Nebraska fans will have no trouble remembering this Alamo. For things are right, again. Not only did we win, we played with heart, never gave up, hit Michigan hard and check this…we RAN the ball successfully. Praise be!

The player of the game was Cory Ross, hands down. I know ESPN gave the honors to Zac Taylor, and I have no beef with that. But the player of the game was Cory Ross. You could just feel how bad the kid wanted it. He wanted the ball and he wanted the win. Ross picked up 161 yeards on the ground and order was restored to a program in desperate need of such things. What a terrific end to Ross’ career at Nebraska.

It was ugly but it was a win!

More later.

San Antonio Buinsess Journal: The MasterCard Alamo Bowl hired Kiki Lindholm, a partner in LindholmTownsend, to help lead local ticket sales for the Dec. 28 college football match-up between the Michigan Wolverines and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

LindholmTownsend, a San Antonio-based advertising agency, is creating the multimedia campaign for one of the top-rated bowl games in the country.

Alamo Bowl officials say Husker fans have scrambled to purchase tickets to San Antonio’s post-season game, while Michigan fans have been less enthusiastic after their team finished the 2004 season with a Rose Bowl invite.

Alamo Bowl officials downplay the anemic ticket sales to Michigan fans, attributing it more to frustration than disrespect. They are focusing instead on selling more tickets to San Antonians.

“We want this to be San Antonio’s bowl,” says Alamo Bowl spokesman Rick Hill. “It is San Antonio’s bowl.”

Omaha World Herald: Nebraska senior wide receiver Matt Schroeder is the anti-Terrell Owens.

A selfless, team-first player who doesn’t crave the spotlight and will do whatever he can behind the scenes to help the Huskers win a football game.

He’s the classic NU walk-on, a kid who grew up on a farm near Belden, Neb., and fantasized about putting on a Husker uniform.

He’s never caught a pass in four seasons as a Husker, but he still managed to earn a letter and land a scholarship for a senior season that will end Wednesday against Michigan in the Alamo Bowl.

“I have absolutely loved my time here at Nebraska,” Schroeder said. “For a kid who was born and raised in Nebraska, playing for the Huskers has been a dream come true.”

One of Schroeder’s most memorable days as a Husker came after a NU practice early this season. Callahan gathered the team just after two-a-days, and announced four walk-ons were being put on scholarship.

“I didn’t see it coming at all,” Schroeder said. “They called Joey Robison’s name and I started to congratulate him and then he said my name. I was like, ‘Did he just say my name?’ It was pretty exciting.”

He couldn’t wait to share the news with his parents.

“My mom started crying,” he said.

“The program is definitely headed in the right direction,” Schroeder said. “It’s an excellent coaching staff. Everybody knows so much about football.”

A big blow to the 2006 Husker recruiting class as word leaked out on Monday that Josh Freeman decommitted from Nebraska and will instead commit to Kansas State. Some are calling this a huge loss, but we’ve always wondered why Nebraska chased him just a year after getting Harrison Beck. Apparently Freeman was asking the same question.

From the Lincoln Journal Star:

On Monday night, KC Metro Sports.com, based in Kansas City, Mo., reported that Grandview, Mo., quarterback Josh Freeman has changed his mind and will play football for the Wildcats instead of the Huskers.

“Nebraska is a great opportunity, but you only get to pick college once. I would hate to go to Nebraska and get redshirted. And that was the vibe I was getting from their coaches,” Freeman told Rivals.com on Monday night.

Freeman, who had verbally committed to NU in June, said he changed his mind after meeting new KSU head coach Ron Prince for the second time.

It an atmosphere that was predominantly red, the Washington Huskies stunned the Huskers and taking the Volleyball National Championship in a straight set victory.

Eric Gray (AP) caught the photo which conveys the Husker disapointment.

We’re looking for some help.

Between Bugeater, Steve G, and myself we pretty much have coverage on all aspects of Husker sports with the exception of basketball. If any of our loyal readers would be interested in contributing a paragraph or two on a semi-regular basis, we want to talk to you. If you currently have blog or examples of your writing, please include URLs.

Email: huskers [at] huskerzone [dot] com

Note: This is a volunteer effort at this point but there may be some revenue opportunities down the road.

While I was jamming to U2 at the Qwest last night, the Husker’s trounced unseeded Santa Clara to advance to the National Championship Game in San Antonio. Thankfully, Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPN2 starting at 5:00 CST.

From Huskers.com:

Senior All-American Melissa Elmer led three players in double-figure kills by pounding a match-high 13 kills on .647 hitting – tying for the fourth-best postseason mark in NU history – as the No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team advanced to the fifth championship match in program history with a 3-0 sweep of Santa Clara (30-24, 30-19, 30-21) in front of 7,931 fans at the Alamodome Thursday evening.

The Huskers will look for their third national title and first since 2000 on Saturday at 5 p.m. in a match televised live on ESPN2. The Huskers – backed by over 4,000 fans who made the trip and another 2,500 at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, will look to become only the third team in NCAA history to be ranked No. 1 from wire to wire.

Sharkfeet keeps a list of the greatest football players in modern Husker history (see his site for the player’s bios). It was fun to read through these names, as they evoke many good memories.

Tommie Frazier (Quarterback, 1992-1995)
Mike Rozier (I-Back, 1981-1983)
Roger Craig (I-Back, 1979-1982)
Tom Rathman (Fullback, 1983-1985)
Joel Makovicka (Fullback, 1995-1998)
Irving Fryar (Wingback, 1981-1983)
Johnny Rodgers (Wingback/Punt Returner, 1970-1972)
Junior Miller (Tight End, 1977-1979)
Bob Newton (Offensive Tackle, 1969-70)
Dave Rimington (Offensive Center, 1979-82)
Will Shields (Offensive Guard, 1989-1992)
Dean Steinkuhler (Offensive Guard, 1981-83)
Aaron Taylor (Center/Offensive Guard, 1994-1997)
Zach Wiegert (Offensive Tackle, 1991-94)
Bobby Newcombe (Wingback,Punt Returner,Quarterback, 1997-2000)

Rich Glover (Middle Guard, 1970-72)
Jason Peter (Defensive Tackle, 1994-1997)
Neil Smith (Defensive Tackle, 1985-1987)
Grant Wistrom (Rush End, 1994-1997)
Trev Alberts (Rush End, 1990-1993)
Broderick Thomas (Outside Linebacker, 1985-1988)
Marc Munford (Linebacker, 1984-1986)
Tom Novak (Linebacker, 1946-1949)
Ed Stewart (Linebacker, 1991-1994)
Michael Booker (Cornerback, 1994-1996)
Mike Brown (Rover, 1996-1999)
Ralph Brown (Cornerback, 1996-99)
Mike Minter (Rover, 1993-1996)

Kris Brown (Place-kicker, 1995-1998)
Jesse Kosch (Punter, 1994-1997)
Tyrone Hughes (Returns, 1989-1992)

By no means is this list exhaustive. But damn, these guys are fine football players.

WOWT: Former Nebraska assistant coach Turner Gill has accepted the head coaching job at the University of Buffalo according to Channel 6 Big Red Insider Sean Callahan of Rivals.com.

Gill will coach in the Mid-American conference where former NU head coach Frank Solich coaches Miami (OH.).

Gill left Nebraska one year ago to pursue his dream of becoming a Division I head coach. He’s been working for the Green Bay Packers in director of player development.

The Buffalo Bulls are looking to turn around a program that has gone 10-58 the past six years, with a 3-8 record in 2001 standing as its best in that span.