ESPN local radio interviews

[BigTexHusker]

Hawkins and Atewe interviewed last night.  Interesting to hear them speak.  Atewe is in Seg 2 clip and Hawkins is in Seg 3.

 

http://www.espn1480.com/pages/15243381.php

[Hooper]

I'd encourage those who are on Twitter to let Mike Schaefer (@mikejschaefer) know that you enjoyed the Husker hoops coverage last night. The more Husker hoops fans who make their voice heard, the better. The result might be that we see more of this type of coverage in the future. It's very rare to get Husker hoops coverage like this, and I'm sure many here would like to see more of it.

 

While you're at it, it wouldn't hurt to let guys like Damon Benning, Mike'l Severe and Gary Sharp know that you'd like to hear more Husker hoops coverage on the radio. The ratio of Creighton to Nebraska basketball coverage on 1620 this year has been roughly 4-to-1. I know a lot of that is dictated by the fact that they're in Omaha and get a lot of Creighton callers, but it never hurts to make your voice heard. To make matters worse, segments dedicated to Iowa and Kansas hoops are almost as common as Husker hoops segments.

 

We all need to do our part to try to increase the level of discourse about this program. The more people who make their voices heard, the better as far as I'm concerned. Over time we may be able to make an impact.

 

You may say it's irrelevant that an Omaha station devotes four times the airtime to covering Creighton as it does Nebraska, but somewhere out there, young future scholarship basketball players in Omaha are listening, and all they're hearing about is Creighton basketball. Creighton's move to the Big East will only make them more attractive and strengthen their foothold in the state. I'm going to do whatever I can to make my voice heard and I hope others will do the same.

 

Rant over. 

[doc1394]

I'd encourage those who are on Twitter to let Mike Schaefer (@mikejschaefer) know that you enjoyed the Husker hoops coverage last night. The more Husker hoops fans who make their voice heard, the better. The result might be that we see more of this type of coverage in the future. It's very rare to get Husker hoops coverage like this, and I'm sure many here would like to see more of it.

Done

[TheGov21]

I'd encourage those who are on Twitter to let Mike Schaefer (@mikejschaefer) know that you enjoyed the Husker hoops coverage last night. The more Husker hoops fans who make their voice heard, the better. The result might be that we see more of this type of coverage in the future. It's very rare to get Husker hoops coverage like this, and I'm sure many here would like to see more of it.

 

While you're at it, it wouldn't hurt to let guys like Damon Benning, Mike'l Severe and Greg Sharp know that you'd like to hear more Husker hoops coverage on the radio. The ratio of Creighton to Nebraska basketball coverage on 1620 this year has been roughly 4-to-1. I know a lot of that is dictated by the fact that they're in Omaha and get a lot of Creighton callers, but it never hurts to make your voice heard. To make matters worse, segments dedicated to Iowa and Kansas hoops are almost as common as Husker hoops segments.

 

We all need to do our part to try to increase the level of discourse about this program. The more people who make their voices heard, the better as far as I'm concerned. Over time we may be able to make an impact.

 

You may say it's irrelevant that an Omaha station devotes four times the airtime to covering Creighton as it does Nebraska, but somewhere out there, young future scholarship basketball players in Omaha are listening, and all they're hearing about is Creighton basketball. Creighton's move to the Big East will only make them more attractive and strengthen their foothold in the state. I'm going to do whatever I can to make my voice heard and I hope others will do the same.

 

Rant over. 

 

Add 93.7 the Drive (Bahe and Bogus) to the mix too.  Go figure I thought they would talk about a ton of college basketball this season.  Instead they talk non stop NBA and when it is college it's Creighton.  Heck even when they had Matt Shick on as their guest he gave them a hard time about talking so much Creighton and ignoring their Lincoln radio base.

 

Unsportsmanlike Conduct never really talked too much Creighton before when Kugler was co-hosting, but now with Bishop on board it's the defacto Creighton station. 

 

/rant

[bball23]

I refure to listen to the 1620 afternoon show because Bishop talks about CU as if they are the greatest program ever.  I can't handle it.

[uneblinstu]

I'd go the other way on this one.  I've been fairly impressed with how much coverage the team has gotten considering the expectations of the team.  There are a bunch of basketball fans on the airwaves.  They want a good product to talk about.  When they get it, they'll talk about it.  It's a bit of a chicken/egg deal.

[cipsucks]

I'd encourage those who are on Twitter to let Mike Schaefer (@mikejschaefer) know that you enjoyed the Husker hoops coverage last night. The more Husker hoops fans who make their voice heard, the better. The result might be that we see more of this type of coverage in the future. It's very rare to get Husker hoops coverage like this, and I'm sure many here would like to see more of it.

