attending the Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards on Thursday night as one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's most outstanding defensive back.
A native of Glendale, Ariz., Amukamara has been heavily involved in community service during his career at Nebraska, including time on local hospital visits, en route to being named to the 2010 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team. Amukamara is a political science major.
Founded in 1929, Pop Warner Little Scholars is the world's largest youth football, cheerleading and dance organization and the only youth sports organization that emphasizes academics as a prerequisite for participation. For more information on Pop Warner and its programs visit www.popwarner.com.
Following the Home Depot ESPN College Football Awards, Amukamara and the Huskers will prepare for the 2010 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, which takes place Dec. 30 in San Diego.
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AMUKAMARA NAMED TO WALTER CAMP ALL-AMERICA TEAM...
Nebraska senior cornerback Prince Amukamara has been named to the 2010 Walter Camp All-America team, the organization announced on Thursday evening. The team is chosen by a vote of Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors.
The 6-1, 205-pound Amukamara is the leader of a Nebraska secondary that has helped the Huskers rank in the top 10 nationally in pass efficiency defense, passing yards allowed, scoring defense and total defense. Amukamara ranks among the nation's leaders with 13 pass breakups this season, and has 27 career pass breakups. He also has 58 tackles in his senior season.
The Walter Camp honor continues an impressive list of postseason accolades for Amukamara. Last month he was chosen as a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He was also selected as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the league's head coaches. He was also in Orlando on Thursday night, where he was honored as one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back.
Amukamara was one of seven Big 12 Conference players on the Walter Camp first-team All-America squad. Five players were on the first-team offense, while Amukamara was joined on the first-team defense by Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller.
The 2010 Walter Camp Player of the Year and members of the All-America team will be honored at the organization's national awards banquet on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Yale University Commons in New Haven. In addition, the Foundation will honor three individuals - NFL Hall-of-Famer Chuck Bednarik (Pennsylvania) and former Walter Camp All-Americans and NFL All-Pros Tedy Bruschi (Arizona) and Will Shields (Nebraska) - with major awards.
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WILL SHIELDS JOINS LEGENDARY LIST AS 2010 WALTER CAMP MAN OF THE YEAR...
NEW HAVEN, CT - Former University of Nebraska Outland Trophy winner and Kansas City Chief perennial All-Pro Offensive Guard Will Shields is the recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation's 2010 "Man of the Year" Award.
Shields joins a distinguished list of former "Man of the Year" winners, including Roger Staubach (Navy), Gale Sayers (Kansas), Dick Butkus (Illinois), Morten Andersen (Michigan State) and last year's recipient, John Elway (Stanford).
The Walter Camp "Man of the Year" Award honors an individual who has been closely associated with the game of football as a player, coach or close attendant to the game. He must have attained a measure of success and been a leader in his chosen profession. He must have contributed to the public service for the benefit of his community, country and his fellow man. He must have an impeccable reputation for integrity and must be dedicated to our American heritage and the philosophy of Walter Camp.
"Will Shields' remarkable longevity and success on the football field is quite impressive, but his care and devotion for others clearly symbolizes the life of Walter Camp and makes him an admirable recipient of the Man of the Year Award," said Foundation President Alphonse Paolillo, Jr.
A native of Lawton, Okla., Shields played collegiately at Nebraska and earned All-Big Eight honors three times. He was named to the Walter Camp All-American team in 1992, the same year he won the Outland Trophy. In 1999, Shields was selected to the Walter Camp All-Century Team.
Shields was selected by the Chiefs in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. After not making the starting lineup in his first professional contest, he proceeded to start 231 consecutive games (including playoffs) over 14 seasons. He went to the Pro Bowl 12 times and was a nine-time All-Pro selection. In addition, Shields was named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. He retired following the 2006 season.
Shields also has been recognized for his community involvement. In 2003, he was honored as the Walter Payton Man of the Year. Shields and his wife, Senia, established The "Will to Succeed" Foundation," a charitable organization that is designed to guide, inspire and improve the lives of abused and neglected women and children. Will and Senia Shields live in Overland Park, Kan., with their three children - Sanayika, Shavon and Soloman.
Shields will join all 2010 major award winners and members of the 2010 Walter Camp All-America team at the organization's 44th annual national awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at the Yale University Commons in New Haven.
The Foundation is offering a "Holiday Ticket Promotion" for the National Awards Dinner. Those choosing to buy two tickets for $400 before Dec. 31 will save $150. Reservations can be made by calling (203) 288-CAMP (288-2267).
