Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
NORFOLK DAILY NEWS
The opportunities seem to be as endless as the beaches of Hawaii.
Which is exactly why Mark Brungardt will move there in three weeks.
The 2002 Norfolk Catholic graduate has been weighing his options since leaving the University of Nebraska Cornhusker football team last December. Brungardt said he's now on to bigger and better things, although he's not entirely certain what they'll be.
The same is true for two of his friends, Ross Pilkington and Kade Pittman, also former Nebraska football players. The three decided to take the plunge together and will all be attending the University of Hawaii next year.
Scholarships, including one in baseball for Pilkington, await all three if they decide athletics is what they want to pursue.
But Brungardt, who played linebacker at Lincoln, doesn't seem to have the love for the game he used to. Now his green eyes light up when he talks about a possible career in the entertainment business.
"Either way, I'm getting away," Brungardt said. "There's a couple of things going on that I'm going to explore when I get out there, and I'm excited about that.
"I still have the option to play football and live in Hawaii when I'm 21 years old and can get away from Nebraska football. That's the goal for the three of us. We're going to live it up a little bit," he added.
Brungardt was contacted about a possible acting and modeling career while visiting Hawaii on spring break. Although he was there looking at the football team, he quickly learned that the state had more to offer than just another football scholarship.
For years, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound son of Tim and Julie Brungardt has made heads turn with his good looks and muscular frame. Now he seems to have caught the attention of some individuals in the television and movie industry.
"I don't know what it's going to be like when I get there, but there are some offers to do some independent films when I get out there," Brungardt said. "There's some serious talks to do that, and right now, it's an opportunity for me to make a little money doing it."
Although Norfolk Catholic High School has a strong tradition of dominating state oneact competition, Brungardt said he never took advantage of it. He has never acted before but said he's looking forward to the chance to give it a try.
As for football, because of eligibility rules, Brungardt will have to sit out the 2005 season. That gives him plenty of time to explore an acting career before deciding if he wants to accept a football scholarship in January. Brungardt said he's guaranteed a spot on the team if he wants it.
He had several other offers to play football, including North Carolina and Ohio, which hired Frank Solich as head coach several months ago.
Despite being a walk-on at Nebraska, Brungardt saw plenty of action as a redshirt freshman, recording 13 tackles. But when Bill Callahan replaced Frank Solich as coach, Brungardt's playing time changed -- and so did his belief in the tradition of Nebraska football.
Brungardt said it hasn't been difficult being in Lincoln for the last semester and not being a part of the football team. It's more of a relief than anything, he said, especially now that he's enrolled and guaranteed a scholarship with Hawaii if he chooses to accept it.
"To be honest with you, after growing up and sitting around in Nebraska all my life, it's time for me to get out and do some things," Brungardt said. "I want to get away from this thing that turned bad for everyone. For me it's ideal because I have options coming from everywhere. Not to mention living on an island and doing things like that when I'm young. It's the best opportunity I have right now."
The opportunities seem to be as endless as the beaches of Hawaii.
Which is exactly why Mark Brungardt will move there in three weeks.
The 2002 Norfolk Catholic graduate has been weighing his options since leaving the University of Nebraska Cornhusker football team last December. Brungardt said he's now on to bigger and better things, although he's not entirely certain what they'll be.
The same is true for two of his friends, Ross Pilkington and Kade Pittman, also former Nebraska football players. The three decided to take the plunge together and will all be attending the University of Hawaii next year.
Scholarships, including one in baseball for Pilkington, await all three if they decide athletics is what they want to pursue.
But Brungardt, who played linebacker at Lincoln, doesn't seem to have the love for the game he used to. Now his green eyes light up when he talks about a possible career in the entertainment business.
"Either way, I'm getting away," Brungardt said. "There's a couple of things going on that I'm going to explore when I get out there, and I'm excited about that.
"I still have the option to play football and live in Hawaii when I'm 21 years old and can get away from Nebraska football. That's the goal for the three of us. We're going to live it up a little bit," he added.
Brungardt was contacted about a possible acting and modeling career while visiting Hawaii on spring break. Although he was there looking at the football team, he quickly learned that the state had more to offer than just another football scholarship.
For years, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound son of Tim and Julie Brungardt has made heads turn with his good looks and muscular frame. Now he seems to have caught the attention of some individuals in the television and movie industry.
"I don't know what it's going to be like when I get there, but there are some offers to do some independent films when I get out there," Brungardt said. "There's some serious talks to do that, and right now, it's an opportunity for me to make a little money doing it."
Although Norfolk Catholic High School has a strong tradition of dominating state oneact competition, Brungardt said he never took advantage of it. He has never acted before but said he's looking forward to the chance to give it a try.
As for football, because of eligibility rules, Brungardt will have to sit out the 2005 season. That gives him plenty of time to explore an acting career before deciding if he wants to accept a football scholarship in January. Brungardt said he's guaranteed a spot on the team if he wants it.
He had several other offers to play football, including North Carolina and Ohio, which hired Frank Solich as head coach several months ago.
Despite being a walk-on at Nebraska, Brungardt saw plenty of action as a redshirt freshman, recording 13 tackles. But when Bill Callahan replaced Frank Solich as coach, Brungardt's playing time changed -- and so did his belief in the tradition of Nebraska football.
Brungardt said it hasn't been difficult being in Lincoln for the last semester and not being a part of the football team. It's more of a relief than anything, he said, especially now that he's enrolled and guaranteed a scholarship with Hawaii if he chooses to accept it.
"To be honest with you, after growing up and sitting around in Nebraska all my life, it's time for me to get out and do some things," Brungardt said. "I want to get away from this thing that turned bad for everyone. For me it's ideal because I have options coming from everywhere. Not to mention living on an island and doing things like that when I'm young. It's the best opportunity I have right now."
