2004 - July - Sioux Empire Huskers

Retiring Board Member Mike Flynn was first invited to join the Board by his good friend, then-club President Joe Olsen. Although he did not go to school at Nebraska, Mike is originally from Lincoln and has a passion for the Huskers that began in the 1960s. The Flynn family had moved to Sioux Falls in 1963. Mike and his dad would listen to football Saturday on the radio while road hunting for pheasants along the back roads of southern South Dakota. The imagination of a sports-crazed ten-year old soared while listening to the exploits of Fred Duda, Joe Orduna, Bob Churchich, and Frank Solich.

Gas was thrown on the fire when the Flynn's went home to the family farm in Stuart, NE on Thanksgiving weekend, 1971. The living room was packed with screaming relatives (and then the game started) as Jeff Kinney powered number one Nebraska to victory over Jack Mildren and the number two Sooners in the Game of the Century. The seesaw battle of Kinney, Tagge, Rodgers, Harper, Jacobsen, Glover, and Dutton versus Mildren, Pruit, Wylie, and Harrison was the confirming day for Mike that his blood was Husker scarlet. And who can forget those great Omaha World-Herald game pics that had type laid right over the photos telling who each player was and what they were doing during the play.

After Devaney's two National Championships came the "dry" years when Dr. Tom won just about every game except for Oklahoma. Mike was in Memorial Stadium the cool, overcast day in 1977 when Heisman winner Billie Sims fumbled on the Nebraska three at the end of the game to finally break the Sooner spell, if only momentarily. The oranges rained and the goalposts came down, but the loss to Missouri the next weekend set up a Sooner rematch and Switzer got his revenge in the Orange Bowl.

Expectations have long been high for the Huskers as Osborne won nine or more year after year but still received telegrams like the one sent by Mike's dad after another tough bowl loss. In a moment of frustration, Dick Flynn wrote that "as a resident of South Dakota, I am ashamed to share a common border with Nebraska."

But Osborne persevered, and so did Mike, who attended the 1994 Orange Bowl and watched in awe as a young Tommie Frazier led a last second miracle drive that resulted in a field goal attempt for all the marbles against Charlie Ward and Florida State. Wide left. But as the Huskers exited the field there was a palpable feeling in the stadium that this chapter of the Husker story was just beginning to be written. And the chapter didn't end until Nebraska rung up three National Championships in the next four years.

During that run, Mike was blessed with the opportunity to be in attendance for several more great games in Husker lore. Beating the Buffs with Kordell Stewart and Rashan Salaam, hanging seventy points on the Sooners, watching Daunte Culpepper lead Central Florida to the halftime lead at Memorial Stadium, the dismantling of the Florida "Fun 'n Gun" in Sun Devil Stadium (including "the run" by Tommie), and the Miracle in Missouri.

Times have been tough for Husker fans the last couple of years. Frankie is gone, the option is history (although Mike won't miss the short-side option one bit), the swagger Continued on page 4....

Founder's Day 2004

The Sioux Empire Huskers held their annual Founders Day, February 28, 2004 at St. Mary's Parish Hall in Sioux Falls. The evening started out with a social hour serving Nebraska Alumni signature wines and soft drinks. A delicious buffet dinner was provided by Olde Towne Catering.

All four scholarship winners and their parents were present to accept their awards. Kelsie Kollitz, Amanda Mouw, Robert Truhe, and Kelsie Brandlee received their $1000 scholarship award and gave very gracious thank-yous to the crowd. We wish them well in their ventures at UNL.

Ryan & Brooke White, & Angie Klemme

Chris Anderson, our liaison at NAA updated the audience on happenings at the University. ACT scores of incoming freshmen have been increasing, and UNL remains one of the top research Universities in the country.

The featured speaker for the evening was Boyd Epley, founder of Husker Power, and former strength and conditioning coach. His current job is Associate Athletic Director for Performance and Facility Development. He updated the group on plans for the stadium expansion and the progress that has been made to changes in the football program. Boyd promised that Steve

Peterson is the "new rocket" with big plans for changes and championships for the University....we should be patient, and watch for something "BIG"! Boyd finished his presentation for the evening by answering questions from the audience.

The evening ended with a silent auction and door prizes. The board is always trying to improve events and increase attendance; if you have any suggestions on speakers, places to hold events, or programs, please contact one of the board members.

Scholarship Winners 2004

This year about 50 students were interviewed for the 4 scholarships given by the Sioux Empire Chapter. A committee meets every applicant, if possible...and a final selection is made after all of the interviews are completed. The interviews took place on two Saturday mornings in

February, and those helping with them were Jim Lambert, Dave & Mary Fleck, Brooke White, Mary Dick, and Angela Klemme. The Saturday mornings were jam-packed with very talented and bright students.... the number of students that had 26 or higher ACT scores, top 20 % class rank, Girls and Boys Staters was very impressive...which made the final decisions very difficult.

The four winners were: Kelsie Brandlee (Riggs H.S.-Pierre), Robert Truhe (Elk Point-Jefferson H.S.), Amanda Mouw (Brookings H.S.), and Kelsey Kollitz (Washington H.S.-Sioux Falls). They each receive $1000 for their freshman year.

This was the first year that we worked in conjunction with the Admissions Office. Once students were accepted to UNL, they received an email from that office about the scholarship. Several students were interviewed by conference call, and many drove a good distance to meet us (and one flat tire on the way).

