Husker Football Tickets

Shrine honors Husker Heisman winners

When you go to Memorial Stadium for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 19, get there early and check out a special part of the stadium dedicated to three of the greatest players in Nebraska football history.

Each of these three players has something in common, other than their alma mater -- they are all past winners of the Heisman Trophy, the award given out to the best player in college football each year. All three are enshrined in a special Heisman Room near the west entrance to Memorial Stadium, which includes each player's Heisman Trophy, game jerseys and paintings identical to those hanging in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.

Each player -- Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier and Eric Crouch -- has a special place in Husker history.

Rodgers was the school's first Heisman Trophy winner, claiming the honor in 1972. Although he is best remembered for his electrifying punt return in the 1971 Game of the Century against Oklahoma, it was his efforts during the following season that helped him gain college football's greatest honor. He had over 2,000 all-purpose yards and scored 17 touchdowns during his senior year with the Huskers and was a runaway winner of the award. He was one of three Big Eight players who were among the finalists for the award, beating out Oklahoma running back Greg Pruitt and Husker teammate Rich Glover.

Eleven years later, Rozier would take his place among the Husker legends with a record-setting year as part of "The Scoring Explosion" offense that averaged over 50 points a game. Rozier rushed for a school-record 2,148 yards and 29 touchdowns in 1983 and was part of the team that came within a two-point conversion of beating Miami in the Orange Bowl. He finished ahead of future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young and Doug Flutie, who won the Heisman the following year.

In 2001, Crouch would become Nebraska's third Heisman Trophy honoree, capping his career by becoming just the third quarterback in the history of NCAA Div. I football to rush for over 3,000 yards and pass for over 4,000 yards in a career. He finished with a school-record 7,915 career total yards, but best put the exclamation point on his career when he caught a flea-flicker pass that helped the Huskers beat then-No. 1 Oklahoma. Crouch led the Huskers to the national championship game that year and outdistanced fellow quarterbacks Rex Grossman of Florida and Ken Dorsey of Miami to win the award as the first true option quarterback.

There is a lot of history surrounding Memorial Stadium, and the Heisman Room is one that is sure to bring back a lot of memories for Huskers fans both young and old. Make sure you check it out when you attend the Red-White Spring Game on Saturdray, April 19, and get your tickets for the Huskers spring scrimmage now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Huskers' Spring Game is April 19

Every fall Saturday afternoon, Memorial Stadium in Lincoln becomes the third largest "city" in the state as more than 80,000 fans fill the rafters to cheer on the Nebraska football team.

The annual Red-White Spring Game may see its first-ever sellout this spring, if early ticket sales are any indication. The Saturday, April 19 game is expected to draw a huge crowd as new coach Bo Pelini shows off his team's talents in preparation for what should be a very entertaining 2008 campaign.

The previous record for attendance at the annual spring scrimmage was 63,417 back in 2005, but Jeff Jamrog, assistant athletic director for football operations, is optimistic that this year's crowd will not only exceed that mark, but start a tradition of sellouts for the Spring Game that compliments the ongoing sellout streak that has been a part of the Husker football tradition since 1962.

The Red-White Spring Game won't be the only Husker game in town, though. Later that day, the Nebraska baseball team will host Kansas in the middle of a three-game series at Haymarket Park in what could very well be a key Big 12 Conference matchup on the diamond.

It should go without saying, then, that the weekend of Saturday, April 19 will be a great day to break out the Husker gear and wear the colors proud. You can get tickets to the Red-White Spring Game and the Nebraska-Kansas baseball matchup now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Husker alumni feeling more welcome

The substandard football and cold-hearted vibe in the Husker athletic department was already palpable before the start of the 2007 season, but it took a much-publicized spat on the golf course to make people realize just how detached the current regime was from its history.

The N Club, an organization for athletes who earned a letter at Nebraska in any sport, was set to host its annual golf tournament last April. The problem was, a bunch of former football players were holding a golf tournament on the same day at a different course.

The disconnect between then-athletic director Steve Pederson and some of the athletes who helped build the legend of Husker athletics had not only become palpable, but it had gone public. Former coach Tom Osborne attended the football players' golf tournament, along with longtime NU trainer Doak Ostergard, who had recently been asked to resign by now-former coach Bill Callahan.

Recently, new coach Bo Pelini reached out to those former Husker football players in an effort to help them feel welcome to come "home" again to Memorial Stadium. A meeting was held earlier this week with Pelini, the coaching staff and former Huskers to talk Husker football, and over 100 former players were expected to be on hand for the event.

The bunker mentality that seemed to overtake the entire Husker athletic department has been changed dramatically under new athletic director, and former Husker football coach, Tom Osborne. School officials have said that they plan to have an open-door policy for former Huskers to come in and visit and talk with the coaches and athletic department and make the Husker alumni feel more welcome to visit their alma mater.

Current N Club president Mitch Krenk has been busy contacting fellow alumni, and he said he was getting commitments from a number of players that he had not heard from in some time -- players who were key elements in the success of Nebraska football throughout its glory days during the Devaney, Osborne and Solich eras.

