Husker Nation Tour Set for Friday

Lincoln ? The University of Nebraska athletic department has announced more details on the 2004 Husker Nation Tour, brought to you by First National Bank, that takes place Friday, June 25.

The one-day good-will tour features NU Athletic Director Steve Pederson and other athletic department representatives, Head Football Coach Bill Callahan, several assistant football coaches and players, Basketball Coaches Barry Collier and Connie Yori and Volleyball Coach John Cook. They will divide into five groups to visit fans around the state in 26 cities.

In addition to the traveling caravan, the final event at Lincoln’s SouthPointe Pavilions Friday evening will feature Coach Callahan and many members of the 2004 Husker football team.

"Friday’s tour is an opportunity to personally thank our enthusiastic and loyal fans throughout the state for their support of our programs," Pederson said. "It is also a chance to introduce Coach Callahan and his talented staff to our fans and to welcome them into our Husker Nation family."

Fans that come out to the Husker Nation Tour will also play a major part in the day’s festivities. People who come out to any of the events are encouraged to wear their game-day red, as one of the special features of each tour stop will be fans discussing their own unique traditions and rituals around Nebraska football.

Husker fans at all 26 tour stops will have an opportunity to win a pair of football tickets to the Sept. 4, season opener and be at Memorial Stadium in person to see the debut of the West Coast Offense in Lincoln. At each site, fans will have an opportunity to sign a flag that will be proudly displayed at the entrance of the Husker Nation Pavilion during the 2004 season. Free Husker Nation Tour autograph posters will be available at all 26 sites and fans will have their first chance to get to pick up the 2004 football schedule cards, which will also make their debut on the tour.

Players who will be traveling on the Husker Nation Tour include Ben Zajicek (Tour 1), Chad Sievers and Jake Andersen (Tour 2), Brandon Koch (Tour 3), Jay Moore and Dusty Keiser (Tour 4) and Willie Amos and Steve Kriewald (Tour 5). In addition, Sam Koch will join Tour 2 for their stop in Seward, while Jeff McBride will be make an appearance at the Ogallala stop. Pinnacle Sports personalities Jim Rose, Adrian Fiala, John Bishop, Randy Lee and Matt Davison will each travel with one of the five tour groups and will report back to Gary Sharp, who will host Sports Nightly live from SouthPointe Pavilions beginning at 6 p.m.

The tour begins at 7 a.m. in locations throughout the state (a complete schedule is listed below) and continues through the afternoon and early evening. The last stop of the tour takes place at SouthPointe Pavilions, where Sports Nightly will originate. The Lincoln event will include appearances by other Husker football players and Husker coaches, free Colby Ridge Popcorn and a performance by the Slyde Brothers Band.

Fans who cannot attend any of the tour events can follow the festivities on-line, as Huskers.com will update fans throughout the day, including a photo gallery from many of the events celebrating the Husker Nation Tour and the fans that support Husker Athletics.

The Athletic Department would like to thank First National Bank and Pinnacle Sports Productions for their sponsorship of the 2004 Husker Nation Tour.

2004 Husker Nation Tour Schedule

Tour 1

Location

Time

Site

Omaha

7:30-8 a.m.

First National Tower Plaza

Norfolk

9:30-10:30 a.m.

YMCA

Valentine

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Peppermill

Chadron

1-2:15 p.m. (MT)

First National Bank-North Platte parking lot

Scottsbluff

3-4:30 p.m. (MT)

Bearcat Stadium

Lincoln

7-8:30 p.m. **

SouthPointe Pavilions (**-Band starts at 6:30 p.m.)

Football Staff: Bill Callahan, Head Coach

Husker Player: Ben Zajicek

Administration: Steve Pederson, Athletic Director

Pinnacle Broadcaster/MC: Jim Rose (Gary Sharp live from Lincoln on Sports Nightly)

SID Contact: Chris Anderson, (402) 472-2263

Tour 2

   

Location

Time

Site

David City

7:30-8:30 a.m.

First National Bank (Main St.)

Seward

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Seward Band Shell

York

12-2 p.m.

East Hill Park

Aurora

3-4 p.m.

Downtown Square/Courthouse Lawn

Hastings

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Holiday Inn Convention Center

Grand Island

6-8 p.m.

Central Nebraska Regional Airport

Football Staff: Kevin Cosgrove, Defensive Coordinator; Scott Downing, Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends

Husker Players: Chad Sievers and Jake Andersen

Other Coaches: Barry Collier, Head Men’s Basketball Coach (first four stops)

Administration: Marc Boehm, Executive Assoc. A.D.; Tommie Frazier, Asst. Director of Development

Pinnacle Broadcaster/MC: Randy Lee; Sports Information Contact: Keith Mann, (402) 472-2263

Tour 3

   

Location

Time

Site

McCook

7:30-9 a.m.

Coppermill Restaurant

North Platte

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

First National Bank Parking Lot

Ogallala

12:30-2 p.m. (MT)

West Winds Golf Course

Kearney

6-8 p.m.

Tri-City Arena

Football Staff: Jay Norvell, Offensive Coordinator

Husker Player: Brandon Koch

Other Coaches: John Cook, Head Volleyball Coach

Administration: Paul Meyers, Asst. A.D. for Development

Pinnacle Broadcaster/MC: Matt Davison; Sports Information Contact: Jerry Trickie, (402) 472-2263

Tour 4

   

Location

Time

Site

Fremont

8-9:30 a.m.

Memorial Field

Wayne

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

First National Service Center

Blair

2:30-3:30 p.m.

YMCA

Columbus

5-8 p.m.

Elks Country Club

Football Staff: Bill Busch, Outside Linebackers; Tim Cassidy, Assoc. A.D. for Football

Husker Players: Jay Moore and Dusty Keiser

Administration: Paul Miles, Assoc. A.D. for Corporate Marketing

Pinnacle Broadcaster/MC: John Bishop; Sports Information Contact: Jeff Griesch, (402) 472-2263

Tour 5

   

Location

Time

Site

Syracuse

7-7:30 a.m.

South Park

Nebraska City

8-9 a.m.

Historic Barn at Arbor Day Farm

Auburn

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Historic Band Shell/Legion Park

Falls City

12-1:30 p.m.

Prichard Auditorium

Tecumseh

3-4:30 p.m.

Band Shell in Johnson County Square

Beatrice

6-8 p.m.

Indian Creek Mall

Football Staff: Turner Gill, Receivers; Aaron Stamn, Graduate Asst.; Mike Christianson, Administrative Asst.

Husker Players: Willie Amos and Steve Kriewald

Other Coaches: Connie Yori, Head Women’s Basketball Coach (first five stops)

Administration: Bob Burton, Senior Assoc. Athletic Director

Pinnacle Broadcaster/MC: Adrian Fiala; Sports Information Contact: Jeff Abele, (402) 472-2263