Football 101 Raises $57,000 for Cancer Research

Lincoln - Football 101, presented by Coach Callahan Charities and presented by sponsors Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center and Boyer Young Real Estate, welcomed more than 900 women to Hawks Championship Center to learn about football and raise money for breast cancer research.  Coach Callahan and his staff, with special Husker legend guest coach George Darlington, coached the women to be able to call plays from the sidelines like they do each week. 

 The charity event raised $57,000 for breast cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Eppley Cancer Center.  In its four years, Football 101 has raised more than $200,000 for breast cancer research, a cause close to the Callahan's heart.  Valerie and Bill's mothers both were affected by breast cancer.  

Among the participants were more than 50 breast cancer survivors.  To close the day, the coaches and participants serenaded the survivors with "There is No Place Like Nebraska," as they do to the student body following a win.  The survivors were presented with a pink hat and survivor pin.  

Women attending the fourth-annual event were treated to a presentation by former Husker coach George Darlington.  Darlington was introduced by his wife, Sue, who is a breast cancer survivor.  Darlington was the first Husker coach to teach a Football 101 class, beginning in the 1980's.  He returned to teaching to explain the similarities and differences in football from when he started at Nebraska more than 30 years ago.  Darlington's Football 101 book was sold at the event, half of which was donated to breast cancer research.

Coach Callahan gave a chalk talk on Football, including the West Coast Offense.  Students walked away with a better knowledge of the game after his discussion.

Lunch was provided in the new North Stadium concourse.  Following lunch, the afternoon session found the students divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced classes.  They rotated between three activities.  Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove and Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson gave a more detailed break down of their areas of football in a lecture format.  The assistant coaches on offense and defense brought a second group onto the field.  Participants dressed in full pads and helmets and had a chance to see what it was like to get into a huddle, stand in formation and run a play.  The third group had a rare opportunity to see the beautiful new Osborne Complex, including the performance center, athletic medicine, offices and locker room.  From the locker room, the group was lead onto the field in an authentic tunnel walk.  Women were able to see themselves on the big screens in Memorial Stadium.