Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[Wild Hoss]

Hard to say...I think our defense is going to be truly atrocious. Bad enough so that the easier schedule may be offset.

It was bad last year, but it had its moments and was experienced enough with nine seniors that it could match up with mediocre offenses.

Right now we don't one single DT that anybody could say is good. One DE (Jason Ankrah) is fair. LB is a total mystery outside perhaps Zaire Anderson, who has a lot of potential. Safeties are completely unproven. CB is awash with mediocre players, maybe one fairly good one in Seisay. Punting is unknown.

We will need to score a lot.

[WM Wolverine]

You'll outscore most everyone except those with a good defense and there aren't many of those on your schedule, let alone in the B10.

[entropy]

http://m.espn.go.com/general/video?vid=9166753&src=desktop

Jack Hoffman story on Espn... Have to admit, as a dad, the eyes swelled..

[entropy]

Huskers shell Ohio State in series opener


22 minutes ago ? By the Lincoln Journal Star

The Nebraska baseball team continued its domination of Big Ten pitching with an 11-2 victory over Ohio State on Friday at Haymarket Park.

The Huskers (14-17 overall, 8-2 in Big Ten) ripped off 15 hits as they scored eight-plus runs for the seventh time in 10 Big Ten Conference games. Six different Husker batters had multi-hit games, led by leadoff hitter Rich Sanguinetti's 3-for-5 effort with two runs and Blake Headley's 3-for-4 day with a run and an RBI.

Starter Christian DeLeon (4-2) didn't walk a single batter in eight innings to earn the win. The junior right-hander gave up two runs and eight hits while striking out five.

[entropy]

Steven M. Sipple: Miles says AAU basketball hurts players' skill level


You were riveted Monday night. You simply had to be riveted.

If you watched Louisville defeat Michigan in the NCAA men's basketball tournament championship game, you saw a magnificent display of intensity, explosive athleticism and carefully honed skill. You saw mesmerizing talent excelling on a grand stage.

You also saw an aberration.

Generally speaking, watching a Division I men's college basketball game these days can be a laborious exercise, as teams struggle to score, in large part because of all the hand-checking, clutching, shoving and general roughness.

Nebraska coach Tim Miles agrees with Louisville coach Rick Pitino on this point: Beautiful basketball requires freedom of movement.

"We need to clean the game up," Miles said.

Miles has another theory as to why scoring this season sank to its lowest level since 1951-52. He sees a drop in overall skill level across the men's game, largely because youth basketball has become game-heavy and skill-light, he said.

"AAU basketball has hurt the skill level of our players," Miles said. "Basketball is a game of skill. Guys play games all the time nowadays, but they're not in the gym working on the necessary skills — which is hurting scoring."

Division I teams averaged only 67.5 points this season. Field-goal percentage was 43.3 percent, the lowest since 1964-65. Scoring and shooting percentages have been dropping for decades.

"The whole culture of 'get in the car and go play in a tournament' creates a really competitive kid, but it doesn't create a very pretty basketball game," Miles said.

For Journal Star sports editor Darnell Dickson, the discussion triggers memories of the John Wooden Basketball Camp, which he attended when he was 11. On the first day, Dickson recalled, the camp director told players that if Wooden had his way, they wouldn’t play any games at all; they would be drilled only on fundamentals.

Drills can seem tedious, especially in a day and age when attention spans seem shorter. Drills? We're talking two-handed chest passes, bounce passes, layups with both hands, blocking out for rebounds, slide-stepping on defense (footwork), crossover dribbles and, of course, the correct fundamentals for a jump shot.

It seems kids mostly want to go play games.

Miles isn't necessarily alarmed by what college basketball has become. But he thinks some elements need to be tweaked. He agrees with Pitino on another point: The college game should do what the NBA did years ago and begin calling games more tightly. That would greatly diminish all the arm-barring and hand-checking — and presumably lead to more freedom of movement.

Pitino says the key would be to have referees call more fouls — lots of them — until things change. It probably would require only about 10 games before players adjusted, he says. Yeah, a small sacrifice for the greater good. He saw it work in the NBA, which has become immensely entertaining.

