• In This Issue
1 | From the Huskers Athletic Fund Director 2-3 | Tom Osborne: Legacy of Leadership 4 | Upcoming Events What’s going on with the Huskers Athletic Fund Capital Campaign Update 5 | Coach’s Corner: Assistant Football Coach Rick Kaczenski Did You Know? Fun facts and trivia 6 | Husker Highlight: Emily Cady, Women’s Basketball A Day in the Life: Ethan Rowley, Marketing Director 7 | Remember When? Huskers Defeat Wisconsin, 3-2 for 2000 National Championship Husker Hero: Greichaly Cepero 8 | Donor Diaries: Featuring Florian and Linda Hrdlicka #Huskers: Best of the Twitterverse
Quarterly Newsletter - september
2012
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From the Huskers Athletic Fund Director Dear Huskers, I would like to, first of all, thank you for your continued support of Nebraska Athletics. Our first year in the Big Ten was a successful one full of learning, of growth, and of truly re-discovering how great it is to be a Husker. With this week’s news of Coach Osborne’s retirement, I would first like to recognize the tremendous impact he has made, not just on this athletic department but on the state as a whole. Many of his accomplishments are listed on the next two pages, but his legacy is more than a list of tasks he has completed. His name is synonymous with the tradition of excellence we enjoy at Nebraska, and we are so grateful for his leadership as athletic director since 2007. Throughout the year, we learned new ways to make your donor experience a better one than ever before. When we became the Huskers Athletic Fund a year ago, we were able to bring all of our sport-specific booster clubs under one umbrella, helping to provide better customer service from our office for you by now having all of our donations housed in the NU Foundation. We’ve grown. We’ve learned from our successes, but have also found ways to grow from the things that we can improve. We strive to continually find ways to make your experience with the Huskers memorable, exciting and fun. Our facilities have grown, and continue to grow, with the projects we’ve undertaken in the Expand Their Experience campaign, which you can read more about in this newsletter. Most of all, we’ve re-discovered how unique Nebraska truly is. This fan base is unlike any other in the country -- loyal, energetic, knowledgeable and kind. We’ve traveled to many new places in the last year, and nowhere have we found a fan base like this one. We can provide the best coaches and the best facilities (and we believe we are doing that), but the thing that we continue to hear from our studentathletes is how amazed they are by the people who cheer for them. You are what makes the Nebraska brand so special, and our successes begin with support from you. For that, we can’t thank you enough. We hope you enjoy this newsletter and hope that we’ll see you this season at a game or match. If there is anything we can do to help make your experience better, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you and Go Big Red! Paul Meyers, HAF Director
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Tom Os
Legacy of L
Osborne announces retirement, effective Jan. 1, 2013 University of Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne today announced his plan to retire Jan. 1, 2013. At 75, Osborne - who retired as Nebraska’s head football coach in 1998 and who has led the Husker athletic department for the past five years - will step down as athletic director. On Jan. 1, 2013, Osborne will become athletic director emeritus. He will continue to be actively involved in Athletic Department operations through July 30, 2013. “It has been a pleasure and an honor to work in the Athletic Department for the past five years,” Osborne said. “I hope that there have been some good things that have been accomplished during that time. I appreciate Chancellor Perlman giving me this opportunity. I’ve had the privilege of working with some outstanding people in the athletic department and have confidence that the trajectory of the athletic department is very good.” “It’s been a privilege to work with Tom,” University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman said. “The move into the Big Ten could not have happened without Tom’s support. “He has made the facilities stronger and has expanded the department’s role in assisting students through the student life center. He has been instrumental in incorporating research facilities into the athletics complex that build on the department’s reputation for innovation. “The university and the state of Nebraska are in his debt for the many contributions he has made to both over the course of his career.” Perlman has begun a search for Osborne’s replacement as director of intercollegiate athletics in order to have a new person in the position by 2013. Osborne returned to his Husker roots on Oct. 16, 2007, to become the 13th athletic director at the University of Nebraska. He accepted the position at the time because, Osborne said, “Harvey Perlman asked me.”
