Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Board of Regents Consider Beer Sales for Huskers, Top Three Coaches for Huskers Rumors, Joseph Press Comments, Local Sports Schedule

BOARD OF REGENTS TO CONSIDER BEER SALES AND MULTIMEDIA DEALS:

The Nebraska Board of Regents is expected to consider a number of athletics-related proposals at its Sept. 30 meeting.

Among the proposals will be the sale of beer at Pinnacle Bank Arena, approval of Nebraska’s new multimedia rights partner and potential improvements to Memorial Stadium. 

Nebraska will seek approval to begin selling beer at Pinnacle Bank Arena this coming season. Beer sales at Memorial Stadium are not part of the agenda for Sept. 30, though Nebraska sought one-time approval for beer sales at Memorial Stadium for the Garth Brooks concert in Aug. 2021. Regents also approved beer sales at Pinnacle Bank Arena for the Big Ten wrestling championships last March. 

Sources also confirmed that Nebraska plans to seek approval for its new multimedia rights partner. Nebraska brought its multimedia rights in-house in the summer of 2021, then reached an agreement with JMI in the spring on a 12-year deal for $215 million before that deal fell through a month later. 

This time around, industry and University sources expect Nebraska to partner with Playfly Sports. It’s expected that the new deal will eclipse the previous contract with JMI in both length and the financial guarantee, and be among the largest ever signed by a college athletic program. 

NEW REPORT NAMES POTENTIAL TOP THREE HUSKERS COACH CHOICES:

According to a report, three coaches — Matt Campbell, Lance Leipold and Bill O’Brien — are among those being considered for the open Nebraska football coaching job.

Bruce Feldman, a national reporter for The Athletic, said that trio is “high” on NU’s list.

Campbell, the Iowa State coach, would have been a top candidate had NU fired Scott Frost last season, according to the Omaha World Herald. Campbell’s salary and buyout — both $4 million — are on the low end compared to most Big Ten coaches.

Leipold makes less at Kansas — $2.8 million — and has ties to Nebraska, having worked on coach Frank Solich’s staff between long stints at UNO when the Mavericks still had a football program.

Currently the offensive coordinator for Alabama, O’Brien served as Penn State’s coach two seasons, 2012 and 2013, after the school fired Joe Paterno amid the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Given NCAA limitations and national scrutiny, O’Brien’s 15-9 record stood out as a positive before he took the Houston Texans job in the NFL.

HUSKERS’ ALLEN DONE FOR YEAR:

Nebraska has lost its No. 2 running back for the rest of the season.

Ajay Allen was injured during the Oklahoma game Saturday and underwent surgery Monday, interim head coach Mickey Joseph said.

A true freshman from Louisiana, Allen had 33 rushes for 190 net yards and 5.8 yards per carry. Because he played in just four games, 2022 will be a redshirt year for him. Gabe Ervin Jr., who a year ago suffered a season-ending injury against the Sooners, is likely to step into the No. 2 spot at running back

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL – MICKEY JOSEPH COMMENTS:

JOSEPH – CHINANDER DECISION:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football Mickey Joseph spoke during his bye week press conference Tuesday and shared his thoughts on why defensive coordinator Erik Chinander was let go… 

Chinander’s defense after four games currently ranks 128th out of 131 teams in total defense across college football including giving up a school record for yards in a contest against Georgia Southern. 

JOSEPH – DEFENSE MUST GET BACK FUNDAMENTALS:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph spoke to the media on Tuesday and discussed what the defense needs to work on during the bye week to have better success in conference play… 

Joseph continued in saying that the mentality is that it is “Nebraska against Nebraska” during the bye week practices. 

JOSEPH – CHALLENGE FOR BYE WEEK:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph addressed the media on Tuesday and began his press conference giving the goals for the Huskers bye week after a 1-3 start… 

Joseph added that his team practiced Tuesday and Wednesday and has a scheduled practice on Thursday, with the team off on Friday and Saturday. 

JOSEPH – LSU PRACTICES TAUGHT ME A LOT:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph arrived from LSU this offseason before coming back to his alma mater at Nebraska. During his tenure as wide receivers coach for the Tigers, LSU won the 2020 National Championship. Joseph added at his Tuesday press conference he often reflects back on that team and what can apply to this Nebraska roster… 

Joseph also had a hand in churning out four NFL draft picks, three of which went in the first round while at LSU. 

