Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[Wild Hoss]

He loves defense...just his defense. Whether it works or not, well that's not his problem.

[UMStan White]

"I'd like to be able to ask that question about Michigan and have it be more than a ridiculous hypothetical. But then again it isn't yet fair to call Hoke a Glorified Coordinator, though he could get there soon. I'd rather he just smarten up and not make the same mistake his predecessor did on the opposite side of the ball."

Blah..blah..blah..blah..blah. Did I tell you that Hoke (Borges) sucks? Well, Hoke (Borges) sucks. Take it from me "I don't know jack Hack" that Hoke (Borges sucks. God if Hoke (Borges) didn't suck well hell we might win a game! God Hoke (Borges) sucks. Blah..Blah..Blah..Blahhhhhhhhhhh. Blahhhhhhhhh. (Did you like my big Guffaw while I kissed Talent's ass for being so insightful that Hoke sucks?

[whodean]

While Hack comes off as a knowitall blowhard, Stan's spiel is repetitious at this point too.

You two want to just make out or something?

[UMStan White]

Heh!

[Wild Hoss]

That's not a no...

Well, take it to the Ohio thread where it belongs if you do.

[Mike]

Stan, you routinely ignore the fact that Borges DOES, in fact, suck!

[entropy]

New Husker commit.... http://nebraska.scout.com/a.z?s=204&p=8&c=1&nid=5620161

[THE_WIZARD_]

[entropy]

Brian Rosenthal @HuskerExtraBR
Tim Miles, on facing Nebraska native Dana Altman on Saturday at Oregon: “I’m going to take him some Runzas and try to soften him up early.”

[entropy]

8 hours ago • By Steven M. Sipple
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Let's face it, it's easy to take for granted the center on a football team. Easy to overlook his importance in the grand scheme.

Not too many folks overlooked Dave Rimington.

In 1981, the Big Eight Conference office conducted an informal poll of its football coaches. The question: If they were to start a team, which player from the other seven programs would they choose first.

Three coaches named Rimington, the former Nebraska great.

That's right, three coaches named a center. Think about that for a second.

"I was one of the odd centers who got a lot of attention," said Rimington, the only two-time Outland Trophy winner (1981-82).

It probably was because he exploded off the line with such quickness and agility, it created the impression he was offside. He was indeed unique, and someone worthy an award being named after him.

The Rimington Trophy turns 13 this year. Presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, the award retains a rather low profile on the national scene. That should change eventually.

"I think it's moving in the right direction, and I'm patient," said Rimington, the Esiason Foundation president since 1995.

Even so, he would like to see higher-profile treatment on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. While 10 other awards are presented on the big stage, the Rimington is awarded on a nearby red carpet. You know, off to the side.

Give it a few years. Or maybe a couple decades. Tradition and prestige require time.

"By then, I'll probably be too old to walk the red carpet," Rimington said with a laugh. "I'll be stumbling down the red carpet."

Nebraska fans of a certain age would have difficulty envisioning Rimington in stumbling mode, such was his prowess as a player. In addition to his Outlands, he won the 1982 Lombardi Award. At 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, the Omaha South graduate helped the Huskers capture back-to-back Big Eight titles in 1981-82, and NU led the nation in rushing in 1982.

Some consider him the greatest college offensive lineman of all time. A few Big Eight coaches from 1981 might agree.

"I was just playing football," he said.

He said he mostly was trying to live up to the long line of talented Nebraska centers before him, guys like Rik Bonness, Tom Davis, Kelly Saalfeld and Doug Dumler.

Pardon me if I overlooked anyone. You know how it is with the guys in the trenches. At most places anyway.

"Nebraska really became known for the center position," Rimington said. "So I just tried to carry my weight and do what I had to do to try to be like those guys."

I got the impression Rimington would've talked football all day long. He praised Nebraska senior center Justin Jackson, describing him as "a tough, tough kid."

"And I think that little Pelini kid is going to be OK," he said in reference to 6-foot, 285-pound Mark Pelini, a sophomore who played significant minutes after Jackson injured his ankle Nov. 23 against Iowa.

Rimington praised the versatility of junior Cole Pensick, a regular in the guard rotation who also helped fill in for Jackson.

Rimington follows the team closely and has strong opinions.

He emphasizes the need for Nebraska to bolster talent along the defensive line.

He emphasizes the importance of maturity in offensive linemen.

"You have to be stable and can't make mistakes," he said. "You can't jump offsides. You can't line up a yard too deep. You have to have guys who are going to be consistent, like a machine."

If he were an NFL general manager, he said, he would build his team from the inside out, on both sides of the ball. Start with a good center, quarterback and running back. On the other side, start with a good nose tackle, middle linebacker and safety.

"It's really the core of the team," he said.

Alabama's core was strengthened this season by Barrett Jones, this year's Rimington Trophy winner. He will be formally recognized Jan. 12 at the Rococo Theatre.

Jones played right guard in 2009 and 2010 before moving to left tackle in 2011. As a left tackle, he won the Outland.

"I think he's going to find himself a pretty hot commodity in the NFL Draft, being able to play three positions on the line," Rimington said.

In 656 plays this season, Jones missed only six assignments.

"That's unbelievable," Rimington said. "I've had a chance to talk to him. He's a really, really impressive guy."

Jones is a marvelous player, one befitting a significant honor.

