A
BRAND-NEW HUSKER FAN
Last month, Mrs. Husker Dan and I became grandparents for the first
time. Of course, he's adorable and we're going to spoil him. One of
my duties is to make sure the little nipper is raised in a tender,
loving, Husker environment. When I held my grandson for the first
time, I sang several choruses of "There Is No Place Like Nebraska"
to him. When I was done, he looked up at me and smiled. Mrs. Husker
Dan, thinking I was making too much of the deal, cautioned, "He's
just glad you're finished."
HUSKER DAN'S ARMY
The following is a letter from a Husker soldier who is serving in
Iraq. Earlier this year, Spc. James McGill had sent me a letter that
I forwarded to one of the key members of Husker Dan's Army. Here is
his response.
Dear Husker Dan:
My Name is SPC James McGill and I am part of Bco 563rd ASB stationed
in Balad Iraq.
I got to see hi-lights of the Alamo Bowl game a week and a half ago
after it was played. I was impressed. I really think the team is coming
along. I received some packages from a Husker fan in PA. His name
is Bill Moran I thought that was very nice of you to forward my address
to him. He seems very nice. I liked your insight on the season.
I also am wondering what positions do you think we need to fill in
the offseason. Besides the O-line I was thinking DB's and DE/DT it
is good that Carriker is staying. What else do you see the team lacking?
I will be here when next season starts. I need to go thanks.
Spc James A. McGill
[email protected]
Bco 563rd ASB
159th AVN
APO, AE 09391
Dear James: First of all, thanks for your service to your country.
Regarding what the new recruiting class is like, please see my section
on the Class of 2006.
Dear Husker Dan:
I am stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and get the bulk of
my Husker news from Huskerpedia. Christmas came early for me when
Tom Osborne flew through Ramstein and I was lucky enough to have lunch
with him. He was kind enough to sign a football for me and it proudly
sits in my office. Keep up the good work and the faith.
Go Big Red!
Kevin Benda
M MSgt 435 MUNS/LGWKB
Dear Kevin: Thanks for the letter and the photo of you and Coach Osborne.
ALAMO ANNOUNCERS
Is there a better college football TV broadcasting team than Kirk
Herbstriet and Mike Turico? Coach C should send Kirk a letter thanking
him for the great endorsement of the Husker football program. You
just can't buy that kind of pub.
THE CLASS OF 2006
Twelve hundred of my closest friends and I attended the Husker Recruiting
Banquet held in earlier this month. All the coaches were there, including
the Big Kahuna himself, Nebraska head football coach Bill Callahan.
As he was introduced, he received a big ovation. When the applause
died down, he announced, "Since I've been here at Nebraska, I've
learned how to spell the word 'patience'". After a brief pause,
he deadpanned, "W-I-N!"
Bingo, more cheers.
I've never seen Coach C so relaxed and happy. Maybe he was just relieved
that the monkey, at least for now, has been taken off his back. Welcome
to Nebraska, Coach. May you have many, many more years of smiling
with the Huskers.
CLASS ACT
Do not, I repeat, do not listen to those who think this year's crop
of recruits is not a good one. Just because the Husker commit QB Josh
Freeman bolted at the last minute for K-State and the Huskers weren't
able to sign another QB, the coaching staff was able to fill the positions
critical to the Huskers taking the next step in the Big 12. In fact,
I wouldn't be surprised if this class turns out to be better than
last year's.
They signed huge, aggressive offensive linemen; tall, speedy receivers;
defensive linemen and some DBs. The coaches kept saying that this
bunch of recruits is "nasty' and the videos shown of the players
seemed to back up what they were saying.
Recruits who stood out were OL Cruz Barrett, OL D.J. Jones, WR Maurice
Purify, DB Ricky Thenarse, OL Victory Haines and WR Menelik Holt.
Others who drew gasps from the audience were DT Seth Jensen (the kid
loves to hit!), OL Ricky Henry, DT Brandon "The Beast" Johnson
and Butler JC running back Kenny Wilson.
Husker fans are going to love this class. I can't wait for the season
to begin!
HUSKER 2005 RECAP TOP 25
1.) The most resilient Husker player: #13 Zac Taylor. Every time he
got knocked down (and that happened too often), he scraped himself
off the turf and focused on the next play. He never complained to
the officials, he just went on with the game. Taylor's poise, character,
courage, guts and determination stood for what the Huskers were all
about this year.
2.) The two players who will be the hardest to replace: RB Porkchop
and PK Sam "You Send Me" Koch.
3.) Best game: Michigan
4.) Second best game: Colorado
5.) Ugliest game: Pittsburgh (Second: K-State)
6.) Best tackle: QB Harrison Beck's tackle of the defender who intercepted
Beck's pass late in the K-State game. Had he not made the tackle,
the Huskers likely would have lost the game.
7.) Worst Husker fumble: LeKevin Smith's-late in the T-Tech game...sigh
8.) Dumbest play by a Husker opponent: Pitt Panther's deep snapper
Mike McGlynn, hitting the holder on the head on a late game field
goal attempt.