JOSEPH – OFFENSE WILL BEGIN TO SLOW TEMPO:

Mickey Joseph, interim Head Coach for Husker Football, spoke on what changes may be coming to the Big Red offense – especially in regards to aiding the defense… 

Nebraska was gashed by Oklahoma early and often last Saturday and Joseph added in his Tuesday presser that he should have slowed the tempo down early in the game to limit possessions. 

JOSEPH – RECRUITING HARD IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR NEBRASKA:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football Mickey Joseph continues to preach the right mottos across Big Red Football, as he was asked at his Tuesday press conference what his plan for recruiting throughout the rest of the season will be…

Nebraska has already lost one commitment after the firing of defensive coordinator Erik Chinander. However, several other Husker commits have re-pledged their verbal commitments on social media and to the Nebraska staff. 

KEARNEY HIGH NAMES THREE FORMER COACHES TO HALL OF FAME:

Kearney High School will induct three individuals into the Kearney High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, September 23 at the Bearcat Football game at UNK’s Foster Field at half time.

Three coaches were selected for the Hall of Fame including Roger Mathiesen, Steve Larson, and Craig Lathrop.  Mathiesen was Head Boys Track and Field Coach for 37 years from 1980-2017.  Steve Larson was a coach at KHS for 48 years.  He coached football, track, shot put and discus.  Craig Lathrop coached for 41 years as Assistant Track and Field Coach, Assistant Football Coach and Strength Program Coordinator.

A full list of accomplishments by the coaches can be found at KGFW.com here.

YANKEES GIVE GRAND SLAM “JUDGE”MENT CALL TO PIRATES:

Aaron Judge sent a sinker soaring into the left-field bleachers, another of his no-doubt drives, and circled the bases for the 60th time.

Modest throughout a march into history that now has him level with Babe Ruth, Judge then took a moment far more rare than one of his long balls — a curtain call.

Giancarlo Stanton followed Judge’s drive with a game-ending grand slam, completing New York’s stunning five-run, ninth-inning rally to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8 on Tuesday night.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball: v. Lincoln SW (Doubleheader)
    • GAME 1: Lincoln SW 12-1
    • GAME 2: Lincoln SW 12-2
  • Volleyball: v. Lincoln High
    • KHS 3-1

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Tennis: Triangular v. LNE & LSW – 3 PM @ Lincoln Woods Tennis Center
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Golf: Lincoln East Invite – 9:30 AM @ Highlands Golf Course
  • Boys Tennis: Dual v. Alliance @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
  • Softball: @ GISH (Doubleheader) – 5 PM @ Veterans Field Softball Complex
    • Pregame on KGFW at 4:45 PM w/ Alex Hammeke 
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Softball: v. Lexington – 4:30 PM
  • Volleyball: @ Northwest (GI) Triangular – 5 PM
• UNK:
  • Softball: @ Nebraska-Lincoln (Huskers) – 6:30 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney High Softball @ GISH Doubleheader (4:45 PM – 10 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Football: v. North Platte – 7 PM @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium
    • Pregame at 6:30 PM, Kickoff at 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Tennis: @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
  • Football: v. Amherst – 7 PM @ Kearney Catholic High School
• UNK:
  • Women’s Tennis: @ ITA Central Regional – @ Edmond, OK
  • Volleyball: @ Missouri Western – 6 PM
  • Women’s Soccer: @ Missouri Western, 7 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • High School Football Preview Show (6 PM – 6:30 PM)
  • Kearney High Football v. North Platte (6:30 PM – 10 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball: Lincoln SE Invite – 8:30 AM @ Doris Bair Softball Complex
  • Volleyball: @ Seaman Invite – 8:30 AM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Golf: @ Centennial Conference Meet
  • Volleyball: @ Aurora Invite – 9 AM
  • Softball: @ Adams Central Invite – 10 AM
• UNK:
  • Women’s Tennis: @ ITA Central Regional – @ Edmond, OK
  • Women’s Swim: v. Sam Freas Invite – @ Edmond, OK
  • Football: v. Central Missouri – 1 PM @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium
  • Volleyball: @ Central Missouri – 2 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Volleyball v. Ohio State (6:30 PM – 9:45 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Tennis: @ ITA Central Regional – @ Edmond, OK
  • Women’s Soccer: @ Northwest Missouri State – 1 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • N/a