Affectionately called "The Father of American football," Camp first selected an All-America team in 1889. A former Yale University athlete and football coach, Camp also is credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries, and the restriction of play to 11 men per side.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation is a New Haven-based all-volunteer group. It was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team and honoring deserving individuals.
Man-of-the-Year Recipients
2010 - Will Shields, Nebraska
2009 - John Elway, Stanford
2008 - Morten Andersen, Michigan State
2007 - Dick Butkus, Illinois
2006 - Mike Utley, Washington State
2005 - Dwight Stephenson, Alabama
2004 - Anthony Munoz, Southern Cal
2003 - Ozzie Newsome, Alabama
2002 - Jim Kelly, Miami (Fla.)
2001 - Mike Singletary, Baylor
2000 - Howie Long, Villanova
1999 - Gil Brandt, Dallas Cowboys
1998 - Lou Holtz, Kent State
1997 - Calvin Hill, Yale
1996 - Lynn Swann, Southern Cal
1995 - Reggie Williams, Dartmouth
1994 - Dick Anderson, Colorado
1993 - Warren Moon, Washington
1992 - Bob Griese, Purdue
1991 - Mel Blount, Southern
1990 - Nick Buoniconti, Notre Dame
1989 - Paul Brown, Miami (Ohio)
1988 - Andy Robustelli, Arnold
1987 - Levi Jackson, Yale
1986 - Willie Davis, Grambling
1985 - Rocky Bleier, Notre Dame
1984 - Don Shula, John Carroll
1983 - Roger Staubach, Navy
1982 - Merlin Olsen, Utah State
1981 - Otto Graham, Northwestern
1980 - Gale Sayers, Kansas
1979 - Jack Kemp, Occidental
1978 - Floyd Little, Syracuse
1977 - Fred Dunlap, Colgate
1976 - Edward Krause, Notre Dame
1975 - Pete Dawkins, Army
1974 - Jake Gaither, Knoxville College/Florida A&M
1973 - Duffy Daugherty, Syracuse/Michigan State
1972 - Clinton Frank, Yale
1971 - Doc Blanchard, Army
1970 - Harry Kipke, Michigan
1969 - Pete Rozelle, San Francisco
1968 - Ted Blair, Yale
1967 - Hamilton Fish, Harvard
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VOLLEYBALL:
HUSKERS RETURN TO SEATTLE TO FACE WASHINGTON...
No. 3 Nebraska (29-2, 19-1 Big 12) vs. No. 10 Washington (23-8, 10-8 Pac-10)
Friday, Dec. 10 • Hec-Edmundson Pavilion (10,000) • 7 p.m. PST
Radio: Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and KTWI 93.3 FM in Omaha, and on Huskers.com
Web Video: GoHuskies.com & NCAA.com (Free)
Live Stats: GoHuskies.com & NCAA.com
Following sweeps of Sacred Heart and Auburn in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the No. 3 Nebraska volleyball team heads to Seattle, Wash., for regional play. The Huskers will meet the No. 10 Washington Huskies on Friday, Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. (CT) on the Huskies' home court, Hec-Edmundson Pavilion. The winner between Nebraska and Washington will advance to Saturday night's 10:30 p.m. (CT) regional final against Cal or Minnesota.
The Huskers have been playing some of their best volleyball of late as they have won their past 10 matches, all by sweeps. Nebraska hit a season-best .429 in its tournament opener against Sacred Heart and then held Auburn to -.011 hitting in the second round. Nebraska is 11-1 on the road this season and hasn't dropped a road match since Oct. 2 when it lost in four sets to No. 13 Texas.
Washington has put together a solid NCAA Tournament so far itself as it has swept No. 23 Michigan and No. 7 Hawaii. The Huskies are 10-2 at home this season with a pair of four-set losses to Cal and Stanford.
There will be no TV coverage (NET will broadcast the game in Nebraska) of Friday night's match, but it can be seen live on NCAA.com and GoHuskies.com. Fans can listen to all of the action with John Baylor and Diane Mendenhall on the 25-station Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and Twister 93.3 FM in Omaha. Fans outside the network will also be able to catch the live audio feed for free on Huskers.com.
If the Huskers win on Friday night, they will advance to Saturday's regional final against Cal or Minnesota. The match which will start at 8:30 p.m. (PT) and it will be shown nationally on ESPNU.
