Rose Johnson has been a friendly face amongst the Pride of All Nebraska for 47 years, supporting the Cornhusker Marching Band as the band office assistant. Not only that, Johnson is a homegrown Husker, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in education in 1978.
In her role, Johnson has kept the band marching forward — from organizing auditions and uniforms to planning travel for the band. But beyond the logistics, her work has always been about people: helping students find their place and carrying on the traditions that first shaped her own Husker experience.
Johnson took us on a trip down memory lane, exploring her experiences as a Husker in the 1970s.
What is your favorite memory from your time as a student?
I tried out for the volleyball team in 1973. They were in the NAIA then. Pat Sullivan was the coach and she held open tryouts. I made it to the last cut, but didn’t make the final cut. They decided not to take any freshmen because they couldn’t travel in the early 70s. I was very proud that I made it that far, considering I learned how to play volleyball from a photo workbook that my father bought for me.
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Another memory is of the construction of the north annex to the Love Library that took place in the fall of 1973. There was a huge hole in the ground for the foundation/basement and it rained almost every weekday during September that year. The hole completely flooded. They finally had to pump the water out and drain it to the west along T Street. I was on the north side of T Street by the Stadium and needed to cross the street for a class in Richards Hall. Thankfully, a football player in my class carried me across the temporary river.
Rose Johnson in a campus dormitory in 1978 — the year she graduated from Dear Old Nebraska U with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in education.
What brought you back to work at your alma mater?
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and the job market wasn’t great in 1978. My brother had been a graduate assistant for Jack Snider, director of bands, and he heard that there was a job opening in the band office. My brother thought I would enjoy working with the band program and encouraged me to apply.
How has campus changed since you were a student?
There are many new buildings since my student days, especially the new residence halls. The Rec Center was added after I was a student. There was a tiny building just south of Sandoz Hall on Vine Street where students could rent sports equipment. The Lied Center is a great addition that was completed after my student days. There was a Taco Inn on that site, along with the bookstore, and Oscar’s Diner, which became Andy’s.
The whole downtown area is more beautiful and there are many more venues now, especially in the Haymarket area, which was full of abandoned warehouses when I was a student.
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Was there a class, professor or experience that changed your path or shaped who you are today?
Rose Johnson from 1973
I wanted to be a visual art major, but my parents thought I needed a subject that would lead to more job prospects. We compromised at first by starting as an undeclared student. However, the art department offered a painting class for non-majors, so I enrolled. The instructor, Richard Trickey, thought I was good enough to be an art major and encouraged me to pursue that. He helped me complete the paperwork and encouraged my acceptance based on the work I did in his class. I have always appreciated his faith in me. He definitely went out of his way for me. He was also a very interesting and eccentric person and made the work fun.
What is one piece of advice you’d give a current Nebraska student?
Don’t procrastinate. I was a terrible procrastinator and often waited until the last minute to research and write a paper. Remember, the internet didn’t exist then, nor did personal computers. It took me forever to learn that I was putting unnecessary pressure on myself by waiting so long to just get started.
Also, get involved in something on campus outside of the classroom. It will help you meet other students so that you can make friends with similar interests. That will help you become a better student.
Three starters will sit out as they begin to prepare for the NFL draft.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jim Harding assistant coach hugs offensive lineman Spencer Fano (55) as they celebrate the Utes’ win over Kansas State.
Three University of Utah starters have decided not to play in the Las Vegas Bowl, head coach Kyle Whittingham says.
Offensive tackles Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano and defensive end Logan Fano have all declared for the NFL draft.
Lomu, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound sophomore, and Spencer Fano, a unanimous All-America selection this year, are both expected to be first-round picks in April.
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“Some people, it’s a lot higher stakes. We’ve got a couple of first-rounders and things like that,” Utah quarterback Devon Dampier said of the opt-outs. “We know those guys love us. … We still support those guys.”
Dampier and senior linebacker Lander Barton both said this week that they intend to play in the game.
