Then & Now: Rodney Fields

Then & Now: Rodney Fields

Compiled By Dave Brandon

(Photo Courtesy NU Media Relations)

Rodney

Fields played two seasons at Nebraska, lettering in 2000

and 2001. Fields, who will always be remembered as an

aggressive and physical defender, played a key role in

Nebraska’s backcourt for both Danny Nee and Barry

Collier, as he was among the leaders in rebounds,

assists, and steals on the teams in which he played.

HHC recently flagged down Rodney to

see what he is up to these days, as well as what he

remembers about those in Lincoln.

HHC: Rodney, thanks

for taking some time to talk Husker Hoops.

RF: No problem, I’m

happy to do anything that helps promote the program.

HHC: As a senior in

high school at Tampa Bay Tech in 1996-1997, you averaged

25 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, and

actually committed to Nebraska, which many people don’t

know. However, academic issues forced you to attend

Tyler JUCO in Texas. Before we talk about your times in

Tyler, tell us what made you commit to Nebraska clear

from Tampa?

RF: Basically it was

Nebraska’s commitment to me. The summer before my junior

year in high school, Jimmy Williams came down and gave

me some workout tips, as far as individual things and

what I could do during the summer. I felt that for him

to come down and individually work with me was pretty

darn loyal. It was pretty consistent throughout my

junior year as well, and we stayed in contact by phone

within the NCAA rules. Even by mail, and even after I

signed, he always sent me letters and workout tips. That

really showed Nebraska’s loyalty to me, and I also liked

the fact that the university put a lot of emphasis on

their academic program.

HHC:  Once you

arrived at Tyler for the 1997-1998 season, you were part

of a team that sent five players to the Division One

ranks, and yourself averaged 14.3 PPG and 7.1 RPG. Talk

about what you learned while at Tyler, both on the court

and off the court.  How tough was it not playing

Division One ball?

RF: Tyler was

basically a stepping-stone and foundation for Nebraska.

It had really good coaches in Fred Ricke, who later went

to Memphis, and Kyle Keller. Those guys motivated me and

didn’t swing me one way as far as school was concerned.

I give a lot of credit to those guys for their help.

HHC: When you arrived

in Lincoln, you had surgery for a stress fracture in

your right leg, which had to be very difficult and very

painful. Talk about your redshirt season, and the

obstacles you had to overcome to become healthy again.

RF: It was pretty

tough; I’d never been hurt before outside of a sprained

ankle. When I got the news, it definitely hit home,

because when you’re not ever hurt, and then all of a

sudden your hurt, it crushes your confidence. So, I said

to myself, “What do I do about this? Do I sulk or do I

just accept that’s what God had in store for me?” I knew

it was a greater plan and it wasn’t my time yet, so I

accepted the latter and knew the following year I’d be

stronger, smarter, and more in shape. So, I used the

redshirt year to my advantage and watched my teammates

as they ran through the offenses and defenses. That

really enabled me to pick up a lot of tips from a lot of

people.

HHC:  Your first

season on the court at Nebraska was 1999-2000, which was

a tough season for many reasons. While you started 19

games and it had to be great to finally be on the floor

at Nebraska, many feel the team greatly underachieved,

as you finished just 11-18 and 4-12 in the Big 12. Would

you agree with the previous statement, that you greatly

underachieved as a team?

RF: Yes, I’d agree

with that, because we had the players to do some very

promising things. We just kind of fell short… The

chemistry was there, but it was a lot of other factors

off of the court, I think. Some guys were unfocused;

some had some family issues, etc. So, there were mild

distractions that became more of a factor once the

season got into play.

HHC:  Many people

criticize Danny Nee for “giving up” in 1999-2000, as far

as recruiting players and working with your team. What

is your response to that statement, and did the team

become pretty aware that he was on his way out before it

happened?

RF: Before I even

came to Nebraska, I had heard a lot of rumors about

coach Nee’s job security. But, I had a lot of faith in

Danny Nee, because we had a great nucleus. We had Cookie

Belcher, Larry Florence, Lou Truscott, and Cary Cochran

stroking from deep. But yes, I saw some things before

the season started and while the season was going, as

far as a lot of pressure on coach Nee. I mean, put

yourself in his shoes; he’s been there for fourteen plus

seasons, and now he’s losing a lot of respect after what

he did for the program. His back was against the wall,

and he needed W’s, which wasn’t easy to do because of

the conference and injury to Cookie.