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VOLLEYBALL...
DELANO LEADS THREE HUSKERS ON ALL-REGION TEAM...
Lincoln - The Nebraska volleyball team had three players earn all-region honors on Tuesday from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Junior Brooke Delano earned all-region honors for the second straight season, while senior Lindsey Licht and sophomore Hannah Werth were first-time picks on the 14-member Central Region first-team.
All three players will be on the national ballot for All-America honors, and it marks the seventh straight season that Nebraska has had at least three first-team all-region picks.
After earning second-team All-America honors during her sophomore campaign a year ago, Delano has been key for the Husker offense and defense in 2010. The Bellevue, Neb., native ranks eighth nationally with a .414 hitting percentage and is ninth in the country in blocks with 1.42 per set. Also a unanimous First-Team All-Big 12 pick this season, Delano is looking to become just the fourth attacker in NU history to end the season with a hitting percentage over .400.
Licht is having the best year of her career as a senior with career highs in kills (2.87), blocks (1.06) and hitting percentage (.299). She raised her game during the conference schedule with 3.03 kills and 1.08 blocks per set. Licht set a career best with 18 kills against Florida this season and tied her career best in blocks twice with eight against both Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
Picked as the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12, Werth was a first-team all-region selection after being named Central Region Freshman of the Year last season. One of the Huskers top all-round players, Werth has averaged 2.75 kills, 3.05 digs and 0.51 blocks per set through NU's first 31 matches. She leads the Huskers with nine double-doubles, including six during the conference season.
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SOCCER:
MARLBOROUGH EARNS NEBRASKA'S 17TH NSCAA ALL-AMERICA AWARD...
Nebraska forward Morgan Marlborough has earned second-team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches of America Association (NSCAA), following another outstanding season as one of the top players in the country. Marlborough is the 11th Husker in school history to garner All-America honors, as Nebraska has claimed 17 awards since the program's inception in 1994.
"This is a well-deserved honor for Morgan," head coach John Walker said. "Not only did she have another fantastic season scoring goals, but she also improved her overall game, including leadership, passing, defending and work ethic. The exciting thing about Morgan is that her best soccer is still ahead of her."
A native of Lee's Summit, Mo., Marlborough led the Big 12 Conference in goals (18), assists (12) and points (48) to claim league offensive player of the year honors for the second straight season. She ranked second in the nation with 2.29 points per game, only two one-hundredths behind Stanford's Christen Press (2.31), while also ranking fourth in goals (0.857 per game) and seventh in assists (0.57 per game).
Through only two seasons, Marlborough is already seventh in goals (38) and eighth in points (97) in school history. She has 10 multiple-goal games, tied for the fourth-most on the NU all-time list.
Marlborough gained NSCAA All-America honors after she was named first-team All-Central Region last week, in addition to sophomore teammate Jordan Jackson, a third-team selection. The awards give Nebraska 50 NSCAA All-Central Region picks in school history, including two honorees for the third-straight season.
A native of Overland Park, Kan., Jackson was also a 2010 first-team All-Big 12 selection after she scored 12 goals and added nine assists this fall. She ranked second in the Big 12 with 33 points, an average of 1.57 per game that trailed only Marlborough and was tied for 18th nationally. Jackson had a team-best four game-winning goals in Nebraska's 13-win season. She was also named to the 2010 Big 12 All-Tournament Team as she led NU to the semifinals with two goals.
The Huskers have been well-represented on the NSCAA All-Central Region team, with Nebraska appearing on the list 14 times in 17 years.
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SOFTBALL:
REVELLE SET FOR INDUCTION INTO NFCA HALL OF FAME...
Nebraska Head Softball Coach Rhonda Revelle will be formally inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday night as part of the 2010 NFCA National Convention in San Diego.
Revelle is joined in the 2010 Hall of Fame class by Florida Southern Head Coach Chris Bellotto and Illinois State Head Coach Melinda Fischer. All three will be inducted at Friday’s banquet, and their selections increase the number of hall of fame coaches to 53 since the organization created its hall of fame in 1991.
"It is extremely humbling to think about going into the NFCA Hall of Fame," Revelle said last December at the 2009 NFCA National Convention, when it was announced she had been selected for induction. "It is even more of an honor to be inducted as a coach from the University of Nebraska. I am so fortunate to have always been surrounded by such a great team. This award truly belongs to the entire Nebraska softball community."
