Posted on 12/18/2004 8:07:17 AM PST by Diddle E. Squat
HOUSTON -- Angry Houston athletic director Dave Maggard, calling Nebraska "gutless," accused the Cornhuskers Friday of backing out of a verbal agreement to play next fall and scheduling Division I-AA Maine instead.
"This is absolutely unprofessional in every way," Maggard said in online editions of the Houston Chronicle. "It's gutless. Spineless. They're going to have to live with it. I've lost a tremendous amount of respect for that program. I think that for college athletics, it's shameful."
Maggard said he arranged a nationally televised game between the Cougars and Nebraska.
Then, he said he learned two days ago on a phone call from Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson that the game won't be played. Now Houston and ESPN are scrambling to find another opponent for Sept. 1 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
"Essentially Nebraska bailed on the game," Maggard told KRIV-TV in Houston.
"Our policy has always been … we have never made comment about any potential or future opponent until such time that a contract is signed, and there was no signed contract in this case," Nebraska athletic department spokeswoman Chris Anderson said.
Anderson said Pederson would not address Maggard's comments.
Mike Soltys, vice president in charge of communications at ESPN, said the game was scheduled for the network's Thursday night opener before Nebraska decided to go in a different direction.
"We're going to figure out a solution, but they (the Huskers) are developing a reputation for hanging people out to dry. I think it's a sad commentary on the people running that athletic program," Maggard said.
Ah yes, I was wondering how long it would take for some brave Cornhusker apologist to hit abuse and have this thread yanked from the Nebraska topic and into chat.
Didn't even have the guts to defend their team on the thread...
Is Mac Brown going to keep his job? I imagine the natives are getting restless. I bet that Bob Stoops could take the current Texas team and have them undefeated and playing in the Orange Bowl (and I'm a CU fan). Stoops is the best coach in college football, hands down.
Unfortunately, yes. And unfortunately I have to agree with your assessment on Stoops.
At least you didn't schedule N. Texas State next year. That's progress.
Nebraska is scheduled to play USC in 2006 in Los Angeles. Let's see if they try to get out of that one.
It isn't OUR team anymore since our current administration fired Frank Solich. The AD seems to think it is a race against time to see how quickly NU can become the Miami of the north.
The Little 12- errr- "big 12" haha, is a joke of a conference.
Their out-of-conference opponents over the last few years are a JOKE! They don't play anyone- OU's sked last year was weak, and look what happened when they played the first real team on their sked- KState- they got blown away. I'm not impressed.
Weak, overated conference, but the media loves 'em.
I would have much preferred a better contest. It was just a reflection of the Big 12 north. It is really a pretty sorry confrence.
Nebraska is down the toilet and will be from now on. They didn't prepare for Ozzie's departure now look.
Oh and btw, Maggard (Houston) recently cancelled their game scheduled for next season with the Univ. Miami Hurricanes.
The Canes played at Houston this season, and the back end of the home and home has been indefinitely postponed at Maggard's request.
What goes around...
Maine beat Mississippi State in Starkville, the same Mississippi State team that beat the Gators, so Maine won't be quite the pushover Nebraska may take them for.
I know a couple of Nebraska natives and alumnus who live nearby. They are not Bill Callahan fans to say the least. From what I've heard, Callahan could possibly coach Nebraska to a loss against Houston......
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.