Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Nebraska Establishes New NLI Agreement, Lubick Previews Sooners Defense, Loper Athletics Nationally Ranked

NEBRASKA ESTABLISHES NEW LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR ATHLETES

The University of Nebraska and The Brandr Group have established a group licensing agreement for the university’s student-athletes covering all the Cornhuskers’ 24 varsity sports. This partnership creates new opportunities for Nebraska’s student-athletes to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness using the school’s official trademarks and logos.

Student-athletes will have the option to voluntarily join a group licensing program. TBG will facilitate group licensing opportunities on behalf of the student-athletes, and the program does not limit individual NIL rights.

LUBICK – OKLAHOMA DEFENSE IS DEEP AND TALENTED

The Husker offense has scored a total of 80 points in the past two wins, but the challenge gets much tougher against a top rated Oklahoma defense in Norman on Saturday.

Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick previews what the Sooners bring to the table…

The Huskers and Sooners will face off on Saturday with kickoff set for 11 AM.

LUBICK – ERVIN SHOWS PROGRESS AT RUNNING BACK

Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice, and had high praise for freshman tailback Gabe Ervin…

Ervin was the first freshman to start the season opener for the Huskers at running back, and had two touchdown runs last week against Buffalo.

LUBICK – ADRIAN KNOWS WHEN TO RUN

Huskers Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick was asked how many designed quarterback runs will be in the playbook when the Huskers take on Oklahoma on Saturday. Lubick states that he trusts Adrian Martinez in knowing when to take off…

Martinez has broken runs of 75 and 71 yards in the first three weeks of the season. 

LUBICK – MARTINEZ DEVELOPMENT HAS IMPROVED PASSING

Adrian Martinez threw for two touchdown passes last weekend against Buffalo and has showed improvement in the passing game since the start of the season.

Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick adds that his quarterback is starting to really get comfortable in the pocket…

Lubick added that his quarterback’s decision to scramble and run for big yardage has aided the offense’s confidence. 

LUBICK – CANNOT GET DISTRACTED BY RIVALRY MATCHUP

As the 50th anniversary of the ‘Game of the Century’ looms over this season’s Nebraska/Oklahoma rivalry matchup, Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick says that he is trying to focus his offense away from the added attention…

The Huskers and Sooners last played in 2010 in the Big 12 Championship Game. Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is set for 11 AM.

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO STANFORD IN FOUR

Despite a valiant effort in the fourth set, No. 6 Nebraska lost their second straight match of the season to No. 16 Stanford 3-1. 

The Huskers sit at 6-2 on the year. The going does not get easier as Nebraska returns home to wrap up their non-conference schedule facing No. 5 Louisville on Saturday.

NEBRASKA TO HOST BIG TEN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

The Big Ten Championships will be hosted by Nebraska in Lincoln on March 9-10 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Huskers will host the Nebraska Duals against Nebraska-Kearney and Chadron State on Thursday, Nov. 11, before their matchup the following week against North Carolina on Thursday, Nov. 18

LOPER CROSS COUNTRY RANKED IN TOP 5 IN REGION, TOP 30 NATIONALLY

The Nebraska-Kearney cross country teams are ranked fourth (men) and fifth (women) in the latest U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Region Rankings.

The Loper women were unranked to begin the fall and now sit at No. 30. The Loper Women won the UNK Invitational on September 3rd with almost a perfect team score.

The UNK men, ranked 26th nationally, are still fourth in the Central after their win at the UNK Invite.

HUSKER MEN’S BASKETBALL TICKETS ON SALE

With tipoff to the season opener two months away, a limited number of season tickets for the 2021-22 Nebraska men’s basketball season are now on sale.  Season tickets start at $168 for the 21-game home schedule

Head Coach Fred Hoiberg and the Huskers return three starters and add a top-15 recruiting class.

The 10-game conference slate is highlighted by exciting Big Ten matchups with Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Iowa and Indiana. The non-conference schedule features games against Creighton and Kansas State, as well as the charity exhibition against Colorado

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL / IOWA MATCH TIME ANNOUNCED

The Nebraska volleyball team’s Saturday, Sept. 25 home match against Iowa has been set for a 2 p.m. start time.

The match will be televised on Nebraska Public Media, formerly known as NET, in a statewide broadcast, streamed on Big Ten Network+ and heard on the Huskers Radio Network.

FOUR LOPERS NAMED TO ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

Four members of the now No.1 ranked Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team have been named to the 2021 Rosella Meier Fall Classic All-Tournament team.

UNK’s selections were seniors middle Anna Squiers and senior setter Maddie Squiers of Kearney Catholic, senior defensive specialist/libero Breanna Jones, and redshirt sophomore right side Sami Mauch from North Platte. 

