Another edition of the Blackshirt Breakdown is here, and Jay and I are taking a detailed look at Evan Taylor, a defensive back commit in the 2024 class from North Carolina.

The first practice of the 2023 season for Nebraska Volleyball is official underway today at the Devaney Center. The Huskers will go 9-11 a.m. this morning before going from 3-5 p.m. later this afternoon. I'll be in attendance for both with highlights and a notes package coming later today from the two practices.

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A lot to unpack from Rhule's presser today as he named some of the key guys emerging at safety, defensive line and receiver.

>>> "Safeties are one of our strengths"
>>> Isaac Gifford wins the Rover battle after dazzling Rhule: "He's an alpha back there ... a multi-year NFL player"
>>> Rhule sees 6-8 guys rotating at DL and the four veterans emerging won't surprise you
>>> Freshmen WR "trending in the right direction" toward seeing the field early
>>> Alex Bullock is "a starting (caliber) WR"
>>> Overall thoughts on a timeline for deciding on a two-deep

I wonder if one of Ed Foley's functions is to keep Rhule grounded. He is 8 years older than Rhule, has coached longer, was a head coach for 2 years, and has been with Rhule longer than the other coaches, and they were peers for a couple years at Temple. I could see where Foley could be the one coach on the staff who has the tenure and Matt's respect to speak up when he thinks something needs changed or is BS.

Is the modern volleyball recruit built for a pressure-packed place like Nebraska? I asked the Huskers’ five freshmen what they thought and I got some pretty good answers. Hit the link.

Huskers Erupt in Win over Crete
Huskers.com
Alexis Markowski notched her third straight double-double and Jaz Shelley led six Huskers in double figures with 20 points, as the Nebraska women's basketball team rolled to a 124-18 win over the Crete All Stars in Heraklion on Monday.

Shelley, a two-time All-Big Ten guard, hit 7-of-14 shots from the field including 5-of-11 three-pointers, while dishing out six assists and grabbing three steals to complete Nebraska's 3-0 foreign tour in Greece.

While Shelley filled it up from long range, Markowski dominated the paint with 17 points and a game-high 21 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards. The two-time All-Big Ten center hit 7-of-13 shots from the field and dished out an assist while grabbing three steals of her own.

True freshman Natalie Potts matched Shelley with a game-high 20 points to go along with 12 rebounds for her first double-double on the tour. Potts also pitched in three steals while going 7-for-14 from the floor and 6-of-8 at the free throw line.

Graduate transfer guard Darian White contributed 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting while adding five assists, five steals and four rebounds for the Big Red.

Nebraska's third newcomer for 2023-24, true freshman Logan Nissley added 15 points, while connecting on a trio of three-pointers. Nissley also contributed six rebounds and five steals to go with two assists.

Annika Stewart rounded out the six Huskers in double figures with 13 points, seven rebounds and four steals while hitting 5-of-7 shots from the floor.

Kendall Coley and Kendall Moriarty each contributed eight points, while Callin Hake (3) and Maddie Krull (2) completed the scoring for the Big Red. Krull snagged five steals for Nebraska, while Hake added four for a Husker unit that totaled 35 steals in the game.

As a team, Nebraska hit 48 percent (48-100) of its shots from the floor, despite knocking down just 23.7 percent (9-38) of its three-pointers. The Huskers also hit 19-of-25 free throws (.760). The Huskers produced a 68-11 advantage on the boards and a 38-6 edge in the turnover department.

Nebraska will travel from Heraklion back to Athens on Tuesday, before returning from Athens to Lincoln on Wednesday to complete the tour.

Overall, six Huskers averaged double figures in points during the three-game tour, led by team bests of 18 points and 16 rebounds per game from Markowski, who also hit a team-best 62.5 percent (5-8) of her three-point attempts. White added 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, a team-high 4.7 assists and 3.3 steals, while Shelley contributed 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals while knocking down a team-high 10 three-pointers.

Stewart finished the tour with 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game while connecting on 57.1 percent (4-7) of her threes. True freshmen Potts (11.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 3.7 spg) and Nissley (11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.7 spg) rounded out the six Huskers averaging in double figures while tying each other for the team lead in steals. Potts finished second on the tour in rebounding, while Nissley closed the tour second in three-pointers made with seven.

Markowski and Shelley were the only Huskers to start all three games, while White made two starts. All 10 Huskers on the tour started at least one game, and all 10 averaged at least 16 minutes per game. No Husker averaged as much as 23 minutes per contest. As a team, Nebraska averaged 112 points per game, while allowing just 39.3.