 

While you're at it, it wouldn't hurt to let guys like Damon Benning, Mike'l Severe and Gary Sharp know that you'd like to hear more Husker hoops coverage on the radio. The ratio of Creighton to Nebraska basketball coverage on 1620 this year has been roughly 4-to-1. I know a lot of that is dictated by the fact that they're in Omaha and get a lot of Creighton callers, but it never hurts to make your voice heard. To make matters worse, segments dedicated to Iowa and Kansas hoops are almost as common as Husker hoops segments.

 

We all need to do our part to try to increase the level of discourse about this program. The more people who make their voices heard, the better as far as I'm concerned. Over time we may be able to make an impact.

 

You may say it's irrelevant that an Omaha station devotes four times the airtime to covering Creighton as it does Nebraska, but somewhere out there, young future scholarship basketball players in Omaha are listening, and all they're hearing about is Creighton basketball. Creighton's move to the Big East will only make them more attractive and strengthen their foothold in the state. I'm going to do whatever I can to make my voice heard and I hope others will do the same.

 

Rant over. 

Husker basketball will get more coverage if/when they're good.  It really is that simple.

[Hooper]

I'd encourage those who are on Twitter to let Mike Schaefer (@mikejschaefer) know that you enjoyed the Husker hoops coverage last night. The more Husker hoops fans who make their voice heard, the better. The result might be that we see more of this type of coverage in the future. It's very rare to get Husker hoops coverage like this, and I'm sure many here would like to see more of it.

 

While you're at it, it wouldn't hurt to let guys like Damon Benning, Mike'l Severe and Gary Sharp know that you'd like to hear more Husker hoops coverage on the radio. The ratio of Creighton to Nebraska basketball coverage on 1620 this year has been roughly 4-to-1. I know a lot of that is dictated by the fact that they're in Omaha and get a lot of Creighton callers, but it never hurts to make your voice heard. To make matters worse, segments dedicated to Iowa and Kansas hoops are almost as common as Husker hoops segments.

 

We all need to do our part to try to increase the level of discourse about this program. The more people who make their voices heard, the better as far as I'm concerned. Over time we may be able to make an impact.

 

You may say it's irrelevant that an Omaha station devotes four times the airtime to covering Creighton as it does Nebraska, but somewhere out there, young future scholarship basketball players in Omaha are listening, and all they're hearing about is Creighton basketball. Creighton's move to the Big East will only make them more attractive and strengthen their foothold in the state. I'm going to do whatever I can to make my voice heard and I hope others will do the same.

 

Rant over. 

Husker basketball will get more coverage if/when they're good.  It really is that simple.

 

That's part of the problem to me. The quality of the football team generally has no bearing whatsoever on the amount of discussion devoted to it. I know the histories of the two programs are very different, but this is yet another indication to me that Nebraska basketball culture needs to be overhauled and rebuilt.

 

When arguably the majority of your team's "fans" are just as enthusiastic (or more) about cheering for your #1 rival, your program has serious fan culture problems -- the folks on this board being a major exception, obviously.

[cipsucks]

The basketball culture will be "built", not rebuilt when the team gets good.  We haven't won an outright conference championship in a hundred years so there's nothing to rebuild. 

 

I'm not being argumentative.  In my lifetime, with the exception of about a dozen seasons, Nebraska basketball hasn't given anyone any reason to talk about it. 

 

I think I'm being generous when I say a dozen. 

[husker8282]

I don't know how much you listen to Bogus and Bahe, but they have talked a ton of Husker hoops this season.  Jake Bogus is a pretty big Nebraska basketball fan actually.  

[uneblinstu]

That's part of the problem to me. The quality of the football team generally has no bearing whatsoever on the amount of discussion devoted to it. I know the histories of the two programs are very different, but this is yet another indication to me that Nebraska basketball culture needs to be overhauled and rebuilt.

 

When arguably the majority of your team's "fans" are just as enthusiastic (or more) about cheering for your #1 rival, your program has serious fan culture problems -- the folks on this board being a major exception, obviously.

 

Sorry, dude, but I don't agree with this, either.  There aren't many programs in the country that with the history NU has and the stretch they're coming out of, or perhaps should say, still in, that would average near 10,000 fans in conference play.  

 

You're saying things that need to happen, but these things are underway or have happened already.  The past three years, this program is nearly unrecognizable to what it was five years ago.  The majority of this team's fans are not enthusiastic about cheering for Creighton.  The majority of them barely know Creighton exists.  The fans that are Jayskers aren't close to the majority, and frankly, they're not the problem.  