[entropy]

Officials from the City, State and University of Nebraska-Lincoln today participated in a topping out ceremony, as the final steel beam was lifted into place for Pinnacle Bank Arena. The event also recognized the hundreds of construction workers who are building the arena and their excellent safety record. The arena construction team has achieved 180 days and more than 500,000 craft worker hours without a safety incident.
Speakers included Mayor Chris Beutler, Chairs of the West Haymarket Joint Public Agency (JPA); Governor Dave Heineman; City Council and JPA member Gene Carroll; NU Regent and JPA member Tim Clare; Bob Caldwell, President and CEO of Hampton Construction, which is teaming with Mortenson Construction to build the arena; Wendy Birdsall, Chamber of Commerce President; UNL Athletic Director Tom Osborne; and John Hinshaw, Senior Project Manager for Mortenson Construction. Also attending were representatives of Pinnacle Bank and the Dinsdale family; Shawn Eichorst, who will become UNL Athletic Director in January; Husker women's basketball coach Connie Yori; and Husker men's basketball coach Tim Miles.
The topping out ceremony is a custom in the construction industry, and the beam traditionally carries an evergreen tree and a flag as it is hoisted into place. "The tree symbolizes growth and brings good luck, and our beautiful American flag symbolizes a nation of people committed to hard work and freedom," Mayor Beutler said. "This redevelopment is about jobs and, even more importantly, it is about people. Today, we honor the people on the ground who truly are doing the heavy lifting. The arena workers have put so much pride and sweat equity into this project. We cannot thank them enough for the amazing job they are doing."
The ceremony today included performances by the UNL Cornhusker Pep Band, Herbie Husker and the Spirit Squad. Those attending had the opportunity to sign the beam, which was already signed by hundreds of members of the public at two events last week - the Husker men's basketball game with Creighton and the First Friday Art Walk in the Haymarket.
The Pinnacle Bank Arena is on schedule to be completed in the fall of 2013. More information is available at PinnacleBankArena.com and haymarketnow.com.

[entropy]

4 hours ago • By BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star


Capping the Pinnacle Bank Arena

Tim Miles spoke from the third floor of Memorial Stadium, with Pinnacle Bank Arena serving as the backdrop through the large west windows.

Miles, who’d just attended a ceremony for the raising of the final beam at Nebraska’s new home for basketball, was entertaining boosters at Wednesday’s Husker Athletic Fund luncheon.

Emphasis on entertaining.

Nebraska’s first-year coach elicited several laughs, including when he talked about his team receiving 23 of 24 last-place votes in a preseason Big Ten Conference poll.

“I would just like to not only check on the well-being of the one person,” Miles said, “but also thank my mother.”

Miles’ team is a surprising 6-2, but will be a decisive underdog Saturday when the Huskers play at Oregon, coached by Wilber native Dana Altman.

“I’m going to take him some Runzas,” Miles quipped, “and try to soften him up early.”

And when senior Brandon Ubel took the podium to answer a question about why he was making more of an impact this season, Miles quickly yanked the microphone.

“I’ll answer that one,” the coach said, drawing the loudest laughs of the noon hour.

Truth be told, Ubel said, Miles really is a big reason he’s having the most productive season of his career.

“You guys all know,” Ubel said. “His energy, his enthusiasm, it’s got us playing and practicing with more energy, more enthusiasm than we ever have here in my four years.”

Ubel referenced a season highlight video shown before Miles was introduced.

“I think you could see the smiles on the guys’ faces,” Ubel said. “Of course, it helps when you’re winning, but we’re just on the court, having fun. We’re enjoying each other. We enjoy coming to practice every day. We look forward to it, and that’s something … I don’t know if many places are like that.”

Ubel thanked the fans, noting their support has been one of the few constants he’s seen during periods of instability and change. He noted he’s played in two conferences, under two head coaches and 11 assistant coaches, with a second athletic director to come.

“That’s something that we really appreciate,” Ubel said of the fans. “It’s a reason a lot of people end up coming to Nebraska, is because they see that kind of support.”

Miles, referencing the year-old Hendricks Training Complex and Pinnacle Bank Arena, set to open next fall, said everything’s in place for Nebraska to build toward getting its first NCAA Tournament victory.

“I think it’s going to be an amazing time, and I’m glad to be right in the middle of it, and I want to be the guy that gets it done for us,” Miles said. “I want to recruit guys just like Brandon that will continue that.

“I want to go to the NCAA Tournament, and I want a team that wins in the NCAA Tournament. That’s not too much to ask.”

Nebraska women’s basketball coach Connie Yori, who also spoke at the luncheon, drew her own laughs, most of them at the expense of Miles.

If good-natured jabs about Miles' height aren't a sign Nebraska’s basketball coaches have a strong working relationship, then what Yori said at the podium surely is.

“I don’t think we could ask for a better person than what we have in our men’s coach right now,” said Yori, who’s in her 11th season at Nebraska. “He’s a Midwestern guy, he’s got a great spirit about him and his staff, also, is excellent.

“I know he’s got great things ahead of him.”

[entropy]

Remaining basketball schedule for Nebraska...

11 games (10 remaining) with currently ranked opponents, including 6 games with teams currently ranked in the top ten (!!!).

[WM Wolverine]

NIT?

[entropy]

Huskers to play Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in 2016
NIU will visit Lincoln in 2017 and 2019 as part of a three-game series. Nebraska also announced the addition of McNeese State to the 2014 schedule.