The Lopers home stand continues this weekend against Emporia State Friday and No. 3 Washburn on Saturday.

CHINANDER – OKLAHOMA A GOOD TEST FOR BLACKSHIRTS

Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice. Chinander gave his scouting report of the Sooners offense…

The Huskers face Oklahoma in Norman on Saturday and kickoff set at 11 AM.

CHINANDER – REIMERS HONOR A TEAM EFFORT

Huskers Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander was asked about his thoughts on sophomore linebacker Luke Reimers Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor… 

Chinanders also mentioned he was pleased with the efforts of Damion Daniels on the defensive line.

CHINANDER – PRACTICING AGAINST MARTINEZ HELPS PREPARE FOR SOONERS

Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander is faced with a tough test Saturday preparing for a top-flight Oklahoma offense led by a Heisman favorite – quarterback Spencer Rattler. 

Chinander adds that this week of preparation for his defense involves practicing against their own quarterback…

Rattler is widely regarded as a top quarterback for the NFL Draft. 

CHINANDER – BLACKSHIRTS ENJOY SETTING TONE AFTER COIN TOSS

Nebraska elected to defer to the second half when winning the toss for only the third time in the Scott Frost era in last week’s win over Buffalo. 

Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander relishes in letting his unit set the tone….

Frost has not said as to what his decision will be if the Huskers win the toss against Oklahoma, but added in his Monday presser he was happy with the results from the Blackshirts in the opening moments last Saturday.

NEBRASKA SOFTBALL FANS CAN ATTEND THURSDAY SCRIMMAGE

The Nebraska softball team will hold the first of two fall intrasquad scrimmages this Thursday at 3:45 p.m. Nebraska will also scrimmage at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23.

Gates will open at 3:15 p.m. Concessions will not be open, but fans will be allowed to bring their own food and drink into Bowlin Stadium. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:

• • • Girls Golf @ Hastings
      • TEAM – 2nd place
      • INDIVIDUAL:
        • Hannah Lydiatt – 3rd
        • Sydney Peterson – 5th
        • Addi Peterson – 10th
        • Alexa Mahalek – 11th
    • Boys Tennis Dual @ North Platte
      • Kearney High defeats North Platte 9-0
      • SINGLES:
        • #1 Asher Saulsbury defeated Layton Moss 8-0
        • #2 Eli Bond defeated Beckett Allen 8-0
        • #3 Quinten Shaffer defeated Joe Stone 8-3
        • #4 Sam Rademacher defeated Marcus Trotta 8-0
        • #5 Andy Vu defeated Cy Wagner 8-2
        • #6 Jackson Bokenkamp defeated Broedy Roblee 8-1
      • DOUBLES:
        • #1 Sam Rademacher/Jackson Bokenkamp defeated Cy Wagner/Joe Stone 8-0
        • #2 Quinten Shaffer/Andy Vu defeated Marcus Trotta/Gabe Hulquist 8-0
        • #3 Eli Bond/Asher Saulsbury defeated Layton Moss/Beckett Allen 8-0
    • Softball @ Norfolk (DOUBLE HEADER)
      • GAME 1: Kearney 10-2
      • GAME 2: Norfolk 7-3
    • Volleyball @ Columbus
      • Kearney 3-0

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:

• • Softball Triangular v. Polk County & Gothenburg
    • Kearney Catholic 15-4 Polk County
    • Kearney Catholic 10-5 Gothenburg

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Cross Country @ Lincoln – 10 AM
  • Softball @ Columbus (DOUBLE HEADER) – 5 PM
  • Volleyball v. Grand Island – 6:30 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Tennis @ Lexington Invite – 9 AM
  • Cross Country @ Ravenna – 4 PM
  • Softball at Twin River Triangular – 4:30 PM

• UNK:

• • Women’s Tennis @ Metro State (Denver, CO.) – 3 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball Invite @ La Vista – 9 AM
  • Football @ Millard West – 7 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball @ Gothenburg Invite – 2:15 PM
  • Football v. Ogallala – 7 PM

• UNK:

• • Women’s Tennis @ CSU-Pueblo – 1:30 PM
  • Women’s Soccer v. Washburn – 6 PM
  • Volleyball v. Emporia State @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball Invite @ Papillion-La Vista – 9 AM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball @ Gothenburg Invite – 11:45 AM
  • Softball @ North Platte Tournament – 12 PM

• UNK:

• • Cross Country @ Missouri Southern Stampede (Joplin, MO.)
  • Football v. Washburn – 1 PM
  • Volleyball v. Washburn – 6 PM