 

Royalfan mentioned this at the get-together on Wednesday and I completely agree with him.  The problem is with the fans that are militantly football only.  The ones that treat basketball not as though it doesn't exist, but that it shouldn't.  It's that segment of the fanbase that does more damage than any group of Jayskers could ever imagine having.

 

If/when Miles gets this thing rolling, and I don't think that's a given, this thing will explode.  There's no doubt in my mind.

[TheGov21]

I don't know how much you listen to Bogus and Bahe, but they have talked a ton of Husker hoops this season.  Jake Bogus is a pretty big Nebraska basketball fan actually.  

 

Well maybe they do, but every time I do it's Creighton, NBA, and their rec team.  

 

I keep hearing Jake talk about how he's a big Husker fan, but very little talk.  Yesterday they had Shick on and every question was Creighton related.  Today they came back from break introduced themselves to anybody who might be in for state basketball.  Talked about how they talk everything Huskers.  Then mentioned how Nick Bahe (former Creighton standout) is the normal host and then began the talk of what seed Creighton is.

[49r]

Royalfan mentioned this at the get-together on Wednesday and I completely agree with him.  The problem is with the fans that are militantly football only.  The ones that treat basketball not as though it doesn't exist, but that it shouldn't.  It's that segment of the fanbase that does more damage than any group of Jayskers could ever imagine having.

 

 

Man, I hate this more than any other thing.  When I go to other Husker message boards (by the way this is the ONLY one I'm registered on) and lurk around it just seems like a big collection of meathads and if the subject of any other sport besides football is mentioned there's always at leas one tard out there that comes up with the brilliant "wait...Nebraska plays basketball?? Hurr durr".

 

Really ticks me off.  I mean it's bad enough with Colorado hoops fans are yukking it up over on their boards about the state of our program and "wait...Nebraska has basketball?"'s it up as if they are some kind of hoops bluebloods or something (hint, Buffs fans:  You aren't - you play in a junior rec-league conference...it just makes you look good in comparison).  But when supposed supporters of our own University do it...man...

 

/rant off

[cozrulz]

The basketball culture will be "built", not rebuilt when the team gets good.  We haven't won an outright conference championship in a hundred years so there's nothing to rebuild. 

 

I'm not being argumentative.  In my lifetime, with the exception of about a dozen seasons, Nebraska basketball hasn't given anyone any reason to talk about it. 

 

I think I'm being generous when I say a dozen. 

 

Built

 

What I've been saying for years.

[Hooper]

I actually agree that the football-only fans are the biggest problem. I do understand their apathy, because it's really hard to get emotionally invested in a program which, in your heart, you really don't believe has any chance to be competitive. Collier and Doc made it very hard to be a Husker hoops fan. 

 

Miles has done a great job already of reaching this demographic, but it will take time. I'm doing my part tomorrow by watching the game with a die-hard football-only Husker fan. I'm trying to convert them one at a time. 

[uneblinstu]

I actually agree that the football-only fans are the biggest problem. I do understand their apathy, because it's really hard to get emotionally invested in a program which, in your heart, you really don't believe has any chance to be competitive. Collier and Doc made it very hard to be a Husker hoops fan. 

 

Miles has done a great job already of reaching this demographic, but it will take time. I'm doing my part tomorrow by watching the game with a die-hard football-only Husker fan. I'm trying to convert them one at a time. 

I understand it, too.  Keep up the good work.

[Swan88]

Thanks, Tex, for posting.  Some observations on the Atewe interview:

1.  The name pronunciation for Matthew is, apparently, something like "Uh-twee'," with an emphasis on the "twee."  That was unexpected.

2.  Matthew has a great relationship with Coach Harriman.

3.  Matthew loves the current and new facilities.

4.  Matthew spent a lot of interview time talking about having a point guard who can get the ball to him in transition and around the rim. 

5.  Matthew is impressed with Husker fans.

6.  Gotta like Nebraska's chances here . . . except that the "mentor" is a wild-card--we've never heard him talk about the situation and can't know what he's advising Matthew.

 

Regarding a focus of this station on an Omaha team, rather than on Nebrasketball, it's a matter of winning.  If Tim Miles and Co. continue to improve, the focus in Omaha will adjust.  For example, my experience is that the around-the-watercooler-discussions on basketball during the latter part of this week in Omaha have been focused on Nebrasketball and the successes against Iowa and Minnesota--not on a mid-major tournament.  If the trajectory of the program continues into next year and following years, the Nebrasketball bandwagon will get very crowded, including people all the way from Scottsbluff to Henry Doorley Zoo.