Watch an NBA game. Then watch a college game. The NBA game is much, much easier on the eyes.

Said Miles: "It would just have to be a commitment to enforcing rules that are there and looking into other rules that can improve our game."

We're not ref-bashing. They're in an awkward position. If they call more fouls, televised games would become even more choppy, at least initially, with all the TV timeouts and long delays for video replays.

"There's no doubt we need to decide which direction we're going," Miles said of the replays. "What's reviewable with replay? When are we going to review it? Because the stoppages in play right now are long and involved. To the refs' credit, they're trying to get it correct.

"We're just kind of delving into this within the last few years. There are going to be some growing pains."

It's not as if fans are turning away from college hoops. Monday night's finale pulled in 23.4 million viewers, up 12 percent from 2012. Overall, the tournament produced the best television ratings in nearly two decades.

Nebraska men's basketball ticket sales are soaring — up 49 percent over last season. Of course, the novelty of a new downtown arena is the main reason.

Miles obviously is thrilled by ticket sales. He said he wants the arena to become a "devastating" home-court advantage.

"And I look forward to putting a better product on the floor so it's more enjoyable for fans," he said before giving a nod to Connie Yori's Nebraska women's program, which comes off its second NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in four years.

"I was watching Connie's team, and they're swishing threes left and right," Miles said. "I'm like, 'How fun is this?' I can't wait until we do that."

It'll require elbow grease. Always has in basketball. People usually aren't born with an ankle-breaking crossover dribble, a la Peyton Siva, or pretty jump shot. Such skills require endless practice, hours upon hours of individual work, as opposed to an endless stream of AAU games.

[entropy]

By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star


Memorial Stadium is all gussied up for 2013 with a new look on its east side. But what about the playing surface? Is change coming?

Soon perhaps. Just not as soon as this year.

According to John Ingram, Nebraska's associate athletic director for capital planning and construction, the topic of potentially replacing the stadium's turf next year will come up.

“While our field has held up well, we will discuss the possibility of replacing the Memorial Stadium FieldTurf, along with many other potential capital projects for 2014, during budget discussions," Ingram said. "But no final decisions have been made at this time.”

The current FieldTurf was installed before the 2005 season.

The average life span of such a field is about 10 years, according to Ingram.

FieldTurf's website claims it has more than 500 fields that have lasted eight years or longer. The Detroit Lions, for instance, just replaced the FieldTurf at Ford Field after using the surface for 11 seasons.

Nebraska is on its second round of FieldTurf, after becoming the first college to use the synthetic grass-like surface in 1999.

The first FieldTurf surface in Memorial Stadium was in place six years before being replaced, though officials said at the time it perhaps could have lasted a couple more years.

FieldTurf has become widely used by other universities, high schools and some NFL teams since it was first installed at Nebraska. When the surface was replaced at Memorial Stadium in 2005, it represented the FieldTurf company's 4,000th installation of the surface.

Nebraska had a good deal in 1999, getting the initial installation done at the stadium and Cook Pavilion for $248,000. The company lowered the price in exchange for taking home the old AstroTurf, which it cut up and sold as mementos.

The going rate for replacing such a surface varies, by how well the base of the field has held up. But as a relatively recent local example, the replacement of the FieldTurf at Seacrest Field in 2010 was said to cost about $412,000.

As for Memorial Stadium, it's seen many different playing surfaces in its time.

The old stadium featured a grass surface from its opening in 1923 through the 1969 season. Then came Astro-Turf, which was installed in 1970 and replaced in 1977. Artificial All-Pro Turf was installed in 1984 before being replaced with the Astro-turf-8 system in 1992.

Even the FieldTurf changed design slightly, with the replacement turf in 2005 being two-toned, with alternating shades of green every five yards.

Granted, the striped look had been done before. That two-toned look, Husker officials have said, is a nod to the look of the grass fields from the Bob Devaney years.

[entropy]

April 15, 2013

Two student-athletes from the University of Nebraska – Katelyn White and Sean Fisher – have been chosen as the 2013 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award recipients by the Indianapolis Big Ten Community Partnership. The award is an annual scholarship recognizing one male and one female Big Ten senior student-athlete pursuing a postgraduate degree for achievements in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities and leadership.