Open House For Prospective University Of Nebraska Students

South Dakota is fortunate to have a great ambassador on staff at the University Of Nebraska Lincoln Admissions Office. Kristi Decker from Chamberlain, SD, a May, 2003, graduate of UNL is an admissions counselor at UNL; she enthusiastically serves as the primary admissions contact for South Dakota high school students who inquire about enrollment or apply for admission at UNL.

On Sunday afternoon, April 4, 2004, Kristi accompanied several other University of Nebraska Lincoln staff (including an inflatable 'Lil Red) to the Sioux Falls Holiday Inn City Center where they hosted a reception and open house for area graduating high school senior students who applied and have been accepted for enrollment at UNL for the 2004-2005 academic year. This event was in partnership with the local Sioux Empire Cornhusker Alumni Chapter.

David Burge, Associate Director of Recruiting, and Pat McBride, Associate Dean of Admissions, welcomed the students and congratulated them for applying and being accepted to the University of Nebraska. They gave the students an overview of what to expect in the next few weeks and months while selecting campus housing, applying for financial aid, registering for classes, and making other choices, such as selection of campus organizations to join. This was followed by a video, "Why Nebraska", which highlighted UNL college life from the perspective of current UNL students.

Mary Dick, Sioux Empire Cornhusker Alumni Chapter President, introduced alumni members in attendance and urged students to contact the alumni if they had questions about UNL. Alumna Brooke White then told attendees about her UNL college experience from the point of her initial campus visits, through the application process, the initial campus days, sorority life, academics and graduation. Brooke emphasized UNL prepares students for the future and related from her personal experience how she has been able to make a career change because of the excellent educational foundation she acquired at UNL.

The remainder of the event evolved into a question/answer session and one-on-one information sharing between the soon-to-be college students and UNL representatives.

Thanks to Kristi Decker and her University of Nebraska colleagues for providing Sioux Falls area students a very informative "roadmap to college" forum.

PRESIDENT'S NOTES

Mark your calendar for the SUMMER PICNIC, August 5, 6:30 at SERTOMA PARK. We'll grill the brats and hotdogs, supply the extras....just bring your friends!
We are hoping for tickets to do a football migration. This is a fund-raiser for our scholarship fund, and a really great day! Keep checking the website for details.
Plans are in the works for a summer family Husker outing at either Wild Water West or the Go Kart track...anyone willing to chair the event, or help...please contact Mary Dick or Brooke White.
We would like to expand our membership and involvement with new alumni...if you know of a graduate that is back, or recently has moved to the area....invite them to an activity and direct them to our website.
Many thanks to Mike Flynn for his years of service on the board. Due to family commitments, Mike resigned. He has helped our group in many ways...and we look forward to seeing him at events.
Young Alumni event at Brooke & Ryan White's house, August 28th @ 7pm. Watch your mailbox for details!

SPRING GAME 2004

Saturday, April 17th, 2004 will go down in history as a record setting day at Memorial Stadium. Records were being broken all day starting with attendance.

Some 61,417 crazed Husker fans packed the stadium to see the new west coast offense in action. Sophomore quarterback, Joe Dailey, didn't disappoint with a spring game record of 241 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.

Passing was the name of the game with nearly a 2-to-1 ratio of passing to running.

Coach Callahan thoroughly enjoyed his first official Husker game. He is quoted in the Daily Nebraskan as saying the tunnel walk was "absolutely chilling".

The final results had the Red Team beating the White Team, 35-6. Leaving everyone in attendance hungry for more of the west coast Huskers.

OSBOURNE CAMPAIGNS FOR DIEDRICH

Congressman Tom Osbourne spoke in April on behalf of Larry Diedrich's candidacy for the June special election for the U.S. House and subsequent November general election at the Sioux Falls Raddisson Hotel.

The context of Congressman Osbourne's message was political in nature, however the tone could be just as familiar in his representation over the course of decades for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

His message might be now be interpreted as cliché and against the political winds of time, but his positions on the War on Terror and the state of the economy were optimistic.

...Continued from page 1...

has disappeared. But there is no place like Nebraska. And the reason for that is there are no fans like Nebraska fans. The Husker faithful are knowledgeable, demanding, yet lead the nation in class. If you don't believe that last part just go to a game in Boulder for a real life comparison.

I'm closing with a story about a future game that Mike will be attending in Memorial Stadium. Callahan had brought the troops out of the tunnel for warm-ups when the head coach noticed an empty seat in the front row right next to Mike. Not believing that someone could pass up a chance to see the West Coast offense in person, the head coach sauntered over to the empty seat. Turning to Mike, he says, "Excuse me, but do you know who is suppose to be sitting here?" "Oh yes," replies Mike. "That was my wife's seat, but she died." "I'm very sorry to hear that," says the coach. "But couldn't you find a friend or relative who could use the ticket? "Well sure, but not now," replies Mike. "They're all at the funeral!"

Sioux Empire Huskers

Serve at the St. Francis House

The Sioux Empire Cornhuskers' annual service project was a big success once again. Those in attendance included Brian Wiswall, Steve Hauff, Truman & Nancy Phelan, and Ryan & Brooke White.

The hungry stomachs of many were filled with hot roast beef sandwiches, baked potatoes, and green beans. A dessert of cherry cheesecake was a special treat for all. As an unexpected bonus, wonderful accordion music was provided by Herr Schmidt, a good friend of Steve Hauff's.

Pictured at Right:

Truman, Steve, Nancy, Brooke, Ryan, & Brian

We can all say that it is through the kindness of others that makes the world a better place.

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