[hal9000]

The basketball culture will be "built", not rebuilt when the team gets good.  We haven't won an outright conference championship in a hundred years so there's nothing to rebuild. 

 

I'm not being argumentative.  In my lifetime, with the exception of about a dozen seasons, Nebraska basketball hasn't given anyone any reason to talk about it. 

 

I think I'm being generous when I say a dozen. 

 

Built

 

What I've been saying for years.

 

Speaking of "building" a program.  I feel pretty confident that someday (in my lifetime) Nebraska basketball will put together a great team, make it to the NCAA tournament again, AND win a game or three (one could argue we had a great team in 91 and 94, but we lost in the first round).  I also feel that If/when that happens, we'll enjoy a couple good years surrounding it, but then we'll probably relapse back to the bottom tier, NIT bubble team we've traditionally been. It's easier to put together one good team every now and then than to establish a solid winning basketball program. 

Despite that fact, it surely IS possible to build and SUSTAIN a winning program, even if it is a lot harder.  I’ve tried to think of examples of teams who had a long history of losing before they built themselves into an elite program.  I thought I heard that Coach K turned Duke into the program they are today, but before that they were nothing.  What other programs have done this?  Does it take a coach like Krzyzewski who not only is a good program builder, but one who is willing to stick around? 

 

[49r]

Duke was actually pretty established before Kryzewooski came...having reached the Final Four 4 times before his tenure began, the last one being two years before he started as head coach.  Two of those times they made it to the national final.

 

 

Georgia Tech before Cremins, hal, is the example you're looking for.

 

There are other decent analogues, though.  

Kansas State before Tex Winters.  

Oklahoma before Tubbs, was pretty average.

Johnny Orr built ISU.

[Hooper]

I actually agree that the football-only fans are the biggest problem. I do understand their apathy, because it's really hard to get emotionally invested in a program which, in your heart, you really don't believe has any chance to be competitive. Collier and Doc made it very hard to be a Husker hoops fan. 

 

Miles has done a great job already of reaching this demographic, but it will take time. I'm doing my part tomorrow by watching the game with a die-hard football-only Husker fan. I'm trying to convert them one at a time. 

I understand it, too.  Keep up the good work.

 

I'm planning to push the "it's Will Shields' son" angle pretty hard. 

[cipsucks]

I don't think there really are any comparisons to Nebraska basketball.  You not only have zero tradition, you have no population base in your home state to recruit from.  We're in the same boat as the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and Alaska.  None of those state's universities are in a BCS Conference, though.  Our situation is truly unique to basketball (all sports, for that matter).

 

The closest comparison I can come up with is Kansas football, but that doesn't truly fit because they won the Big Eight Conference back in the 60's.  K State football is also close, but before Snyder they were the worst program in Division 1 history, and NU basketball isn't quite that bad.  Thank God for Northwestern.

 

So, does Miles need to stay here long term (ala Bill Snyder) to make this thing work?  Maybe.  Probably.  I wish I knew.

[uneblinstu]

I don't think there really are any comparisons to Nebraska basketball.  You not only have zero tradition, you have no population base in your home state to recruit from.  We're in the same boat as the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and Alaska.  None of those state's universities are in a BCS Conference, though.  Our situation is truly unique to basketball (all sports, for that matter).

 

The closest comparison I can come up with is Kansas football, but that doesn't truly fit because they won the Big Eight Conference back in the 60's.  K State football is also close, but before Snyder they were the worst program in Division 1 history, and NU basketball isn't quite that bad.  Thank God for Northwestern.

 

So, does Miles need to stay here long term (ala Bill Snyder) to make this thing work?  Maybe.  Probably.  I wish I knew.

Oregon football, perhaps?

 

Screw it. Let's just set our own precedent.

[uneblinstu]

 

I actually agree that the football-only fans are the biggest problem. I do understand their apathy, because it's really hard to get emotionally invested in a program which, in your heart, you really don't believe has any chance to be competitive. Collier and Doc made it very hard to be a Husker hoops fan. 

 

Miles has done a great job already of reaching this demographic, but it will take time. I'm doing my part tomorrow by watching the game with a die-hard football-only Husker fan. I'm trying to convert them one at a time. 

I understand it, too.  Keep up the good work.

 

I'm planning to push the "it's Will Shields' son" angle pretty hard. 

Whatever works.  

[Huskerpapa]

It is sometimes hard to listen to local sports talk shows or sportscasts, both on TV and radio.  I used to enjoy it much more than I do now.  It seems they have caught the national bug whereby, they believe ratings are earned by controversial points of view.  Simply put, you do not have to be outlandish to be successful in Lincoln.  Be honest in your opinions, and trust that the average or above average fan can reach their own conclusions.