Eveland Loved Huskers, Fishing

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By Randy York

A member of Tom Osborne’s first recruiting class as Nebraska’s head football coach died Monday in Lincoln after a two-year bout with cancer. Al Eveland, a native of Ames, Neb., near North Bend, was 58. A standout prep running back, Eveland lettered as a Husker kicker in 1974, ’75 and ’76. In his final season, he kicked 11 field goals, led the Huskers in scoring and was named second-team All-Big Eight on a team that finished 9-3-1 and had final rankings of Nos. 7 (UPI) and 9 (AP).

“Al loved Nebraska and everything about Nebraska football, and he loved to fish,” said fellow 3-time Husker letterwinner Marc Munford, who played at NU 10 years after Eveland played and worked with him for years at Ameritas Corporation. “I got the chance to be with Al on Sunday (at BryanLGH Medical Center), and I told him I didn’t know if I should be hugging him or cussing him for getting me into this business. He was in a lot of pain, but he still managed to laugh. Al was the kind of guy who’d want you to look him straight in the eye, say goodbye and still find a way to laugh.”

Munford worked with Eveland creating bonds for school districts across Nebraska. Eveland, a vice president in public finance, has “a funny story on Osborne,” Munford said, then added he couldn’t do it justice. “The story everyone talks about was Al’s experience at Hawaii,” Munford recalled. “We were killing them (68-3) and apparently switched up some positions. Al kicked like eight extra points that game, and on some goofy play, his own holder (Chuck Malito) ended up blocking one of his kicks with his other hand. That’s hard to do, something you never forget and something that always draws a laugh.”

According to Munford, Eveland “loved” staying connected to Nebraska football after his playing career ended. “Al was a vice president here at Ameritas, a president of the Extra Point Club and even worked for the Lettermen’s Club. Plus, for about 15 years, he ran Nebraska’s message board on game days.”

Eveland also was an avid fisherman who fished every chance he had, both in his home state and in Minnesota, where he owned a cabin and spent considerable time during the summer. Memorial services for Eveland are set for 3 p.m. Friday at Roper and Sons Chapel, 4300 O Street. Eveland is survived by his father, Paul, and brothers, Scott and Bruce, all of Ames, Neb., and a sister, Kristine Caradine of Wichita, Kan. Memorials can be made to the North Bend Presbyterian Church or to the Kay Eveland Endowment Fund, in honor of his late mother, at North Bend Central High School.

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Al Eveland played during my favorite era of Nebraska football, 1974 to 1976. I was a high school student at the time and attended as many Husker games, home and away, as possible. My favorite Eveland memory was Al kicking what appeared to be the winning field goal vs. Missouri in 1976, only to see the Huskers lose on a 98-yard touchdown pass by the Tigers. Eveland was a quiet point scorer for Nebraska in 1976. He didn't command a lot of attention.  He simply stepped on the field and did his job. After kicking a field goal or a kickoff that sailed through the opponent's end zone, he never offered antics that demeaned the opposition. I offer my condolences to his family and the Nebraska football family. Kevin Horn, Alliance, Nebraska