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In preparation for the 2009 college football season, ESPN has set out with their “College Football Live” show and talked about 50 teams in 50 states. Today we got the luxory of the Big Red. I bet viewership for today’s episode was very high, especially in this state.

Now when ESPN was quoted as to saying “Is Neil Smith the best offensive player in Nebraska history? Is Irving Fryar the best defensive player? Vote now!” I said wait a second. Now maybe it was an unnoticed miscue- but how can the biggest sports media outlet around not catch that? It didn’t keep me away from watching today’s episode though, as I just watched the 6:00 edition. It went quite well.

We’re so familiar with all the clips from Nebraska. Now they may seem redundant, like the Johnny Rogers take back against Oklahoma, but this is what makes us, us. If you didn’t get any goosebumps, I’d question you true Husker love. At least I did, and I do every time.

They show concluded by asking the audience to vote on the “Best Husker ever.” Choices were Tommie Frazier, Mike Rozier, Dean Steinkuhler, Rozier and Crouch. It seemed as if the Nation agreed on at least one thing right this time, Frazier was it. I can’t argue that at all. He’s the last Husker to start as a true freshman at quarterback. Alone in 1995 he accounted for 31 touchdowns. That’s still unheard of, especially today. Can’t forget to mention, he’s the last guy since Tim Tebow to win two National Titles. Still shocks me to know that he never won the Heisman Trophy.

I was a HUGE Frazier fan growing up. I even met the guy when I was seven at a big Nebraska Football banquet in Kearney after he won the 1995 title. If you’ve ever been to our house, it’s apparent he’s my favorite Husker. I’ve got a signed Frazier framed jersey that I won at the same convention hanging on the wall. I’ve got all three editions of the Sports Illustrated copies signed by him framed. Then I’ve got my very own picture with him and Jerry Tagge along with my Dad and sisters in a football case. The guy was a hero to a lot of us and always put a smile on our faces.

Nebraska’s football season is 51 days away. Andre Ware and Erik Kuselias agreed on that we’d win the Big XII North this year. As of now, I am content on believing that as well. Expectations are extremely high for Coach Bo in ‘09. Now I can’t wait for Husker Saturday’s again. It’s that one day in this state that is truly special, and unlike anywhere else.

Episode 017 is the longest Podcast yet, but with very good insight throughout. We opened up talking on the NBA Draft, and my editions of this year’s “Studs and Duds.” The league leaders in Major League Baseball, as well as the A.L./N.L. Division Standings took over the middle segment. We talked about our baseball headlines to this point in the year. To wrap up, it was some College Football with “Athlon Sports” Preseason Top 25 poll.

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We opened the show talking on the College World Series, which begins June 13 in Omaha. Adding to the topic was the new stadium coming in 2011 and atmosphere of the event. Our middle segment was on the NBA Finals. To wrap up, we conversed on NFL Football and players who could make a Fantasy impact in 2009.

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It’s currently E3 Week for the Video Game world, which means we’ve gotten a glimpse at all the new game-related news that is set to hit stands soon. One game that looks great so far is NCAA Football 10.

This is the one game that I buy every year on release day. Most of the time, there’s hardly any improvements but roster changes. But any game that’s fresh on the market sells us in our mind. This this year, EA Sports has added many changes to bring the game to an even better level.

NCAA Football 10
1. Eight new offensive formations and 200 new plays. Flexbone formation.
2. Updated stadiums to be more lifelike and realistic. Updated scoreboards.
3. Field goal socks to portray the wind.
4. Create-a-school mode. Very in depth. Custom logo, create jerseys, custom fields etc.
5. Clock management. No more running five plays in 25 seconds.
6. Pivotal game moments. Improved A.I. so you are actually put to the wire.
7. Mix-and-match jerseys, which means all those Oregon Ducks possibilities become real.
8. Season showdown. Earn points for your favorite school by everything you do on the field. So that means, no more running up the score. Categories: Skill, loyalty, strategy, underdog, sportsmanship and ESPN classic.

Last year’s best addition was Online Dynasty. I felt that feature kept the value of the game high, even when football was over. I still think EA Sports needs to bring back a game soundtrack (NCAA 06 was awesome!) and add on field referees during plays. You only see them when they announce a penalty.

Impact players was also a great addition a few years back. In big moments, big players come alive. I was thinking about this year’s players for Nebraska, and I couldn’t stray away from assigning it to the three men below.

