Around the Corn: Nebraska Football

There has been a lot of activity this summer with the Nebraska Football Team from recruiting, the start of Fall Camp, and to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Let’s take a look at all that happened Around the Corn!

A new era had officially begun for the Nebraska Football Team last Wednesday evening with Husker Fan Day. Husker fans could come out and meet the coaches and team, get their photo taken with them, and get their autographs too. This year’s Fan Day was held in the evening so there was a very nice turnout. Mike Riley had to be a little stunned at how many fans came out to meet him. In fact, Coach Riley’s autograph line stretched the length of the field when it all started and when it was done, the line still stretched out around the 50 yard line. Fan Day 2015 was a great way to kick things off and was a huge success.

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August 6th marked the official first day of Fall Camp for the Nebraska Football Team. There was a little bit of change though from what Husker fans are normally used to as Fall Camp is now a Prime Time event! Husker practice began at 7 pm with Metallica blasting over the speakers. It turned out to be a beautiful evening for coach Riley and the team for a successful opening practice. Mike Riley did say that this was the hardest 105 man roster he had ever created. Only one scholarship player was left off the 105 man roster and that was offensive lineman Dwayne Johnson.

On the recruiting front, it has been a busy summer for the coaches. Of the 14 current Husker commits, 11 have pledged to the Huskers since the Spring Football Game, including two quarterbacks, making some noise in recruiting circles. And that is not even the most exciting recruiting news of all! The Huskers landed a commitment from one of the top running backs in the 2015 class. Originally a Wisconsin Badger, he is now a Husker and will be allowed to play this fall. Just check out his film and you cannot help but be excited. The loss of Abdullah will hurt this season, but hopefully Jordan Stevenson will take away some of that sting. See how excited Mike Riley was:

The #Huskers Nation just got a little bigger and a lot better today! Huge addition! #GBR 🔴🔴🔴
— Mike Riley (@Coach_Riley) July 30, 2015

The Huskers revealed their new 2015 alternate uniforms from Adidas. They are certainly much better than the 2014 version. Check out Husker Corner’s take. There was also some other Husker jersey news that seemed to anger many fans. The Nebraska Athletic Department announced that only two numbers will be available on Husker jerseys to purchase. The 2015 numbers available are #1 and #15. The #1 seems to be a staple for jerseys but next year the 15 will become 16 to depict the season. So if you have any jerseys in pristine shape of former Husker stars, there may be a market to make some good money off them.

And in other big Nebraska Football news, two former Husker players were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 8th. Former Husker Center and Lexington Nebraska native Mick Tinglehoff, who lettered for Nebraska in the 1959, 1960, and 1961 seasons was inducted into the Hall of fame in his 32nd year of eligibility. Tinglehoff played for the Minnesota Vikings for 17 seasons from 1962 until he retired in 1978. Tinglehoff made 4 Superbowl and 6 Pro Bowl appearances. Many consider Tinglehoff the greatest center of his era. Congratulations Mick Tinglehoff!

Former Husker and Lawton, Oklahoma native Will Shields was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Shields played for the Huskers from 1989 to 1992 and in 1992 Shields won the Outland Trophy. He was selected in the third round to the Kansas City Chiefs where he would spend the next 14 seasons. Shields played in 12 Pro Bowls and in 2003 he was named NFL Man of the Year. Shields retired after the 2006 season. He played in 224 games and started all but one. Outside the world of football, Shields and his wife started the Will to Succeed Foundation to help abused women and children. Speaking as a Husker and a Chiefs fan, this was a well deserved honor. Congratulations Will Shields!

It has been a memorable summer for Nebraska football fans. We are less than a month away for the Huskers first game of the season against BYU. It is time to stock up on the supplies for the tailgating and Husker football parties. Husker anticipation is in the air as we begin a new era. And as we all countdown to kickoff, we all will be asking the same question, “Is it September 5th yet?” Go Big Red!

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