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Grixby concentrates on life off the football field
Ben Gouldsmith
Posted: 12/7/06
By no means is he an intimidating presence.
He stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 170 pounds.
He is unassuming, articulate and polite.
And on most Saturdays, the mild-mannered Nebraska junior cornerback is charged with the task of defending receivers who typically are six inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than him.
Meet Cortney Grixby.
Grixby was an option quarterback in high school.
In fact, he said he didn't even play much defense because he was responsible for leading Omaha Central High School's offense.
During his senior season, Grixby passed for 474 yards and ran for 344 yards as the Eagles' quarterback before injuries cut his season short.
"He was a smart player," former Central Coach Joe McMenamin said. "He showed great leadership abilities and did a nice job leading the team."
Grixby also was a basketball standout, helping the Eagles to the Class A state tournament his last three seasons.
When it came time to decide which sport he wanted to play in college, Grixby agonized over the decision.
He had a scholarship offer from NU's football and basketball teams, but ultimately committed to Cornhusker football. Former Notre Dame Coach Ty Willingham nearly lured Grixby to South Bend, Ind., to play football for the Fighting Irish.
Once in Lincoln, Grixby went straight to work learning the ins and outs of the cornerback position.
"I knew some of the basics at corner when I came here," Grixby said, "but mostly I was just a pure athlete."
That didn't stop him from earning significant playing time at the position as a true freshman. He played in all 11 of the Huskers' games in 2004, even starting twice when Lornell McPherson was sidelined with an injury.
Grixby has started every game his sophomore and junior years.
Cornerback is one of the most thankless positions an athlete can play.
When a corner misses a tackle, it can lead to big plays for the opponents and leave fans groaning.
Even if a corner shuts down a receiver on 88 of 90 plays, those two missed tackles or blown coverages are most likely what fans will remember.
"If you're an offensive lineman and you miss a block, nobody knows," McMenamin said. "At corner, everybody in the stadium sees if you make a mistake."
Because corners are so often on an island by themselves on the field, McMenamin said it's important for players at that position to have a thick skin and short memory.
Both fans and media have criticized Nebraska's secondary, including Grixby, for allowing opposing receivers to break big plays this season.
During NU's 21-7 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, the Sooners picked apart the Husker secondary. Grixby spent most of the night defending OU's Malcolm Kelly, who finished with 142 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 10 catches.
Fan message boards and radio talk show hosts were quick to place blame on Grixby, but McMenamin said that's unfair.
"Lots of times, (Nebraska is) in a defense where he should have had help inside or outside, and lots of times fans don't know really what they think they know," McMenamin said. "I think Cortney's done a tremendous job of coverage with no help. That is very difficult for anybody to do that."
Because Grixby was a quarterback in high school, he said he's used to hearing criticism. He said he tries to keep a positive outlook on things.
"I really don't look at the negative," Grixby said. "You've got to accept criticism with open arms because all it's going to do is make you a better person and help you know what things you need to work on."
Grixby has come to expect the phone call.
Nearly every day, DeAntae makes a point to check in on his little brother to see how things are going.
DeAntae Grixby was a fullback for the Huskers from 2000 to 2003, so it's natural to think the brothers talk a lot of football.
"When I used to play, I used to hate the feeling that every conversation I had with anybody was about football," DeAntae said. "The main thing I talk to him about is some of the career mistakes I have made. Basically, I'm trying to prepare him for life after football."
DeAntae is now 26 and lives in Omaha working as a career specialist with high-risk kids at the Urban League of Nebraska.
Cortney, who has a 3.033 grade-point average in marketing, said he appreciates having a mentor like his older brother to help guide him or even just joke around with.
"I think he's the best big brother in the world," Cortney said. "He's always been there for me if I ever needed anything."
Though DeAntae likes to check up on Cortney, he said he's not at all worried about his younger brother. Cortney has always made good choices, DeAntae said.
DeAntae still remembers Cortney as a second-grader running around and playing basketball with the fifth- and sixth-graders. It fits Cortney's personality.
"I think that's where he got his maturity from," DeAntae said. "He's always been around older guys. Cortney's a very mature and very independent person."
Though Cortney Grixby is a football player, it's important to him to have an identity outside the sport.
That's why he was proud to be one 11 Huskers named to the 2006 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team, which honors football players who have committed themselves to volunteering in the community.
Growing up in Nebraska, Grixby saw Husker players as role models.
He hopes he can be the same for someone in the next generation.
"I looked up to Husker football players like they were untouchable," Grixby said. "If I saw a player, I couldn't believe they were really there. By me getting out amongst the people, it lets them know that I'm real."
And maybe that's part of Grixby's appeal. He may not be on any awards watch lists, but he's not pretending to be someone he isn't.
You have to give this kid credit for taking the heat from the fans and media and pressing on with pride. :thumbs
Grixby concentrates on life off the football field
Ben Gouldsmith
Posted: 12/7/06
By no means is he an intimidating presence.
He stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 170 pounds.
He is unassuming, articulate and polite.
And on most Saturdays, the mild-mannered Nebraska junior cornerback is charged with the task of defending receivers who typically are six inches taller and 40 pounds heavier than him.
Meet Cortney Grixby.
Grixby was an option quarterback in high school.
In fact, he said he didn't even play much defense because he was responsible for leading Omaha Central High School's offense.
During his senior season, Grixby passed for 474 yards and ran for 344 yards as the Eagles' quarterback before injuries cut his season short.
"He was a smart player," former Central Coach Joe McMenamin said. "He showed great leadership abilities and did a nice job leading the team."
Grixby also was a basketball standout, helping the Eagles to the Class A state tournament his last three seasons.
When it came time to decide which sport he wanted to play in college, Grixby agonized over the decision.
He had a scholarship offer from NU's football and basketball teams, but ultimately committed to Cornhusker football. Former Notre Dame Coach Ty Willingham nearly lured Grixby to South Bend, Ind., to play football for the Fighting Irish.
Once in Lincoln, Grixby went straight to work learning the ins and outs of the cornerback position.
"I knew some of the basics at corner when I came here," Grixby said, "but mostly I was just a pure athlete."
That didn't stop him from earning significant playing time at the position as a true freshman. He played in all 11 of the Huskers' games in 2004, even starting twice when Lornell McPherson was sidelined with an injury.
Grixby has started every game his sophomore and junior years.
Cornerback is one of the most thankless positions an athlete can play.
When a corner misses a tackle, it can lead to big plays for the opponents and leave fans groaning.
Even if a corner shuts down a receiver on 88 of 90 plays, those two missed tackles or blown coverages are most likely what fans will remember.
"If you're an offensive lineman and you miss a block, nobody knows," McMenamin said. "At corner, everybody in the stadium sees if you make a mistake."
Because corners are so often on an island by themselves on the field, McMenamin said it's important for players at that position to have a thick skin and short memory.
Both fans and media have criticized Nebraska's secondary, including Grixby, for allowing opposing receivers to break big plays this season.
During NU's 21-7 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, the Sooners picked apart the Husker secondary. Grixby spent most of the night defending OU's Malcolm Kelly, who finished with 142 yards receiving and two touchdowns on 10 catches.
Fan message boards and radio talk show hosts were quick to place blame on Grixby, but McMenamin said that's unfair.
"Lots of times, (Nebraska is) in a defense where he should have had help inside or outside, and lots of times fans don't know really what they think they know," McMenamin said. "I think Cortney's done a tremendous job of coverage with no help. That is very difficult for anybody to do that."
Because Grixby was a quarterback in high school, he said he's used to hearing criticism. He said he tries to keep a positive outlook on things.
"I really don't look at the negative," Grixby said. "You've got to accept criticism with open arms because all it's going to do is make you a better person and help you know what things you need to work on."
Grixby has come to expect the phone call.
Nearly every day, DeAntae makes a point to check in on his little brother to see how things are going.
DeAntae Grixby was a fullback for the Huskers from 2000 to 2003, so it's natural to think the brothers talk a lot of football.
"When I used to play, I used to hate the feeling that every conversation I had with anybody was about football," DeAntae said. "The main thing I talk to him about is some of the career mistakes I have made. Basically, I'm trying to prepare him for life after football."
DeAntae is now 26 and lives in Omaha working as a career specialist with high-risk kids at the Urban League of Nebraska.
Cortney, who has a 3.033 grade-point average in marketing, said he appreciates having a mentor like his older brother to help guide him or even just joke around with.
"I think he's the best big brother in the world," Cortney said. "He's always been there for me if I ever needed anything."
Though DeAntae likes to check up on Cortney, he said he's not at all worried about his younger brother. Cortney has always made good choices, DeAntae said.
DeAntae still remembers Cortney as a second-grader running around and playing basketball with the fifth- and sixth-graders. It fits Cortney's personality.
"I think that's where he got his maturity from," DeAntae said. "He's always been around older guys. Cortney's a very mature and very independent person."
Though Cortney Grixby is a football player, it's important to him to have an identity outside the sport.
That's why he was proud to be one 11 Huskers named to the 2006 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team, which honors football players who have committed themselves to volunteering in the community.
Growing up in Nebraska, Grixby saw Husker players as role models.
He hopes he can be the same for someone in the next generation.
"I looked up to Husker football players like they were untouchable," Grixby said. "If I saw a player, I couldn't believe they were really there. By me getting out amongst the people, it lets them know that I'm real."
And maybe that's part of Grixby's appeal. He may not be on any awards watch lists, but he's not pretending to be someone he isn't.
You have to give this kid credit for taking the heat from the fans and media and pressing on with pride. :thumbs