In recognition of the Big Ten’s leadership in fully integrating athletics into the academic mission of its member institutions, the Indianapolis Big Ten Community Partnership initiated the Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award in 2008. Each Big Ten institution was asked to nominate one male and one female student-athlete for 2013, with a $10,000 scholarship awarded to each winner.

The Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award is named for the former Big Ten Conference commissioner who served from 1971-89. While leading the Big Ten, Duke spent much of his time working to improve academic standards and graduation rates for student-athletes. The award is made possible by donations from local corporations and individuals supporting collegiate student-athletes. The Indianapolis Big Ten Community Partnership is comprised of the State of Indiana, City of Indianapolis, Indiana Sports Corporation, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and Visit Indy.

White, a women’s cross country and track and field runner, is completing her nutrition science degree at the University of Nebraska and expects to graduate in May. With a 4.0 GPA and numerous academic accolades, she intends to continue her education to become a physical therapist.

White has been recognized with multiple Academic All-Big Ten accolades and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Awards as well as U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Women’s All-Academic Team honors. White is an elected member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In addition to her commitment to academic excellence, White participates in numerous community service activities. She participated in an elementary walk-a-thon, spoke to children about wellness and nutrition, led groups at vacation bible school, and was a camp counselor.

Fisher is completing his business administration degree at the University of Nebraska and expects to graduate in May. With a 4.0 GPA and a number of academic honors, he intends to pursue his education in medical school.

Fisher, a football student-athlete, is a multiple recipient of Academic All-Big Ten honors and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Awards. He was also named to the Capital One Academic All-District and All-American teams. On the field, Fisher was named to the National All-Freshman Football Team in 2009.

Fisher extends his impact outside of academics and the football field through participating in a variety of community service activities. He gives of his time as a guest speaker to local elementary schools, special needs children, and patients at nearby hospitals. Fisher also read to elementary school students, participated in 5k fundraisers, and packaged meals for a distribution center to give to those in impoverished areas.

White and Fisher will be honored during the 42nd Annual Big Ten Football Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday, July 25, 2013 in Chicago.

2013 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Nominees:

University of Illinois: Zachary Becker, football; Marissa Holden, women’s soccer

Indiana University: Raymond Knoblauch, baseball; Kathryn Laine, women’s rowing

University of Iowa: Javier Balboa, men’s gymnastics; Sarah Drake, field hockey

University of Michigan: Jordan Kovacs, football; Jennifer Ryan, women’s basketball

Michigan State University: Kevin Jackson, men’s track and field; Jordan Mueller, women’s soccer

University of Minnesota: Troy Larson, baseball

University of Nebraska: Katelyn White, women’s cross country and track and field; Sean Fisher, football

Northwestern University: Reggie Hearn, men’s basketball; Kristin Scharkey, softball

Penn State University: Brian Forgue, men’s soccer; Colleen Shea, women’s lacrosse

Purdue University: Robert Maci, football; Ariel Turner, volleyball

University of Wisconsin: Dorcas Akinniyi, women’s track and field

Previous Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Recipients:

2012: Miguel Pineda, Penn State, men’s gymnastics; Margaux Farrell, Indiana, women’s swimming
2011: Mike Torchia, Minnesota, cross country & track; Allie Smith, Purdue, women’s swimming
2010: Mark Ison, Northwestern, football; Chelsea Davis, Ohio State, women’s diving
2009: Drew Ratner, Northwestern, men’s soccer; Lauren Mioton, Purdue, women’s basketball
2008: Kevin Trulock, Indiana, football; Molly Crispell, Penn State, women’s swimming

[entropy]

very cool that UNL won both the Men and Women's awards in the same year..

[entropy]

http://www.designntrend.com/articles/3982/20130424/university-nebraska-lincoln-engineers-nanofibers-stronger-planes-bullet-proof-vests.htm

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Engineers Develop Nanofibers for Stronger Planes and Bullet-proof Vests

[entropy]

We'll see a talented, but VERY inexperienced team on the floor next fall. Might be a tough season for breaking in the new court.

