Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Husker Volleyball Hosts Hoosiers, Stars Battle Crusaders at State, Former Bearcat Earns GPAC Honors, Nebraska Football Coordinator Comments, Snyder Exploring Sale of Commanders, Self Suspended by Kansas

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL HOSTS HOOSIERS:

The fourth-ranked Nebraska volleyball team is back in action at the Bob Devaney Sports Center with an 8 p.m. match against Indiana tonight.

At 19-2 overall and 11-1 in the Big Ten Conference, Nebraska is tied for the league lead with Ohio State and Wisconsin. 

In Big Ten matches only, Nebraska ranks first in opponent hitting percentage (.113), first in opponent kills allowed (10.69 per set) and first in opponent service aces allowed (0.51).

Indiana is 13-11 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers are coming off a 3-1 loss at Purdue on Sunday that snapped a four-match win streak. 

Pregame begins at 7:30 PM after Sports Nightly on KGFW.

FORMER BEARCAT GARNER EARNS GPAC HONOR:
As a result of her performance in last week’s regular season finale (a 2-0 win over Doane), former Kearney Bearcat and Concordia freshman Kierstynn Garner was named GPAC Offensive Player of the Week. 

In her first collegiate season, Garner has immediately become the team’s top goal scorer. She notched her eighth goal of the season in the victory over Doane and also assisted the goal scored by Savannah Andrews. Garner has started all 17 games and has produced five game-winning goals.

HUSKER FOOTBALL TUESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS – COORDINATORS:

WHIPPLE – UNFAIR TO PUT QUARTERBACKS IN CAROUSEL AGAINST ILLINOIS:

Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple spoke to the media on Wednesday and talked about his faults in the Illinois game, including the switching of quarterbacks in the second quarter after the Casey Thompson injury…

Nebraska has continued to practice both Logan Smothers and Chubba Purdy with the No. 1 offense so far this week in preparation for Minnesota. 

WHIPPLE – MINNESOTA DEFENSE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ILLINOIS:

Huskers Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple addressed the media on Wednesday and said there isn’t much carry-over from last week’s game plan against Illinois to this week’s preparation against Minnesota…

The Minnesota defense aims to shut down the Big Red attack this Saturday at 11 AM at Memorial Stadium.

WHIPPLE – DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCES IN ILLINI AND GOLDEN GOPHERS:

Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple broke down the differences from the Huskers’ last opponent in Illinois to this Saturday’s matchup with Minnesota…

Nebraska hosts Minnesota on Saturday at 11 AM, as it is still uncertain which quarterback will begin the game under center for the Big Red. 

BUSCH – HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE COACHING THIS TEAM:

Bill Busch, Nebraska’s interim defensive coordinator, spoke to the media after Wednesday’s practice and wanted to share how much this team has meant to him…

Nebraska named Busch the interim defensive coordinator after the Oklahoma loss.

BUSCH – MINNESOTA OFFENSE PREVIEW:

Nebraska’s interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch addressed the media after Wednesday’s practice and previewed what the Minnesota offense has in store for the Husker defense…

Nebraska aims to slow down another strong Big Ten rushing attack, as Minnesota averages 223 yards per game on the ground.

HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – MICKEY JOSEPH:

JOSEPH – NEBRASKA IS GETTING BACK TO WORK:

Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph opened up his Tuesday press conference saying his team really felt the impact of the loss to Illinois last Saturday…

Nebraska is currently listed as eleven point underdogs at home to Minnesota.

JOSEPH – CASEY DAY-TO-DAY MOVING FORWARD:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football Mickey Joseph gave an update on quarterback Casey Thompson’s injury after the Texas transfer missed 2 ½ quarters of action against Illinois…

Joseph later stated he has been rotating Chubba Purdy and Logan Smothers at quarterback this week in practice and will continue to work both backups throughout his preparation.

JOSEPH – CHUBBA NEEDS TIME; MUST SETTLE INTO QUARTERBACK:

Mickey Joseph, interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football, spoke to the media on Tuesday and was asked about what backup quarterback Chubba Purdy can do to improve his stock…

Purdy played the entire second half against Illinois, completing 3 of 8 passes for 15 yards. 

JOSEPH – OFFENSE WILL CONTINUE SIMILAR PREP FOR EITHER QUARTERBACK:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football Mickey Joseph stated that a two quarterback system could be in place for the Huskers as they take on Minnesota on Saturday. Joseph was asked if that affects the rest of the offense…

Nebraska has played all three quarterbacks in different instances throughout the season. 

