Huskers' Piatkowski Experiences Magic Moment

Greene: Hall of Famers Fly like Eagles, Hawks, Falcons

University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame Class

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Even though he played basketball in the NBA for 14 seasons and competed in football briefly while growing up in South Dakota, the Huskers’ first-ever men’s basketball player inducted into the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame experienced something last Saturday that he will never forget.

“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to play in front of 90,000 people instead of 15,000 people, and standing on the field during the football game, I got a pretty good idea,” said Eric Piatkowski, who received the loudest ovation among Nebraska’s inaugural Hall of Fame class. Fifteen Husker Hall of Famers were introduced between the first and second quarters during Nebraska's season opener against BYU.

Piatkowski, called “Pike” among teammates, friends and fans, finished his Husker career as one of the most, if not the most decorated player in school history. He’s one of only three Husker men to have their respective jerseys retired and hanging inside Pinnacle Bank Arena, joining Stuart Lantz and Dave Hoppen.

Sasse-Kildow: Big Difference Having Only 200 Spectators

“I played football in eighth grade before a bad knee injury, and that was it for me,” Piatkowski said. “I love watching Nebraska football, and it was a special experience to get introduced in front of so many of the best fans in the word. They were fun to watch and when they’re hitting on all cylinders, they’ll be tough for anybody they play.”

Sarah Sasse-Kildow, a 2003 First-Team All-America golfer and 2003 Big 12 Golfer of the Year, was standing next to Piatkowski before both were introduced Saturday. While Eric played regularly in gyms that had 15,000 capacity and above, “we probably never played in front of more than 200 fans, unless it was the NCAA Championships,” Sasse-Kildow told me. “It was surreal, and I almost felt like I was double-dipping because the whole weekend was such a thrill for all of us who were inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Sasse-Kildow, pictured in the top photo to Piatkowski's left, smiled about standing next to him on Tom Osborne Field. “I come up just above his waste,” she said, admitting that “Pike” looks taller than 6-foot-7. Despite Saturday’s 33-28 Husker loss that ended with a converted 42-yard Hail Mary pass, Piatkowski and Sasse-Kildow are devoted fans who believe strongly in the leadership of first-year head football coach Mike Riley.

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