Omaha World Herald points to former Mankato State head coach, Jeff Jamrog, as the man charged with revitalizing the walk-on program. Jamrog walked on at NU out of Elkhorn Mount Michael in 1983, eventually earning a scholarship and becoming a starter at outside linebacker. So, he’s been there.

Now in this fourth role at Nebraska, Jeff Jamrog, 42, is charged with the task to revitalize the Huskers’ walk-on program. One of his chief priorities, Jamrog said, is to help deliver the message that NU wants to again connect with every community in the state.

“Jeff understands the dilemma that some of the players in this state face,” Osborne said. “The financial issue is big for a lot of families, but so many players in this state still have a tremendous desire to play for Nebraska.”

Already, NU has secured the return of three walk-ons who went elsewhere on scholarship out of high school.

Quarterback Jim Ebke of Lincoln Northeast transferred to Nebraska this month after spending the fall at South Dakota State. Receiver Matt Donahue of Fremont, who signed with Ohio a year ago, and linebacker Tyler Legate of Neligh, Neb., a freshman last fall at South Dakota, have also joined the Huskers.

According to Lincoln Journal Star, Marlon Lucky, one of the Huskers’ most experienced running backs, will return to Lincoln for his senior season.

“I am excited to return to Nebraska for my senior season and play for Coach (Bo) Pelini,” Lucky said. “I know he is committed to winning and returning this program to the elite of college football, and I want to be here to help out with that.

“Another year here will also allow me to continue to pursue my college degree and enjoy the experience of playing football at Nebraska. I also know that another year can only benefit me as a player and help me become a more complete back to prepare for the next level.”

Lucky submitted his name to an NFL advisory committee designed to gauge players’ stock in the draft. It wasn’t immediately known what type of projection Lucky received from the committee.

Tom Osborne is a judicious man. He thinks it might take a few years to get things back on track.

Bo Pelini on the other hand is a hungry new head coach coming in with all guns blazin’. He wants to win and win BIG, now.

Husker Mike, one of Huskerland’s top critical thinkers on these matters, thinks it’ll be tough to go from having the third worst defense in the country to the third best in but one season.

I imagine our defense will toughen up this fall. And when you look at the schedule, it plays into Husker hands, with the first five games being played in Lincoln. Virginia Tech and Mizzou will be the two early bouts where we see the true nature and real potential for the 2008 team. If we fare well there, the sky’s the limit. For instance, we could be 8-0 headed into Norman on November 1. How classic would that be?

Not so long ago in a land not very far away, lived a great King, Tom, who  ruled all of Husk and it’s people, the Huskers.  King Tom was a fair, compassionate, and wise ruler, who had conquered the world five times over, and all of Husk’s people respected him as their King.

Many wars were fought and won in the trenches.  Not every battle was victorious, but they won the wars through hard work, teamwork, and believing in each other.  Husker Nation was revered throughout the lands for their fairness, but feared for their domination when crossed.  After every battle, the Huskers accepted their rivals and treated them with dignity and the respect they deserved.  All was well in the Kingdom of Husk.

After many long years of ruling the Huskers, King Tom was ready to step down as ruler and live alongside, serving his people.  King Frank came to power, and Husker Nation was as united as ever, enjoying much of the same prosperity.

It was the year of the Buffalo, and the Huskers had fought many battles.  In the end, the once proud nation was besieged with grief.  The Huskers had been trampled on and a hurricane swept through the land of Husk, causing much dispair for well over a year.  A dark cloud hung over Husker Nation, a once proud nation.  This cloud became known as Pedey and it was taunted every day it hung over the Kingdom.  Pedey Cloud even had a voice.  It was as sharp as a rose’s thorn, so it became commonly known as just Rose.  When Rose spoke he would mistakenly misinterpret Pedey’s thoughts, right away correcting them in a high pitched, excited tone.

The year was bleak for Huskers and their will was tested day in and day out.  The storm was strong, but a Husker’s heart cannot be stopped.  Breaking through the Pedey Cloud came a ray of sunshine in the form of Sir Bo, a battle tested warrior from a far away land, who joined in the Husker’s fight for survival. 

