Frosted Flakes: Track, Gymnastics, Spring Optimism

Spring is in the air. Spring football. Baseball and softball. Track and field.

Track is my favorite sport. As an introvert, I think I’m drawn to the individual effort it takes to excel in track. It is a team sport in many ways and relays were always my favorite events, but each person had to do their part.

Winning a race was often mind over matter. Your body is screaming to stop. Your lungs are unable to bring in enough oxygen to keep up with what your muscles need.

Some people slow down and give in. Others fight through it and increase their effort to match the challenge. Sometimes it is enough and sometimes it is not.

The races where I tried my hardest were always the best, even if I didn’t win. The races where I let my own mind get in the way? Those are missed opportunities and I think about them more than I do winning races. I pick them apart and try to relive them in my mind. What could I have done better? Differently?

I imagine it is similar for most athletes. The mistakes are always far bigger than the successes. The mistakes must be minimized...no, they must be eliminated.

My point? I’m not sure I have one. There is probably a story about being football fans and cutting some slack for our favorite athletes. Or you can just skip down to the morning links.

Frosted Flakes

NEB WGYM: Huskers Head to Raleigh Regional - News, Weather and Sports for Lincoln, NE; KLKNTV.com
No. 11 Nebraska women's gymnastics will travel to Raleigh, N.C. for the NCAA Regional Championships hosted by NC State on April 7, as the 36-team field was announced by the NCAA on Monday, March 26. The Raleigh Regional will begin at 3 p.m. CT and the Cornhuskers will begin on beam.

NU men’s gymnastics places second at Senior Day meet | Sports | dailynebraskan.com
It was a bittersweet ending for the Nebraska men’s gymnastics team in its last regular season meet on Saturday. The No. 4 Huskers took second place against No. 3 Minnesota

Defense Begins With Clean Slate Under Chinander - Nebraska Huskers
Player accountability is a major point of emphasis this spring as Blackshirts look to right some wrongs.

Tuesday spring football practice notes: Huskers adjusting to new schemes | Sports | dailynebraskan.com
Following another early practice Tuesday morning, Scott Frost spoke to the media about the progression of his new team.

Scott Frost talks injuries, position changes and Nebraska's second spring practice
Scott Frost and several Nebraska players provide updates on the team's second spring practice

Utah State hires former Husker assistant Craig Smith as its basketball head coach | Mens Basketball | starherald.com
Former Nebraska basketball assistant Craig Smith was named the head coach at Utah State on Monday.

Elsewhere In Sports

Women's Final Four -- No. 1 seeds UConn, Louisville, Mississippi State and Notre Dame headed to Columbus
Don't let the chalk fool you. Yes, all four No. 1 seeds -- UConn, Louisville, Mississippi State and Notre Dame -- advanced to Columbus. But remember: You thought last year's Final Four was a foregone conclusion, too.

Ohio Bobcats football preview 2018: Frank Solich is just getting started - SBNation.com
His 13th Ohio team was his most high-upside squad yet. It could be more of the same in 2018.

4 Feel-Good Stories Of The Final 4, From Sister Jean To Cool Cops In Kansas : The Two-Way : NPR
There have been some great moments in this year's NCAA tournament that can still bring a smile to even the smallest sports fans among us.

Ndamukong Suh gives the Rams a defense as scary as 2009 Nebraska’s - SBNation.com
The Rams now have two of the most talented interior defenders of this millennium, and I’m very much here for it.

Then There’s This

One Giant Leap For A Man, One Small Step Toward Proving Earth Is A 'Frisbee' : The Two-Way : NPR
"Mad" Mike Hughes achieved the improbable, launching himself over 1,800 feet high in his homemade rocket — and surviving. It's all part of his quest to determine for himself whether Earth is flat.

Here's how Popular Science covered 'Star Trek' in 1967 | Popular Science
You're ready to believe that the fantastic adventures of television's popular spacemen will be possible in 200 years, for their "science" is a logical projection of present knowledge.