Revelle is in her 19th season at Nebraska, having led the Huskers to a 680-371 record in her first 18 years. Her 680 wins at Nebraska trail only Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit (694) and NU baseball coach John Sanders (794) for the most wins ever by a Nebraska head coach. Revelle ranks 18th among active Division I coaches in wins at their current school, while ranking 28th among active Division I coaches in career victories. Before coming to Nebraska, Revelle picked up eight wins in one season as Nebraska Wesleyan’s head coach in 1987, giving her a 19-year career record of 688-387.
Nebraska has won six Big 12 titles and made two trips to the Women’s College World Series during Revelle’s tenure, as she has helped Nebraska qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 15 of the past 16 seasons. Individuals have also seen success under Revelle both on and off the field. In her first 18 seasons, Revelle has coached 14 NFCA All-Americans and 11 ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, the third-highest total of any coach in the country during that span.
Revelle will be honored on Friday in front of her peers in the coaching community, including a pair of national championship coaches from her current and future conference.
“Of all the people I know, Rhonda Revelle has always found the button to push that has helped make me a better coach and a better person,” Michigan Head Coach and fellow hall of famer Carol Hutchins said in a video interview that will be shown at Friday’s banquet. “She has this unique ability to get to the core of things and help you bring out things in yourself that you don’t even know about. She’s been one of those special people.”
Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso was also interviewed for the video and congratulated Revelle – the Big 12’s only hall-of-fame coach – on her consistent success.
“It’s hard to stay consistently strong and good year after year after year – it’s hard to do,” Gasso said. “I think Rhonda has done that with her team. Her team always leads the Big 12 in academic All-Americans. It’s just a well-rounded program.”
To be eligible for induction into the NFCA Hall of Fame, the individual must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 15 years, must have been an NFCA member in good standing for a minimum of six years during his or her coaching career and must have made contributions to the NFCA by serving on committees, holding office, or serving in other capacities.
In addition to her coaching career, Revelle has twice served as NFCA President, along with a stint as Second Vice President. She has also been actively involved in NFCA committees, serving as a member of the NFCA All-American Committee for four years before chairing the committee for two more years.
In addition to coaching at Nebraska, Revelle also played for the Huskers from 1981 to 1983. When softball first became an NCAA-sanctioned sport in 1982, Revelle helped lead the Huskers to the inaugural Women’s College World Series by earning All-Big Eight honors as a pitcher and first baseman.
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Although the author tries to keep a humorous thread in this article, you can tell he's pretty angry...and so am I...
Happy 'Holiday' From Dan Beebe
by John Bishop (KLIN Radio), posted Dec 5 2010 8:00PM
So, Dan Beebe put on his dog and pony show Saturday night and smiled and said all the “right things” and claimed he wouldn’t have an issue handing over the Big 12 trophy to Nebraska and all the while the scheming little man had one more big surprise for the University of Nebraska.
Nebraska vs. Washington – a rematch and the second of three within 12 months – in the Holiday Bowl – for the second year in a row.
Merry Christmas, from your friends at the Southwest Conference.
Let’s be honest and frank, the Southwest (let’s call a spade a spade) Conference owes nothing to Nebraska. They are still in charge. They still have the bowl contracts. It was Nebraska who left them and helped erase the need for the use of the literal name “Big 12.”
We always knew the resentment and anger was lurking underneath the surface and the phony smiles and veiled words were only hiding the real feelings that they wanted to show. Sunday, they strong-armed their “bowl partners” and revealed the ugliness that lurks within. They hate Nebraska with every fiber of their being and they’ll do whatever they can to keeping taunting everything in scarlet on the way to the finalization of the divorce.
But while Beebe and his minions in Dallas are chuckling over this recent development, high-fiving each other while toasting their deed with Diet Dr. Peppers as they get a one-up on NU, they might try and consider what public relations nightmare they are creating for themselves.
You can conveniently explain away one bad officiating night in College Station to an undisciplined team with a hot-headed coach. You can justify to the world the suspension of Eric Martin during the height of the helmet-to-helmet panic. But this treachery cannot be hidden. It is blatant, it is raw and it is as plain as the arrogant smirk on Dan Beebe’s face. There will be no way to spin this move and make it believable to anyone with a half-dozen brain cells and it is so small-minded.
For a couple of weeks, the Big 12 actually held the moral high ground. Nebraska was frustrated into losing its cool and becoming a spectacle in the wake of the Texas A&M fiasco and Bo Pelini was forced to swallow his pride publicly. But rather than let that lie, the Big 12 decided that one more jab at NU was warranted and this time they are using their “partners” to do it.