------------------------------
12 hours ago • By BRENT C. WAGNER / Lincoln Journal Star

Nebraska senior middle blocker Hayley Thramer suffered a serious knee injury last week and will miss the 2013 season, volleyball coach John Cook said Wednesday.

Thramer was injured during the Huskers’ fourth and final exhibition match, Saturday at Wichita State. It was a bad ACL injury that will require surgery, Cook said.

“We found out (Tuesday) night that Nebraska volleyball had its heart ripped out with the news of Hayley Thramer suffering a career-ending knee injury,” Cook said in a statement. “It’s a sad day, but we know Hayley will have the support of Husker Nation. She is on track to graduate and as a leader on our team she will remain a vital part of our program and will be a great representation of Nebraska volleyball in 2013.”

Thramer had already missed her redshirt freshman season in 2010 because of a shoulder injury.

The three-sport star at Class D-2 Ewing started for NU the past two seasons. Last season, she ranked second in the Big Ten Conference in blocking in league matches with 1.32 blocks per set. Thramer was fourth in kills with 197 on the team.

Thramer was one of the few experienced players returning for the Huskers. NU will be without five starters from last season — Lauren Cook, Gina Mancuso and Hannah Werth, who graduated; Thramer, and libero Lara Dykstra, who transferred.

Sophomore Meghan Haggerty was a starter at middle blocker last season and returns.

Incoming freshman Kira Larson from Fargo, N.D., and Melanie Keil from Berlin could compete for a starting job at middle blocker, along with sophomore Cecilia Hall. Hall played in six matches last season, with 13 kills and nine blocks.

[entropy]

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Not even in his wildest dreams did Spencer Long expect to become an All-American offensive lineman at Nebraska.

How could he have? Coming out of Elkhorn (Neb.) High School, he was a 245-pound defensive end with zero FBS scholarship offers. In fact, he and his twin brother, Jake, very nearly decided to take scholarships at Division II Nebraska-Omaha before agreeing to walk on with the Huskers.

"We were torn," Long told ESPN.com. "But then we started thinking, 'We might regret this if we don't shoot for best we can possible do.'"

It turned out to be a great decision, and not just because Nebraska-Omaha decided to drop football two years later. Long has started the past 27 games at right guard for Nebraska, earning second-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation last season. He was the first Huskers offensive lineman to make an All-America team since 2001. Meanwhile, Jake will likely start at tight end this season.

Jake Long was a little easier to project as a collegian, since he was an all-state tight end in high school. But Spencer hadn't played offensive line before and began his Nebraska career as a scout team defensive lineman. He remembers lining up against starting offensive linemen like Marcel Jones, Ricky Henry and Keith Williams and surprising himself by holding his own in practice.

"I figured that if I could hang with those guys, I could hang with anyone," he said.

Long caught the eye of John Garrison, who was then a GA working with the scout team. Garrison eventually got promoted to assistant offensive line coach and fought to bring Long over to that position group.

It also helped that Long put on more than 60 pounds since his arrival on campus. After not playing his first two seasons, Long broke into the lineup in 2011 and has started every game since, helping lead the way for Nebraska's powerful running game.

He has had to learn the intricacies of guard play but says that's one of his favorite things about the position.

"The details are so important," he said. "The footwork, the hand placement, the head placement -- every little thing counts to be successful. Even if you're off by a hair, a defensive lineman can get in front of you, and if you don't get that second step down, you're not going to get a push. It's a lot more complicated than people think. It's not just coming off the ball and smashing into somebody."

Long's attention to those small details has helped set him apart and made him a team leader.

"He has the respect of the guys because he's a hard working, tough guy who never misses anything," offensive coordinator Tim Beck said. "He can relate to guys who are having a tremendous amount of success, but he can also relate to the guy who had nothing and walked on. They all admire his work ethic and what he's been able to accomplish."

Nebraska has a long history of walk-on success stories, especially on the offensive line. Long saw former teammate Mike Caputo rise from a non-scholarship player to an All-Big Ten center, and his former high school teammate Kevin Thomsen walked on and contributed significantly at tight end.

