Eric the Red

December 24, 2003 Nebraska commitment at this time? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Duane 'Roz' Rossiter Huskers Illustrated Rivals.com The word has been that the recruits that visited Nebraska during the December 12 weekend, were told to hold off on making a verbal commitment to NU. The reason was the coaching situation was in doubt. That might not be the exact story, but it doesn’t matter, as one top-flite recruit has made up his mind for Nebraska - no matter what happens. See here for this story and details. “I’m just getting over this cold,” running back Delbert Ferguson said when asked how he was doing. “Not much else really.” Then he came out with what are his intentions for the future. “I’m probably gonna go to Nebraska next month,” the 6-foot-1, 220-pound running back said. “It will probably be when they go back to school on the 12th.” The assumption has been that without interim coach being named as the new head coach, he would not be committing. He was asked that question and he gave us the following answer. “Hopefully it will be Bo Pelini,” he said. And if not and what about waiting for a new coach? “They did (tell me to wait), but I think I might be there anyway. I know some of the coaches will be there. I know coach Gill will be there.” “I would be okay on whoever they hire. I liked it a lot there.” When asked when he would be telling the Nebraska coaches, he said, “They are at the bowl now. I will be talking to somebody next week. I‘m pretty much set.” We asked him why he likes Nebraska and what position he was recruited to play at Nebraska - Is it as a fullback, as previously reported? “I like the opportunity to play early. No, they are recruiting me to play running back.” Delbert Ferguson is coming off a serious injury, but he is confident on the word from the doctors. “They (doctors) said next month, January. I should be normal. I should be doing everything by the end of January. I should play in the spring game. I’m ready…been ready.” Two of his teammates are scheduled to visit Nebraska next month - Brandon Braxton and Daryll Clark. “I know they are both visiting Nebraska in January. Daryll - I heard it is between Nebraska and Penn State. I’ll be at Nebraska when they visit and will talk to them then. I’ll be seeing them tonight too.”

December 28, 2003 All-America stars shine on Rivals100.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rivals100.com staff Chris Leak was one of the many players that announced at the U.S. Army All-American game last year. Organizers expect around 20 players to announce their college decisions during the game. Things are always bigger and better in Texas, so it’s no surprise that the nation’s top collection of talent will be on hand in San Antonio this week for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The game, slated for noon cst on Saturday, January 3, at the Alamodome features more than 75 of the nation’s top prospects, and Rivals100.com is an exclusive media partner with the All-America game. This means Rivals100.com is the place for inside behind the scenes access you won’t find anywhere else. Rivals100.com will have three staff writers on site to cover the event, including former Texas A&M assistant coach Alan Weddell. Before joining the Texas A&M staff in 1998 and retiring this past football season, Weddell led La Marque, Texas, to three consecutive Class 4A state championships (1995-97) and five straight state title games. As a collegiate player, Weddell was an offensive lineman on Darrell Royal's 1970 national champion Texas Longhorn football team. Weddell will give Rivals100.com readers a true scout’s view of the nation’s top players through analysis from practices, film review and the actual game itself. But that’s just one part of Rivals100.com’s coverage. Rivals100.com editor Jeremy Crabtree will host exclusive daily recruiting chats with selected top prospects. Be sure to stay glued to the Rivals100.com message board for updates on special guests and chat times. You can also expect unrivaled coverage of the events leading up to the game, including coverage of the media day on Tuesday, the U.S. Army All-America combine for the nation’s top juniors, the Playstation 2 and 989 Sports Challenge and the skills competition on Friday. Other special features will include a look back at U.S. Army All-America game alumni, special audible features from the players themselves and many other exclusive stories.

same here eric "the red" KSU still sucks

This had to happen sooner or later, recruiting commitments are turning soft http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg...38&u_sid=955158 eric "ther red"