How must the people at the Insight Bowl be feeling right now, forced to be the patsy in Beebe’s childish switcheroo? The folks in Arizona were dying to greet invading Nebraskans and Iowans with open arms, now they get bullied into taking a Missouri team that might not bring 10,000 people to their fledgling game rather than at least twice that number of Nebraskans not to mention the thousands of folks in Arizona and surrounding states who once claimed Nebraska home.
Then there’s the Holiday Bowl, who even after falling down the conference pecking order, might be excited on the surface to host Nebraska again, but have to be nervous that NU fans will not make the return trip. With partners like this league, who needs enemies?
Both of these bowls are being used like children of separating parents. Rather than try to comfort and maintain some semblance of normalcy, they are drug into the dispute and forced to pledge loyalty to one side or another. It’s pathetic and don’t think future SWC “partners”, whether they be sponsors, television or bowl games aren’t paying attention.
The justification will be that the Southwest Conference doesn’t want the Insight Bowl to be a four hour infomercial for the Big Ten Conference by featuring a game between future rivals Nebraska and Iowa.
Really?
Sure, that will be an interesting storyline, but I’m sure the massive television audience for a game that kicks off at 10pm Eastern time on a Tuesday night won’t be awake enough to notice or care. As a sports broadcaster, I am comfortable in saying that whichever announce crew is on the game isn’t going to dwell on that. They’ll be fighting off Mr. Sandman and wondering what ESPN promo to read next. But in the delusional mind of Dan Beebe, I’m sure he had an Insight Bowl broadcast dream that went something like this.
“Dave, that was a heck of a play by Amukamara. I’m sure Big Ten offensive coordinators are reaching for the bourbon right now just thinking of having to scheme against that.”
“Well, Bill, it’s a good thing that Amukamara is graduating and won’t be with the Cornhuskers next season.”
“Oh, wow. How silly of me. I got so caught up in Big Ten fever and admiring Jim Delany’s tie that I didn’t realize Amukamara was a senior.”
“That’s okay partner. I got your back. Now back to the game……..Big Ten, Big Ten, Big Ten, Big Ten. Oh how I love thee Big Ten. You are the sunlight of my life.” Then Beebe awakens after DeLoss Dodds realizes “those aren’t pillows.”
Sadly, there is not much Nebraska can do but grit its collective teeth and bear it. Hopefully Husker fans won’t avoid Southern California in protest, but if they don’t show up because they’ve “been-there-done-that” it might be explained by the national press as a defiant middle finger by Middle America. Thus, it’s another trap for Nebraska and its fans. React negatively and you are seen as whiners who lose another merit badge on their Greatest Fans In College Football scout uniform.
But this time, you must fight the urge to let Beebe get your goat. You cannot lose your cool. This time, let the conference’s pettiness take center stage and shine brightly like the red light on a whorehouse.
The ethics of the South (west Conference) rise again!
Selected comments from the ESPN website for the NU-WU game...
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/conversation?gameId=303640264
gdubs4NU (12/6/2010 at 3:10 PM)
a letter to holiday bowl director
Forward this to every Nebraska fan you know and carbon copy "CC" bink@holidaybowl.com every time it gets forwarded. The email address is that of the Holiday Bowl director. I want to make sure he fully understands the consequences of his actions.
Nebraska is the best traveling fan base in the country, hands down. My determination will be to deflate your revenue by encouraging people to boycott your event. My goal is to ultimately produce the lowest amount of tickets sold out of the 47 bowl games that Nebraska has played in. It's my duty to ensure that your city will not benefit from having ties with a corrupt league and even worse commissioner. I understand the attraction to having Nebraska play in your event, however, it was a major injustice to include a team that it has already taken to the wood shed even though I fully understand the contract that you have to live up to. Every day until December 27th, it'll be my objective to help you understand that doing business with institutions of deceit aren't a way to produce a profit. Good luck with your worst attendance ever.
