An Update from David Kolowski - "Diary of A Husker" Author

We reviewed the book "Diary of a Husker" by David Kolowski last March. Since that time, author David Kolowski has been hard at work, not just promoting the book, but working to make it better. Given that the Christmas season is upon us, we contacted David for an update as to what he's been up to lately, and what's happening with his book.

The bold emphasis below is mine. It is important to remember that all these guys, including anyone who played this past season, is always a Husker. Enough from me, here's an update from David:

Since the book first came out, I've formed my own publishing company called Big Red Press and republished the book.  It's now much better than the initial version with an easier-to-read format, less total pages, color pictures, and the price is down considerably. 

I have the plans to put out an audio version of the book, read by myself, in mp3 format and available only from my website.  This will include any extra stories that pop in my head as well as addressing some of the most common questions that people ask me.  The audio version can be pre-ordered from the web site for $19.95. If it's not done and sent to people by Christmas, people can get half of their money back.

( CN: As someone who reads a lot of college football books, I'd love to see more of them in audio form. We spend a lot of time in our cars these days, so it makes for an easy way to enjoy a book. Beats that talk radio stuff, eh? )

I've heard from hundreds of Husker fans who have loved the book.  I've heard lots of comments on the openness and honest angle from which I wrote.  They can tell that it's written by a college-aged man in the thick of the action, occasionally sidetracked by desires for a better social life or just a full night of sleep.  It's also not the most positive review of Husker life, but then again it's written while in the midst of the turmoil and uncertainty of the Solich Years.

I've been able to interact with several former Huskers from all different eras because of my book.  One of the biggest revelations that I had in doing so was that these guys don't care about the problems that happened and the eventual win-loss total.  Every year of Nebraska football had it's share of problems, even the best years.  All that mattered to these guys was that I was on the team, I did my job as best I could and I got my letter. 
 
That may sound pretty simple, but it was profound for me and my fellow teammates.  We felt responsible for the decline of the program.  We were seniors when so many records fell and the guilt and frustration that followed made many of my teammates put football as far out of their minds as possible when we were done.  It was such a relief to hear that we were still accepted into the brotherhood of lettermen even though our years didn't go as we had hoped. 

I think that's an important message to take to the current team.  These last five years have been even worse, but these guys have still done all that has been asked of them and we know they tried.  They don't need a national championship ring to be accepted by the rest of us.  That letter speaks enough.

Now, because of the relief that this revelation has caused, I can see how a lot of sports memoirs are written with a glossy, everything-is-wonderful attitude.  As much as I would love to re-write my book from a glowing point of view, I feel that so much raw emotion and uncertainty would be lost.  It's impossible to go back and write from the mindset of a 19 year old with all the hopes, dreams, hormones and immaturity that accompany those years.  I guess I'll just have to let it speak for itself. 

I hope that someone else will be able to match what I have done and keep track of these next five years of Husker life.  Until then, my book remains one of the most detailed accounts of Husker football around.