KGFW Wednesday Afternoon Sports – 8/23/2023

SIX HUSKERS NAMED TO SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST:

Six Nebraska football players were named to the Senior Bowl Watch List. Offensive linemen Bryce Benhart and Ben Scott, running back Anthony Grant, defensive back Quinton Newsome, linebacker Luke Reimer and defensive lineman Ty Robinson each earned a spot on the watch list.

The 2024 Senior Bowl will be held on Feb. 3, 2024, in Mobile, Alabama. Elite draft prospects from around the country are selected to showcase their talent at the Senior Bowl and connect with coaches and decision-makers from all 32 NFL teams.

For more on each player, visit KGFW.com.

SPORTS NIGHTLY – MATT RHULE COACHES SHOW COMMENTS:

RHULE – WANTING EARLY SUCCESS FOR SENIORS:

Nebraska Football Head Coach Matt Rhule held his monthly coaches show on Sports Nightly on Tuesday night, and began his segment by saying he is yearning for early success to give back to the dedicated players…

The Huskers are a little over a week out from beginning the Matt Rhule era in Minnesota facing the Golden Gophers on Aug. 31. 

RHULE – MOST PLAYERS HAVE ACCEPTED NEW CHANGES:

Matt Rhule, Nebraska Football Head Coach, joined Sports Nightly for his monthly coaches show on Tuesday night and was asked about the buy-in from players who stayed through the coaching changes…

Nebraska had several players declare for the NFL Draft, leave via graduation, or depart using the transfer portal – including returning starter Myles Farmer at the beginning of fall camp.

RHULE – NEW FACILITY IS TOP-NOTCH FOR ATHLETE RECOVERY:

Nebraska Athletics had pooled their resources over the past few years into a new strength and training complex attached to Memorial Stadium specifically for the use of the football program. Matt Rhule added that the state of the art facility is first class in a significant department…

At Rhule’s initial press conference, he stressed the importance of caring for athletes recovery and well-being at Nebraska.

RHULE – UNDERSTAND CARTER MOVING ON:

A change came Tuesday for University of Nebraska leadership as system president Ted Carter stepped away from Nebraska to accept the same position at Ohio State University. Matt Rhule, head football coach for the Huskers, addressed the change during his coaches show on Tuesday night…

Just three months earlier, Carter was given full authority and designation over UNL Athletics – including a spot on the Big Ten Council of Presidents. That role has not yet been filled since Carter’s announcement.

RHULE – WANT TO WIN, BUT WILL NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS SETTING STANDARDS:

Matt Rhule, Nebraska Football Head Coach, spoke during his Tuesday night Sports Nightly appearance about the importance of setting the new standard of Big Red Football…

The Huskers had suspended several players from the spring and fall camps, including now departed safety Myles Farmer who entered the transfer portal during the first week of camp.

RHULE – MINNESOTA MINDSET IS HOW TO WIN GAMES:

Nebraska Football begins their season at Minnesota on Aug. 31, and Head Coach for the Huskers Matt Rhule spoke about his thoughts on the Golden Gopher program during his coaches show on Tuesday night…

Nebraska aims to take down PJ Fleck and the Gophers to open Big Ten play. 

LOPER FOOTBALL TUESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS – RYAN HELD:

HELD – HEAT ADJUSTMENT FOR PRACTICES:

Head Coach for the Lopers Ryan Held spoke after Tuesday night’s practice about the advantages his team gains in practicing later in the evening due to the extreme heat in Kearney…

UNK opens their season next Thursday, Aug. 31 at Central Oklahoma. 

HELD – STUDENT-ATHLETE BALANCE:

First year Head Coach for UNK Football Ryan Held spoke after Tuesday night’s practice saying with the semester starting back up for the Lopers, it is all about balance this time of year…

UNK began classes on Monday this week, as the Lopers still have eight days to prepare for their first game of the regular season.

HELD – LOPER FOOTBALL WANTS TO GIVE BACK TO SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE:

Loper Football has continued their fall camp work under the lights in an adjustment to the extreme heat in Kearney this week, and first year Head Coach Ryan Held stated after the session he’s excited to see students back on campus…

UNK will host a scrimmage this evening that is open to the public and students to attend. 

HELD – TEAM IS DIALED IN TO COMPETE IN MIAA:

Ryan Held, first year Head Coach for UNK Football, stated after Tuesday’s practice that he likes the focus and energy from his team heading into the start of the season…

Held added that his team’s focus in practice – including their evening session last night – has been impressive throughout in preseason action.

NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TUESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS – OC MARCUS SATTERFIELD:

SATTERFIELD – OFFENSE MUST IMPROVE ON FOCUS, URGENCY:

Offensive coordinator for Nebraska Football Marcus Satterfield spoke to the media after Tuesday’s practice, saying he had to challenge the offense to keep their attention…

Nebraska is less than ten days away from beginning the Matt Rhule era at Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31. 

