Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos says the Huskers are ahead of the curve. During an appearance on Sports Nightly Moos said there are already 150-175 athletes on campus and more will be arriving prior to June 1st. With the uncertainty of how game attendance could look for Husker football Moos says he is not concerned about Nebraska’s sellout streak which sits at 375. He says the streak is alive and well and believes Nebraska will sell out of whatever amount of tickets they are allowed to sell for home games in the fall.
A 20,000-fan limit at Nebraska football games this fall could cost Nebraska $27 million. Athletic Director Bill Moos told the Omaha World Herald, “If the football season doesn’t look like a traditional season, we’re out millions and millions upon millions of dollars.” According to Nebraska’s 2019 financial year report, NU brought in a total of $35 million of revenue in seven home games in 2018, all of which were sold out. If capacity for the 2020 season fell to 20,000 or 30,000 fans, as some in the sport have suggested, Nebraska could lose as much as $27 million of game-day revenue, slicing total game day revenue to only $8 million. The $27 million is almost the exact cost of running all 12 of Nebraska’s non-revenue sports for one school year, according to figures in Nebraska’s 2019 financial report. In 2019, it cost $26.9 million for NU to field teams in beach volleyball, rifle, bowling, baseball, golf, wrestling, swimming and diving, tennis, softball, soccer, gymnastics, cross country and track and field. Budget concerns have already halted the groundbreaking of the new $155 million football facility.
A joint statement released Tuesday by the FBS conferences, CBS, ESPN and FOX says that kickoff times for early-season games will not be announced by the expected June 1st deadline. The decision comes as discussions continue on how to handle the season amid the Coronavirus pandemic. At this time Nebraska is scheduled to start 2020 with a home opener against Big Ten opponent Purdue on Sept. 5th.
Gareth Stroh has entered the transfer portal and is looking to move on as a graduate transfer. The Gibbon native played one year at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas and two seasons at Purdue before transferring to Nebraska and sitting out the 2019 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. The lefty was the Husker’s Friday starter and made two starts in the COVID-19 abbreviated season, earning the win in NU’s season-opener against Baylor. Stroh is the third member of Nebraska’s six-man senior class to leave the program, and the first to continue his career elsewhere after the NCAA granted spring sports seniors another year of eligibility. Ben Klenke and Kearney native Ty Roseberry, who will graduate in December, will not return next season.
UFC welterweight champion and former UNK wrestler Kamaru Usman wants to face either Jorge Masvidal or Conor McGregor in July. Usman (16-1) told ESPN on Tuesday that he has been training since February and has offered to defend his 170-pound UFC championship in April, May, June and now July. If Masvidal is not available, Usman said he’ll ask the UFC to book him against McGregor.
The Hastings College Football team has added former UNC Pembroke assistant John Grinde as Offensive Coordinator. Grinde, a native of Warrensburg, Missouri, coached the offensive line at Pembroke the last four seasons.
Four Nebraska track and field athletes were named 2020 indoor All-Americans. George Kusche, Alencar Pereira, Burger Lambrechts and Kristina Insingo were honored for their efforts in the pandemic shortened season.
UNK Senior Tanner Barth and juniors Montrez Jackson and Tiara Schmidt have been tabbed All-Americans for the 2020 indoor season by the U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA). Due to the Covid-19 virus the NCAA Division II Championships were canceled. Traditionally top eight finishers in each event earn first-team All-American honors with places nine through 12 tabbed second-team.
The NSAA has updated their COVID-19 response plan. Beginning June 1st NSAA member schools are permitted to conduct voluntary strength and conditioning sessions. While permitting school-sponsored summertime conditioning programs, prioritizing the health and safety of all students and staff must remain the focus of each NSAA member school. Should the Governor issue further DHMs that would modify these provisions or other conditions warrant, these requirements will be adjusted.
It is the responsibility of each NSAA member school to comply with the following requirements:
Athletes must maintain social distancing by being 6 feet apart at all times.
Weight rooms are limited to groups of a maximum 25 persons (students) per the express directive of the Governor’s office. Member schools located in Hall, Hamilton, Merrick and Dakota counties are limited to groups of 10 students per local directed health measures (DHMs).
Sessions can only include weightlifting, running, and exercises designed to promote physical fitness.
Sport-specific drills are not permitted, and sport-specific equipment may not be used as part of school-sponsored summer conditioning.
Schools must implement diligent and effective cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched objects and surfaces following the guidance of the CDC.
Additionally, NSAA member school-sponsored camps and clinics are prohibited in any sport at this time.
Pursuant to the Governor’s DHM, the following activities are prohibited: basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer, and wrestling (“Prohibited Sports”).
NSAA member schools may have open gyms where sport-specific drills are permitted, and sport-specific equipment may be used by individuals except in the Prohibited Sports.