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Retiring from football in 1997, Osborne found many ways to stay active in his home state. His most visible post-coaching foray came in the political arena, as he served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska’s 3rd congressional district from 2000 to 2006. A native of Hastings, Neb., Osborne served as a senior lecturer at Nebraska in the College of Business Administration, teaching leadership and business ethics, in the spring and fall semesters in 2007. He completed the fall semester while working in the athletic department. Widely known for his leadership, integrity, honor and compassion, Osborne has poured time and effort into building a unique mentoring program within the state. The TeamMates program, founded by Osborne and his wife, Nancy, in 1991, provides support and encouragement to school-aged youth with the goal of seeing children graduate from high school and pursue a post-secondary education. He said he would use his retirement to become more active in TeamMates.
sborne
Leadership
Upon a foundation of integrity, growth Husker Athletics and the university have seen unprecedented growth in facilities over the past five years. Osborne is currently overseeing three major athletics construction projects: the development of the Pinnacle Bank Arena (a city of Lincoln project), home to the Husker basketball programs upon its completion in fall 2013; the East Memorial Stadium expansion project, to expand seating capacity of the stadium to 92,000 and accommodate the development of a health/ athletics performance research facility and a Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior research, (also by fall 2013); and planning major renovations to Devaney Sports Center for volleyball, set to begin in 2013. He oversaw the development of the Hendricks Training Complex (which opened in October
2011) and the development of the Student Life Complex in the West Memorial Stadium in 2009, the Haymarket Park Indoor Practice Facility for baseball and softball (2011) and the Alloy Strength Complex (2011). As Athletic Director, Osborne quietly re-established an athletic department mission based on five core values integrity, trust, respect, teamwork and loyalty. Since 2007 Osborne has hired six head coaches: Bo Pelini (football), 2008; Chuck Chmelka (men’s gymnastics), 2009; Darin Erstad (baseball), 2011; Dave Harris, (cross country), 2012; Tim Miles (men’s basketball), 2012 and Stacy Underwood (rifle), 2012.
Osborne: THE Standard for Coaches and ADs Randy York’s N-Sider Tom Osborne is the gold standard for college football coaches and, in my opinion, he’s become an equally compelling role model for Division I athletic directors, even if he is less than a month from his 5-year anniversary as Nebraska’s AD. Osborne announced his retirement Wednesday, effective Jan. 1, 2013, and UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman acknowledged that a private search for his replacement has been in progress since August. Since Osborne has stabilized the athletic department, restored its trust and expanded its vision, Perlman has more to offer potential candidates than he had Oct. 16, 2007, when he asked Osborne to return to the athletic department as athletic director.
Five years after reinvigorating one of the NCAA’s most traditional institutions, Osborne is ready to move on with his life. He leaves behind what some call the best facilities in college athletics, a new home for Nebraska in the Big Ten, an unparalleled focus on academics and life skills and an athletic research facility that could build a national, if not global reputation for innovation. With his characteristic calm, Osborne not only guided Nebraska through that 2007 chaos, but somehow managed to squeeze about 15 years of accomplishments into a 5-year chunk of time.
Click here to read the full story
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Coaches’ Corner:
Football Assistant Coach Rick Kaczenski Rick Kaczenski joined the Nebraska coaching staff in December of 2011 and is in his first year as the Huskers’ defensive line coach. The 37-year old Kaczenski was part of Nebraska’s staff for the 2012 Capital One Bowl contest. Coach Kaczenski joined the Nebraska defensive staff after building an impressive resume on Kirk Ferentz’s staff at Iowa. With Coach Kaczenski as a member of the full-time coaching staff from 2007 to 2011, Iowa reached a bowl game in each of his final four seasonas, including an appearance in the Orange Bowl following the 2009 season. His linemen earned nine first- or second-team All-Big Ten awards. We took a few mintues to catch up with a few questions for Coach Kaczenski as he prepares for his first conference game on the sidelines with the Husker coaching staff. How did you transition from Iowa to Nebraska? Coach Pelini and I have known each other for a couple years. A few years ago, after the 2010 season, there were some changes here, and Bo and I spoke then, but we both went different directions. Then the following year, I had the opportunity to be here as an opponent. I knew [Husker strength and conditioning] Coach James Dobson from his years at Iowa, so he and I had been in contact, and he said that if I was going to make a move, I shouldn’t do anything until I talked to Bo. That definitely got my adrenaline going a bit, got me excited, and I was hoping things would work for me to get the opportunity here. Fortunately I got the call from Bo. We played on a Sunday night, and I was on a plane on Tuesday. How do you feel the defensive line has made progress through the summer and fall? I feel great. Guys come to work every day. We’ve got smart players, veteran players, who understand the game, the tempo, the details, and also understand how difficult it is to win not only in this conference but in any conference. We talk about building those blocks, building something up each and every day, and that’s one thing this group has done a great job of, really getting better every day.
