Nebraska
Nebraska interim president Chris Kabourek takes helm at critical moment
LINCOLN, Neb. — He got the football signed.
Although it was not on Chris Kabourek’s to-do list when he took over the presidency of the University of Nebraska system on Jan. 1, he checked the item off last week as Trev Alberts visited Varner Hall, office of the president, and put pen to leather on Kabourek’s souvenir.
That football, which has been in Kabourek’s possession for three decades, was thrown to him by Alberts before the Nebraska athletic director’s final game as a star linebacker at Memorial Stadium. Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel got the details last week from Kabourek — who spoke individually with multiple members of the media in his first month as interim president.
He sat down Tuesday with The Athletic in the office vacated a month ago by Ted Carter, the Nebraska president of three years who left to take over at Ohio State. Kabourek may not lead the four-campus system for an extended period, but his time in this role is set to rate as an abnormally important period in Lincoln, amid the changing landscape in higher education and high-stakes athletics.
Here’s the first thing to know about Kabourek as it pertains to sports: He values them.
“The next president has to be attuned with the importance of athletics to this state and this institution,” said Kabourek, who has been the university system senior vice president for business and finance and CFO since 2018. “We have to be aligned in our leadership across the university.
“It can’t be academics vs. athletics. The two have to go hand in hand.”
Kabourek, 50, coaches his sons’ football, basketball and baseball teams. He officiates high school and small-college basketball. Kabourek was the first from his David City, Neb., farming family to attend college.
His office is adorned not only with the newly signed football from Alberts but also with a framed piece of the court from Volleyball Day in Nebraska, a Jordan Burroughs “man in the arena” placard, a Nebraska football pennant that belonged to Kabourek’s grandfather and memorabilia connected to teams at the Nebraska-Omaha and Nebraska-Kearney campuses.
In the academic and research world, Kabourek faces a budget shortfall and the reality of administering cuts.
Nebraska athletics, under the direction of Alberts, generated $204.8 million in revenue in the 2023 fiscal year, a record for the state’s flagship institution, and a $13.9 million surplus. Both financial figures place Nebraska into an elite category nationally.
And still, Kabourek is concerned.
This week, the university system announced that University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha plan this year to report federally funded research expenditures as a combined figure to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey.
It matters because Nebraska had been the only Big Ten institution to separate research dollars tied to its main campus and the medical school. The distinction contributed to the 2011 removal of Nebraska from the prestigious American Association of Universities, of which it had been a member since 1909.
Every other Big Ten member, including the four schools set to join from the Pac-12 in August, belongs to the AAU.
The reclassification of research expenditures gets Nebraska “in the ballpark,” Kabourek said, with other Big Ten universities. But the process to regain AAU membership requires a “broader strategy to align” the Lincoln campus with the rest of the university system, Kabourek said.
The decision last year to shift oversight of Nebraska athletics from the UNL chancellor to the system president illustrates an additional effort to align campuses.
Kabourek participated this week in his first gathering of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors.
“It’s a little vulnerable to walk into that meeting and know that you’re representing the only school that doesn’t look like the other 17,” he said. “Those are our peers, and we’ve got to make sure we’re competing with those peers.”
University leaders must do more, according to Kabourek, or they could risk Nebraska’s solid footing in the Big Ten. Ultimately, they could jeopardize the school’s membership.
“Nebraska shouldn’t — and we don’t — take a backseat to anybody,” Kabourek said. “So even though I’m the interim (president), I’m going to go in there representing Nebraska’s interest and make sure our voice is heard.”
No scenario is entirely farfetched. Conference realignment, the expanding College Football Playoff, the name, image and likeness (NIL) revolution and erosion of the NCAA model have set in motion perhaps the most disruptive era in college sports.
Could the Big Ten expel Nebraska over its missing AAU label? Yes, if the other league members were looking for a reason to share multimedia rights revenue with fewer schools.
Kabourek surely won’t encounter such a plot in 2024. But Alberts could face anything imaginable before his time in Lincoln is done. Kabourek worked last fall on the contract extension and raise awarded to Alberts by Carter before the former president departed.
Aside from collecting Alberts’ signature for display in Kabourek’s office, he said he’s thrilled to work alongside the AD.
“I’m not going to go back over our history over the past 20 years,” Kabourek said, “but we probably had some missteps in terms of football coaches or athletic directors. With Trev, we have the right leader at the right time. He understands this place. He loves Nebraska.
“He understands the importance of our culture, the people, just like I do. And he’s at the table on these important discussions.”
On NIL, Kabourek said, “it’s very challenging.”
“We’ve got to make sure we’re not taking a backseat to anybody and that we have the resources and a plan in place to go compete,” he said. “From my seat, it seems a little bit like the wild west.”
Kabourek said he’s open to all conversations, including the talk of turning student-athletes into university employees.
“We’d better be thinking about that,” he said. “Sticking our head in the sand is not going to help us at all.”