This guy really is a lot of fun to watch. I really like everything about him. Even when he talks at press conferences, he's sincere in his remarks, he's cares a great deal about his teammates and wants to make Nebraskans proud. Thank you Super D Williams key cog in Blackshirts' success BYSTEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star Nebraska's Demorrio Williams has established himself as an explosive outside linebacker. The Texas native, however, needs work on the art of diplomacy. Asked about ending his college career in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Williams said, "I hate that we're going there because I don't like getting a lot of tickets for people. I rather we ended up in San Diego. But we're going to Texas, so that's where I have to play." Kansas State's upset of Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game ruined Nebraska's chances of playing in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. So now the 9-3 and No. 22-ranked Huskers prepare to play Michigan State in the Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl. The 8-4 Spartans feature a pass-oriented attack led by strong-armed pocket passer Jeff Smoker. "It's all going to start up front with pressure," said Williams, of Beckville, Texas, who leads Nebraska with nine sacks and 13 quarterback hurries. "We can't give him all day to sit back and look at all the options he has to throw the ball to. "We're going to have to dominate up front so he has to run, and Idon't think he wants to run. We want to put pressure on him and make him turn the ball over." The 6-foot-3, 224-pound Smoker this season has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 3,239 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Michigan State has averaged 279.5 passing yards to lead the Big Ten and rank 19th nationally. Smoker, however, rushed for minus 90 yards, as the Spartans surrendered 27 sacks. A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Williams is a key cog in a Nebraska defense that ranks second nationally in takeaways with 44 while ranking among the top 15 nationally in four of five major statistical categories. Lining up as a defensive end in passing situations, Williams also led the team in tackles for loss and fumble recoveries. "He's a playmaker," said Bo Pelini, Nebraska's defensive coordinator and interim head coach. "We try to use him in different ways and utilize his talents in as many ways as we possibly can. We try to put him in situations where he can make plays for us. I give him a lot of credit. He's come a long way in the last 11 months." Pelini receives much of the credit for the Huskers' defensive resurgence. Williams said Pelini's impact began the first time the coach addressed his defenders. "He said, `You guys have never played hard, you don't even know what it means,'" Williams recalled. "I can remember one time in the spring. We just went three plays (in practice), and I felt like they were the hardest three plays I've ever played in my life. "He's a great teacher, too, and he's got a great staff around him." In recent days, Williams has been staying after practice and doing defensive back footwork with senior cornerback Pat Ricketts. "It's just learning a little something extra, you know," Williams said. "Pat's pretty smooth, so I thought he could teach me a couple of things ... The best way to be is to be prepared for anything that could happen." Pelini said the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Williams is athletic enough to play safety in the NFL. However, Pelini said, Williams' position will depend on the system of the team that drafts him. "From my experience in the NFL, when you're looking at tape, sometimes you just throw out size and numbers and just say, `He's a good football player and we have to get him on our football team,'" said Pelini, who spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant. Meantime, for the second straight season, Williams and his teammates prepare for a bowl game amid major change on the Nebraska coaching staff. Last season, three defensive assistants were fired before the Independence Bowl. Three weeks ago, Husker athletic director Steve Pederson fired head coach Frank Solich. "It's been hard, but the key thing my coach always says is a leader is the type of guy who steps up when times get hard," Williams said. "But I don't really feel like I have to do a lot, because a lot of guys on this team are more mature than they were last year. They can handle these situations. "It'll be my last time playing with these guys, and I've really enjoyed playing with them. I just want to leave on top. Ijust want to go down there and prove to people this is a good team. We've had some ups and downs, but we still have the talent to go down there and win this game." Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.

Very Well put JRS. I also think he'll get a few shots in the NFL. I don't if he's draft worthy, but he'll certainly get some invites to camps. 220 pounds, 6'2" and can run...yeah he'll catch on with someone. Eric "the red"

Published Friday December 19, 2003 Husker freshman pitcher out for year with injury BY MITCH SHERMAN WORLD-HERALD BUREAU RELATED LINK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- » NU Baseball LINCOLN - A prize pitching recruit for Nebraska will miss the baseball season with a shoulder injury. Freshman Tony Watson of Grimes, Iowa, needs surgery to repair a slight cartilage tear, NU Coach Mike Anderson said. Watson will undergo the operation soon and need eight to nine months of rehabilitation. The 6-foot-4 left-hander threw three seven-inning no-hitters last summer while pitching for Dallas Center-Grimes High School. He finished 9-0 as a senior with an ERA of 0.11 and an average of more than two strikeouts per inning. It was during that time, though, when Watson sustained the injury, Anderson said. He was drafted in the 23rd round by the Florida Marlins but turned down a six-figure contract offer to attend NU. The Huskers held him out of fall practice because of concerns about his arm. The extent of the injury was discovered recently. "He's a huge loss as far as his potential," Anderson said. "But that's all it's been is potential, because we haven't been able to rely on him yet."

This was certainly a pleasant surprise. Although some of it is Pelini's system. Bullocks came away with 10 picks this year. I remember two that he dropped or missed. http://www.journalstar.com/corn.php?story_id=107944 Eric "the REd"

His time here, basically the last two years, he has been through hell. I really believe he wants nothing more than to get the hell out of Nebraska, literally. Back in Jersey, just his old buddies will know him and nobody will care that he played ball at NU. He probably can't wait. I bet, unfortunently, it will take him at least 10 - 20 years to return and make appearances. I always thought he tried his best. Journal Star makes observations on his career. http://www.journalstar.com/corn.php?story_id=107639 Eric "the red"

