LOPER FOOTBALL COMPLETES COACHING STAFF:
Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Kenny Zamberlin will be the Lopers offensive graduate assistant and tight ends coach.
Zamberlin is the eighth and final assistant (six full-time and two GA’s) that Held has hired since become named UNK head coach in late December.
A former wide receiver at the College of Idaho, Zamberlin had a busy 2022 as he spent the first half of the year as offensive GA (quarterbacks coach) at FCS-member Montana. He then moved over to FBS-member Ohio in the fall, assisting with the Bobcats offensive line.
Son of former NFL player and longtime college, pro and high school coach John Zamberlin, he also has offensive coaching experience at his alma mater and Meridian (Idaho) High.
LINCOLN LEAVES MIAA FOR GLCV:
After being a full-time member of the MIAA for 43 years (1970-1999, 2010-2024), Lincoln University will depart from the Association after the 2023-24 academic year.
Lincoln University announces its departure from the MIAA Thursday afternoon. The Blue Tigers will join Division II’s Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Early Thursday morning, Lincoln University announced the acceptance of its invitation to the Great Lakes Volley Conferences (GLCV).
The Blue Tigers claimed 16 conference championship titles and four NCAA Division II National Championships during their time in the MIAA, all in track and field.
STORM SET FOR FROSTY CUP MATCHUP WITH FORCE:
The Tri-City Storm is set to battle the Fargo Force tonight at the Comerica Center in Frisco, TX in the 2023 USHL Frosty Cup.
The Storm and the Force will play a two-game series in the event. The two Western Conference opponents will face off again tomorrow night in the final game of the series.
Puck drop for each game of the 2023 USHL Frosty Cup between the Storm and the Force is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
TOMINAGA’S BIG DAY NOT ENOUGH FOR HUSKER MEN:
Keisei Tominaga collected 22 points – one shy of his career high – but the Nebraska men’s basketball team fell to the Northwestern Wildcats 78-63 at home Wednesday.
The Cornhuskers (10-11, 3-7) had two players score in double figures, led by Tominaga, who had 22 points. Jamarques Lawrence tacked on a career-high 12 points and Sam Griesel added eight points and four steals.
Nebraska fell behind 43-30 heading into halftime after Northwestern closed the first half on a 13-2 run.
Nebraska is back in action Saturday traveling to Maryland.
LOPER FOOTBALL ADDS PASSING GAME COORDINATOR:
Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced Wednesday that Moses Harper will be the Lopers passing game coordinator.
Harper is the sixth full-time assistant Held has hired since becoming head coach in late December. Eric Lee Jr. will be UNK’s defensive graduate assistant (secondary); an offensive grad assistant will be named tomorrow and round out the staff.
Harper most recently was the tight ends coach and Director of Football Operations at Missouri Western (2022). He also coached Division II member William Jewel (Mo.) College and at two junior colleges in Fort Scott (Kan.) C.C. and Coahoma (Miss.) C.C.
HUSKER SOFTBALL RATED No. 21 IN PRESEASON TOP 25:
The Nebraska softball team will begin the 2023 season at No. 21 in the Preseason Top 25 announced by Extra Inning Softball on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The Huskers, who also are receiving votes in the USA Softball Poll, are one of two Big Ten softball teams in the Extra Inning Softball Top 25, joining No. 6 Northwestern. Nebraska is also scheduled to have regular-season non-conference clashes with No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 10 Virginia Tech, No. 12 Arkansas, and No. 24 Arizona, giving the Huskers eight regular-season games against preseason top-25 opponents.
Nebraska opens the 2023 season on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Houston Invitational. The Huskers will take on Lamar in game one starting at 10 a.m.
HURTS, JEFFERSON, MAHOMES AMONG NFL MVP FINALISTS:
Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson and Patrick Mahomes are finalists for The Associated Press 2022 NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards.
The winners will be announced at NFL Honors on Feb. 9. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the start of the playoffs.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Bengals QB Joe Burrow also are finalists for MVP.
San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons are the finalists for AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Brian Daboll, Doug Pederson and Kyle Shanahan are the finalists for AP Coach of the Year award
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
WEDNESDAY:
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Women’s Basketball: @ Concordia
- Concordia 73-62 HC
- Men’s Basketball: @ Concordia
- Concordia 80-42 HC
- Women’s Basketball: @ Concordia
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Basketball: CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
- #8 KCHS v. #4 Columbus Scotus Central Catholic – 5:30 PM @ Boys Town
- Girls Basketball: CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
- UNK:
- Women’s Basketball: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center – 5:30 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center – 7:30 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite
- Wrestling: @ Garden City Invite, Garden City, KS – 8 AM
- Girls Basketball: @ Lincoln North Star – 5:45 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 5:30 PM
- Boys Basketball: @ Lincoln North Star – 7:30 PM
- KGFW Pregame after KHS GBB
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: v. Charlie Foster Classic Invite @ Cushing Coliseum – 3 PM
- Wrestling: @ Grand View, Des Moines IA – 7 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Charlie Foster Classic Invite @ Cushing Coliseum – 3 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney High Girls Basketball @ Lincoln North Star (5:45 PM – 7:45 PM)
- Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Lincoln North Star (7:45 PM – 9:45 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite – 8 AM
- Wrestling: @ Garden City Invite, Garden City, KS
- Girls Basketball: @ Omaha Benson – 1 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 12:45 PM
- Boys Basketball: @ Omaha Benson – 2:45 PM
- KGFW Pregame after KHS GBB
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite
- Wrestling: @ Doniphan-Trumbull Invite – 9:30 AM
- Girls Basketball: CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
- #8 KCHS v. TBD (Finals)
- UNK:
- Women’s Basketball: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center – 2 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W Bowling: @ Bronco Baker Bash, Hastings, NE – 10 AM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Duals: v. Morningside – 11 AM
- M/W Tennis: v. Tabor – 12 PM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Duals: v. Northwestern – 12:30 PM
- Women’s Basketball: v. Dordt @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2 PM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Duals: v. Briar Cliff – 3:30 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Dordt @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 3:45 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney Girls Basketball @ Omaha Benson (12:45 PM – 2:45 PM)
- Kearney Boys Basketball: @ Omaha Benson (2:45 PM – 4:45 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a