Nebraska

Keeler: Would you eat $2,000 to keep Nebraska red out of Coach Prime’s CU home debut? This Buffs fan didn’t hesitate.

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2023

Press Room

Keeler: Would you eat ,000 to keep Nebraska red out of Coach Prime’s CU home debut? This Buffs fan didn’t hesitate.

Better shed than red.

“I’m tired of Folsom Field,” Jodi Summers Bunn told me, “looking like we’re in Lincoln.”

Would you eat a month’s rent to keep the Nebraska Cornhuskers from invading Colorado Avenue Saturday for Coach Prime’s CU Buffs home debut?

Bunn and husband, Chris, forked over $1,980 for six extra tickets to Buffs-Huskers, giving the Pagosa Springs couple and their family a block of 10 for college football’s national game of the week. Per ApartmentList.com, the median monthly rent in Boulder checks in at $1,927.

The kicker? As of Labor Day weekend, Jodi and Chris were still trying to move four of those seats.

But not just to anybody.

“I would rather eat the cost of the tickets than sell them to somebody in (Huskers) red,” Jodi stressed.

“We’ve had a couple people inquiring. And if that falls through, I will take those four tickets with me to the game. And I will only sell them to people in CU gear. We’re not going to try to make money at all. We’re not going to try to hike the price. We just want to see that they’re physically wearing CU gear.”

Four tickets, purchased at $330 a pop, is $1320. That’s an awfully pricey Saturday breakfast tab. Even for Boulder.

“We are not,” she said, “messing around.”

Jodi’s side of the family has stood shoulder to shoulder for five generations, with season tickets that date back to 1952. Her parents snapped up theirs in 1966. The Deion Sanders Effect has a lot of newbies in PRIME 21 shirts breathing CU gold right now, but Bunn bleeds it.

“(Buffs athletic director) Rick George makes sure he comes up and gives my dad a big hug before every game,” Jodi said proudly.

It’s the kind of loving, heartfelt legacy that would rather lose two grand than repeat 2019, when the Bugeaters celebrated their first trip to BoCo in 10 years by taking over the place.

Fortunately, they brought ex-Huskers coach Scott Frost along, too. Frosty showed up for a rivalry game on the road without an experienced kicker. It bit him square on the backside. Nebraska punter Isaac Armstrong missed a 48-yard field-goal to end overtime, giving the Buffs a 34-31, come-from-behind victory. Jodi and Chris waved the Big Red parade adieu. Suckers.

“I’ve had a lot of heartbreak with this rivalry in my (life),” she said. “CU is a part of our family culture. I mean, ‘Better dead than red.’ And the ‘N’ (on the helmet) stands for ‘knowledge.’”

She also knows there’s a caravan coming, streaming west from Council Bluffs to Carpenter Park. She knows that when some of her Buffs peers see a camper full of Huskers pull up, they don’t see the enemy. They see desperate buyers who are about to turn their CU seats into a free winter vacation in Cancun.

“If I were sitting next to a Nebraska fan (Saturday), I’d know it was a season-ticket holder (from my section),” Jodi said. “And they would not like to hear what I’d have to say.”

Even if the Huskers football team doesn’t really show up anymore, Big Red faithful still do. Especially when challenged.

“It’s what they do. They’ve done it my entire life,” Jodi sighed. “I’m hoping that Rick and his crew did a good enough job not allowing that to happen as much as it’s happened in the past.”

Which is the other way in which The Prime Effect helps — if Front Range casuals, neutrals and skeptical Buffs weren’t on board before CU shocked TCU in Fort Worth, they sure as heck are now.

The average ticket price to get into Buffs-Huskers via TicketCity.com over the holiday weekend sat at $521; the lowest “get-in” seat, with fees, was $295. It’s the highest average mark-up for this rivalry, Jim Howard, TicketCity’s vice president of ticket operations told me, in at least 15 years.

“Really, it all comes down to winning games,” Jodi said. “If Deion comes out, honestly, and has even a (.500) season … you’re just going to continue to have more and more fans. That’s what we need to try to do.”

Jodi and Chris ain’t messing around, either. If you want a crack at their tickets Saturday, best know your stuff. No Googling allowed. Big Red spies abound. The four questions on The Bunn Test:

1. Can you sing CU’s fight song?

2. What ‘s CU’s actual school colors?

3. When was CU established?

4. In what year did Ralphie run for the first time?

“I want real fans,” Jodi said.