9.) Second worst fumble by a Husker opponent: Nick Leader's fumble
of a "sure" interception of a Zac Taylor pass in OT. Had
Nick held on, the Huskers would have had another loss.
10.) Wackiest play of the season: See #8. (Second wackiest Husker
play of the season: Zac Taylor's attempted pass in the K-State game.
Deep in his own territory, the ball slipped out of his hand, but he
was able to grab the fumble and run for a Husker first down.)
11.) Most improved phase of the Huskers: Special teams. The Huskers
went from worst to first in the Big 12.
12.) Most exciting Husker football season: 2005. I can't remember
a more exciting season, one in which almost every game for the Huskers
was a toss-up.
13.) Best coaching performance by the staff: Tie-CU and Michigan.
14.) Best coaching performance by a Husker assistant: Three-way tie.
Wags' offensive line in the last three games. Bill Busch's special
teams play in the Alamo Bowl. He lost 7 starters on special teams
in that game, but the Huskers kept coming after the Wolverines. DC
coach Kevin Cosgrove. He lost three great linebackers, Stew Bradley,
Steve Octavien and Bo Ruud but his kids kept fighting.
15.) Biggest non-issue: Gesture-gate.
16.) Biggest surprise: WR Nate Swift, LB Cory McKeon, OL Matt Slauson,
OL Chris Patrick and a Top 25 finish for the Huskers.
17.) Costliest Husker incomplete pass: Taylor to a wide-open Swift
late in the Sooner game.
18.) Best defensive stand: Tie: The third quarter of the Oklahoma
game in which the Sooners registered 1 first down and 11 total yards
of offense. The fourth quarter of the Alamo Bowl game in which the
Huskers, down by 11, were able to hold the Weasels scoreless late
in the game and come back to win the game.
19.) Worst defensive performance: Tie: Missouri game, 2nd half. Kansas
game, 4th quarter.
20.) Best Husker home win: Tie: K-State (ugly game, but the Huskers
became bowl eligible). The double OT win over the Cyclones.
21.) Worst Husker home loss: T-Tech.
22.) Worst loss of the season: Kansas
23.) Best win: Michigan.
24.) Most valuable '05 Husker recruit: QB Zac Taylor
25.) Second most valuable '05 Husker recruit: Three-way tie: PK Jordan
Congdon, S Zack Bowman, OL Matt Slauson.
MORE ON THE ALAMO BOWL
Gary McGirr with the Northeast Kansans For Nebraska in Topeka, Kansas
filed a report from the Alamo Bowl. He did a great job of interviewing
Husker fans before the game, taking pictures of the pre-game atmosphere.
The following are some highlights of his journalistic efforts:
We left about 6:15 – 6:30 to walk to the Alamo Dome. We were
in section 310, so we had to walk up about three flights of stairs.
We were in row 12 of the upper deck. We were on the 20 yard line behind
the Husker bench. About 60% of the north end zone was all red. 95%
of the Husker side of the field (East) was red. It was reported that
we had approximately 22,000 fans at the game.
It was rumored that Michigan had contacted the Alamo bowl about not
being able to sell their allotment of tickets (10,800). It was also
said that the Alamo Bowl folks contacted an agency in Nebraska to
sell the additional tickets that Michigan could not sell.
I don’t know if you noticed this during the game, but here is
another interesting contrast to the number of Husker versus Michigan
fans in attendance.
On New Year's day my family and I watched a tape of the game Alamo
bowl. It seemed like every time they showed the Michigan fans, they
zoomed in to show about 30 or 40 fans in the shot. There was never
any long distance shots of the Michigan crowd. My theory is that is
because there wasn’t one. The Michigan band was in the south
end zone and the main grouping of their fans was next to them. There
might have been 2000 tops in that area.
The cameras would pull back and show the Husker crowds around the
stadium, mostly the north end. You could see a lot of Red.
It was really fun talking to all these people about Husker and Michigan
football. All the people I talked to were very nice and receptive.
I walked up to folks and said "I am interviewing Husker and MU
fans for Husker Dan, a sports writer for HuskerPedia™, a Husker
information web site. Dan is from Omaha and could not attend the game
so he asked me to interview some folks and write some game day events
while we were in San Antonio."
My family and I were absolutely amazed how receptive people were to
being interviewed. This was a lot of fun. We thoroughly enjoyed the
day and talking to the fans. The only interview I missed was talking
to a family divided (i.e. Husker Husband and an MU wife or visa versa).
Dear Gary: Thanks for all your great work!
FROM THE EMAIL BAG
HUSKER COLLECTOR
Dear Husker Dan:
I've been collecting Husker memorabilia for many years. I would like
to buy some Husker record albums that are out of print. Do you know
where I might find such a thing?
David S.
Baltimore, MD
Dear David: Being the expert that I am, go to the following
site: http://cyrcomusic.com/;
click on "Non-Music Albums". The owner, Jeff, a rabid Husker
fan, has over 200,000 records for sale. And no, they're not all Husker
albums. Good luck.