Nebraska Overall Greece Tour Stats (3 games)
Alexis Markowski - 18.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 0.7 apg, 2.7 spg
Darian White - 15.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 3.3 spg
Jaz Shelley - 15.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.0 spg
Annika Stewart - 14.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.7 apg, 2.0 spg
Natalie Potts - 11.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 3.7 spg
Logan Nissley - 11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 3.7 spg
Kendall Moriarty - 9.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg
Callin Hake - 6.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.7 spg
Maddie Krull - 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 2.0 spg
Kendall Coley - 4.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.7 spg

Any chance and do you support it?

While I really don’t follow them at all, my perception is they’ve spent a lot of time with anti-American, anti-flag, or anti-National Anthem bs.
If I’m wrong, let me know - nicely please - but that’s my perception as i catch a glimpse of their antics here and there.
Net result - I couldn’t care less about them.

Bottom line, if you want to represent on an American team - enjoying all the support and opportunities that includes - don’t act like an idiot. Act like an American.

Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll (8/7)
1. Georgia (61)
2. Michigan
3. Alabama (4)
4. Ohio State (1)
5. LSU
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Florida State
9. Clemson
10. Tennessee
11. Washington
12. Texas
13. Notre Dame
14. Utah
15. Oregon
16. TCU
17. Kansas State
18. Oregon State
19. Oklahoma
20. North Carolina
21. Wisconsin
22. Mississippi
23. Tulane
24. Texas Tech
25. Texas A&M

Others Receiving Votes
Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, Texas-San Antonio, Pittsburgh, UCLA, Kentucky, Baylor, Troy, Arkansas, North Carolina State, Fresno State, Boise State, Auburn, Minnesota, Miami (FL), Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Maryland, Southern Methodist, South Alabama, Illinois, Wake Forest, Air Force, Toledo, Washington State, Houston, Duke, Brigham Young, Arizona, Memphis, Kansas, James Madison

Betting team totals in baseball right now is so predictable, 85% last 2 weeks. 1st half , game and Live betting has been lucrative. I'm not going to give picks but if you bet, look into it.

Khalil Davis picked up a free agent deal with the Texans. Former Nebraska DT spent time with the Bucs, Colts, Steelers and Rams in his three NFL seasons.


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Going on a cruise to Alaska for a week!

If a tidal wave, glaciers, or pirates don’t get me be back next Sunday!



Ps Thanks God for all of the rain!

siap
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Good stuff from special teams coordinator Ed Foley on the battle between Timmy Bleekrode and Tristan Alvano, Billy Kemp and IGC as punt returners and more:

Here are the quick hits from Evan Cooper's time at the podium. I'll get started on Ed Foley's right now.

Evan Cooper, Ed Foley and 3-4 selected players will be available at the podiums today sometime after 11 a.m.

Will drop the press conference videos in here as soon as they're uploaded to our YouTube channel (LINK) and will have our usual array of quick hits on the coaches, key takeaways from the players, Rapid Recap video and feature stories this afternoon and tomorrow morning.

Nebraska adds Ball State and Missouri transfer Jarron Coleman. Here's more:

mostly on 2x speed.

ND had both a kickoff and a punt return for touchdowns.
got me to thinking.
when is the last time we actually had really good special team play. not just for a game here and there. but a strong special teams.
i'm having trouble remembering.

So Rhule said today that Teddy is once again "banged up" but will be back in time for the opener. No specifics as to the nature of the injury but must be serious enough that it would keep him out for the remainder of Fall camp. I am increasingly of the opinion that Teddy is a talented player but is just one of those guys whose body is not able to withstand the pounding of big time football. I hope I am wrong about that, obviously. Would love the guy to heal up and have a stellar year. But at this point who on here really expects him to last the season? I know I don't.

August 7

1789 - Congress established the U.S. War Department.

1882 - The famous feud between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky erupted into full-scale violence.

1942 - U.S. and other allied forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the first major allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II.

1947 - The wooden raft Kon-Tiki, which carried Thor Heyerdahl and five companions more than 4,000 miles, crashed into a reef in the Pacific.

1959 - The United States launched Explorer 6, which sent back a picture of the Earth.

1963 - First lady Jacqueline Kennedy gave birth to a boy, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, who died two days later of respiratory distress syndrome.