Gunn Narrows List to Two -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rick Shaw Huskers Illustrated A visit to Ames, Iowa last weekend may end up being the final recruiting visit for Brandon Gunn. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back out of Central High in Omaha, Nebraska said that Iowa State is one of just two teams that he is still considering. "I’ve narrowed my choices down to Iowa State and Kansas State," Gunn said. "I have another visit planned to UCLA in January but I’m not sure if I’ll take it or not. I wouldn’t mind getting my decision made before Christmas." Gunn previously visited Kansas State in mid-October and also took an official visit to Nebraska last month. Are the Cornhuskers still in the running for his signature? "I’ve pretty much eliminated Nebraska," Gunn said. "I really don’t like the fact that they don’t know who their coach is going to be. I decided not to go there. You can’t go to every school that offers you and they are just a school I decided to take off my list." Gunn admits that one contributing reason to eliminating the home-state Huskers is the fact that the Nebraska coaches haven’t shown much interest in him during recent weeks. "The whole time I’ve been constantly hearing from Kansas State and Iowa State and I just haven’t heard as much from Nebraska," Gunn said. "I haven’t been contacted by the coaches there since before Coach Solich was fired. Obviously, it’s important to go somewhere that you feel wanted." According to Gunn, the Cyclone staff did a great job last weekend in making the blue-chipper from Omaha feel needed in Ames. "It was a good visit," Gunn said. "It was nice. I didn’t know too much about Iowa State going in. I really liked their facilities and how close their players are to each other. I also liked the strength coach their. I liked how he pushes the players and how he described his ideas around training." "Ames was a pretty nice town. It’s not that big...but I liked it. It’s a nice environment." In comparing his thoughts about Iowa State to Kansas State, Gunn said there were several similarities between the two programs. "Kansas State was very much the same," Gunn said. "I liked Kansas State a lot but when I was there, their weight room was under construction so I didn’t get to see too much of that. Kansas State likes their football team...as does Iowa State. I was more shocked about Iowa State...because like I said...I didn’t know too much about them going in." Upon being interviewed after his Nebraska visit in November, Gunn had commented that he enjoyed his visit to Lincoln more than his trip to Kansas State. What were his thoughts about his Nebraska visit? "It was real nice," Gunn said. "I didn’t see too much different as I’d been down there a lot before. Right now they are going through some things with the coaching deal but they’ll always have a good program regardless." When asked to compare the three Big Twelve North schools on various criteria, Gunn had the following to say: Best Facilities - "I’d say Iowa State. Nebraska’s facilities will be better once they have their changes made...that will be real impressive. But I really liked some things that Iowa State had in their weight room." Environment and fan support - "They are all about the same. They are all wild about their football at all three places." Academic Support - "Kansas State has strong academic support as does Iowa State. You are going to get a good education, though, wherever you go." Player Unity - "I thought at all the schools that the players were together like a family. I felt comfortable at all of them." Coaches - "I like Coach McCarney for Iowa State. I really like Coach Snyder too. I really liked Coach Solich at Nebraska as well...and I disagreed with what happened to him. In talking with the Nebraska players, I know that they respect and like Coach Pelini a lot." Gunn is currently playing for the number two basketball team in the state of Nebraska. The Omaha Central Eagles have also been acknowledged as one of the top 35 teams in the country by one National publication. "We’re pretty good," Gunn said. "We should be number one...but that’s all right. That will all take care of itself."

NO CHANGE IN PLANS FOR MCCLELLAN, NEBRASKA By Ed Owens - The Sun Staff GROTON - Despite the coaching turmoil surrounding the University of Nebraska's football team, Fitch High senior Maurice McClellan's plans have not changed. McClellan, who played his first three years in Stonington, transferred to Fitch at the beginning of the current season. McClellan verbally committed to Nebraska in June, when Frank Solich was Nebraska's head coach. But following a 9-3 season that ended with the Huskers ranked No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today poll, Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson fired Solich on Nov. 30. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini was named interim head coach. Major coaching changes are grounds for concern for any player, especially for an incoming freshman. But McClellan stands by Nebraska's decision to remove Solich. "I was shocked when I found out about coach Solich getting fired," McClellan said. "I haven't met (Pelini) and I haven't talked to him yet so I don't know exactly what's going on. Coach Jimmy Williams (linebacker coach) told me the situation though and I don't think they would have made the move if it wasn't a good move." McClellan is coming off an injury plagued season at Fitch. He missed the first six games of the season after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee that he sustained during summer practices. "My knee is feeling pretty strong right now," McClellan said. "I worried when I came back but I'm fine now. I am not worried about it. I still have my scholarship and I'm going to visit there next month. Coach Williams came to my house two weeks ago and they want me to go out there in June after I graduate. He said that if I go out there sooner then I will learn plays faster than the other freshmen." McClellan, a running back and defensive back in high school, is projected as an outside linebacker by Nebraska coaches. Throughout the uncertainty of the Huskers coaching situation, the only thing that has changed for McClellan is his arrival date. "Nothing has changed (McClellan's) situation at Nebraska," Fitch coach Jim Buonocore said. "The scholarship offer still stands. After the firing of Solich, coach Williams flew in to Connecticut and paid a visit to Maurice and his family at home and to let him know that (McClellan) is still the man and that the offer still stood. Things are on the up and up. Maurice is going to sign with Nebraska on Feb. 3. Everything is still a go."

http://www.dinocostashow.com/Stories/Feature1.html As I said I am only reporting whats out there. If anything its entertainment. But he seems pretty confident. Eric "the red"

BetCBSports.com Posts Odds on the Next Nebraska Head Coach 5 December 2003 PRESS RELEASE SOURCE: Casablanca Sports Zapote, Costa Rica -- Shockwaves were felt throughout the college football world last week when Nebraska Athletic Director, Steve Pederson, fired Head Coach, Frank Solich. Although it was speculated earlier that Solich's job was in jeopardy, many people still do not believe that the firing was justified, especially based on the job that Solich has done the last few years. Solich coached Nebraska to a 58-19 record over the past six seasons, but fell way short of a chance to play in the Sugar Bowl this year, or even the Big 12 Championship. Pederson was quoted as saying, "I refuse to let this program gravitate to a level of mediocrity. We will not surrender the Big 12 Conference to Texas or Oklahoma." And so, the search for a new Nebraska Head Coach has begun, and speculation has arisen in the Cornhusker community, as well as throughout the college football community, as to who will be named. "We have received numerous requests by players to post odds on the outcome of the Nebraska Head Coach search," says BetCBSports CEO, Dave Johnson. "Many diehard college football fans were shocked by the firing last week. The disbelief adds much anticipation and speculation as to who will be named to take over the prestigious Head Coach spot. Often, the results of such an appointment prove to be extremely surprising. Already, we have seen a lot of attention on Steve Spurrier taking over at +5000. Many players feel that risking $100 to win $5000 on Spurrier, particularly after his recent downfall, is an appealing wager." BetCBSports linesmen have released the following odds as to who will be named to the Head Coach position: Turner Gill(Nebraska Associate Head Coach) +200 Bo Pelini (Nebraska Defensive Coordinator) +200 Walt Harris (Pittsburgh) +300 Joe Glenn (Wyoming) +400 Rich Rodriguez (West Virginia) +500 Urban Meyer (Utah) +500 Kirk Ferentz (Iowa) +700 Les Miles (Oklahoma State) +600 Jeff Tedford (California) +600 Mike Bellotti (Oregon) +800 Monte Kiffen (Defensive Coordinator Buccaneers) +1500 Steve Spurrier (Redskins) +5000 Jimmie Johnson (Fox Sports Studio Analyst) +8000 Rick Neuheisel (Former Washington Coach) +10000 Mike Price (Former Alabama Coach) +15000 Field (Any other Coaches not Listed Above) +200 Explanation of the odds: A $100 wager on Anquan Boldin would payback $100, if the player wins the award. Comparatively, a winning $100 wager on Nick Barnett would payback $600.