Hopefully, for the Husker faithful, this is the start of an effort to help the present reconnect with the past, allowing Husker fans to enjoy the current-day play of the team while being able to appreciate the days of yesteryear and connect with the players of those days.

First-year coaches generally successful at NU

If recent history is any indication, new Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini may be in for a good first season as head coach of the Huskers.

Pelini is the fifth coach the Huskers have had in the past 47 years, and three of his four predecessors had positive debut seasons at the helm, winning nine games and getting the Huskers to a bowl game.

Bob Devaney came to Lincoln in 1961 and took over a team that was in a six-year run of losing seasons. The Huskers went 3-6-1 the year before Devaney's arrival, but rebounded nicely by going 9-2 and winning an exciting 36-34 battle with Miami in the Gotham Bowl.

Devaney led the team to back-to-back national titles in 1970 and 1971 and went 9-2-1 in his final year before handing the reins over to Tom Osborne in 1973. Osborne didn't fare too bad in his first year as head coach, finishing 9-2-1 and leading the Huskers to a win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl.

Of course, we all remember how Osborne finished his 25-year career as head coach, winning three national titles in four years. It was an almost unthinkable taske for any coach to step in and even come close to duplicating Nebraska's 13-0 dominating effort in 1997. All things considered, Frank Solich did a pretty good job in his first season trying to fill Osborne's shoes, going 9-4. Unfortunately, the Husekrs went 5-3 in the conference, its worst conference effort in decades, and lost to Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.

The controversy surrounding Solich's final year as coach in 2003 cast a shadow over what was otherwise a good season. The Huskers went 9-3, but Solich was fired before the team's game against Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. Pelini led the Huskers to victory as interim coach, but the chaos and controversy surrounding the situation ultimately led to a disastrous first year for Bill Callahan. The Huskers finished 5-6 in Callahan's first year in 2004, marking the first time since 1960 that Nebraska had a losing record.

Which brings us back to Pelini, who will have an opportunity to duplicate Devaney's start almost three generations ago. Pelini will lead a Husker team coming off a losing record and try to get the Huskers back among the top teams in the nation and take Nebraska to a place fans have long been familiar with -- bowl season.

Nebraska fans will get their first opportunity at watching Pelini as head coach when the Red-White Spring Game kicks off Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Get your tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Husker offense to present numerous looks

When you look at the backgrounds of some of Bo Pelini's assistant coaches, one question leaps to mind -- just what kind of offense will the Huskers run in 2008?

In recent times, Nebraska ditched the classic option game in favor of a West Coast-type of offense. For fans who were critical of the run-run-run attack that seemed to highlight the option attack, this was looked at as a breath of fresh air.

Shawn Watson is one of two holdovers from the old staff, and he had some experience calling the offensive plays during the final few games of the 2007 season. He'll get a chance to do it on a full-time basis as offensive coordinator for head coach Bo Pelini, but when you look at some of the other assistants in the program, you wonder what kind of look the Huskers will have this season.

Watson brings some of the West Coast mentality in the fold, but then you have Ron Brown as a throwback to the classic Husker option attack, Tim Beck with his experience in the spread offense at Kansas, Ted Gilmore and his West Coast experience, and Barney Cotton with his wealth of experience in past positions as an offensive coordinator.

In a recent story in the Lincoln Journal Star, Watson said there has been a lot of "creative discussions" with the coaching staff, and the result of that is going to be an offensive look that is going to be difficult to categorize.

Watson said the coaches are looking forward to challenging defenses with a variety of looks, and that it's easy to overuse labels such as "West Coast" or "spread" when talking about a team's offensive style.

The coaches have a few weeks before spring practice begins, and they'll give Husker fans a first look at things when the Huskers play their Red-White Spring game on Saturday, April 19, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Get your Spring Game and all Husker football tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker football game is ever sold out.

Husker Players Eager to Start Pelini Era

The Omaha World Herald ran a great article about Husker football players that want to get a feel for the new era of Nebraska football with head coach Bo Pelini.  The article talks about players that are eager to visit with the new staff, and that the staff has been encouraging the players to make themselves at home and visit and talk football at anytime.

Ndamukong Suh said that he has visited the offices a lot lately, something that he did not do when former Husker coach Bill Callahan was around.

I think it is good that the veteran Huskers are getting to know the new staff.  I can only hope that the defense and the Pelini brothers get on the same page before Spring practice begins.  The blackshirt name should come back for the 2008 Husker football season.

Huskers named to Commissioner's Honor Roll

Current and former Nebraska football players were listed among almost 300 Nebraska student athletes on the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll for their efforts in the classroom.

A total of 39 Nebraska football players, both current and former players, earned a grade-point average of 3.0 or better during the 2007 fall semester. Over half of that group are repeat honorees, including tight end J.B. Phillips, who was named for the ninth straight semester. He is finishing his master's degree after earning his undergraduate degree in 2006.

