With signing day close, it's crunch time

We are getting closer to February 4th. That day of course is the second most exciting day after Christmas. National NCAA Football Signing Day.

In case you don't know, that's the day high school seniors are finally allowed to officially sign with the college they will be suiting up for in the fall.

Yet, with the special day just around the corner, some Universities are not making good on their promises.

NU pulls offer for Bodtmann BY MITCH SHERMAN WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Nebraska has pulled its scholarship offer to linebacker Shawn Bodtmann in the final days before the signing period opens for football. Bodtmann had been committed to NU since April.

He learned the Huskers were no longer interested last week, according to Mike DeAntona, his coach at West Scranton (Pa.) High School.

Commitments are non-binding until Wednesday, widely known as national signing day.

"When he committed to Nebraska, the type of people we are, we commit," DeAntona said. "We stopped his recruiting. He had other options then, but now we are in a tough spot. This is very disappointing, and to me it's unethical, particularly to do it to a kid who's been committed that long."

Nebraska coaches are prohibited under NCAA rules from commenting on prospects until signing day.

Bodtmann, after a senior-season injury, lost weight and struggled to match his level of play from a year earlier. In addition, the Huskers face a numbers crunch to accommodate a sizeable class of newcomers and deserving walk-ons like place-kicker Alex Henery after losing only 16 seniors on scholarships.

NU coaches have worked extensively to help find Bodtmann a scholarship elsewhere — so far, without success.

"That and a couple dimes will get you a cup of coffee," DeAntona said. "I always respected Nebraska and what they stood for. But obviously, there's a big question mark in my mind now, and there should be in other peoples' minds, too."

DeAntona said Bodtmann did nothing to lose Nebraska's trust.

"He's an all-star player with a 1,050 SAT, a 3.7 GPA, and he's never in trouble," the coach said.

His departure leaves the Huskers with 20 known pledges.

Now I think this is pretty low of the team. Waiting until the last days to pull the offer. The poor kid now is in bind. With grades like he has, he's obviously a smart kid. And not getting into trouble means he has smarts off the field too. Something too many college kids lack.

I hope Bodtmann finds a great school that wants him. Heck, come play for the University of Washington. In 2010 he can beat up on the Huskers in Seattle. Show them the player they missed out on.

Now I guess we wait and see what team is next to screw over a hopeful players. Cause you know more will come as the 4th approaches.

Yes Man!

This weekend I went to Jim Carrey's new movie, Yes Man. And I must say it was hilarious. But I have always been a fan of Carrey.

Without giving too much of the movie away: SPOILER ALERT. I do want to talk about on part. In the film Carrey's character and his girlfriend buy the next plane ticket on the next plane leaving. Well, it just so happens to be Lincoln, Nebraska.

For those of you who don't know, I spent the last year living in Lincoln. While there they go to the telephone museum. It was pretty funny because my apartment was just down the road from there. Lincoln wasn't a bad place to live. But coming from Washington, I soon found I ran out of things to experience.

Heck, Backpacker Magazine ranks Nebraska's best hike as a 3.3 mile trail along the Platte River. For an outdoors person like myself, a 3.3 mile trail is NOT an adventure.

Anyway, if you like humor, and you like Jim Carrey, go see this movie. You won't be disappointed.

Husker's play dirty?

As soon as Bo Pelini was hired at the University of Nebraska, t-shirts started popping up in the local shops with sayings like, "My Bo-friend's back," and "Bo Know Best." Well, after Chase Daniel's comments in the article below, perhaps the next shirt should read, "Say it ain't so Bo." You tell me if you think Nebraska is dirty. But anyway you look at it, no one can say they are a football dynasty anymore. Dirty or clean.

Published Sunday October 5, 2008
Huskers a dirty team, QB Daniel says
BY LEE BARFKNECHT WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

LINCOLN — In his final appearance against Nebraska, quarterback Chase Daniel of Missouri didn't hold back on the field or in the postgame interview room.

During MU's 52-17 victory, the senior Heisman Trophy finalist completed 18 of 23 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. After the game, Daniel kept attacking."They came out hitting," he said. "Nebraska was definitely one of the dirtiest teams I've played. It's football, so you've got to be ready for it. . . . You've just got to go out there and play."

Asked to elaborate on the dirty play, Daniel leveled an accusation."Walking out before pregame, I got spit on," he said. "I've never really done that before."Spit on by a player?"Yes, by a player. A Nebraska player," Daniel said.Who was it?"I'm not going to say who it was," Daniel said. "He knows who it is. I think that's bush league. I've never done that. That's blatant disrespect."

Daniel also wasn't wild about some comments that came out of the Nebraska camp last week. Among them:NU coach Bo Pelini talking about shutting out Missouri; tailback Marlon Lucky saying Missouri had better watch out because NU was mad after losing to Virginia Tech; and linebackers coach Mike Ekeler's remarks at the Big Red Breakfast about being really excited about the Blackshirts' game plan.

"We heard everything," Daniel said. "The moment it came out, we heard it."That's just blatant disrespect for us. You've got to settle (it) on the field, and I think we more than did that tonight."

The payback stretched far behind Saturday night, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. The scope included the Tigers' drought in Lincoln back to 1978.

"This win is not just about this 2008 team," Pinkel said. "This is about 30 years of a lot of different fans around the country and the world and ex-players."I'm proud of my players for competing hard and getting a win at one of the toughest places in the country to play."

Daniel said it wasn't all that difficult in Memorial Stadium after some early hubbub from Husker fans."They were pretty loud for the first two series," he said. "After that, they sort of stopped it. It's awesome to play in front of it. Where else would you rather be? It's 90,000 fans and a hostile environment. To be able to come out and play a lot like that says a lot about our team."

Did Pinkel detect any nervousness in pregame from his fifth-ranked team?"No, they were excited. Very excited," he said. "We had great practices last week. . . . And they took it personal. When you hear about something since 1978, they cared."

Poor Bears

I just got back from calling a Cornhusker baseball game for KRNU, and what a game it was. The Bears of Northern Colorado came into Lincoln for a real thumping. 10-0.

From the start the Huskers took off, even scoring 6 runs in the 3rd inning. I had never called baseball before, but thought it went really well. Luckily the guy I was working with was a veteran so that made it easier.

I'll be calling the game tomorrow, as the Bears try to avenge that lost to the #18 ranked Huskers. Game starts at 1:35 PM CST. And can be heard on 90.3 KRNU and http://krnu.unl.edu/.

The Husker games are played at a beautiful stadium, Haymarket Park. Just outside of downtown Lincoln. It was a beautiful evening, started out in the mid 60's and then dropped to around 40. So a bit chilly at the end.

So if you get the chance, tune in tomorrow and let me know what you think.

Spring means snow in Nebraska

It's that time of year again. Yes, time for the bats to come out from the garage. Time to clean up your diamonds. Time for baseball.

Ok, hold it right there. What? How can it be baseball time. It is still February. What?

Yeah, baseball is here. At least in Nebraska. The Cornhusker baseball team kicked off the 2008 season last week at Stanford. Now Stanford, I can see them playing baseball right now. California, it's always nice.

Nebraska, not so much.

Yesterday it snowed. Today the high was around 20. Yeah, that doesn't sound like baseball weather to me.

Or maybe, in the Midwest, that IS baseball weather.

Don't forget, Omaha is home of the College World Series. That means it will be in the 100's with at least 95% humidity.

Can't wait.