College Football - 60-3: The Greatest Team Ever By M. Edward Guest Thursday, September 18th, 2003 Print Recommend Who was the greatest college football team of all-time? I have been asked this many times and given the matter a fair amount of thought, and recognized that, depending on your criteria, numerous teams can fit the bill. I don't think the choice is nearly as important as the argument surrounding it. That having been said, I now offer my argument for the 1993-1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers, as the greatest college football team this nation has ever produced. 60-3. It has a nice ring to it, does it not? Sixty wins, mostly dominating, especially at Lincoln, and just three losses. Consider that entering Sun Devil Stadium in 1996, the Huskers had won an astonishing 37 of their past 38, and were coming off back-to-back national championships. In fact, the lowest AP poll finish for Nebraska during this magical run? Sixth, in 1996. In order, they finished 3, 1, 1, 6, and 2 in the AP poll -- going undefeated four times in the regular season, capping it off with a bowl triumph three times. In a five-year period, the Huskers averaged 42.7 points an outing, less impressive than the obscene numbers of the 1982-1983 Tom Osborne teams (84 in the Minneapolis one year), but Dr. Tom often called off the dogs early, so as not to embarrass (horribly) some of the nation's elite. As if that wasn't enough, the Blackshirts allowed just over two touchdowns a game -- including dominating performances in all five bowl games. Florida '95 was a superb team and they got only 24; they'd win the championship with 52 in the next year's Sugar Bowl. The 1993 Florida State Seminoles had the nation's highest-scoring offense, led by Heisman Trophy-winning QB Charlie Ward, managed a measly 18, escaping with a two-point victory. My greatest team of all-time lost precisely one conference game, and amassed an incredible 23-1 record on the road -- notwithstanding the debacle in Tempe (19-0 loss to Pac-10 champion Arizona State), to a team that came within minutes of running the table. This was the most intimidating college football team in recent memory -- they ran over you, whether you were adequately prepared or not. Postcards from the era... Over 200 yards rushing in a single quarter at the Orange Bowl (vs. '97 Tennessee), punctuating a 42-17 blowout over the SEC champion Volunteers and a 13-0 season. A 24-7 smashing of previously unbeaten (and eventual No. 3 in the polls) Colorado in Lincoln, without the services of legendary QB Tommie Frazier -- the pinnacle of the unbeaten 1994 campaign. Twice scoring 27 points in a single quarter, in '95 and '97, and yes, in both cases the Big Red had 63 at halftime. It was not all wine and roses, to be sure. A missed field-goal against FSU prevented the '93 team from winning the national championship; a desert ambush (shutout?) by ASU, and the clutch running of Priest Holmes (TX RB during the '96 Big 12 Championship) ... and that's it. One starting quarterback missed time with blood clots, another tragically perished in an accident. Lawrence Phillips had a chance to be one of the greatest collegiate running backs of all-time, but Ahman Green (among others) certainly picked up the slack. Sure, they never played the unbeaten, untied, Big 10 champions from 1994 -- the very team that won in Ann Arbor and decimated Ohio State. And speaking of Michigan, the Huskers did not play them in 1997 either, and indeed, needed a miraculous "kick save" to thwart upset-minded Missouri in Columbia. Yeah, their legacy is a bit tarnished by a two-loss season, but remember, if they would have prevailed over Texas, they likely would have been in New Orleans -- playing for an unprecedented third-straight championship. This is a team that won 95% of its games in a five-year span, something that not even Bobby Bowden's Seminoles or those great Miami teams could accomplish. There is an argument for the 1986-1992 'Canes (72-6, three AP championships, never lower than third), but the winning percentage still is not sufficient. Five years is continuous and is not constrained to a single class, e.g. 1968-1970 Ohio State Buckeyes; 1944-1946 U.S.M.A. Cadets, etc. Florida State finished in the Top-Five (AP) for an astounding 14 (1987-2000) consecutive seasons. Nice, but they don't top these Huskers. Of course, this was a Nebraska unit that was in the midst of 40-consecutive winning seasons, a 47-game home winning streak, and an .864 decade winning-percentage. Sure, Nebraska was great before (1970, 1971, 1982, 1983) and after (1999), but those teams, for myriad reasons, just don't match up with this era. I now turn to the crown jewel; the '39 Yankees of our time -- the '95 Huskers. It is because of the '95 juggernaut that the Huskers lay claim to the top spot. In 1993 and 1996, they were terrific, and in 1994 and 1997, they were unquestionably one of the two best teams in the nation. Then there is 1995. Tommie Frazier's senior season, a 33-3 QB by the way, commenced in shocking fashion. No, the Huskers had no problems in either Stillwater or East Lansing -- the shock was that no reputable publication picked Nebraska as No. 1. This is from a team that had finally beaten Miami in a crucial bowl game, finally won Coach Osborne a championship, and had their field general ready to go. This, I must admit, was the first time I realized that I might have something on the FSU-lovin' "experts." In fact, it took an FSU loss in Charlottesville to cement the Huskers as No. 1. Ah, but we still had the Mighty Gators. A former No. 1 team in 1994, Steve Spurrier's crew was in the process of capturing three-straight SEC championships, and after besting FSU in Gainesville -- many thought they could handle Nebraska. Oops. Nevertheless, Florida (not to mention Kansas and Kansas State) was a genuinely great team -- and very few people remember that. That might have something to do with a 62-24 (wasn't that close) pistol-whipping in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, Phillips had returned from his "suspension," but the star of the night was Frazier -- 199 rushing yards, including one of the most memorable runs in college football history. 1995 was just 1993-1997 to a higher degree. Average game? 52-14! Just shy of 400 rushing yards per game, and yes, it could have been higher. An NCAA record seven rushing yards per attempt, despite not having the three-headed monster available for the entire season. Excepting the game against Pacific (569 rushing yards), their opponents had a .626 winning percentage {1993-1997 -- counting the six major conferences opponents and Notre Dame -- it was a cumulative .601}. The '95 Huskers also had a "clutch" rating of .145 (for comparison the modern-era record is .175 by the '71 Huskers), which takes into account winning road and neutral-site games, with points increasing with the winning-percentage of the opponent -- and a special bonus for beating an otherwise undefeated team. A .425 over a five-year span is a modern-era record, besting even the 1986-1990 Hurricanes. 1993-1997 Nebraska never failed to appear in a conference championship game, and won four conference titles -- three of them in the old Big Eight. They vanquished Oklahoma five times, including a 69-7 demolishing (1997) at Memorial Stadium, a massacre well-remembered by Oklahoma's seniors in 2000 (when they won the national title, dropping Nebraska in Norman along the way). Three times, they defeated a team that otherwise did not lose, last coming with a 56-26 defeat of Kansas State in Lincoln (1997), a team that went on to win the Fiesta Bowl. Calvin Jones, Trev Alberts, Jared Tomich, Aaron Taylor, Zach Wiegert, Grant Wistrom, Tommie Frazier, Ahman Green, Michael Booker, and even Darin Erstad are some of the famous names of the period. I have omitted a plethora of all-conference players and even more starters; all of them can say that they contributed to the greatest team in college football history. 60-3. End of story.