1. RB #10 : Roy Helu Jr.
2. DT #93: Ndamukong Suh
3. K #90: Alex Henery

Hope you’re as fired up as me for the game. It hits shelves on July 14. I might even attend a midnight release party and pick it up then.

If there’s one thing that bugs me in the area of Kearney, it’s the lack of Sports Talk Radio. In almost any market, Sports Radio personalities is a commodity. Fine, we’ve got ESPN 1460 Radio. You’re right. But on a local scale, we lack opinionated talk. We’ve got all the access we want for national impressions. But nothing here on the spot.

Somebody smart and not afraid to lash out could make a living here in Kearney just speaking the top of their mind. There’s plenty of sources between Tri-City Storm Hockey, UNK Loper Athletics, Kearney High School sports, Kearney Catholic sports and Legion Baseball. You wonder why “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” on ESPN Radio is such a hit? Because he doesn’t shy away from the obvious. He tells you how it is. He’s the first to acknowledge that he’s a “Broad-caster” which means he has to please a wide range of people. I rarely, rarely disagree with him.

Yeah, we’ve got “Doug & Daddy,” which I’m personally not the slightest fan of. Great interviews, but no opinion. It’s more of a show to inform you of when and where in the community.

A 2-3 hour show during the lunch hour would be a hit. Trust me, once word got out, a show would fly around the radio waves. If I’m stuck with the idea, maybe I should just run with it.

We welcomed in Jay Sloan to converge on the topics of the NBA Playoffs and Nebraska Football. Is Carmelo Anthony now a top player in the NBA from his postseason play? Will Zac Lee and fellow Huskers propel a Red Rising in 2009? These were questions debated along with the 5-in-5, a five questions, five minute break down on sports topics.

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For almost a month now, the State of Nebraska has blown up over the issue of the 2011 License Plates. We as state inhabitants were thrown four bad designs to vote on, some of which looked liked a 3rd grader created. Today, we found out the winner from the contest, a plate featuring the state bird and state flower — the western meadowlark and goldenrod. I’ll be honest, we could have done 10x better.

What better explains our state than Nebraska Husker football? How come this wasn’t even considered? We go crazy every Saturday during football season. And when it’s not football season, we think about it until it is. Considering how high the concentration is on football right now, I thought I would stand by the few other million in this State and submit a REAL design. I call this the “Power of Red Plate.” Yeah we currently have the numbered Husker plate, but that’s an additional cost and a special plate. I’m talking permanent here. Think this would create a frenzy?

Go Big Red!

Back in March, I happened to be in the Denver when the Denver Nuggets were hosting the Golden State Warriors. At the time, the Nuggets were transforming into one of the NBA’s best teams. March was one of their better month’s on the year, winning 7 of 8 home games.

I’d never been to a game at the Pepsi Center before, yet alone an NBA game. I’ve been accustomed to seeing College events living here in Nebraska, since we don’t have any professional teams.

Without tickets in hand, we made the trip to the Mile High City an hour before tip-off. Ticket offices were packed. This was the Golden State Warriors people, a young team who was 25-48 at the time. Not great.

Surprisingly enough, we landed great seats. Picture this, 12 rows up behind the scores table, right at eye level. Considering we walked up and bought them, they were great, and only $50 a pair. Denver won that night 129-116.

Transition that to now. The Nuggets are playing the L.A. Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Wouldn’t it be sweet to be there?

Hold that thought. At last check, the very same section I was in (section 102), Game 3 tickets were running at lowest $379.00 each on StubHub.

I’d love to go. But $400? Fifty bucks isn’t very much to see some well known athletes. Even though this is the Western Finals, I don’t think I could fork out that much money.

Found this video that summed the ups and downs of the 2008 Husker Football season. It was one heck of a ride, and towards the end of the year, we all got the sense that the Big Red was back under Bo Pelini. It was a tale of two halves this season, horrible in the first six games, magnificent in the last seven. Thought I’d share this with you guys. I still get goosebumps and feel some agony over a few of the clips. Can’t wait for 09 to get underway. Enjoy.

“The Weekly Catch” with Adam McLaughlin is back for a fifth episode. Adam talks this weekends Final Four, Bo Pelini’s new contract with Nebraska and the bizarre story of Houston Texans running back, Ryan Moats.

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