JOSEPH – DIFFERENCES IN BACKUP QUARTERBACKS:

Mickey Joseph, interim Head coach for Nebraska, described some of the differences in his backup quarterback options heading into the matchup with Minnesota on Saturday…

Purdy arrived this off-season from Florida State via the transfer portal, while Smothers has been a part of the Huskers since his recruitment out of the state of Alabama. 

JOSEPH – MINNESOTA RUNNING BACK WILL BE A TOUGH OUT:

Interim Head Coach for Nebraska Football Mickey Joseph spoke on the Huskers opponent for Saturday and how Minnesota’s running back Mo Ibrahim brings some similarities to Illinois…

The Huskers defense aims to stop the Golden Gopher running attack on Saturday with kickoff set for 11 AM.

JOSEPH REPORTEDLY IN RUNNING FOR ARIZONA STATE JOB:

The Arizona State football team has a new candidate to replace Herm Edwards as coach, according to a report from HuskerOnline.

The site reports that Nebraska interim head coach Mickey Joseph “is among those being considered for Arizona State’s head coaching vacancy,” according to Sean Callahan.

Joseph’s brother is Vance Joseph, the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals.

Joseph is also 2-3 as the interim coach of the Huskers. Nebraska hosts Minnesota on Saturday.

PHILLIES TOP ASTROS WITH NEAR RECORD FIVE HOME RUNS IN GAME 3:

Bryce Harper bashed a home run on the first World Series pitch he saw in Philadelphia, and then figured out how the Phillies could hit a few more.

Now, they’re two wins away from their first World Series championship since 2008.

The Phillies tied a World Series record with five homers to rout the Houston Astros 7-0 Tuesday night and take a 2-1 Series lead.

With a sparkling 6-0 record at Citizens Bank Park this postseason, the Phillies just may not return to Texas. Game 4 begins tonight at 7 PM.

SNYDERS TO EXPLORE SALE OF COMMANDERS FRANCHISE:

The NFL’s Washington Commanders could soon be for sale, after owners Dan and Tanya Snyder said they have hired Bank of America Securities to “consider potential transactions.”

The team announced the surprising decision Wednesday to enlist the investment bank’s services. Asked if the Snyders were considering selling part or all of the team, a spokesperson said, “They are exploring all options.”

That could mean a full sale amid mounting pressure and multiple ongoing investigations — Snyder has said many times he would never sell the team — or bringing on new investors more than 18 months after the Snyders bought out the previous minority owners.

BofA Securities has handled other sales of professional sports teams, including Steve Ballmer buying the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers in 2014. A message sent to the firm seeking additional comment was not immediately returned.

KANSAS SUSPENDS SELF FOR FOUR GAMES:

Kansas suspended Hall of Fame coach Bill Self and top assistant Kurtis Townsend for the first four games of the season Wednesday, along with imposing several recruiting restrictions, as part of the fallout from a lengthy FBI investigation into college basketball corruption.

Norm Roberts will be the acting coach for the defending national champions beginning with their opener Monday night against Omaha. Self and Townsend also will miss games against North Dakota State and Southern Utah along with a high-profile showdown between the No. 5 Jayhawks and No. 7 Duke in the Champions Classic.

Self and Townsend will rejoin the team to face North Carolina State at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Nov. 23.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: STATE TOURNAMENT, Lincoln @ Bob Devaney Center
    • #6 Kearney Catholic v. #3 Grand Island Central Catholic – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 7:30 PM)
  • Nebraska Volleyball v. Indiana (7:30 PM – 10:45 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Unified Bowling: @ Grand Island
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Volleyball: v. Pittsburg State @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: STATE TOURNAMENT, Lincoln @ Bob Devaney Center
    • TBA
• UNK:
  • Women’s Swimming: @ UNK Invite @ Kearney High School – 5 PM
  • Volleyball: v. Missouri Southern @ Health & Sports Center – 6 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Volleyball: STATE TOURNAMENT, Lincoln @ Bob Devaney Center
    • TBA
• UNK:
  • Women’s Swimming: @ UNK Invite @ Kearney High School – 9 AM
  • M/W Cross Country: @ Joplin, MO – 10 AM
  • Wrestling: v. Intrasquad Dual – 11 AM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Southern Nazarene @ Kansas City, MO – 11:30 AM
  • Football: v. Central Oklahoma @ Ron & Carol Cope Stadium – 12 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Football v. Minnesota (7 AM – 6 PM; KGFW)
  • Nebraska Football v. Illinois (10:15 AM – 4:15 PM; KQKY)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Basketball: v. West Texas A&M @ Kansas City, MO – 11:30 AM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Volleyball @ Northwestern (12 PM – 3:45 PM)