On the plan to demolish the south end zone seating at Memorial Stadium next year and begin full-scale work on a renovation announced last fall to come with a price tag of $450 million, Kabourek said he’s aligned with Alberts.
“We are really committed to this project,” Kabourek said. It’s critical.”
Fan experiences are changing. As a school and as a state, Kabourek said, Nebraska must ensure that its younger generation of fans invests in the stadium that represents the school’s national brand.
“I support Trev being bold on this,” he said. “We need to start being bold at Nebraska on athletics and academics and research. And this is a bold investment.”
Kabourek is a Nebraska Wesleyan graduate. He earned his MBA from UNL and began work for the Nebraska administration in 1997. He said he’ll treat this interim job like he’s got the green light to think big.
Would he like to be considered a candidate as the Board of Regents conducts a search for the next president? On that one, he didn’t offer a direct answer.
“My job,” Kabourek said, “is to give the time and space that they need.”
Settling into his chair in this second month, he’s got all the time the regents need him to give.
(Photo: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)
Not even more sickness could stop the No. 12 Nebraska men’s basketball team.
With a nasty flu strain ripping through the Huskers and the UNL campus as a whole, Nebraska needed a little more time to take care of Maryland, but freshman star Braden Frager and his team-high 21 points and eight rebounds led a late NU surge for a 74-61 victory over the Terrapins. Forward Pryce Sandfort added to the effort with 16 points and eight rebounds while both Rienk Mast (13) and Sam Hoiberg (12) also reached double figures.
Now with just three games remaining in the regular season, the Huskers venture west for a two-game road trip to L.A., where they start off against a USC team in the middle of a long losing skid. Here’s all you need to know for Saturday’s mid-afternoon showdown between the Huskers and Trojans.
How to Follow Along
- Matchup: Nebraska (24-4, 13-4 B1G) at USC (18-10, 7-10 B1G)
- When: Saturday, February 28
- Where: Galen Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Time: 3 p.m. CST
- Watch: Big Ten Network
- Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
USC Scout
Head Coach
- Eric Musselman | 2nd season at USC; 11th as HC
- 35-28 (.556) at USC; 256-121 (.679) College Career Record
- 6x NCAA Tournament Apps., 2x Elite Eight, 2x Sweet 16, 1x CBI Championship
- 3x MWC regular season, 1x MWC tournament
- 1x MWC Coach OTY (2018), 1x NBA D-League Coach OTY (2012)
- Previous head coach at Arkansas, Nevada, Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors
- Previous assistant at LSU, Arizona State, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves
2024-2025 Record & Awards
- Record: 17-18 (7-13 B1G, T-12th)
- Finish: L, 60-59 to Villanova in CBC Quarterfinals
- All-B1G: 1x Honorable Mention
All-Time Series
- USC leads 6-5
- Jan. 22, 2025, last matchup, 78-73 USC
Key Returners
- Terrance Williams II | F | Gr. | Was off to a great start with 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last year before getting knocked out for the season just seven games in; has not been the same with just 2.5 PPG in 27 contests this season.
Key Departures
- Desmond Claude | G | Transfer | Named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season for the Trojans after leading the team with 15.8 points per game, but transferred to Washington over the offseason.
- Wesley Yates III | G | Transfer | Another player that transferred to Washington, the Texas native was second on the team last season in scoring (14.1) and steals (40) as a redshirt freshman.
- Chibuzo Agbo | G | Graduated | Veteran guard that scored 11.8 points per contest while leading the team with 76 made three-pointers as part of his final college season.
- Saint Thomas | F | Graduated | The Omaha native and Millard North graduate scored 9.5 points and grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game in his final college season.
- Rashaun Agee | F | Graduated | A 6-foot-8 veteran forward who proved to be USC’s most dangerous threat off the bench by scoring over nine points per game.
- Josh Cohen | F | Graduated | A 6-foot-10 post that started in 25 of his 33 appearances while adding 5.9 points per game for the Trojans.
- Clark Slajchert | G | Graduated | Another key reserve for the Trojans who put up four points per game in 11 minutes across 27 games.
- Kevin Patton Jr. | F | Transfer | After scoring 9.8 PPG at San Diego, the California native saw limited action for USC off the bench to prompt his transfer to New Mexico over the offseason.
- Matt Knowling | F | Graduated | Played in 27 contests with an average of over 18 minutes, but added little production with three points and 2.6 rebounds.
Impact Transfers/Newcomers
- Rodney Rice | G | Jr. | The third leading scorer from a Sweet 16 Maryland squad last season, the transfer scored over 20 points per game for the Trojans before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in December.
- Chad Baker-Mazara | G/F | Gr. | A veteran transfer that aided Auburn’s run to the Final Four last season, the Dominican Republic native leads all active Trojans with 18.6 points per game and 71 total assists.
- Ezra Ausar | F | Sr. | The 6-foot-9 forward transfer from Utah scores over 15 points per game and grabs over six rebounds per contest in an elevated role after the injury to Rice.