Seven other Huskers were named to the list for at least the seventh time. Senior fullback Andy Sand was named for the eighth time. Nebraska had 13 true freshman named to the list, four of whom earned perfect 4.0 grade-point averages during the 2007 fall semester.

Husker football players making the list are as follows:

Redshirt Freshmen -- Tyrone Fahie, Aaron Gillaspie, Justin Makovicka

Freshmen -- Prince Amukamara Jr., Austin Cassidy, Ben Franzluebbers, Thomas Grove, Ryan Hill, Austin Jones, Marcel Jones, Adi Kunalic, Blake Lawrence, Luke Lingenfelter, Jay Martin, Kevin Thomsen, Lance Thorell, Latravis Washington, Patrick Witt.

Sophomores -- Wes Cammack, David Harvey

Juniors -- Andy Christensen, Joe Ganz, Cody Glenn, Robbie McEwen III, Lydon Murtha, Todd Peterson, Zach Potter, Nate Swift, Dan Titchener, Tyler Wortman

Seniors -- Lance Brandenburgh, Brett Byford, Ben Eisenhart, Dan Erickson, Victory Haines, Joshua Mueller, J.B. Phillips II, Andy Sand, Matt Senske

Big 12 Championship a Possibility for Nebraska

As the 2008 Husker football season nears, talk of where Nebraska will fall in the Big 12 rankings has heated up.  And as many Husker fans know, tickets to the Big 12 Championship go on sale Friday.  And I find myself wondering if Nebraska even has a chance of making it in the 2008.

The Big 12 looks to be the strongest it has ever been in 2008 thanks to a break out 2007 season from teams such as Kansas and Missouri and the young talent that is only getting better in the South with teams like Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

There are a lot of questions and unknowns regarding the 2008 Husker football team and coaching staff.  Bo Pelini has a lot to prove and so does the defense that brought the Huskers down last season.  But I think that with Shawn Watson's offense that ranked in the top 15 last season and a new Blackshirts defense thanks to Pelini, the Huskers have a legitimate chance of winning the Big 12 North.

The two things that stand in the way of the Huskers making it to Kansas City for the Big 12 Championship are Kansas and Missouri.  Both teams bring back their top playmakers including Missouri Heisman finalist Chase Daniel and Kansas's Todd Reesing.  The Huskers will have home field advantage against these two opponents though.  Nebraska begins conference play against Missouri on October 4th in Memorial Stadium and plays Kansas November 8th.

If you can't wait to get your Big 12 Championship tickets or want guaranteed good seats visit the #1 place to find Husker football tickets, Ticket Express.

The Spoils of Recruiting for Huskers

The Husker football program scored big last Wednesday on National Signing Day.  Not so long ago during the coaching transition the recruiting class at Nebraska had been whittled down to 14 recruits.  Most of the high profile recruits left, including Quarterback Blaine Gabbert, running back Jonas Gray and most of the Huskers highly touted offensive line recruits.  But lets take a look at how Husker football coach Bo Pelini transformed a recruiting disaster into a top 25 recruiting class.

The first great thing Bo Pelini did for Husker recruiting was focus the target on Nebraska recruits; in particular, keeping the Nebraska recruits we already had committed, and building the Nebraska walk on program up to Dr. Tom's standards again.

The second thing Bo Pelini did was pick up some greatly needed defensive recruits.  Recruits like Texas DE Josh Williams that were added late will add power and speed to a defense that has seen better years, much better years.  Pelini was lucky in the fact that he recruited the bulk of the defensive recruits.  This allowed him to pick the best recruits possible to play in his unique style of defense.

If you are tired of hearing all of the recruiting hype lately around the Bo Pelini and want to see how he is doing with coaching the older guys on the Huskers squad, check out the White and Red Spring Game.  Get your tickets to the White vs Red Spring Game now, it almost sold out Memorial Stadium last year.

Nebraska Recruiting Class Ranks in Top 25

I have to give it to you Bo, you surprised me with the Husker football 2008 recruiting class that you showed off yesterday on National Signing Day all across the country.  I never expected to be ranked in the top 25 after almost half of the spring Husker recruits left for other schools.  But Scout.com ranked the Huskers recruiting class as #22 nationally, and Nebraska got a few other mentions in top 25 lists.

Just like I mentioned in the last post, the Texas recruits are being targeted by Bo Pelini and his staff.  He even said in the signing day press conference that the recruits will come from Texas after they come from in-state recruits in Nebraska.  Pelini said that Nebraska is where recruiting begins and ends but that Texas will be a primary target for the Husker recruiting staff.

Coach Bo Pelini refused to talk about any one player saying that the class should be looked at as a whole.  Pelini added that only until three years from now should the media even think of asking him if he thinks they are good players or not.  Pelini said they had not proved themselves yet.  Let's hope we can see some of the recruits prove themselves in the 2008 season.  There are spots that need filing in the line up and some of these recruits are more than capable of securing a starting line up spot.