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Time: 6:45 PM Central
Internet-Streaming Audio: Huskers.com
Television: ESPN
Radio: Affiliates
Opponent Blog: Bring on the Cats
Senior Night!
Mike's Tribute: Many of these players came to Nebraska as part of the famed 2005 class that was going to be the start of a Nebraska renaissance. Tom Lemming named it the #1 class in the country, and other recruiting services rated it top notch. Most of their classmates are long gone; some never qualified, others faded away. Some transferred elsewhere to places like North Alabama (Harrison Beck), Hawai'i (Leon Jackson), and USC (Jordan Congdon). Others finished their eligibility last year, such as Marlon Lucky.
In 2006, things looked to be on the upswing for the Huskers: a Big XII North championship and a Cotton Bowl victory. In 2007, the entire program imploded as the sham was exposed. The Huskers lost 7 games, most badly, as the defense became the laughingstock of college football, giving up 172 points in the final three games. The coaching staff was removed, and Bo Pelini began to resurrect the program with this group.
Two years later, the defense is no longer on of the worst, it's now one of the best in the country. Ndamukong Suh is considered the best player in college football, and possibly the #1 draft pick in next year's NFL draft. Phillip Dillard rededicated himself to excellence and has emerged as an all-conference level linebacker. Walk-on Matt O'Hanlon emerged from obscurity to be a solid performer at safety, earning national defensive player against Oklahoma.
This group has ridden the roller-coaster ride the last few years and leaves the program on an upward swing.
Jlew's Tribute: Wow has it really been 5 years? My son is 5; The time really moves on you sometimes. Some will take this class as an example of the Bill Callahan failure. Chasing recruiting stars that don't matter, when you can make your own stars, ect. I'm sorry I don't buy it.
This class, through hard work and perseverance through unstable times, laid the foundation for Nebraska's quick turnaround that started last year under Bo Pelini and continues on the eve of Nebraska winning the B12 North Title this year. Pelini and Nebraska were able to skip the usual rebuilding period because the raw materials were present, they just need refining.
If NU is going to continue their ascension to the top of the college football mountain, NU is going to need the talent to compete with the best. Nebraska will need players like the ones that play for the last time in Memorial Stadium tonight, players with a combination of talent and desire.
I want to express my thanks to the senior players that end their Nebraska career this year. I have so many good memories thanks to your hard work. Being able to say that you left the Nebraska football team better than when you started is the greatest complement I can give and that reward is yours.
Nebraska Seniors Playing Their Final Home Game:
Larry Asante
Chris Brooks
Wes Cammack
Andy Christensen
Phillip Dillard
David Harvey
Jacob Hickman
Menelik Holt
Colton Koehler
Derek Meyer
Matt O'Hanlon
Ndamukong Suh
Barry Turner
Blake Lawrence - Lawrence is a junior who will be honored with the senior class after his decision to give up football due to a series of concussions.
Rickey Thenarse is a senior, but hopes to earn a sixth year of eligiblity through a medical redshirt, so he won't be announced in this year's Senior Night.
Eight players have been around five years - Chris Brooks, Wes Cammack, Phillip Dillard, David Harvey, Jacob Hickman, Matt O'Hanlon. Andy Christensen has been around six years.
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