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Did you kNow? Husker Trivia You already know that Memorial Stadium holds a lot of people -- it’s the third-largest “city” in Nebraska on football game days! But did you know how much it takes to make sure everyone has a great culinary experience at the stadium? For an average September home game... Husker fans eat
11,833 hot dogs
NU Concessions workers pop and scoop 6,212 boxes of popcorn. Thirsty Husker fans drink 56,701 bottled drinks and 14,195 souvenir cups. Husker fans eat 19,270 slices of pizza. NU Athletics hires 1,193 concessions workers to staff the stadium on game day. It all comes together for 1 great Husker experience!
Update on Expand Their Experience
East Stadium Expansion continues to grow
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, Oct. 10: Huskers Athletic Fund Luncheon Where: West Stadium Club, Level 3 of Memorial Stadium When: 11:30 a.m. Cost: $23 per person/$220 per table of 10 RSVP: This event is sold out, but make your reservations today for our luncheon in December!
Sunday, Oct. 14: Match Club Pizza Party Where: West Stadium Club, Level 3 of Memorial Stadium When: Immediately following the volleyball match vs. Minnesota Cost: Match Club Members: Free Non-members: $5 each RSVP: Online: Via Donornet PHONE: 800-8-BIG RED or 402-472-2367 E-mail: Click here
As the fooball team rolls through the season, fans visiting Memorial Stadium can see that construction continues to progress steadily on the new East Stadium Expansion. The project, which began in May 2011, remains on target for completion in fall of 2013, in time for the Huskers’ home opener against Wyoming. The East Stadium Expansion project includes new public and club seating, indoor/outdoor suites, a Grand Lobby entrance, banquet space, and a brandnew, a state-of-the-art athletic and academic research complex. No state funds are being used for this project. By partnering with research specialists at the University of Nebraska as well as other top scholars across the Big Ten and the Ivy League, this new complex will revolutionize Husker athletes’ experiences by providing the most up-to-date ideas and research possible. From studies of biopsychology and concussions to nutritional beta testing on pastas to technological improvements through motion analysis and software to track and research nearly every element of a studentathlete’s experience, this project is the first of its kind, helping maximize the Husker Power edge that makes Nebraska great. The photos below show the progress this project is making. If you are not already giving to this project, please consider making a gift to make it real and continue to Expand Their Experience. For more information on this expansion as well as the rest of the campaign, visit www.expandtheirexperience.com or call 800-8-BIG RED.
Sunday, Oct. 28: Fastbreakers Club Sneak Peek Banquet Where: West Stadium Club, Level 3 of Memorial Stadium When: 5 p.m. Cost: $15 per person RSVP: Online: Via Donornet Mail: Send a check for $15 per person, with the names of those in your party, to Nebraska Women’s Basketball 222 Hendricks Training Complex Lincoln, NE 68588-0613
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A Day in the Life: Ethan Rowley...
...Marketing Director
Ethan Rowley was promoted to marketing director after serving as assistant director of marketing for two years starting in October 2009. Rowley oversees and executes the marketing plan for men’s basketball, soccer and softball, while also directing Nebraska’s online social media efforts. He also supervises the marketing intern staff of 19 students. 8 a.m.
Get into the office, respond to emails and voicemails
9 a.m.
Meet with our marketing staff to review last week‘s events and talk logistics about upcoming games and events
10 a.m. Work on upcoming week’s football script Noon
Lunch at the Training Table
1 p.m.
Meet with Men’s Basketball Red Zone Student Group to discuss upcoming season and student promotions
2 p.m.