I don't endorse a single thing, I just report them as I see and hear them. They are for you to talk about. This was a talk sports radio guy who was interviewed by 10/11 in Lincoln at length for a good 3 minutes on television. You do what you want with the info. eric "the red" Ps lets remember we have a football game in 10 days.

On tonights 10/11 news they had a special report from a sports radio personality in Jacksonville, Florida said he has three sources that all say Pederson has been in contact with Spurrier and they are working on a deal. They were going to break the story last week with two sources, but Dino Costa, of WNNR based out of Jacksonville, Florida said they weren't reliable enough. That is until his (Costa's) third source, his most reliable of all, confirmed the reports. He says Spurrier wants to get back in to the college ranks and is like a "fish out of water" in the Pros. Costa commented that Spurrier will be able to recruit the speed states (Florida, Texas and California) well, just as he had while with the Florida Gators. Eric "the red"

On tonights 10/11 news they had a special report from a sports radio personality in Jacksonville, Florida said he has three sources that all say Pederson has been in contact with Spurrier and they are working on a deal. They were going to break the story last week with two sources, but Dino Costa, of WNNR based out of Jacksonville, Florida said they weren't reliable enough. That is until his (Costa's) third source, his most reliable of all, confirmed the reports. He says Spurrier wants to get back in to the college ranks and is like a "fish out of water" in the Pros. Costa commented that Spurrier will be able to recruit the speed states (Florida, Texas and California) well, just as he had while with the Florida Gators. Eric "the red"

A "beard" is that what you call that thing?? eric "the red"