“There are definitely conversations that you have to have with agents and people that are around you in your circle,” Barton said of his choice.” But ultimately it’s up to each player.”
Whittingham said a few walk-ons and scout team players have also opted out of the game as they prepare to enter the transfer portal.
“And we also have a handful of guys that are going to go in the portal at that are still practicing with us,” he said. “I think that what we have right now is what we’re going to have.”
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The No. 15 Utes take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas (1:30 p.m. MT, ESPN). It will be Whittingham’s final game as the Utes’ head coach.
“This team has been one of my favorite years,” Whittingham said. “The team’s attitude. The leadership. The work ethic. Just the personality on the field, the vibe of the team is outstanding. Having the chance to be around these guys one more month and go to battle one more time with them was something I wanted to do.”
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – President Donald Trump’s executive order to reclassify marijuana at the federal level is reigniting debate in Nebraska, where voters approved medical marijuana in 2024.
Trump signed the executive order on Thursday, directing federal agencies to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. The move does not legalize marijuana nationwide but opens the door for more medical research.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joined attorneys general from seven other states in releasing a statement saying they are “concerned” with the order. Hilgers said the science shows marijuana should remain a Schedule I drug.
Sen. Pete Ricketts also opposes the move. He signed a letter with 14 other Republican senators urging Trump not to reschedule marijuana. The letter argues marijuana is linked to mental health issues, impaired driving and workplace accidents.
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Local medical marijuana advocate Lia Post disagreed with state leaders’ opposition.
“It just comes to the point, when is enough enough?” Post said.
Post said the argument from state leaders ignores what Nebraska voters decided in November 2024 when they overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana.
“It does open up the door for research, which really makes me happy, and the ability to speak to my doctor. It’s hard to be excited when you know you’re just a part of the big, giant grift that is going on,” Post said.
The federal change would allow the FDA to study marijuana’s medical uses. That could potentially help veterans, seniors, and people with chronic pain. Advocates said it also removes excuses for state leaders to delay implementation.
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“I feel like we are in the exact same place we always are with the people wanting medical cannabis, the current law supporting medical cannabis, but the elected officials stopping medical cannabis,” Post said.
The federal rescheduling process could take several more months to finalize. The executive order does not legalize recreational marijuana. Trump made that clear Thursday, saying he is not open to that.
“It is a big deal, it is change, and change is always a big deal. Anything to do with medical cannabis and politics, I have to find the joy in whatever small wins there are, because there are so few,” Post said.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska football is bolstering its staff with the addition of a run game coordinator and a defensive edge coach.
On Friday, head coach Matt Rhule announced the hiring of run game coordinator Lonnie Teasley and defensive edge coach Roy Manning.
Teasley spent the last five seasons with South Carolina, serving as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach for the last three years.
He was also an assistant offensive line coach on Rhule’s Temple staff in 2014. Teasley also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Tech.
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“Lonnie Teasley brings a wealth of offensive line coaching experience to our staff,” Rhule said in a press release. “Lonnie has had great success throughout his career and specifically has been one of the elite offensive tackle coaches in the country. He also has a proven track record as an excellent recruiter. Lonnie will make a positive impact on our coaching staff and the Nebraska Football program.”
Manning worked with new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich as a defensive edge coach at San Diego State in 2025. He helped the Aztecs rank among the nation’s top defenses.
Manning has also spent time coaching at USC, Michigan and Cincinnati.
“We are excited to add Roy Manning to our defensive staff,” Rhule said. “Along with Coach Aurich, he was a key part of the defensive transformation at San Diego State this past season. Roy has experience coaching defense from front to back and has coached at high-level programs throughout his career.”
Nebraska fired three assistant coaches following a lopsided loss to Iowa in November: defensive coordinator John Butler, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola and defensive line coach Terry Bradden.
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Aurich has been hired to lead the defense and Geep Wade is Nebraska’s new offensive line coach.
SEE ALSO: Report: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to enter the transfer portal