Coordinate with HuskerVision for features and graphics for upcoming football game
3 p.m. Review social media plan for this week - planned posts and game coverage 3:30 p.m. Run weekly intern meeting including brainstorming for our 23 sports, research, scheduling and graphic design training 4:30 p.m. Wrap-up for the day and check emails and voicemails. 5 p.m. If we have night game, report to the game. If not, head home.
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Husker Highlight:
Women’s Basketball Forward Emily Cady You follow your favorite players on the field or court -- but what do you know about them away from the game? This month we get to know a little more about Women’s Basketball sophomore forward Emily Cady. A native of Seward, Neb., Cady was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team and was an Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten pick after a standout freshman campaign in 2012. At the season’s conclusion, Cady ranked in the top 10 in school history for freshmen in several categories, and ranked among the top six freshmen in the Big Ten in five statistical categories as well. How was the transition from high school to college basketball? The transition was pretty easy because there are a lot of people here to help us. The only thing that was really different from high school ball to college ball was that it’s so much more fast-paced and the players we play against here are so much stronger than the people in high school. You played against Jordan Hooper in high school. Does that mean you’re calling her weak? [laughing] Yeah, kind of. A lot of freshmen come in and strive to get time on the court -- but you started right away as a freshman. What are you working toward to now become a better player? I just need to keep working to keep my position. I have to keep working in practices every day so I can keep getting better so Coach Yori can have the faith in me to keep letting me start. How would you describe what has made this team successful so far? Our team chemistry -- we all get along really well. It shows off the court, but I think it shows on the court too, how well-bonded we are. What are some fun things you like to do? Whenever we have a day off, we like to go to the movies, or have a sleepover. Becca Woodberry always does nails, so she’ll come over and do our nails. She loves it, even if you have gross nails, she’ll come over and do them. What’s been your favorite thing about playing college basketball? Meeting all the new girls, new people, and having a special bond with them.
Remember when...
Recalling great moments in Husker history With the Nebraska Volleyball team opening Big Ten play this month, we took a trip down memory lane to recall a big win over a Big Ten rival. From 12 years ago, we give you...
Husker Hero:
Greichaly Cepero
1999-2002 | Setter
Honors:
Huskers Defeat Wisconsin, 3-2 for 2000 National Championship Courtesy: NU Media Relations
| Release: 12/15/2000
Richmond, Va. -- When it was all over Saturday, the Nebraska volleyball team raced to center court and fell to the floor to celebrate the program’s second NCAA national championship and its first-ever undefeated season. The Huskers made history with a 15-9, 9-15, 7-15, 15-2, 15-9 defeat of Wisconsin before 8,444 fans at the Richmond Coliseum.
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The national title caps a season in which the Huskers achieved unprecedented success. The Huskers became just the second team in NCAA history to finish the seaon undefeated with a national title, joining the 1998 Long Beach State squad. Nebraska, ranked No. 1 in the AVCA/USA Today Coaches poll for 14 straight weeks, swept 26 of its 33 opponents in 2000. Only three teams, thenNo. 3 UCLA, No. 17 Kansas State and South Carolina, took NU to five games. The Huskers swept 17 of their 20 league opponents, losing just five games in Big 12 play. Nebraska was 12-0 against ranked foes in 2000.
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Nebraska won its fourth Big 12 title and its 23rd Big Eight/Big 12 championship in the past 25 seasons. The Huskers improved to a 375-32-1 all-time record against Big 12 schools, an amazing .919 winning percentage.
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In the national title match, sophomore setter Greichaly Cepero secured 2000 NCAA Tournament honors by posting 52 assists, eight digs, eight kills and seven blocks against Wisconsin. Sophomore outside hitter Laura Pilakowski had one of the best matches of her career, slamming a match-best 23 kills on .288 hitting and totaling 15 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Amber Holmquist added 16 kills on a .387 hitting efficiency and five blocks. All three were honored on the NCAA all-Tournament team. “This was hard,” said, NU Coach John Cook, the AVCA Coach of the Year in his first season at Nebraska. “I have to take my hat off to Wisconsin, because they played a great match. They stressed us like no other team has, but I knew that if we could come out and get the fourth game, we’d win in the fifth. This has been a wonderful week, and I feel very blessed and very thankful. We took a huge risk redshirting Nancy (Meendering), but this team has played ot its maximum ability.”