New email Hadn't heard of this guy yet... You guys see this one? Here's some more intel. check out the link for some background in addition to the comments below. MOA > > http://www.afca.com/lev3.cfm/772 > > > I heard a rumor that the new head coach is going to be Larry Kehres from > the > Div-III school Mount Union. Pedersen is just waiting for their season to > end > with the Div-III championship game this Saturday. > > This guy has all the credentials that Pedersen is looking for. Kehres has > won > 7 D-III National Championships in the last 10 years. His 18 year record at > the school is 175-7-1. > > You can read his bio below. > > > > Larry Kehres (Care-Us), who is in his 18th year at the helm of the Purple > Raider football fortunes in 2003, has built one of the most successful > programs > in all of college football. > > His teams have won 14 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships ('86, '90, > '92-'02) while posting 12 undefeated regular seasons ('86, '90, '92, '93, > '95-'03). > > Under Kehres, the Raiders have won seven Division III National > Championships > in the last 10 years ('93, '96, ''97, '98, '00, & '01, '02). > > Since 1990, the Raiders have made 14 playoff appearances while posting > college football's most wins and best winning percentage (175-7-1/.959). > During the > last 12 regular seasons, his teams have posted a phenomenal 119-1 overall > mark. > > For his efforts, Kehres (205-17-3/.917) at Mount Union) has been named the > AFCA Division III National Coach of the Year seven times ('93, '96, '97, > '98, > '00, '01, '02) - voted on by the American Football Coaches Association. > > According to Kehres, a successful football program is built on organization > > and consistency. > > "We have built a successful program, in part, because our coaching staff > has > remained intact and is committed to our system," he said. "We feel our > program > is well-organized. Our players know what is expected of them. They know > that > we believe in taking advantage of opportunities and not beating ourselves > with > mistakes. > > "Offensively, we like to attack the defense and make them cover the whole > field. Defensively, we want to create big plays. As for the kicking game, I > > believe in being aggressive and winning the field position battle. Being > consistent > in all three phases and being well-conditioned puts you in a position to > win > games in the fourth quarter." > > Kehres is aware of the fact that his program has reached a level of > excellence few teams can match. > > "We' re proud of what our teams have accomplished," he noted. It's a > compliment to all the coaches and players who have been part of our program > and have > contributed in the success at Mount Union. It's very difficult to reach the > > top, but even more difficult to maintain excellence." > > Kehres, a native of Diamond, Ohio, graduated from Southeast High School. He > > earned a business administration degree from Mount Union in 1971. > > He served as a graduate assistant coach at Bowling Green State University > in > 1971-72, earning a master's in health and physical education. In 1973, > Kehres > was head football coach at Johnstown Monroe High School. > > He returned to Mount Union the following year, spending the next 11 seasons > > as an assistant coach, serving mainly as the offensive coordinator before > taking over as head coach prior to the 1986 season. He also started and > coached the > Mount Union swim program from 1974-86. > > Kehres, currently an associate professor of physical education, was named > athletic director at the College in March of 1985. In 1991, Mount Union > became > the first institution in the Ohio Athletic Conference to win the men's and > women's All-Sports Trophies in the same year. The Raiders also won the OAC > men's > All-Sports Trophy in 2000-01. > > As head football coach at Mount Union, he has produced 129 First-Team > All-OAC > selections and 155 All-American mentions. His teams have also been > well-represented in the conference's individual award categories, with 21 > Mike Gregory > (best offensive back/lineman), eight Ed Sherman (best receiver), five Bill > Edwards (best linebacker), five Paul Hoernemann (best defensive lineman) > and four > Lee J. Tressel (best defensive back) winners. > > He and his wife, Linda, have three children, Vince, Faith and Jan. They > reside in Alliance. > > Mount Union Current Head Coaching Notes > > > Overall Record: 205-17-3/.917 > OAC Record: 148-7-3 > Home Record: 111-7-3 > Overall Road Record: 87-10-0 > OAC Home Record: 75-1-3 > OAC Road Record: 73-6-0 > Neutral Site: 7-0 > Playoff Record: 39-6

Can we start getting excited about this team?? I don't know. I mean it is basketball and they probably play in the second toughest league in America. If Nebraska finishes in the upper half of the conference...that would be huge. eric "the red"

After Coach SOlich got fired he dropped the COrnhuskers and added West Virginia. This is the recruiting game. Andre Brown: "The only visit that I am positive that I will take is NC State in January. I am thinking about taking visits to WVU and Miami, but I haven't decided for sure yet," he said. "I added West Virginia to my list because I've always been interested in them. Once Nebraska fired coach Solich, I dropped them and added WVU." Eric "The Red"