zacpeet (12/6/2010 at 3:33 PM)
Report Violation
this is the big 12 absolutely screwing NU. first of all, gdubs, Amen on your comment of our traveling fans and corrupt league. spot on! how do we get the bowl for the 5th place big 12 team when we won our division? makes sense right? we win at mizzou and osu head to head (both of which finished 10-2 and 6-2 in the big 12), and get screwed because we get to play an extra game (big 12 championship)...taking our record to 10-3, 6-3 in the big 12). in turn this lowers our winning percentage and makes osu and mizzou better teams right? oh, yeah....we beat them head to head! it was all over the radio this morning that the big 12 said they can't pass on mizzou this year like the years past and have to take care of the teams in their conference and NU is leaving so F you!!!!! bo was a knob and i have no sympathy for anyone who cries at the officiating as it's part of the game, but come on....we full on got jobbed by the big 12! can't wait for big 10 (which based on the schedule we got our first year they are pretty much making sure we don't win it like penn state but hey...we'll compete) long story short, bo acted like a knob at a&m, taylor martinez held on to ball too long and paid for it (he's young and will grow and get better), D line is awesome but we still gave up 400 plus yds to OU, yet we still finished on top of our division and are probably the only 10-3 team to get a 6-6 team in a bowl!!!!!!! no disrespect to the washington program but c'mon
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UPDATE...
Dear Husker Fan,
You are receiving this email because you put yourself on the map at redoutaroundtheworld.com and opted to receive news and information from the Nebraska Alumni Association. Thank you for your support of the University of Nebraska!
The alumni association works everyday to improve our great university by engaging alumni, fans and friends with their passions at UNL. Alumni association members and non-members can participate in our popular Football Fridays or follow the Huskers through our football ticket and travel packages; mentor a student or volunteer across the country to help recruit future students; or simply keep up-to-date on the fantastic things happening at the University of Nebraska through our newsletters and publications. To learn more about any of our programs or events, check out our website.
We are so excited to connect with you - whether you’re an alum, or just a fan of the university! Please take 30 seconds to complete this very simple form. Once we’ve verified your contact information, you’ll begin receiving our Good NUz magazine twice a year, as well as our monthly e-mail newsletter - for FREE. You’ll also receive notification of alumni activities happening across the country, so that you might connect with other Husker fans no matter where you live! If you already receive information from us, please fill out your information to update/complete your profile.
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PLEA FROM THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT TO BUY HOLIDAY BOWL TICKETS...
This was obviously sent to all alums within a day's driving distance from San Diego...
We are often asked, what can I do to help Nebraska Athletics? In this case, the answer is simple. Buy Holiday Bowl tickets from the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office and support your team! As you live within a comfortable driving distance of San Diego where the Huskers will take on Washington in the Holiday Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 30, we want to see you there in the official Nebraska section. Enjoy the city’s world-class attractions, take the family to Sea World, visit the famous San Diego zoo or play a couple rounds of golf. Having fun in the sun while supporting the Huskers is a great way to close out 2010!
Buy your Holiday Bowl tickets now from the Official University of Nebraska team allotment by visiting Huskers.com or call the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office and order by phone at 1-800-8-Big-Red. Support Coach Bo Pelini and the Huskers as they go for their first 11-win season since 2001. Approximately 5,000 of Nebraska’s allotment of 11,000 tickets for the Holiday Bowl remain and must be sold or purchased by athletics. Fans are encouraged to make all ticket purchases from the NU Athletic Ticket Office in order to fill the Nebraska section at the bowl game and support the Huskers. Perhaps if you are unable to go, you will know someone that would enjoy the game as a special Husker Christmas gift.
“We hope that our fans will consider going to the game to support our football team as they look to win their 11th game this season,” Athletic Director Tom Osborne said. “It’s been a very successful season for us and we want to finish strong. We need your support to do that.”
If you are unable to go to the bowl game this year, but want to help support the Huskers by filling Qualcomm Stadium with Husker supporters, please consider purchasing Holiday Bowl tickets from the University of Nebraska allotment and donating them to active duty sailors and marines stationed in the San Diego area.
Thank you for your support of the Huskers!
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Cornhusker football fans will want to join our tour to San Diego – (Executive Travel out of Lincoln)...
Nebraska is headed to San Diego to play Washington in the Holiday Bowl. We have put together a charter flight and 3 night tour package to make it fun and easy for Husker fans to enjoy the sun of San Diego. Details of the package can be found by calling 402-435-8888 or http://www.groupminder.com/cstCollAthTrv/catsite/10Nebraska_Exec/index.html
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOWL TRAVEL PACKAGES...
Holiday Bowl Bound!