That tradition gave Long confidence that walking on to Nebraska could work, but he also learned it from his father. Doug Long also walked on and played one year with the Huskers. Now, he's a neurosurgeon in Omaha. Grandfather Jim was also a doctor, and both Long twins want to go to medical school. Spencer plans on taking the MCAT this summer and start applying to med schools if his scores are high enough.

Of course, he's also got some unfinished business in football, as he'll be a senior and Outland Trophy candidate for Nebraska this fall.

"He means a lot to us," head coach Bo Pelini said. "He's really developed well and has worked his butt off to become a leader on our football team, on and off the field. I think he has a bright future beyond the University of Nebraska."

That future could very well include a career in the NFL before he trades his helmet in for a stethoscope. It's a dream that didn't seem possible just a few years ago.

"I didn't really expect any of this," Long said. "So I don't know what to expect in the future. I'm just going to keep doing my thing."

[entropy]

An NFL star stood out in the sea of officials sporting suits at the latest groundbreaking in the West Haymarket.

Former Husker Ndamukong Suh was among the first to buy a condo in the Hobson Place development that will include a new Hyatt Place hotel.

Suh said the area has changed considerably since he first stepped in the Haymarket as a freshman in college in 2005.

"I remember just the rows of parking meters, but now it's an exciting, tremendous project," he said. "I'm happy to know I have a nice home (to come back to in Lincoln) in Hobson Place."

Developers and city officials that helped make the project happen waited for nice weather to celebrate a late groundbreaking on the project that already is three stories off the ground.

"New developments like this make a strong impact on the arena project," said councilman and arena JPA member Gene Carroll. "This is another great example of public-private partnerships and a great economic driver."

More than 250 construction workers are involved in the project, said Will Scott of developer WRK.

Kevin Schramm, vice president of development for Hyatt, said the hotel company known for its resorts and convention centers decided to branch out in 2005 to a new brand.

"Now, with Hyatt Place, we can fit in to places like Lincoln for business and leisure crowds," he said. "This is a first-class hotel, and we're proud to be in this community."

The mixed-use, seven-story building -- just down the block from the Pinnacle Bank Arena -- will house a Hyatt Place hotel and condominiums boasting elegant interiors and a rooftop deck.

Floors two through four will be home to Hyatt Place, a trendy business hotel set to open in February.

The upper floors will be home to Hobson Place condos, set for completion in March 2014. About 30 residences are planned, with names such as The Oliver and The Corwith and prices ranging from $215,000 to $600,000.

To the west of the building is a 950-stall parking garage set to open by September.

[Jeff Buchanan]

The Michigan Softball team won in come from behind fashion to beat Neb in a critical game in their three game series to even it at one each. The rubber match is tomorrow in Lincoln.

They are playing for the number one seed in the B10 Tournament. Neb has owned Michigan this season.

Michigan a perennial national contender has played way beyond its talent level this season. Another demonstration of coaching excellence. Hats off to Carol Hutchins (.726), a huge fan of Brady Hoke,

[THE_WIZARD_]

STFU

[entropy]

the White House

By Randy York
So what does a 7-year-old pediatric brain cancer patient do after thrilling 60,000 fans at Nebraska’s Spring Football Game, plus nearly 8 million YouTube viewers, with an inspiring 69-yard touchdown run? After throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Saturday’s nationally televised Nebraska-Michigan softball game in Lincoln, Jack flew to Washington D.C. with his dad, Andy, mom, Bri and sisters Ava 5, and Reese, 2.
On Sunday, the Hoffmans took in the sights of our Nation’s Capital in advance of a Monday noontime scheduled visit with President Barack Obama at the White House. “We were thrilled to get invited, and we hope it all comes off,” Andy Hoffman, Jack’s dad, said Sunday night.
“There is no advance agenda. I am here simply as Jack’s dad, and Bri is here as Jack’s mom,” Andy said. “Of course, we hope that the President wants to support a conversation about pediatric brain cancer, but no matter what might happen if we get to meet President Obama, we’re honored that he has followed Jack’s journey. We’re honored because Jack represents every kid who has gone through this horrific disease without any changes in the first-line protocol to treat his form of pediatric brain cancer in 25 years.”
Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com