Things always sound good but you really have to wait on these things. Most of these kids are only making their first visits to any of these colleges. There are certainly positives to being the first college these kids visit as opposed to one in the middle. The last one will be the tough one to overcome. December 15, 2003 Gallon comments on his Nebraska visit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rick Shaw Huskers Illustrated Rodney Gallon had never before ventured into the Midwest part of the country, but he had heard many stories about the winter weather in the Plains. The 6-foot-0, 210-pound outside linebacker out of Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida found those stories to be a bit overblown after spending this past weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska. "I thought the weather was nice," Gallon said. "That was my first time seeing snow...which was pretty cool. It wasn't really that cold either. There were people making it seem like it was going to be like the North Pole. It was nothing like that. It was nice." Gallon said that he enjoyed everything about his first official visit of the recruiting process...not just the weather. "The visit went pretty good," Gallon said. "Nebraska is a great school. They had a good campus and the weight program was great. They showed me what they were going to do in rebuilding some of their facilities...I was very impressed. Their academics up there are great also. They really make sure that somebody's going to graduate." "I like that they (Nebraska) take a lot of pride in their defense. The call themselves the 'Blackshirts'. I watched them practice and their practices were very intense. Nebraska had the number one rated defense in the country for the first eight or nine weeks of the season this past year." Gallon, rated the eighth best outside linebacker recruit in the country (four-stars) by Rivals.Com, said that he really hit it off with the Nebraska players and coaches too. "The coaches are great," Gallon said. "They are all really friendly and showed us all a lot of love. The linebacker coach...Williams...is a great person, but a demanding coach at the same time. He played in the league for ten years or so. He knows what he's doing." "The players were great too. Brandon Teamer was my host and he was a great person to hang out with. He showed me a great time. I also met Demorrio Williams...Nebraska's weakside linebacker. We are both a lot alike...we have similar builds and physiques and we have similar playing styles. He's really funny...and I enjoyed walking around with him." Gallon was accompanied on his visit to Lincoln by his father and step mother...in addition to four of his Lincoln High teammates. What did the rest of the group think of their time in Nebraska? "My parents liked it," Gallon said. "They were real impressed with the academics and stuff. My teammates all enjoyed themselves too...just like me. We all had a lot of fun. We hung out with all of the Nebraska players and went out to dinner and all had a great time. We ate a lot." Was Gallon tempted to commit while on his visit to Nebraska? "No sir," Gallon said. "I'm being patient. I'm in no rush. It's my four years of college I have to consider." "I can't really tell you where Nebraska stands in relationship to everybody else, because I haven't taken my other visits yet. Once I take all of my visits, I'll know where I want to go...and I'll follow my heart." Will location or distance from home play a factor in Gallon's ultimate decision? "Nah, that doesn't matter," Gallon said. "I could live anywhere. That does't matter to me. I'll take all of my visits and evaluate it from there." Gallon said the city of Lincoln scored points with him over the weekend...especially when he witnessed the outstanding fan support of the Big Red faithful. "Lincoln is a great place," Gallon said. "The weather is nice and the city is not too big. It kind of reminded me of Tallahassee." "The people there (in Lincoln)....Oh man...They are crazy about their football. They don't have any pro football around, so Nebraska football is their team. Nebraska probably has the best fans in college football." When asked to rate his visit on a scale of "1" to "10", Gallon gave his visit to Nebraska a high ranking. "I'd give it an '8'," Gallon said. "The only negatives at all were that I didn't get much sleep while I was there (chuckle). They had us so busy with meetings with academic counselors and tours and stuff. I'm a bit worn out now. It was a great visit." Gallon was asked about the Nebraska coaching situation. He said that he is hopeful that current Nebraska interim head coach Bo Pelini is the man selected when all of the dust settles. "Coach Pelini would be a great head coach," Gallon said. "The way he bonds with his team...he's a great person. He's real true." "The players all want him to be the coach, but we all just have to wait. It could take another week or two before anything is finalized." Gallon said he'll now turn his focus to the Florida/California All-Star game which is scheduled to be played on the West Coast soon after Christmas. He then plans to take four more official visits in the month of January before settling on a decision. "I plan to visit Tennessee, Auburn, Miami, and Florida State," Gallon said. "I have the visits scheduled...I just can't remember when they all are." Gallon said he'll consider a number of different factors in deciding on a school. "I'll look hard at academics," Gallon said. "I'm not going to be playing football forever. I'll also look at atmosphere and how everybody gets along...the players and the coaches." "The Nebraska coaches and players all worked together well. They had real good unity. The really bond and do it as a team. A lot of teams don't do that." One other plus for Nebraska was the apparent opportunity for Gallon to come into the program and see early playing time at outside linebacker. "Their weakside linebackers are seniors and are all going to be gone...even the backups," Gallon said. "It's wide open. I'd like to play early and it appears that I'd have the opportunity to do that there. At the same time though, if need be, I'll redshirt. I'm not scared of competition." Did any of Gallon's teammates commit while in Lincoln? "I don't know," Gallon said. "I don't think so...but I haven't talked to them about it since we left."

Good article from Omaha World Herald...Many of these recruits want Pelini as the coach. We gotta name him quickly http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg...38&u_sid=947360 Eric "the Red"

December 14, 2003 Nebraska visitor gets the word! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bob Dean Huskers Illustrated Rivals.com Huskers Illustrated caught up with Delbert Ferguson as he was in his hotel room in Lincoln packing to catch a 1:30 flight back to Youngstown from his weekend visit. We asked Delbert how his visit went and here's what he had to say... "It was great! They have everything I'm looking for right here. Josh and Dan Bullocks were my hosts and they were really cool. Josh made All-American this year as a sophomore and I think he's going to be playing on Sundays. I also met a lot of other players and got along well with all of them. The players, the stadium, the coaches...I liked it all. Plus, this would be the best place for me, because they lack running backs and they have the perfect medical situation to help me fully recover from my injury." We then asked Delbert that with such a positive impression are we to assume that he committed? "No, I probably would have, but the coaches asked the recruits not to commit even if we wanted to until a new coach is named which they said would probably be sometime next week. I will tell you that if they name Bo Pelini head coach on Monday, that I'll be calling them that afternoon to accept and you'll see me in Lincoln come January. He's my type of coach, plus he's from Youngstown and I think he'll look out for anyone from that area." We also asked Ferguson which position the coaches had him slated for as there has been talk of him being recruited as a fullback and he told us... "They're talking to me about running back, not fullback. They told us they're going to be changing to a more pro-style offense and that it would be perfect for my skills and talents." Now that he's completed his visit and he's headed home, does he plan on making contact with fellow Youngstown players Daryll Clark and Brandon Braxton to let them know how well he liked Lincoln, the coaches and the program? "Oh yeah, I'm going to call them both right away and tell them that it would be the perfect situation for them, especially if Bo Pelini is named head coach. Daryll has eliminated West Virginia and has it down now to Penn State and Nebraska and he's supposed to visit January 12th I think. My man BB likes the Huskers, too and I think he's either scheduled in here the same date as Daryll or a week later, but I will be telling them both how much I liked it and that they should both commit." Well, there you have it! It sure appears that Delbert Ferguson wants to be a Husker, now it just comes down to getting a coach named and formalizing his commitment. Eric "the Red"

