PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME 2022 CLASS ANNOUNCED:
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 is unique, as for the first time since 2012, a first-time eligible finalist was not selected for enshrinement, four of the five modern-era enshrinees are on the defensive side of the ball and four of the five were eligible for at least 10 years.
Tackle Tony Boselli, safety LeRoy Butler, linebacker Sam Mills, defensive tackle/end Richard Seymour and defensive tackle Bryant Young are the modern-era enshrinees. Wide receiver Cliff Branch, who was the seniors finalist, former NFL director of officiating Art McNally (contributor finalist) and former Rams, Eagles and Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil were also selected for enshrinement.
The class will be formally honored in early August in Canton, Ohio.
UNK WOMEN BLOW PAST NORTHEASTERN STATE:
Three starters scored in double figures and Nebraska-Kearney simply shut down Northeastern State, 71-49, Thursday evening at the Health & Sports Center.
The Lopers moved to 18-5 (13-4) to remain in a logjam at the top of the MIAA standings. After tonight’s action UNK is in third place, right behind Missouri Southern and Fort Hays (both 14-3) and just ahead of Missouri Western (12-4). MWSU visits Kearney in two weeks.
The Lopers dominated inside to the tune of a 44-26 advantage in paint points and also went to the line 26 times. Kearney shot 47 percent (25 of 53) to have its highest point total since January 20.
Rogers State (10-14, 6-12) lost at Hays tonight, 78-49, and comes to Buckle Court on Saturday afternoon.
UNK MEN FALL IN LATE RUN TO RIVERHAWKS:
The Northeastern State RiverHawks closed on a 14-2 run to get past Nebraska-Kearney, 71-63, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.
NSU (12-11, 7-10) takes the season series from UNK (9-14, 5-12) by a combined 15 points and puts a dent into the Lopers MIAA Tournament hopes.
The Blue & Gold hosts Rogers State (14-9, 8-9) Saturday afternoon in another effort to move up the league standings.
HUSKER WOMEN FALL TO OHIO STATE:
Nebraska fought for 40 minutes but was unable to overcome cold shooting in an 80-70 loss at No. 21 Ohio State on Thursday night at the Schottenstein Center.
Alexis Markowski led the Big Red with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaz Shelley added 14 points and five assists, but Nebraska still slipped to 17-6 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten.
The Huskers conclude their three-game Big Ten road trip on Saturday when they travel to Illinois. Tip-off between Nebraska and Illinois at the State Farm Center in Champaign is set for 2 p.m.
RODGERS MVP, KUPP OFFENSIVE POTY; OTHER NFL AWARDS ANNOUNCED:
The NFL held its annual awards show on Thursday as several of the most prestigious awards were handed out to NFL stars.
To the surprise of no one, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers won his fourth MVP award, his second in a row. Rodgers led the Packers to a 13-4 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. He edged out the recently retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and several others for that honor.
Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp put together one of the most productive seasons by a pass-catcher in NFL history, becoming only the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to win the NFL’s receiving Triple Crown and winning Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Despite missing two full games and parts of several others due to injury, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt finally captured his first DPOY award after capping off a historic season with 22.5 sacks, tying Michael Strahan’s 2002 single-season sack record in the final regular-season game.
Ja’Marr Chase earned Offensive Rookie of the Year, Micah Parsons won Defensive Rookie of the Year, Joe Burrow won Comeback Player of the Year, and Mike Vrabel of the Titans won Coach of the Year.
AQUALOPERS SIT IN SIXTH AT RMAC CHAMPIONSHIPS:
The Nebraska-Kearney Aqualopers are sitting in sixth place with an even 100 points after two days of the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships in Grand Junction, Colo.
UNK broke three-school records on Wednesday and was aiming for more but the 400-medley relay team was disqualified for an early start on one leg. That cost the Aqualopers some team points but they are still ahead of Adams State (52) and right behind Colorado State-Pueblo (131).
Action resumes today at 10 a.m. Central.
HUSKER MEN EARN FIRST CONFERENCE WIN IN NEARLY A YEAR:
Alonzo Verge Jr. netted 20 of his 22 points in the second half, as Nebraska put together one of its best performances of the season in a 78-65 win over Minnesota Wednesday evening. The conference win is the first in 11 months for the Huskers.
Nebraska won the game on the defensive end, holding Minnesota to 39 percent shooting and forcing 18 turnovers against a Gopher team which entered the contest averaging fewer than 10 turnovers per game. NU converted those miscues into 25 points.