I give Danny a lot of credit

because he withstood a lot of criticism, and I don’t

think he gave up at all, so I disagree with that

statement. He gave everything to us, including an

unlimited supply of energy, and he worked hard and never

quit watching film. If he was giving up, then what would

be the use in watching film and putting all the energy

in? He came everyday and was there early, teaching plays

and watching film. I think he gave 110% every day and it

was sad to see him go, since I was coming in and

recruited by him.

HHC: Before we move

onto your last year at Nebraska, we have to ask you

something that we ask all players who played for Danny

Nee. Tell us a classic Danny Nee story or two.

RF: (laughs) I knew

that was coming… Well, my story kind of involves him and

me. I had been out partying the night before a practice,

and I think we had a morning workout and afternoon film

session. I dosed off for a quick second during the film

session, and he got in my face and yelled at me, and

said “If you don’t get your act together, you’re going

to be a garbage man Fields. You guys all will, you need

to get your education and listen.” (laughs) There were a

million stories with coach Nee, you know, the typical

fast talking New Yorker, but he always stood behind us

and took care of us.

HHC: (laughs) Very

nice. Anyway, your senior season at Nebraska was

2000-2001, and the team finished 14-16 with a very

respectable 7-9 mark in the Big 12. Talk to us about

that team, and what it was like going through the

coaching change to Barry Collier.

RF: The team went

through a tough transition; I mean, we lost a coach who

everyone was recruited by. Every player definitely lost

something, whether it was confidence or comfort, not too

mention the worry of a new coach coming in and bringing

his own players along. The players that were there for

three years, and then Collier for one year, we found it

hard because coach Nee and Collier were totally

different. Coach Collier was a straight arrow; you knew

where he was coming from. Then you had coach Nee who was

a fast talker, you kind of knew where he was coming from

but you didn’t. He gave it to you straight sometimes and

sometimes he didn’t.

So, it was rough transitioning to

Collier, but we did some promising things, as we had a

nucleus that was able to play with anyone in the Big 12.

It was hard though, because Collier came in with his

system, we had to readjust, and we had new players along

with some old ones that needed additional assistance

when it came to running plays. But, we made the most of

it and did as well as we could have.

HHC: Talk about Barry

Collier and what you thought of your season with him. Is

he the kind of guy you would have signed with if he had

recruited you?

RF: Probably so.

Barry Collier is very similar to Bobby Knight, in my

opinion, without all of the crazy antics. He put a lot

of emphasis on discipline, results, and the idea that

what you put forth is what you get - if you work harder,

you get more out of it. I learned a lot from Collier the

hard way, as I tested his system quite a few times. But,

I got a lot out of Collier, he was a disciplinary and

wanted a lot for his players. He loves his players and

is willing to do anything for his players if they stay

on a straight arrow.

HHC: And before we

get to the “now,” tell us your favorite memories of

Nebraska. Do you still keep up with the program?

RF: I keep up with

the program pretty well on the Internet, and better now

thanks to your site. I also came back for the

Pittsburgh football game, and typically make it back to

two or three basketball games a year.

My favorite memory at Nebraska was

winning the Puerto Rico tournament my senior year. We

beat Miami at Miami and they had a couple of players who

went to the NBA. I think we won all of those games by a

total of like three points or less. It was special

because we really came together as a team, and it’s too

bad we didn’t have that chemistry consistently

throughout the rest of the season with Barry. We

definitely encountered a lot of speed bumps during that

trip and at Nebraska, but we got through it.

HHC: What about

today? Where will we find Rodney Fields, and what is he

up to?

RF: I’m not active

with basketball right now, but I do continue to work out

and keep my body in shape, because that’s been a very

big part of my life for a long time. I’m working

clinical social work for a school program called Saint

Joseph Orphanage in Cincinnati, Ohio. We house orphans

and wardens of the state based on their situation. We

provide care services for individuals from six to

seventeen.

HHC: Sounds like

everything is going well. Would you be willing to take

e-mails from the readers at

[email protected] if we set you up an

account and tell you how to check it.

RF: Most definitely.

I’d love to talk to the fans and give back to the

university in any way that I can.

HHC: Alright Rodney, thanks a lot for

catching up with us. We will always have mad respect for

you for playing through the horrible leg injuries you

had.

RF: Hey, thanks a lot for having me. We’ll

catch up over a beer sometime.<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">