THE HUSKER ELVISES
Dear Husker Dan:
We have just launched our new web site for the Husker Elvises. It
is:
http://www.huskerelvis.net/
My brothers and I are trying to get some sponsors to help pay for
our road trip to Southern California this fall. We would be available
to sing, to sign copies of our Husker Elvises posters and to make
personal appearances while we are in the LA area. Why don't you join
us as well?
Larry Brew
Ft. Collins, CO
Dear Larry: First of all, congratulations on the new web site. Your
many fans will love keeping up with all the latest on The Husker Elvises.
Sponsors, are you listening? You may contact me ([email protected]),
or the Husker Elvises (www.huskerelvis.net).
Thanks for writing. BTW, I'd love to join you!
CUTEST HUSKER FAN EVER!!!
Dear Husker Dan:
I saw some pics in your last column of some little husker fans, so
I had to send my pride and joy to you as well. Her name is Isabella.
I hope it makes it into one of your columns.
Thanks
Brad H.
Ft. Collins, CO
PAVELKA! PAVELKA! PAVELKA!
Dear Husker Dan:
I just wanted to comment about your interview with Kent Pavelka earlier
this month. Being a KP fan from his years as the football voice, I
found it timely & informative. Because of the interview I was
able to tune in & hear his call of the ISU basketball game this
past Wednesday, and I believe he's a sharp as ever, miles ahead of
most play-by-play guys on the radio today (being in Denver, I hear
quite a few).
I'm curious if there is any effort among Kent fans to swing the powers-that-be's
attention to getting him back in NU's corner... do you have any info
on that? Do you know of any email address I could write to, Pinnacle
perhaps? Just wondering...
I still have tapes of Kent's call of some of the most classic Husker
games. Having them brings back great memories, and really underlines
the difference of his style of call, which, to me, is detailed, colorful,
informative & purely Husker. Thanks again for the interview, and
any feedback would be greatly appreciated! GBR!
Ken
Loveland, CO
Dear Ken: There used to be a web site devoted to trying to bring Pavelka
back to do the PBP for Husker games, but I don't know if it's still
running. If anyone knows of a phone number, address or web site for
this purpose, let me know and I'll post it in this column.
Dear Husker Dan:
I really enjoyed your interview with Kent Pavelka. I have known him
for a few years and really appreciate what he brings to the table.
As a broadcaster, he is way above anybody in this area. To this day
I don't think that anybody matches his clarity in doing play by play
for NU football or basketball. And, while he is passionate about what
he does and how he supports NU, you do not ever get the impression
that it's all about him. He doesn't have to do a "core dump"
on every little statistic that he ever read or memorized to be effective
and believable. I know I miss him in the booth - it hasn't been close
to the same since he and Gary left the NU stadium - and many, many
people I run into say the same. I hope we get to hear more of him
and about him as time goes on. Thanks for keeping everybody in touch
with one of the great class broadcasters of our era.
Mike S.
Omaha, NE
Dear Husker Dan:
Thanks for doing such a great job on the Kent Pavelka interview. You
had some great questions and I found out some interesting stuff about
Kent I never knew. Very informative and interesting to read. I especially
liked the part about how Callahan mentioned who Kent was and what
he meant to NU. It was also very interesting to find out that Kent's
Grandmother was the inspiration for Willa Cather's book. My Step-Dad
is an Uncle to Kent's wife and I never even knew that. I, unfortunately,
have never met Kent in person--just talked thru some emails and met
his wife once. Kent and his wife are very nice people. I love all
the work you and everybody else does at Huskerpedia. Keep it up!
Paul
Dear Husker Dan:
Thanks for a wonderful interview with my favorite pbp announcer of
all time. Kent brought football games to my home when I was growing
up with clarity, color and that AWESOME BIASED (which I very much
enjoyed) enthusiasm that no hd tv can touch. Thanks Husker Dan, and
thank you, Mr. Pavelka, for creating some of my fondest childhood
memories. TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN!
Bryan B.
Princeton, NJ (I grew up in rural Oak Nebraska. Thanks! GBR!)
Dear Husker Dan:
The aura within the Husker Nation just has not been the same since
Pavelka left the radio broadcast. Rose and the crew are ho-hum, frankly.
Pavelka is sorely missed. To this Husker fan since '62, Kent was getting
close to the class of Bremser. Nice interview.
Buck in 'Zona
Dear Husker Dan:
Thanks so much. We thought Pavelka was a great addition to the Husker
family, and have sorely missed his announcing over the last several
years. My 16 year old and I still use the phrase "Touchdown!
Touchdown! Touchdown!" when the Huskers score. It's indelibly
etched in our brains. To us, Kent epitomized Husker football in the
80's and 90's. Thanks again for the update on Kent, and keep up the
good work.
Rob P.
South Bend, Indiana
BYE-BYE
Unless something drastic happens, this will be my last column for
the season. I'll probably do a piece on the Spring Game, but this
will be it until August. It's always an honor and a pleasure to write
for the many fans of Huskerpedia™. If
you'd like to write Husker Dan, you can email him
here. For past Husker Dan columns click
here.