Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[UMStan White]

After the ridicule Howland endured on the "inmates running the asylum" SI article I can't begin to comprehend why any program would want him as a coach. UNL is desperate

[entropy]

By CRAIG SESKER / For the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, March 16, 2012 11:00 pm
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ST. LOUIS -- A frustrating day ended with even more misfortune for the Nebraska wrestling team.
Nebraska junior Josh Ihnen went down on the mat in pain as he sufferd a right knee injury in a wrestleback against Central Michigan's Ben Bennett on Friday night.
Bennett shot in on a takedown attempt early in the 184-pound bout before Ihnen suffered the injury. He was down on the mat for several minutes and was unable to continue. Ihnen was helped off the mat by Husker coach Mark Manning.
Bennett won by injury default near the end of the fourth session of the NCAA Championships before 18,694 fans at the Scottrade Center.
"Bennett shot in and Josh was draped over him," NU assistant coach Tony Ersland said. "He was trying to counter the shot, and they got in a scramble and he injured his knee. It's a bad deal."
The Huskers will finish with two All-Americans in the tournament. Freshman James Green will wrestle in the seventh-place match on Saturday.
The No. 14 Huskers now stand in 22nd place with 26 points. Top-ranked Penn State leads with 126 points.
Green, the No. 11 seed at 157, beat North Dakota State's Steven Monk 3-1 to clinch All-America honors. He then lost 4-3 to Penn State's Dylan Alton. He will face No. 4 seed Walter Peppelman of Harvard in the match for seventh place.
Ihnen earned All-America honors after finishing one win shy of a top-eight finish the past two seasons. Ihnen beat No. 8 Ryan Loder of Northern Iowa 5-3 on Friday night before advancing to face Bennett.
Ihnen is scheduled to face No. 1 seed Joe LeBlanc of Wyoming in the seventh-place match on Saturday, but may not be able to compete because of his injury.
NU's James Nakashima, a senior who was unseeded at 197, lost 4-2 to Penn's Micah Burak in the wrestlebacks. He finished one win shy of All-America status.
Nebraska senior Tucker Lane, the No. 11 seed at 285, finished one win shy of All-American honors for the second straight year. Lane fell 4-3 to No. 10 Michael McMullan of Northwestern in the wrestlebacks to end his college career.
Husker freshman Robert Kokesh, the No. 8 seed at 165, dropped a 4-3 decision to unseeded Kyle Blevins of Appalachian State in the consolation bracket. He also fell one win short of All-America honors.
The consolation semifinals are set for Saturday morning at 10 with the placing matches to follow. The finals are scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

[entropy]

UNL usually does well at nationals. Some bad luck this year..


But on a more positive note, UNL baseball won again. They're playing very well

[entropy]

An article on growth in Lincoln...

===================



Lincoln is in the midst of building a vibrant new city, with transformational development in the Haymarket and major new projects rising downtown under the wings of tall cranes that pierce the sky.

The arc of activity curves from the gleaming $53 million Assurity Life Insurance Co. headquarters -- which anchors Antelope Valley redevelopment at 20th and Q, sweeping through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus to the center of downtown and into the Haymarket.

Six tall cranes soon will be joined by a seventh when construction begins on a $79 million UNL student residential complex east of 17th and R streets. Smaller cranes dot other building sites.

The $150 million Pinnacle Bank Arena is the big boy in this burst of downtown development, the centerpiece for $344 million in Haymarket redevelopment that will include housing, retail, commercial and infrastructure improvements along with two new hotels.

A $21 million Courtyard by Marriott is rising swiftly at Eighth and R streets. A hotel, apartments and retail space are planned at the old Tool House site in the Haymarket. And a boutique hotel will be snuggled inside new residential development south of the arena.

The 10-story, $31 million Parkhaus parking and residential structure at 13th and Q streets already has punctured the downtown skyline. The massive $63.5 million addition to Memorial Stadium is in early construction. A $17 million Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. building is rising from a big footprint at 13th and K streets on the southern edge of a broadly defined downtown.

And soon -- think in terms of next year -- there'll be an attractive downtown civic plaza at 13th and P streets.

"I think we're on a hitting streak," Wendy Birdsall, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, says.

"All these projects at the same time; that's what's historic," says Dave Landis, the city's urban development director.

"I'm excited about the direction Lincoln is moving," Gov. Dave Heineman says.

"It's exciting to have both Lincoln and Omaha moving forward at the same time. That is very helpful to the state."

Omaha got started with its huge downtown and riverfront development more than a decade ago, and the size and scope of its projects match its role as the state's largest city and corporate headquarters for major national corporations like Union Pacific, ConAgra, Mutual of Omaha, Berkshire Hathaway and Peter Kiewit Sons.

