Destination: Cozad

3 comments so far April 9, 2008 by Darren K. Carlson

Many Husker fans have taken a real liking to this recent story in the Omaha World-Herald, concerning current Husker Jared Crick inviting his teammates from Arizona and California to visit and stay with his folks in Cozad, a small community in Western Nebraska. I have a particular interest in this story, and find it refreshing for a lot of reasons, some of which even have to do with football.

I have a particular interest in Cozad, because I have family there. More specifically, three of my nephews live there. The oldest two are both getting to that great age where they become especially aware of sports and football. In a town the size of Cozad (population 4,181), these Husker players obviously stand out. And many young kids - my nephews included - have had the chance to meet them and get autographs and such. I just think that is very cool.

It makes me remember the two times I was up close to NU football players when I was a kid growing up. The first time, my dad took my brother and I to go watch a Husker practice. (Wow, those were the days...). Anyway, you could just walk around and watch. My brother and I even got to go and get a drink from the big fountain that the players used during breaks. When we were over there, the players took a water break, and Neil Smith was about 10 feet from me and said "Hey bud," and I thought that was just amazing.

The next time, a local booster club at our HS arranged to have a team of Huskers and former Huskers play a group of HS teachers and administrators and local people as a fund raiser. Being as my dad was on the booster club, we got to go have dinner with some of the players after word. We went to Golden Corral, because they had a big buffet. Sitting at the table with these mountain-sized men was a big deal for a sixth grader.

For these recent player visits to give my nephews that same kind of unique experience makes me happy for them. You don't get to be a kid and have idols like that for very long.

Now...About the Football Team
I also think these little player jaunts to Western NE say something about the current Husker team. It is a nice sign of team unity for Crick to invite those players to come visit his home and stay. It is tough for young men living a long way from home to have nowhere to be on spring break. Friendship is always a good sign.

Next, what isn't reported in that story is that another Husker player from Cozad - Dreu Young - is also involved. Young's mother had the Husker come by school programs and meet the kids. My family in Cozad says it was a very cool deal, and the players were great with the kids. I'm glad they were willing to be a part of that school program.

Finally, it is good to see these younger Husker players from outside of the state realize what an important part the NU team plays all across the state. From Omaha to Cozad, people follow these players. Sometimes it can be hard for people not from Nebraska to understand the state’s football fixation. Tom Osborne and others have talked at length about the influence players from the state (particularly walk-ons) have on players from other parts of the country. This trip to Cozad is an example of that influence still being a part of the Husker program under Coach Pelini.

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