2008 Woodie Awards
After loss to Wayne State, Lopers on way to Omaha
UNO is 27-8 against in-state rival Nebraska-Kearney in showdowns dating from 1915 to 2007
Michelle Bishop
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Sports
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The Lopers bring a youthful squad to Omaha led by redshirt freshman quarterback Bobby Adamson. Adamson was 12 of 24 with 110 yards in the air in his debut against Wayne State.
Adamson carried the ball 10 times for 16 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown - the Lopers' only touchdown of the game. Also taking a few snaps was redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Spitzlberger who went 1 of 3 with 22 yards.
UNK finished the game with 80 yards rushing on 34 carries. Sophomore running back Brendan Liess led the team with 46 rushing yards and five receptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior corner Dusty Loeffelholz had 11 tackles. Senior linebacker Charlie Rudeen made 10 stops while junior linebacker Eric Scheele recorded eight tackles, including two for loss.
Prior to their game against Wayne State, the Lopers announced senior wide receiver Eric Myrick ineligible for academic reasons, ending his career.
"This is a tough break for our football program and for Eric," UNK head coach Darrell Morris said in a statement. "He unfortunately got caught up in a situation regarding NCAA Progress Toward Degree requirements. I can't say enough about what he has done for this team and this school. He is close to graduation and we will work with him to obtain his goal of earning a degree."
Myrick, a 2008 All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason pick and one of only two seniors on the Loper offense, ends a two-year UNK career with 98 catches for 1,132 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the Lopers in receptions each of the past two seasons.
The Lopers will look to buck another losing steak when they travel to Omaha for UNO's season opener at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Al Caniglia Field. The two teams will vie for possession of the Victory Bell, given out annually to the winner of the game. UNO won last year's game 41-24 and leads the in-state series 27-8.
In 2007, the Mavs ran for five touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers to give the Mavs their fifth straight win in the series and their ninth straight in Kearney. UNO went on to finish the season 10-1 last year, only losing a heartbreaking game to Central Washington in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. UNK finished the 2007 season with a 6-4 record.
UNO will then begin conference play next weekend when it hosts Emporia State on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. All of the Mavericks' games after UNK will be against Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference schools.
Saturday's game against Nebraska-Kearney will be televised live statewide by Nebraska Educational Television on NET-1 and NET-HD.
The UNO Athletic Department will be unveiling new game day procedures and ticket policies starting this Saturday. According to a statement, the new policies were designed to increase security and improve traffic flow.
The cost of parking in the UNO parking garage just east of Al Caniglia Field will be $5 on all three levels. UNO faculty and staff with a valid permit will be able to park for free.
The northwest gate will be used for reserved and general admission sales and access.
The southeast gate will be used for general admission seating and ticket sales on a cash only basis. The northeast gate will be closed.
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