Up next, the Huskers will hit the road to face Iowa on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT).
HUSKER MEN’S BASKETBALL MINNESOTA POSTGAME COMMENTS:
HOIBERG – FEELS GREAT TO WIN AFTER NORTHWESTERN LOSS
The Nebraska Men’s Basketball are winless in the conference no more. After Wednesday’s win over Minnesota, Head Coach Fred Hoiberg started his press conference off with high praise for his defense for setting the tone…
Hoiberg also heavily credited the defense played by Trey McGowens, holding one of Minnesota’s top scorers nearly scoreless in the first half.
HOIBERG – OFFENSE IN SECOND HALF KEPT PRESSURE ON MINNESOTA
The Huskers Men’s Basketball team won a conference game for the first time in nearly a year as Nebraska downed Minnesota on Wednesday night. Head Coach Fred Hoiberg added that the second half offense came out gunning to close out the contest…
The Huskers kept the pressure on Minnesota defensively as well, converting 18 turnovers into 25 points.
HOIBERG – EVERYONE CONTRIBUTED TO WIN
Plenty of praise to go around for the Husker Men’s first conference win of the season as Head Coach Fred Hoiberg heaped on applause for his team in his postgame comments…
Nebraska takes their short winning streak to Iowa for another conference clash on Sunday.
HOIBERG – ALONZO’S BEST GAME HELPED GET WIN
Nebraska Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fred Hoiberg celebrated a win over Minnesota on Wednesday with his team in his postgame interview, also adding that it may have been Alonzo Verge’s best game of the year…
Verge had 2 points entering halftime but scored his next 20 in the second half to lead the Huskers to the 78-65 win over the Golden Gophers.
UNK SWIMMING’S NASH BREAKS 30 YEAR OLD RECORD:
Senior Claire Nash (Overland Park, Kan.) made a big splash in the morning prelims when she turned in a 24.20 in the 50 freestyle to place sixth out of 43. The time put her in the evening “A” final and bested a 31-year old school-record (24.36/Yohara Salinas; March 1991). One of the top sprinters in school history, Nash has been knocking on the door of the record, having a 24.49 in November. She went on to have a 24.24 in the finals, good for eighth place and 11 team points. Previously, she set the 100 (53.08) and 200 free (1:55.38) school marks.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- UNK:
-
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Northeastern State
- UNK 71-49
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Northeastern State
- NSU 71-63
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Northeastern State
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- SWIMMING & DIVING: HAC Championships @ Fremont – 11 AM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln North Star – 6 PM @ Kearney High School
- Pregame on KGFW at 5:45 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln North Star – 7:45 PM @ Kearney High School
- Pregame on KGFW at 7:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- WRESTLING: DISTRICTS @ O’Neill
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Lincoln Christian – 5 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Lincoln Christian – 7 PM
- UNK:
- SOFTBALL: @ Lubbock Texas
- v. Colorado Mines – 10 AM
- v. Lubbock Christian – 2 PM
- MENS TRACK: @ Indoor Gorillas Classic @ Pittsburg, KS
- WRESTLING: @ Fort Hays State – 7 PM
- SOFTBALL: @ Lubbock Texas
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- SOFTBALL: @ Cottey College (Nevada, MO) – 1 PM (Doubleheader)
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Briar Cliff University – 6 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ Briar Cliff University – 7:45 PM
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- WRESTLING: DISTRICT WRESTLING @ Kearney High School – 9:30 AM
- SWIMMING & DIVING: HAC Championships @ Fremont – 2 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Fremont – 4 PM
- Pregame on KGFW at 3:45 PM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Fremont – 5:45 PM
- Pregame on KGFW at 5:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- SWIMMING & DIVING: Kearney Invite – 9:30 AM @ Kearney High School
- WRESTLING: DISTRICTS @ O’Neill
- UNK:
- MENS TRACK: @ Indoor Gorillas Classic @ Pittsburg, KS
- MENS TRACK: @ Ichabod Invite @ Wichita, KS
- WOMENS TRACK: @ Washburn Invite
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Rogers State @ Health & Sports Center – 2 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Rogers State @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- WOMENS WRESTLING: @ Warrior Open – Fremont
- M/W T&F: @ Concordia Invite – 10 AM
- SOFTBALL: @ Cottey College Round Robin
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ No. 8 Morningside – 2 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ Morningside – 3:45 PM