As Omaha was exploding with activity, Lincoln was struggling with issues of aspiration, self-image and will.

It took awhile to change some ingrained community attitudes.

"Like not making growth a bad thing," Birdsall says.

And developing a private-public partnership with strong leadership on both ends.

"A lot of parties never dreamed of working together," Birdsall says. "There was a lot of discord."

A 2003 study report from Angelou Economics "gave us a a dose of reality," she says. "They told us: 'You're not competing.'"

The Angelou warning to Lincoln was blunt: "Keep the status quo and do nothing, a choice that would lead to a steady decline in the local economy long-term," or act, recognizing as an initial challenge that "Lincoln's public and private sectors are disconnected."

Part of it, Birdsall says, was "a leadership void (and) we knew we needed to step up."

It took awhile, but both the public and private sectors began to respond and then work hand in hand.

Creation of 2015 Vision was a breakthrough moment in 2006. That's when a group of business leaders decided to band together to champion a number of large community projects that had languished in the talking stage, and promptly raised $25 million in private commitments to help fund them.

In the spring of 2010 came the essential community buy-in.

Lincoln voters gave their blessing to a new sports and entertainment arena, the centerpiece of $344 million in Haymarket developments.

"That represented a true shift in how our community looked at itself," Birdsall says. If the arena had been rejected -- it received 56 percent approval -- the Lincoln of 2012 would not "have the same positive attitude it has today."

And the city would not look the same.

"I give you seven tall cranes," Birdsall says.

There's never been "a confluence of so much private sector energy and public sector willingness to be helpful," Landis says.

Landis points to a chart of public tax-increment financing -- which diverts taxes that the building owner would pay to help fund development of a project in return for the greater tax revenue the city will realize in the future from the increased valuation of the property -- as a dramatic demonstration of public sector support.

City-supported private improvements during the administration of Mayor Chris Beutler total $177 million in value, compared to $62 million during the previous four years, Landis said.

The arena is the largest city project in history. Assurity was the city's largest tax-increment financing project when it was approved. Three TIF projects totaling $62 million in value were proposed on the same day. All of that is groundbreaking, precedent-shattering stuff.

There is nothing comparable in the city's history.

Lincoln historian Jim McKee said his research does not uncover "any year of tremendous growth" that would compare, although there have been spurts of development.

"People are coming to us and asking about Lincoln," Landis says.

Now, in addition to competent local developers, he says, two regional developers are engaged in Lincoln projects "and that's a really good sign."

The educational, research and athletic opportunities opened up by UNL's admission to the Big Ten are also good economic harbingers for the city.

"Our parking garages have never been busier on football weekends," Landis says. And he credits that to more out-of-town visitors who may be traveling farther and staying in the city a night or two.

In 2013, Memorial Stadium's capacity will grow by 6,000 or so, topping the 90,000-mark.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Harvey Perlman has set a goal of growing UNL enrollment from about 25,000 to 30,000 by 2017.

And Heineman points to UNL's new Innovation Campus as another catalyst for Lincoln's future development. Last year, the governor allocated $25 million in his budget for the research campus to give it a jump-start, and the Legislature stamped its approval.

"This is a marathon, not a sprint," Birdsall says.

"For a long time, we didn't have an identity. It's not that Lincoln had a bad image; it had no image. Now, we're on lists."

A chamber brochure lists a couple of dozen high rankings for Lincoln, none of which might be more significant than the Forbes ratings of Lincoln as the ninth "most livable" city in the country and the No. 1 city for new jobs.

"People are taking a look now," Birdsall says.

Peering ahead, the next challenge is population and jobs.

The splurge of development, which includes new sports and entertainment options, will make Lincoln more attractive to young people, Birdsall says.

"We need entrepreneurs," says Jason Smith, the chamber's vice president of economic development. "We want people to choose to stay here and come here and live here. And we think we have created the perfect recipe for that.

"We are at pre-recession level now in number of jobs and not many cities can say that."

Lincoln has "positioned itself better than ever before," Birdsall says.

"We've made dramatic changes," she says. "It feels like all the engines are pulling in the same direction now.

"And there's more ahead."

[Wild Hoss]

More hotels...more parking. Finally.

:golfclap:

[entropy]

LJS

Oral Roberts coach Scott Sutton is the latest name to be linked to the Nebraska men's basketball head coaching vacancy.

Three sources told the Journal Star on Monday that Sutton was interviewing with Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne in Atlanta.

One source said Nebraska could be using Parker Executive Search, which is based in Atlanta. Osborne used the search firm when interviewing football coaching candidates in 2007.