Yeah, but what if one of those real fans turns up with a CU pullover, Venmos half a house payment, waits until you’re out of eyesight, only to reveal they were wearing a red 1995 Orange Bowl T-shirt the whole time?

“No, no, no,” Jodi laughed. “I’m gonna ask what they’re wearing underneath.”

Bunn was born a Buff. But she wasn’t born yesterday.

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Nebraska

Thursday Tim-Bits: Huskers heating up in final stretch to Signing Day

Published

4 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Thursday Tim-Bits: Huskers heating up in final stretch to Signing Day

Nebraska sits at 19 commits in the 2025 class just weeks away from Early Signing Day. The Huskers are heating up, ramping up pursuit and NIL efforts as they look to put the finishing touches on the class. Here’s the latest on top targets like Michael Terry, Dawson Merritt and Jordan Allen, along with a note on the Huskers making the top group for two 2026 four-star targets and two 2026 targets set to see Nebraska in action this weekend.

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Nebraska

VB Previews: Nebraska hosts Minnesota and Indiana amid 21-game win streak

Published

11 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

VB Previews: Nebraska hosts Minnesota and Indiana amid 21-game win streak

Slowly but surely, the Nebraska volleyball team is grinding its way into the No. 1 spot in the Top 25 national rankings.

The Huskers (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) remain just behind Pittsburgh (23-1) in the latest AVCA Top 25, released on Monday, in the No. 2 spot. They garnered their most first-place votes (12) in the poll in the last four weeks, however, amid their current 21-game win streak.

Now, they will be putting that dominant run to the test once again as they match up with Minnesota (16-8, 9-5) and Indiana (12-12, 5-9) this week in Lincoln.

Below are the stats to know, players to watch and more information on the Huskers’ upcoming home matches against the Gophers and Hoosiers.

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HOW TO WATCH, STREAM & LISTEN

#2 NEBRASKA (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) vs. MINNESOTA (16-8, 9-5)

Time: 8:00 p.m. CT on Thursday

TV Channel: Big Ten Network

Commentators: Larry Punteney (play by play) and Emily Ehman (color)

Streaming: Fox Sports App

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App Audio: Official Huskers App

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#2 NEBRASKA (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) vs. INDIANA (12-12, 5-9)

Time: 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday

TV Channel: Big Ten Network

Commentators: Larry Punteney (play by play) and Lauren Stivrins (color)

Streaming: Fox Sports App

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App Audio: Official Huskers App

SERIES HISTORY

NEBRASKA-MINNESOTA:

>> Nebraska is 38-12 all-time against Minnesota and won both matches against the Golden Gophers last year.

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NEBRASKA-INDIANA:

>> Nebraska is 23-1 all-time against Indiana and has won 23 straight against the Hoosiers since Indiana’s lone win in 1978.

SCOUTING REPORTS

NEBRASKA

All stats and info provided courtesy of Nebraska Athletics Communications

>> Nebraska has won 21 matches in a row since a loss at SMU on Sept. 3. Seventeen of the 21 wins have been sweeps, including the last four matches.

>> Entering Thursday’s match, Nebraska has won 15 sets in a row.

>> Nebraska is 6-0 against top-10 teams this season, which is the most top-10 wins in a regular season in school history.

>> Nebraska is 9-0 against ranked foes this season, as SMU was not in the AVCA Top 25 at the time of that match.

>> The Huskers rank 11th nationally and second in the Big Ten with a team hitting percentage of .295.

>> Nebraska ranks seventh nationally in kills per set (14.28).

>> Outside hitter Harper Murray is leading the Huskers with 3.30 kills per set and 25 service aces and is hitting .255. Murray also adds 2.15 digs per set.

>> Opposite hitter Merritt Beason is averaging 3.06 kills per set for the Big Red and is hitting .258 with 1.30 digs per set and 23 aces.

>> Taylor Landfair is putting up 2.51 kills per set and hitting .254.

>> Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.67 kills with a .444 hitting percentage, which ranks fourth in the nation.

>> Middle blocker Rebekah Allick adds 1.68 kills per set on .337 hitting with 1.28 blocks per set. Allick has moved into the top 10 in school history in career blocks with 354.

>> Setter Bergen Reilly is averaging 11.12 assists per set, which ranks sixth in the nation and leads the Big Ten. She also adds 2.90 digs per set and has 17 aces. Reilly has 13 double-doubles and has been named Big Ten Setter of the Week three times this season.