SATTERFIELD – PROUD OF OFFENSIVE LINE:

Marcus Satterfield – Nebraska Offensive Coordinator – has been impressed from the work and improvement of his offensive line throughout fall camp…

Satterfield added that the Huskers are comfortable with seven offensive lineman currently – including injured tackle Teddy Prochaszka.

SATTERFIELD – FALL CAMP HAS IMPROVED OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS:

Marcus Satterfield, Nebraska Football’s offensive coordinator stated after Tuesday’s practice that his team has improved on their field mechanics and system flows throughout fall camp…

Satterfield added his team can now use some elements of the no-huddle when necessary, but had stated in spring ball his intention to primarily use a huddle for the offense.

SATTERFIELD – OFFENSE TEMPO CAN MOVE FAST:

Offensive Coordinator for Nebraska Football Marcus Satterfield has been a proponent of an old-school, slower tempo huddle system. However, after Tuesday’s practice he added his players have added some faster elements in their own time…

Nebraska will showcase their new offensive philosophies on Thursday, Aug. 31 against Minnesota. 

SATTERFIELD – SIMS HAS HIT HIS IMPROVEMENT GOALS:

Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield has been steadily impressed by transfer quarterback Jeff Sims throughout preseason camp, as he added after Tuesday’s session that the former Georgia Tech passer has beaten his off-season goals…

The Huskers are hoping to rely on Sims athleticism, as he was added to the Davey O’Brien award watch list earlier this offseason.

SATTERFIELD – OFFENSE CONTINUES TO REMAIN HEALTHY:

Nebraska Football’s offense has had some bumps and bruises so far in fall camp, but offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield was elated after Tuesday’s practice about the relative health of his squad…

The significant drops have been offensive tackle Teddy Prochaszka and receiver Marcus Washington, as both are expected to be back in full prior to the Minnesota matchup.

NU PRESIDENT TED CARTER STEPS DOWN; LEAVES VACANCY:

The Nebraska University system is looking for new leadership.

And so are Husker Athletics. With the departure of NU system President Ted Carter, the right hand position of the Board of Regents is open.

Carter has accepted the President position at Ohio State University and was unanimously approved by his appointment today in their Board of Regents meeting.

Just over two months ago, Carter was given added authority over the biggest brand in the system: Husker Athletics. That move placed oversight and big picture planning for the UNL athletic department under the system president, after previously residing with the UNL chancellor.

The move also made Carter the representative for Nebraska on the Big Ten’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors. That position has held extra weight over the last few years amid a pandemic and conference expansion.

LOPER VOLLEYBALL VOTED No. 16 IN AVCA POLL:

The UNK volleyball team is ranked 16th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II preseason coaches’ poll.

The poll is voted upon by a panel of head coaches from around the country. The next poll will be released on Sept. 4.

UNK, which finished the 2022 season ranked 15th in this poll, garnered 463 points this time around to come in ahead of MIAA rival Washburn (374). 

The Central Region has eight of the nation’s top 17 teams with Concordia-St. Paul (1,096; five first place), Wayne State (912), St. Cloud State (800), Minnesota-Duluth (780), Southwest Minnesota State (593), and Northwest Missouri State (536) ahead of the Lopers.

Since becoming a D2 member in the fall of 1990, this marks the 377th week UNK has been ranked.

The Lopers host No. 3 Metro State (Aug. 25 and Aug. 26) and South Dakota Mines (Aug. 26) in scrimmages this weekend at the Health & Sports Center.

HUSKER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TICKETS ON SALE:

Tickets for Nebraska women’s basketball’s 2023-24 season are on sale now.

Nebraska’s 17-game home ticket package includes nine games against Big Ten Conference opponents, seven non-conference games and one exhibition contest.

Nebraska Head Coach Amy Williams welcomes back a strong returning nucleus for the Huskers in 2023-24, led by All-Big Ten guard Jaz Shelley and All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCHEDULE:

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE:

Colorado Rockies @ Tampa Bay Rays – 5:40 PM

Washington Nationals @ New York Yankees – 6:05 PM

Toronto Blue Jays @ Baltimore Orioles – 6:05 PM

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Cleveland Guardians – 6:10 PM

New York Mets @ Atlanta Braves – 6:20 PM

Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros – 7:10 PM

Cincinnati Reds @ Los Angeles Angels – 8:38 PM

Buffalo County Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN BUFFALO COUNTY SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Golf: @ Doniphan-Trumbull Invite
    • 3rd; TEAM = 234
    • Taylor McGuire = 6th; 51
    • Lauren Nore = 8th; 53
  • Softball: v. Centura/Central Valley @ Patriot Park
    • KCHS/Amherst 9-7 CCV
• AMHERST:
  • Softball: v. Centura/Central Valley @ Patriot Park
    • KCHS/Amherst 9-7 CCV

WEDNESDAY:

High School Sports:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball: @ Lincoln Northeast @ Doris Blair Complex – POSTPONED
    • Rescheduled to Monday, Aug. 28

College Athletics:

• UNK LOPERS:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS:
  • N/a
• NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS:
  • N/a

KGFW Sports Schedule:

• Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)