Sir Bo was a great leader of men, and many battles did King Frank and he win, but the Pedey Cloud was too dark.  This darkness forced King Frank to flee and find the light, and with him followed his trusted warriors.  No one was left to rule the land of Husk, so an outsider, William (village idiot) took control of the nation.

The Pedey Cloud seemed to like William, occasionally sprinkling sunshine in an otherwise darkened world.  The people of Husk were not fond of William for many reasons.  The Huskers were used to plain talk, not the mumbo jumbo of which William spoke.  William sought to keep King Tom at a distance, once calling him a “crusty old ruler”.  Since he was an outsider, he broke many traditions Husker Nation had been accustomed to and cast shame on their good name and once prideful Kingdom.  Many tumultuous years ensued and the good people of Husk were near their breaking point.

In the year 2007 King Tom led a revolt against the Pedey Cloud and his puppet ruler, William.  The battle was long, but the Huskers showed what they are made of and banished the two for all of eternity.  King Tom returned as Ruler of Husk and people lined the country to celebrate a hard fought, EXPENSIVE victory.  When the dust settled, one name was on the tip of every Husker’s tongue,  Sir Bo, the man who had battled alongside Husker Nation so valiantly many years ago.  Would he remember their great nation or had he moved on to lead a new Kingdom.

With the blessing of the people of Husk, King Tom searched for Sir Bo.  He found him in The Land of The Tigers and all along, Sir Bo was secretly dreaming of a triumphant return to the Huskers. 

Sir Bo became King of the Huskers, and he said “It is my destiny to RESTORE THE ORDER OF HUSKER NATION”.  He paid tribute to King Frank who escaped to the Land of Ohio, took a quick lesson in medicinal X and is happily rebuilding that nation.  He surrounded himself with all his Knights and he put out a summons to join the Husker Army.  Only the best responded, and on January 11, 2008 they will travel to Husker Nation and see what we have to offer.

LONG LIVE KING BO and LONG LIVE HUSKER NATION

John Youboty, David Whitmore, Lester Ward, Broderick Smith, Collins Okafor, Brian Moore, Charles Mitchell, David Grant, Sean Fisher, Will Compton,  and Eddie Brown

Gone is the intelligent yet bumbling, circle talking leader, who had brought shame and demise to a once storied nation.  A new guard has arisen, carefully sprinkled with past statesmen, energetic youth, infinite wisdom, and with it, a twinkle of hope emerges!

With Bo Pelini and all the forces of Husker Nation back together again in Lincoln, Friday January 11th is shaping up to be one of the most important dates in Husker history.

Look for my upcoming post titled “Stories of a Great Nation”  coming to HZ soon.

According to Life in the Red, Bo Pelini is in Omaha tonight for the Outland Trophy award presentation. The Outland this year goes to Pelini’s all-world lineman at LSU, Glenn Dorsey.

Pelini and his nine assistant coaches will be introduced at the start of halftime of Saturday night’s Kansas-Nebraska basketball game at the Devaney Sports Center. Tip-off is 8 p.m. and ESPN will televise the game nationally.

The team will be hosting recruits in Lincoln this weekend and the coach is expected to hold a team meeting sometime right before or after the start of classes next Monday to address winter conditioning. Pump it up…

Tom Osborne was glued to his tube Monday night, as the man he just hired to lead the Huskers from the horrors of Pederhan did battle against Ohio State in prime time.

“I watched the game really closely. Everybody probably cringed a little bit the first couple of series,” Osborne told KETV NewsWatch 7′s Matt Schick on Tuesday.

Such as the third play of the game, when Chris Wells scored on a 65-yard touchdown run. Osborne said he may have been concerned, but he also knew a lot about the man he hired.

“One of the hallmarks, as I’ve watched Bo’s defenses, is they tend to get better as the game goes along. They tend to adjust well. They don’t panic. That’s a sign of good leadership,” Osborne said.

After the early-game struggles, Husker fans were re-introduced to another Pelini hallmark — takeaways. His Tigers came up with three to put away the Buckeyes.

“The one year he was here, Nebraska led the nation in turnover margin,” Osborne said. “Last night, turnovers were basically the difference in the game. The style of defense he played, the blitzing, the pass rush and so on, it gives you a chance to get you turnovers, which I think down the road will be very important to us.”