Nebraska...not feeling Frosty anymore

[entropy]

Williams anticipates speculation
Posted by: Steve Sipple on May 21, 2012 at 8:57PM CST

Jamie Williams understands the speculation will occur.

"I'm honored by the question," the former Husker tight end told me Monday night.

The question to which he refers: Is Williams interested in someday succeeding Tom Osborne as Nebraska's athletic director?

Osborne is 75.

"Let's put it this way: I wasn't actively seeking to return to Lincoln, Nebraska," said the 52-year-old Williams, announced Monday as the Huskers’ associate athletic director of diversity and leadership initiatives. "I had my gig. I had a lot of milestones to hit."

Williams spent the past six years as director of athletics at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Before Williams’ hiring, Academy of Art did not have an intercollegiate athletic program.

"Running my own show is something I'm accustomed to," he said. "But right now, coach Osborne is the man. Having the opportunity to learn from him is a blessing."

Enough speculation. For now.

Story coming soon.

[entropy]

http://outsports.com/jocktalkblog/2012/05/21/former-green-bay-packer-ahman-green-talks-about-his-gay-brother-and-lesbian-sister/

Former Green Bay Packer Ahman Green talks about his gay brother and lesbian sister

[entropy]

2013


08/31 Wyoming Lincoln /
09/07 Southern Miss (Probably @Superdome--New Orleans)
09/14 UCLA Lincoln /
09/21 S. Dakota State Lincoln /
10/05 #Illinois Lincoln /
10/12 #Purdue W. Lafayette /
10/26 #Minnesota Minneapolis /
11/02 #Northwestern Lincoln /
11/09 #Michigan Ann Arbor /
11/16 #Michigan State Lincoln /
11/23 #Penn State State College /
11/30 #Iowa Lincoln /


2014

08/30 Fla. Atlantic Lincoln /
09/06 /
09/13 Fresno State Fresno /
09/20 Miami (Fla.) Lincoln /
09/27 /
10/04 #Northwestern Evanston /
10/11 #Penn State Lincoln /
10/18 #Illinois Champaign /
10/25 /
11/01 #Minnesota Lincoln /
11/08 #Michigan Lincoln /
11/15 #Michigan St. E. Lansing /
11/22 #Purdue Lincoln /
11/29 #Iowa Iowa City /


2015

09/05 Brigham Young Lincoln /
09/12 South Alabama Lincoln /
09/19 Miami (Fla.) Miami /
09/26 Southern Miss Lincoln /
10/03 Minnesota Minneapolis /
10/17 Northwestern Lincoln /
10/24 Wisconsin Madison /
10/31 Michigan State Lincoln /
11/07 Michigan Ann Arbor /
11/14 Indiana Lincoln /
11/21 Penn State State College /
11/28 Iowa Lincoln /


2016

09/03 Fresno State Lincoln /
09/10 Tennessee Lincoln /
09/17 Wyoming Lincoln /
09/24 /
10/01 Northwestern Evanston /
10/08 Wisconsin Lincoln /
10/22 Minnesota Lincoln /
10/29 Michigan State East Lansing /
11/05 Indiana Bloomington /
11/12 Michigan Lincoln /
11/19 Penn State Lincoln /
11/26 Iowa Iowa City /

[entropy]

Paul Meyers, says Sipple.


________________

Things I know and think I know:

As a leader, Jamie Williams keeps three crucial words in mind.

"Be thoughtful, fearless and strategic," he says.

I get the feeling Williams does much more than talk a good game. After all, Tom Osborne typically doesn't fall for smooth talk. And note that the Nebraska athletic director doggedly pursued the 52-year-old Williams to become NU associate athletic director of diversity and leadership initiatives.

As soon as it was announced Monday that Williams had taken the job, many folks wondered if he is now prominent on the list of potential successors to the 75-year-old Osborne.

Williams, a former standout tight end at Nebraska (1979-82), understands such speculation will persist. He is honored that people even raise the question. But he makes it clear that he wasn't actively seeking a position at his alma mater this spring when Osborne came calling.

"If that (becoming the Huskers' athletic director) is in the future for me, I wouldn't shy away from it," Williams says. "Of course, I'm not lobbying for it. I'm just going to be the best I can be."

I regard Williams as a long shot for the athletic director job. Intriguing possibility, yes. Still, a long shot.

Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman has said he plans a national search for Osborne's replacement, whenever the time comes. Even so, my money (for entertainment purposes only) is on Paul Meyers, Nebraska associate athletic director for development — assuming he wants the job.