Click here to read the rest of the story
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• Big 12 Co-Player of the Year (2002) • First-Team AVCA All-American (2002, 2000) First-Team All-Big 12 (2002, 2001, 2000) First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2002, 2001, 2000) Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year (2002) Second-Team AVCA All-American (2001) Verizon/CoSIDA Third-Team Academic All-American (2001) AVCA Volleyball Player of the Year (2000) Honda Award Winner for Volleyball (2000) Big 12 Volleyball Player of the Year (2000) Big 12 Volleyball Newcomer of Year (1999) Big 12 Freshman of the Year (1999) Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (6 times)
The Personal Side • Major: Business Administration • GPA: 3.406 • Family: Parents, Pedro Cepero and Maria Juan Febres; Sister, Veronica; Brothers, P.J., David, Leonardo • Hometown: Dorado, Puerto Rico • High School: Owings Mills, Md. • Date of Birth: June 11, 1981 • Place of Birth: Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
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#Huskers:
Best of the Twitterverse @ebivens3 Met Tom Osborne in class yesterday! THE man shook my hand! A little girl’s #dreamscancometrue! #huskers @DJ_Jones73 Signing Day 2006 #Blessed to Always have my parents by my side. #Huskers #ThrowBackThursday http://instagr. am/p/PhtmUSqevj/ @HuskerHoops In less than a year, this will be the home of Nebraska Basketball #Huskers http://bit.ly/UbfZpg @AustinStark Hail Varsity playing in the bell tower. It’s almost gameday! #Huskers @HuskersFund Another #Huskers student-athlete making his mark! Former @ NUTrackandField Alex Adams is working to improve cleats: http://bit. ly/QZNm20 @Coatman1 So proud of @huskerswbb @ seym00re & @JordanHooper35. Named to pre-sesaon Wade National Player of Year Watch List! #huskers @PaulLadwig #Huskers Great fans. Great Tailgating. Great game production. Great Traditions. Great noise. Great Ballon release. Great FB @nothingradiant What makes UNL amazing for me is our awesome athletic programs! Go Big Red! #UNL24 #Huskers @HuskerInsanity Here’s the “wave” done at the Nebraska game yesterday bit.ly/ RczAH5 Good work, #Huskers fans (and the scattered Idaho State fans)
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Donor Diaries:
Florian and Linda Hrdlicka The Huskers Athletic Fund is fortunate to have an incredible base of donors across each of Nebraska’s 23 sports. Donor Diaries is a small token of appreciation to recognize a few of the donors who have given so much to Nebraska Athletics. This edition, we salute Florian and Linda Hrdlicka of Lincoln, Nebraska. Florian and LInda have supported several Husker sports, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, gymnastics, soccer and the Nebraska strength and conditioning program, for many years as donors and fans. Both Florian and Linda have served as presidents of sport-specific booster clubs, and they also volunteered as Lincoln Parents for studentathletes from out of state. The two took a few minutes to share their story of giving to the Huskers Athletic Fund. What comes to mind when you hear the term Nebraska Athletics? The many, many hours of enjoyment we’ve had watching the Nebraska studentathletes compete in their sports. How has Nebraska athletics made an impact on your family? We have spent endless days and hours cheering on the Huskers, whether it is at a home event or on the road. We even were able to follow NU gymnasts to Seoul, South Korea for the Olympics in the summer of 1988. You’ve been a great contributor to Nebraska athletics - why do you give? It is a wonderful opportunity for us to make a positive difference in the lives of the student-athletes. We’ve really gained an understanding of the sacrifices student-athletes make for their sport. By supporting Nebraska Athletics it lets us invest in others through their participation in a sport while furthering their education. Is there a story that sticks out about Nebraska Athletics? When we looked back at all the wonderful memories, the one we felt stood out was the year the Nebraska Basketball team won the Big Eight tournament in Kansas City. The excitement was unbelievable but the support of the fans was really something to experience. The drive back to Lincoln with the fans standing along the highway in Nebraska City and Lincoln cheering the team bus and cars of fans, followed by an unscheduled rally at the Bob Devaney Sports Center with the fans meeting the team and then gathering inside for a welcome home was very special.