This is going to be hust enough to make you vomit. God damn Pederson needs to hire Pelini as soon as possible and get people hired so this sh#t can end all ready. How the hell is this going to look with all those recruits around there reading the paper today...f'ing' A A pissed off Eric "the red" Coaching turmoil goes back to July BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson fired head football coach Frank Solich on Nov. 29 because Pederson thought the program wasn't headed in the right direction. As it turns out, Pederson and Solich were on different paths long before that, at least when it came to negotiating deals for NU's assistant coaches. A contract dispute involving Solich's assistants got so heated in July that a few of the coaches refused to report to work one day as preseason camp neared. The mood in the South Stadium coaches' offices was "horrible," said one of the assistants, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "We felt betrayed," the coach said. "There was a grim feeling that Pederson had a plan to fire the whole staff. You don't bring in a whole staff and change the whole structure of how contracts had been previously done here." Husker secondary coach Marvin Sanders acknowledged there was tension. "There were issues we had to work out," Sanders said. "I don't know how much it affected us, but I know it was of significant concern." Solich admired the way his staff handled the situation. "I'm very proud of how those guys, under the circumstances, stayed together and coached the way they did," Solich said. He said there were two primary sticking points in the contract rift: the fate of the assistants if Solich were to retire or take another job, and how long they would be paid if he were fired. In June, Pederson proposed a written contract for the assistants. It said that if Solich were to resign or retire, the assistants' pay would cease at that time. Under Pederson's proposed deal, if Solich were to stop being head coach for any reason other than resignation or retirement, the assistants would be paid through January of 2005. Sanders said those provisions were different from the oral agreement he had with Solich when Sanders was hired last January. Solich offered the assistants contracts through June of 2005. Contracts for NU assistant coaches have commonly expired in June. The assistant coach who declined to be identified said Pederson's proposal so angered the assistants that they sought legal counsel. Solich said the assistants were upset about the possibility of having their contracts terminated as early as Jan. 31, 2004. Pederson said he had no idea why the coaches thought that. "Absolutely untrue," Pederson said. Pederson believed Solich had a clear understanding of what he could present the new assistants during the hiring process. "That never changed," Pederson said. "I told Frank he was authorized to offer them a two-year, straight-term contract." The new assistants were hired in January and signed their contracts in August. After the assistants raised their concerns about the contracts in the summer, Pederson agreed to the terms initially sought by Solich. The contracts the assistants ultimately signed stipulated that if Solich were to leave for any reason, the assistants would be paid through June 2005, instead of January 2005, as had been proposed by Pederson. The five-month adjustment was worth a total of about $385,000 to eight of NU's nine assistants. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is working under different contract terms. His contract expires Jan. 31, 2006. After Solich was fired Nov. 29, Pederson appointed Pelini as interim head coach, and the rest of the assistants were retained to help prepare Nebraska for its game against Michigan State in the Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl. Pederson said Saturday he was unaware that assistants had stayed out of the office because of the contract matter. "(Solich) told me that some of them were unhappy with the contract," Pederson said. UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman confirmed Saturday that Pederson wanted the assistants' contracts voided if Solich were to resign or retire, but not if he were fired. Perlman said Solich orally promised his assistants 21/2-year contracts (through June 2005) without Perlman's or Pederson's permission. "Frank was not authorized to give them that," Perlman said. "I didn't authorize that. Solich cleared nothing with me." Perlman said that was part of the controversy among the coaches last summer. The chancellor said Pederson eventually agreed to the 21/2-year deals sought by Solich only because the athletic director "was trying to be honorable and fair, and may have acceded to their requests." Pederson said he agreed to change the contract terms, then told Solich he wanted to meet with the nine assistants himself. "The assistants came down to a meeting, I explained to them that we were going to make the changes, and we either delivered the contract to them that day or the day after, I don't recall," Pederson said. After that point, Pederson said, the assistants' contract situation wasn't an issue. Solich's daughter, Cindy Dalton, said Pederson "left a nasty note under Dad's office door" in response to the contract squabble. When asked whether he recalled such a note, Pederson said, "Any personnel-kind of written communication would be confidential." Perlman said he didn't think Pederson's push for altered contracts for the assistants hinted at Solich's -- and/or the assistants -- eventual ouster. "I don't think that's the proper way to look at it," said Perlman, who added that it makes sense for assistants' contracts to be tied to the head coach. "You know very well that if the head coach leaves, assistant coaches are usually next to go." Sanders said his concern was that his initial deal with Solich -- agreed upon orally -- was different from the contract that Pederson initially proposed. "You just want what you agreed upon when you were hired, and eventually we got it worked out," Sanders said. Reached Saturday, four other Nebraska assistants declined to comment. "That was all private, in-house stuff," said offensive coordinator Barney Cotton. Perlman said he doesn't understand why the assistants were worried about the contract provision tying them to Solich. "If the assistant coaches were spending a lot of time worrying about that provision, then that's too bad," Perlman said. "They should've been spending their time more wisely." Steven M. Sipple can be reached at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com. Staff writers Matthew Hansen and Todd Henrichs contributed to this story.