Meyers has a certain toughness and focus in his makeup. The former Nebraska baseball standout understands the big picture and connects well with people, including some very wealthy and influential folks in Omaha.

He also gets along extremely well with Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini.

Of course, you can't rule out former Nebraska gridiron great Trev Alberts, although he has endured a rocky road in three years as athletic director at Nebraska-Omaha. I know a few former UNO wrestlers and football players who aren't exactly Trev backers.

How much longer will Osborne stay in his current role? When projects like the East Memorial Stadium, Devaney Sports Center renovation and downtown arena are done in 2013, it's easy to imagine him grabbing his fishing pole and heading off into the sunset, for good.

Regarding the issue of when Osborne plans to retire, Perlman recently told an Omaha reporter, "Tom's plans are he'll let me know when he knows."

Meanwhile, I've heard folks says Williams' resume is a little light for the Nebraska athletic director role. That may be the case at the moment. Maybe. But what about in a couple years, when he better understands the lay of the land in Husker Nation?

The part of Williams' job description that says he "will manage and facilitate the athletic department's strategic plan" tends to grab your attention.

So does his work as athletic director at San Francisco's Academy of Art University. He created a Division II program from scratch. Impressive.

He's extremely charismatic, thoughtful and enthusiastic about his work. He cherishes the opportunity to work alongside Osborne.

"We probably listen to a little different music, but our mission is the same," said Williams, who favors Al Green, Marvin Gaye and The Gap Band, among others.

No question, Williams is a formidable talent — probably a great hire. Great enough to eventually succeed Osborne? My money's still on Meyers.

* Omaha Central basketball standout Akoy Agau, during an appearance Tuesday on 93.7 FM "The Ticket," said his list of 20-plus scholarship offers now includes ones from Georgetown and Connecticut.

The 6-foot-9 Agau, a senior-to-be, was asked if he ever gets irritated during what's become an intense recruiting process for him.

"No, not really, besides that one time when a former Central teammate of mine (Deverell Biggs) decided to go to Nebraska and the whole state had me also going to NU to play basketball," Agau said.

Ouch. Looks like new Husker hoops coach Tim Miles better roll up his sleeves. This big fish from Omaha might be difficult to land.

* You want a definitive example of Bo Pelini's passion and willingness to stand up for his players?

In an ESPNBoston.com article, the Nebraska football coach essentially stakes his reputation on Alfonzo Dennard remaining trouble-free as a New England Patriot in the wake of the cornerback's arrest last month for third-degree felony assault of a police officer.

"That isn't who he is, that's never been who he is, and that's not going to be who he is in the future," Pelini said.

Hope Bo's right. Sports fans can recite far too many examples of extraordinary athletes who wasted their talents.

Do you think recruits notice when a coach has his players' backs the way Pelini typically does? I'm guessing "yes."

* Seriously, is there a better NBA analyst on the planet than Hubie Brown?

Steve Kerr? Reggie Miller? Jeff Van Gundy? Brown trumps them all.

* Paging Doc Sadler. I've always enjoyed his opinions on the NBA and hoops in general. He can be extremely opinionated. Might make for an entertaining analyst.

[entropy]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120522/BIGRED/705229894/1199#shatel-williams-could-be-nu-s-future

Omaha papers opinion of TO's successor.

[entropy]

Huskers crushing PSU in baseball today. Up 11 already.

[entropy]

Oh... And the BIG needs to move the baseball tourney to Omaha. There is nobody at the game.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Doubt Omaha will have more people at the non-NU games Ent. And heaven forbid if NU fails to make the B1G Tourney in Omaha...you will hear crickets chirping.

The B1G fan bases (outside of NU) don't give a crap about baseball.

[entropy]

Wiz... I disagree. People will show up. Hell 15k showed up for a weekend of crieghton and the shockers. Omaha likes events. They'll have more than 200 people.

[THE_WIZARD_]

They will have more than C-Bus no doubt...but if you think Omaha people will support games not involving NU...well...I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you...

[entropy]

More than in Columbus wiz... More than anywhere in the BIG. Game needs to be in Omaha.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Not arguing it should be in Omaha...but I'm just saying temprer your enthusiasm a little about what the attendance will be. Like I said certainly will be better than C-Bus or any other venue in B1GLand...but in games not involving NU the attendance won't be earth shattering either.

[entropy]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuaDZLTjnBo"]This is Nebraska Football - Game Day - YouTube[/ame]

[lineygoblue]

I hope to see a game there someday

[UMStan White]

Why?