1964 - Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which expanded President Lyndon B. Johnson's use of military powers in the Vietnam War.

1971 - The Apollo 15 moon mission ended successfully as its command module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.

1987 - Lynne Cox becomes the first person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union, making the 2.7 mile swim through the frigid waters of the Bering Strait.

1989 - A plane carrying U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland, D-Texas, and 14 others disappeared over Ethiopia. (The wreckage of the plane was found six days later; there were no survivors.)

1990 - President George H.W. Bush ordered U.S. troops and warplanes to Saudi Arabia to guard the oil-rich desert kingdom against a possible invasion by Iraq.

1998 - American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by terrorists, killing 224 and injuring more than 5,500.

2000 - Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut was selected by Al Gore to be the first Jewish vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket.

2005 - ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings died in New York at age 67.

2010 - Elena Kagan was sworn in as the 112th justice and fourth woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

2015 - Colorado theater shooter James Holmes was spared the death penalty in favor of life in prison after a jury in Centennial failed to agree on whether he should be executed for his murderous attack on a packed movie premiere that left 12 people dead.

2018 - Sharice Davids won a Democratic congressional primary in Kansas, becoming the state’s first Native American and gay nominee for Congress. (Davids went on to become one of the first two Native American women elected to the House.)

2022 - Democrats pushed their estimated $740 billion election-year economic package through the Senate. The hard-fought compromise was less ambitious than President Joe Biden’s original domestic vision but it still met deep-rooted party goals of slowing global warming, moderating pharmaceutical costs and taxing immense corporations.

Birthdays
23 - Sydney McLaughlin (track & field athlete)
24 - Jalen Hurts (football player)
25 - Kyler Murray (football player)
25 - Evaluna Montaner (singer)
27 - Liam James (actor)
27 - Sasha Calle (actress)
32 - Mike Trout (baseball player)
33 - DeMar DeRozan (basketball player)
36 - Sidney Crosby (hockey player)
39 - Tina O'Brien (actress)
42 - Randy Wayne (actor)
44 - Eric Johnson (actor)
48 - Charlize Theron (actress)
49 - Michael Shannon (actor)
51 - Greg Serano (actor)
52 - Syndey Penny (actress)
56 - Charlotte-Lewis (actress)
57 - David Mann (actor)
61 - Maggie Wheeler (actress)
63 - David Duchovny (actor)
65 - Bruce Dickinson (singer)
68 - Wayne Knight (actor)
71 - Caroline Aaron (actress)
73 - Alan Keyes (TV host)
79 - David Rasche (actor)
79 - John Glover (actor)
80 - Lana Cantrell (singer)

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Today in Sports History - August 7

1907 - Legendary pitcher Walter Johnson picks hit the first of his 416 career wins, leading the Washington Senators to a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Indians.

1956 - 51-year-old Satchel Paige of the Miami Marlins wins a game before the largest crowd in minor league history as 57,000 showed up at Miami's Orange Bowl.

1972 - Yogi Berra, Sandy Koufax, Lefty Gomez, Early Wynn, Josh Gibson, Will Harridge, Buck Leonard and Ross Youngs are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1978 - Eddie Mathews, Addie Joss and Larry MacPhail are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1985 - A five-year agreement between the major league baseball players union and team owners ended a two-day mid-season players’ strike. The season resumed the next day.

1987 - The Pittsburgh Pirates retired Bill Mazeroski's #9.

1999 - Wade Boggs of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays records his 3,000th career hit.

2004 - Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux records his 300th career win.

2007 - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits his 756th career home run, breaking Hank Aaron's major league record, in a game against the Washington Nationals.

2010 - Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2013 - The Major League Baseball Players Association formally appealed Alex Rodriguez’s drug probe suspension, sending the case to an independent arbitrator. (The suspension was withheld.)

2016 - Jim Furyk fires a 12-under-par 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, becoming the first player to shoot 58 in a PGA Tour event and the first PGA Tour pro to record two sub-60 rounds.

2016 - Ichiro Suzuki of the Miami Marlins becomes the 30th player in MLB history to record 3,000 career hits.

2016 - At the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, American swimmer Michael Phelps is part of the winning 4x100 meter freestyle relay for his 19th career Olympic gold medal.

2021 - At the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, American Allyson Felix wins her 11th Olympic medal to become the most decorated female Olympian in track and field history.

2021 - At the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Kevin Durant scores 29 points to lead the United States to a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal with a 87-82 win over France.