John Mabry: Tiedtke is a temporary captain
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Cory Ross and Daniel Bullocks had company for the coin toss before Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium. Senior free safety Blake Tiedtke joined the captains for the pre-game festivities, and he didn’t have to win a drawing at Russ’s to get the gig.
Tiedtke said it was a coaches’ decision, the result of his effort in last week’s Maine game. Play like a captain, and you get to be one the next week, is how it works.
The coaches decided Tiedtke had demonstrated great character against the Black Bears, so he got the nod.
“Next week another guy will walk out there,” Tiedtke said.
Who knows. It might be No. 25 again. He had a big interception in the second quarter against Wake Forest, one of several show-stoppers by the NU defense on Saturday.
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Alex Gordon returned to the scene of one of his greatest athletic moments Saturday night. Gordon received the Dick Howser Trophy as the top player in college baseball on the same field where he made an interception to seal a Class A state title for Lincoln Southeast against Creighton Prep in 2000.
“I remember getting dog-piled in the middle of the field,” Gordon said.
Gordon, who received the Howser award at halftime, hopes to be signed by the Kansas City Royals in time for fall ball in Arizona.
“I’ve wanted to be done with it for a long time. It’s just how it goes,” he said. “I’m in the best shape of my life right now. I’m hopefully going to keep focusing in on trying to get signed, and when I get signed, I’ll be ready to go.”
Gordon got to spend some time with Hall of Famer George Brett on a visit to Kansas City a week ago.
“He told me to come to his bar,” Gordon said. “We never got down there. He’s a really cool guy, fun to talk to.”
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Seems like the Husker ball handlers could use some of those pre-game, rifle-shot drills Ron Brown used to run to help promote ball security among the receivers.
Brown, who was in the press box for Saturday’s game, said it was good to see one of the players he recruited, Terrence Nunn, playing a key role for the 2005 Huskers.
And yes, Brown did watch Friday night’s Ohio-Pitt game. His take?
“It was impressive to see Ohio take on the nature of Frank,” Brown said. “There was a relentless spirit about the team. Great defense. I was very impressed.”
Two-minute drill
* Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg spent Saturday night in Lincoln, not Columbus, Ohio, as some might have expected. Weiberg said he chose Lincoln as a place to meet with a Gator Bowl official. The Big 12 starts its Gator tie-in next season.
* We heard more from referee Joe Rider in the press box than Rider probably wanted us to hear. He gave us a blow-by-blow on Titus Adams’ encroachment call and dropped a ‘J-C!!’ on us shortly thereafter.
* Judging by the support beams on the north end of the stadium, the Huskers are getting the King Kong of scoreboards. By the way, if you haven’t been to the stadium this season, that was a fake videoboard TBS used for its cutaways Saturday night.
* My high school baseball coach loved to use the expression, “Katie bar the door” when talking about what could. After what happened in Athens, Ohio, on Friday, I hope Katie’s there if NU loses to Pitt next week.
Reach John Mabry at 473-7320 or jmabry@journalstar.com.
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