Be a part of the excitement when the Huskers go for an 11-win season in Coach Bo Pelini’s third year! Join the Nebraska Alumni Association and Nebraska Athletic Department on the official University of Nebraska bowl trip, open to all Husker fans and alumni. We'll take care of the details, so all you need to do is cheer for the Huskers.
The Best Way to Travel
Travel in style to San Diego, Calif.! Our Holiday Bowl trip runs from Dec. 28, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010 and includes:
- Four days, three nights of accommodations at the Four-Diamond Hard Rock Hotel in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter
- Charter air out of Lincoln or Omaha, OR choose land-only option that includes all trip features except charter air
- Game ticket in official Nebraska section*
- Honorary trip host Tommie Frazier
- VIP admission to pre-game event featuring former Husker football players and dignitaries from the university and athletic department
- Commemorative souvenir
- Game day transportation
Reserve Your Spot Today!
Demand for these trips is extremely high, so book your spot today! Pricing and reservation information is available:
Online
Lincoln Flight Packages SOLD OUT
Omaha Flight Packages SOLD OUT
Land-only Packages
See http://huskeralum.org/travel/bowltravel/index.shtml for more info about these packages and the Husker Huddle packages they have for the events leading up to the game.
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DOW EVENTS BOWL GAME PACKAGE...
Embassy Suites, San Diego Bay Package Includes:
2 nights' accommodations (double occupancy)
Endzone ticket included in package, upgrades available
(packages without ticket available)
Game roundtrip transfer via San Diego Trolley
DowEvents Staff to assist with needs during stay
Cost: $375.00 per person double occupancy
***Without game ticket: $290.00 per person double occupancy
Manchester Grand Hyatt Package Includes:
2 nights' accommodations (double occupancy)
Endzone ticket included in package, upgrades available
(packages without ticket available)
Game roundtrip transfer via San Diego Trolley
DowEvents Staff to assist with needs during stay
Cost: $405.00 per person double occupancy
***Without game ticket: $320.00 per person double occupancy
www.HuskyBowlGame.com 877-560-9595
tiffany@dowevents.com
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm (PST)
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MISSION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PRESENTS...
Incomparable Holiday Celebration with Pasquale in Canto! Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010
Italians have a special way of celebrating the winter holidays, from the Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve to the visit from La Befana, the old woman who distributes gifts to children in January.
You can celebrate the season Italian-style. In a production with imaginative sets and special lighting, the popular tenor Pasquale Esposito and Mission Chamber Orchestra of San Jose will regale you with opera, Neapolitan songs, and original compositions for the season. MCO's Music Director Emily Ray will conduct this evening of festive music for the entire family.
One dollar from each ticket will go to Second Harvest Food Bank!
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Sunday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Bayside Performing Arts Center
2025 Kehoe Ave.
San Mateo, CA
Tickets: $75 (SOLD OUT), $65 and $55.
To order: call 408.528.6308.
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HUSKER HUMOR CORNER (you may have heard this before, but its still funny)...
Four old retired guys are walking down a street at Fort Walton Beach, Florida. They turn a corner and see a sign that says, 'Old Timers Bar - all drinks 10 cents. They look at each other, and then go in, thinking this Is too good to be true.
The old bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, 'Come on in and let me pour one for you! What'll it be, Gentlemen?'
There seemed to be a fully-stocked bar, so each of the men ask for a martini. In short order, the bartender Serves up four iced martinis.
Shaken, not stirred, and says, 'That'll be 10 cents each, please.'
The four men stare at the bartender for a moment. Then look at each other they can't believe their good luck. They pay the 40 cents, finish their martinis, and order another round. Again, four excellent martinis are produced with the bartender again saying, 'That's 40 cents, please.' They pay the 40 cents, but their curiosity is more than they can stand. They have each had two martinis and so far they've spent less than a dollar.
Finally one of the men says, 'How can you afford to serve martinis as good as these for a dime a piece?'
'I'm a retired tailor from Boston,' the bartender said, 'and I always wanted to own a bar. Last year I hit the Lottery for $25 million and decided to open this place. Every drink costs a dime - wine, liquor, beer, it's all the same.'
Wow!!!! That's quite a story,' says one of the men.
The four of them sipped at their martinis and couldn't help but notice seven other people at the end of the bar who didn't have drinks in front of them, and hadn't ordered anything the whole time they were there.
One man gestures at the seven at the end of the bar without drinks and asks the bartender, 'What's with them?'
The bartender says, 'Oh, they're all old retired farmers from Nebraska, waiting for happy hour when drinks are half price.'
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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