- Alijah Arenas | G | Fr. | The son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, the true freshman missed the first 18 games of the season, but he’s been highly productive with a 13.9 points per game average in his first 10 college games.
- Jacob Cofie | F | Soph. | A massive 6-foot-10 forward from Seattle, the Virginia transfer gives USC a weapon inside with 9.8 points and seven rebounds per game as a full-time starter.
- Kam Woods | G | Gr. | A mid-season transfer from Robert Morris, where he led the program to its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance, the Alabama native has added over eight points and four rebounds in 16 contests this year.
- Jordan Marsh | G | Jr. | The 2025 Big South Conference Newcomer of the Year last season at UNC-Ashville, Marsh acts as the sixth man for the Trojans with 6.7 PPG to lead all reserves.
- Jaden Brownell | F | Gr. | A 6-foot-10 bench forward, the USC big man was a 14-point scorer at Samford last season before making his way to L.A.
- Jerry Easter II | G | Fr. | An Ohio native who went to the heralded Link Academy in Missouri, Easter II has earned six starts in his 26 appearances by scoring 4.4 points per game.
- Gabe Dynes | C | Jr. | The 7-foot-5 center led the country in blocks (104) last season at Youngstown State before transferring to USC, where he’s putting up three points per game, but has collected 30 blocks while only averaging 12 minutes per appearance.
Outlook
A veteran head coach at both the college and NBA levels, Eric Musselman was at the center of one of college basketball’s wildest coaching carousel moves following the 2023–24 season, leaving Arkansas for USC and paving the way for the legendary John Calipari to take over the Razorbacks program.
While Calipari marched his team to a Sweet 16 appearance in his first season, Musselman’s debut season in L.A. ended with a quarterfinal loss in the CBC for an underwhelming year. What followed was an exodus from the program, with top-two scorers Desmond Claude (15.8) and Wesley Yates III (14.1) both transferring to Washington despite standout seasons. Six others graduated, including Omaha native Saint Thomas (9.5) as well as Chibuzo Agbo, a veteran guard who scored 11.8 points per game in his final college season.
That resulted in a whole new crop of transfers to join the team, including the crown jewel of the haul in Rodney Rice, who played a big part in helping Maryland reach the Sweet 16 last season. The junior started out hot for the Trojans, logging over 20 points per game, but a devastating shoulder injury ended his season just seven games in, which immediately lowered the ceiling for a USC team with decent talent. Chad Baker-Mazara has stepped up in the place of Rice with 18.6 points per game and a team-high 71 assists after transferring from Auburn, where he helped the Tigers reach the Final Four.
Utah transfer Ezra Ausar has produced at a high level with over 15 points and six rebounds per contest. Despite missing the first 18 games of the season, true freshman Alijah Arenas has averaged 13.9 points per game as a starter. Sophomore and Virginia transfer Jacob Cofie is the muscle in the post, scoring 9.8 points per game and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds per contest. Similar to Arenas, Robert Morris transfer Kam Woods has been a big mid-season addition with over eight points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Plus, Jordan Marsh (6.7), Jaden Brownell (5.3), and 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes give Musselman the opportunity to mix-and-match his lineup off the bench depending on the matchup.
The Rice injury is massive, and could end up being one of the primary reasons for the Trojans missing the NCAA Tournament, for which they are a bubble team in the latest projections. It’s crunch time for USC, which is in the midst of a four-game losing streak after dropping contests to Ohio State, No. 10 Illinois, Oregon, and UCLA. Three of those four were winnable for the Trojans and games that could really haunt them as they search for key wins down the stretch to lock up a spot in March Madness.
Against a Trojan team that doesn’t defend well, but ranks as one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, USC is an interesting matchup for Nebraska. Being on the road and dealing with more sickness isn’t helpful, but I’m riding the Huskers for this one to reach 25 wins on the year.
Nebraska
Nebraska State Patrol troopers find 242 pounds of cocaine during commercial truck inspection
LEXINGTON, Neb. (KOLN) – Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested one person after finding more than 240 pounds of cocaine during a commercial vehicle inspection.
On Tuesday afternoon, an NSP Carrier Enforcement trooper conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on a semi tractor/trailer driven by Arwinderjit Singh, 30, of California, near mile marker 254 on Interstate 80.
During the inspection, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. An NSP K-9 detected the odor of a controlled substance inside the cab of the semi, troopers said.
After searching the cab, troopers located 242 pounds of cocaine concealed underneath the sleeper bed, NSP said.
Singh was arrested on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver, possession of an open alcohol container, no drug tax stamp and displaying a fictitious license plate.
Singh was lodged in Dawson County Jail, and his bond was set at 10% of $2 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.
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OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.
According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.
“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”
Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.
“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.
“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.
Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.
“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.
Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.
“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”
Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.
“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”
Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.
“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.
Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.
“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.
“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.
—
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