The source said Nebraska and Mississippi State, which is looking to replace retired coach Rick Stansbury, would be interviewing Sutton and four other candidates over the course of two days.

Sutton, born in Omaha, is the son of legendary coach Eddie Sutton, and the brother of former Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton, who's now an assistant at Oral Roberts.

With a career record of 250-162 over 13 seasons, Sutton is the all-time wins leader at Oral Roberts. He's led the Golden Eagles to three NCAA Tournaments and three National Invitation Tournaments, and has averaged 20 wins per season over the last 10 years.

Oral Roberts completed a 27-7 season last week with a first-round NIT loss to Nevada in Tulsa. Former Nebraska coach Doc Sadler, fired March 9 after six seasons, was an ESPN3.com color analyst for that game.

Sutton's name has also been linked to the opening at the University of Tulsa.

Nebraska initially targeted UCLA coach Ben Howland, but Howland announced last week he's staying at UCLA. Nebraska has also contacted Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter.

Other names on Nebraska's initial list included VCU coach Shaka Smart, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, Ohio coach John Groce and Colorado State coach Tim Miles.

[entropy]

none of those names in bold will be coming to UNL. They can get just as much money someplace else... and by someplace else, I mean a school with any basketball tradition.

[entropy]

The search continues
Posted by: Brian Rosenthal on March 20, 2012 at 9:04PM CST

Tuesday marked Day 11 of Nebraska’s search for a men’s basketball coach.

How much longer?

Don’t expect any announcements this week. I’m told the search will continue into next week. That likely means Nebraska is preparing its pitch for Ohio coach John Groce, whose teams plays North Carolina on Friday in the Midwest Region semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The price tag on Groce probably went up with Ohio’s two NCAA Tournament victories thus far. But he’s only making $300K at Ohio (base $250K), and Nebraska, which is willing to pay the right amount for the right coach, will seemingly make an offer Groce couldn’t refuse.

Right?

That depends on how interested Groce is in Nebraska – which, despite the amount of money Tom Osborne is willing to spend, is still viewed as a bad basketball job in national coaching circles. No surprise there.

If Groce is indeed Nebraska’s No. 1 target, Osborne might have to put on the full court press. I’m hearing Groce’s interest in Big Red is lukewarm, and that with his entire team returning next season, he’d be content to stay put and see if bigger and/or better things open up next season. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be $wayed.

Could the Shaka Smart/Illinois situation affect Groce? Good question. There have been conflicting reports from national media today about Smart – some say he’s on the verge of staying at VCU, and others say he’s weighing an Illinois offer. Your guess is as good as mine.

If Smart stays (and I don’t know what those chances are at this point), is Groce somewhere on the Illinois list? Short answer: I don’t know. But I have heard that Sean Miller of Arizona and Anthony Grant of Alabama are.

Oddly quiet throughout this process has been the name Gregg Marshall. No South Carolina. No Nebraska. No nothing. What do the chirping crickets mean?

Andy Katz of ESPN wrote early Tuesday that Nebraska is gauging interest from Colorado coach Tad Boyle. That makes sense, but Boyle turned down an offer from Texas A&M last year. Why would he consider Nebraska?

Well, Boyle’s base salary is $429K (with another $200K in incentives), and he’s worth much more than that after leading CU to an NCAA Tourney win this season. Is Colorado able to pay him what he’s worth? He has Colorado roots and has a chance to make a name for himself in the currently weak Pac 12. Big Ten ties? None, although that wouldn’t have to be a deal breaker.

(Side note: Say Boyle did come to Nebraska. Has there ever been someone coach in three different BCS leagues in three straight years?)

And lest we forget Scott Sutton, Tim Miles and Rob Jeter – each man on Nebraska’s radar, but none of whom have, uhm, excited the masses. Is that the B list?

Of course, there’s always the possibility of a surprise candidate. Who might that be?

If we knew, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

[entropy]

Three sources Tuesday told The World-Herald that Wichita State's Gregg Marshall was offered the NU job, likely at an annual salary of at least $2 million.

Two of those sources said Marshall has turned it down, while the third said Marshall wasn't showing any interest. Two of those sources have direct access to Marshall, who didn't return messages left by The World-Herald...

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120320/NEWS/303209794#sources-wichita-state-s-marshall-turns-down-nu

[Wild Hoss]

Three sources Tuesday told The World-Herald that Wichita State's Gregg Marshall was offered the NU job, likely at an annual salary of at least $2 million.

Two of those sources said Marshall has turned it down, while the third said Marshall wasn't showing any interest. Two of those sources have direct access to Marshall, who didn't return messages left by The World-Herald...

http://www.omaha.com/article/2012032...-turns-down-nu

Can't get a guy out of Wichita?

Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.

[entropy]

he's going to leave Wichita for another school... one that offers more opportunities than UNL will offer.

Like i've said, we are going to overspend for average. and there won't be a lot of choice

[entropy]

Tom Osborne released the following statement about Nebraska coaching search: ?Our head men?s basketball position has not been offered to any individual at this point and will not be offered until we have fully completed the process. A job offer would not be extended without athletic department officials first having an opportunity to meet in person with that candidate.?

[UMStan White]

David Brandon double speak. We weren't turned down by Harbaugh or Miles because they were never "offered' the job.

[hack]

has not been offered to any individual at this point

Reading between the lines, obviously it was offered to a group of people with a view to them acting as one, or to an organisation of more than one person.

[entropy]

Danny Nee was on a roll Thursday.

The former Nebraska men's basketball coach (1987-2000) recalled some wonderful days for Husker hoops. He rattled off some of his high-caliber players -- legit NBA guys. Yeah, NU used to have legit NBA guys who led the Huskers to multiple NCAA Tournaments. Some of us remember those days well. Sadly, others are too young.

Looking back, perhaps we didn't realize how good we had it.

"People liked us because we won," Nee said. "They liked us because they liked watching Eric Piatkowski throw down a jump shot, or Clifford Scales split the defense, or Rich King throw down a dunk, or Tony Farmer throw down a dunk. You know what I mean?"

Nee escorted us down memory lane during a priceless appearance on The Ticket radio show (93.7 FM in Lincoln). Danny is still Danny. Blunt. Opinionated. Entertaining. Charming. Humorous. And best of all, he's still passionate about the city of Lincoln, the state of Nebraska and the state of NU men's basketball -- even though he was fired in 2000 after an 11-19 season.

Yes, Nee could recruit. Remember the 1990-91 team that won 26 games? Nee's finest. Scales. Pike. King. Farmer. Carl Hayes. Beau Reid. The list goes on. The Huskers earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. A three seed! All told, Nee led the Huskers to five NCAA Tournaments. Much of his undoing at NU was he never won a game in the Big Dance. Nowadays, that sounds like a good problem.

Nebraska won the NIT crown in 1996. Nee recalls the day after. An Omaha columnist poked fun at winning the NIT. Danny was incredulous. It hurt him, he said.

He's moved on. He just completed his second season as head coach for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in New York. He sounded happy Thursday. I talked with him again after the show. He shared story after story, with that familiar fire.

He's still convinced Nebraska can experience and sustain success on the hardwood.

And, yes, he's following the Huskers' search for a new coach.

"If I was coach (Tom Osborne), and I was looking for a new coach, I'd make sure the son of a buck knew about Lincoln, knew about Nebraska, and wanted to be there. He'd have to really convince me he wanted to be there."

Yeah, NU is a tough job.

However, "I'll tell you this: There's no question in my mind, with everything you guys have done out there (with new facilities), that Nebraska can have a quality basketball program, and a winning basketball program."

Never mind style of play, he said. The key is finding a dynamic recruiter.

"You have to get some damned players," he said.

Nee speaks with a high degree of credibility. He was an OK bench coach, but a Grade-A salesman. He told prospects about Nebraska's fine facilities and academics. He genuinely liked Lincoln -- thought the city was underrated.

"And you're going to have the greatest fans in the world," he told prospects.

The job was tough enough back then. And now, because of the Big Ten, it's even more difficult, Nee said. Look at the states in the old Big Eight. There weren't nearly as many dense population areas as in the Big Ten, where virtually every program is near at least one major population area -- except Nebraska.

"I think there are a lot of young coaches who are a little afraid of that job," he said.

Nee arrived from Ohio University. He wanted the Nebraska job badly, he said. He thought it was a good fit for his family. He was hired by Bob Devaney. He said he's never worked for anybody with as much class as Devaney.

"He was a regular guy," Nee said. "I mean, he won national championships and still had no ego. He was just a simple guy's guy. That fit me. I knew who I was. And Coach Osborne, the guy worked. He didn't talk about it; he just worked.

"He was the best recruiter. ... He was the face of the football program. Watching Tom, I realized if I was going to be successful at Nebraska, I had to get off my ass and get out there and sell."

I heard from a few 20-somethings who listened to Danny on Thursday and wondered why Bill Byrne gave him the boot.

"If they really liked me, how come I'm still not there?" Nee asked with a chuckle.

Yeah, Nee was on a roll. If nothing else, he reminded us that a coach can win at a high level at Nebraska.

Thanks, Danny, we needed that.