>> Three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lexi Rodriguez guides the Husker back row with 3.70 digs per set. Last week, Rodriguez passed Kayla Banwarth for No. 2 all-time in career digs at Nebraska. Rodriguez now has 1,731 and is chasing Justine Wong-Orantes (1,890).

SCOUTING REPORT: MINNESOTA

>> No. 16 Minnesota is 16-8 overall and 9-5 in Big Ten play after suffering home defeats to Washington (3-1) and No. 12 Oregon (3-0) last week.

>> Julia Hanson leads the Golden Gophers with 3.73 kills per set and is hitting .270. She also has a team-high 26 aces.

>> Lydia Grote adds 2.87 kills per set and also has 26 aces.

>> Phoebe Awoleye ranks seventh nationally in blocks per set with 1.49. As a team, Minnesota ranks 13th (2.78).

SCOUTING REPORT: INDIANA

>> Indiana is 12-12 overall and 5-9 in the Big Ten after losses at home to No. 9 Purdue (3-1) and No. 20 USC (3-1) last week.

>> Candela Alonso-Corcelles paces the Hoosiers with 3.58 kills per set, while Avry Tatum adds 3.42 kills per set.

>> Camryn Haworth averages 9.96 assists per set and has 42 aces on the season.

>> Libero Ramsey Gary ranks second in the Big Ten with 4.20 digs per set.

STATS TO KNOW: NEBRASKA

SERVE AND PASS

>> Nebraska has allowed just 46 service aces this season, which leads the nation. The next closest team is Pittsburgh with 54 aces allowed.

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BALANCED ATTACK

>> Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.68 and 3.30 kills per set.

>> Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match this season.

>> Reilly ranks sixth nationally averaging 11.12 assists per set.

>> Nebraska’s attack has been one of the best in the nation this season. The Huskers rank 11th in hitting percentage (.295) and seventh in kills per set (14.28).

**********

HOME SWEET HOME

>> Nebraska has won 38 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022, which is the longest active streak in the nation.

>> The Huskers’ home win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013.

>> Nebraska’s longest all-time home win streak was 88 matches from 2004-09. Since then, NU also has a home win streak of 38 matches in a row from 2009-11.

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Nebraska

Judge fines rural Nebraska junkyard owner after neighbors’ lawsuit

Published

19 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Judge fines rural Nebraska junkyard owner after neighbors’ lawsuit

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (WOWT) – An eyesore in the wooded countryside north of the Omaha metro forced frustrated neighbors to take legal action. They ordered a court order for cleanup and the property owner got called before a judge.

More than a year ago, that judge ordered the owner of the Washington County junkyard to remove all parts and vehicles from his property. Neighbors who haven’t seen enough progress hope a civil contempt of court will jumpstart a cleanup once and for all.

“Everyone is disgusted with the sight of it and the sounds of it,” said nearby resident Chris Ostranic. “Something needs to be done.”

Six months ago, Chris and several other neighbors told 6 news about the lawsuit they filed to force a cleanup of the junkyard. After several missed deadlines, the neighbors say it’s time for the court to take a tougher stance and send a message that this mess should not be tolerated on the wooded acreage.

Junkyard owner Michael Pick, acting as his own lawyer, argued that he’s worked hard to cleanup his property. He claims 62 loads of scrap, 7,000 batteries and 150 vehicles have been hauled away. But Pick told the judge he ran out of time to get more done.

“If he’s working as hard as he says he is on this property, it should have been cleaned up,” Ostranic said.

District court judge Bryan Meismer ordered Pick to pay $9,600. Part of the amount for a fine, and the other $3,5000 to cover the neighbors’ legal expenses for their lawyers.

“Our client’s goal is to just get the property cleared and we’re hopeful that this is a step in what has been a long process for them, and to eventually get this junkyard removed from the property,” said the neighbors’ attorney, Brad Entwistle.

After the hearing ended, Pick declined to comment to 6 News; his sister stepping in the way. The two of them then left out a back door, but Pick can’t avoid the judge’s order to pay the contempt fine in 60 days and in the meantime, the niehgbors hope that means they’ll see a significant cleanup fo the property.

“I Just hope Mr. Pick realizes that this is a situation that is well out of hand and he need to abide,” Ostranic said. “He needs to comply.”

Pick told the judge that he will have trouble paying the entire contempt fine before the deadline, but he will be allowed to make payments over time.

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