Bring on spring fun

When Husker football spring practice begins on March 30, there will be several areas of concern that Scott Frost needs to address, getting his squad prepared mentally and physically for what looks like another daunting schedule.
But none are bigger than the quarterback position.
Junior quarterback Adrian Martinez has been hot and cold ever since he set foot in Lincoln. His athleticism and big play ability is well documented, as are his consistent and troublesome turnovers.
Some of those past turnovers aren’t all on him, to be fair. Remember the end of the Iowa game when a defensive lineman broke through the gap and hit Adrian while he got set.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Nebraska will not start winning games consistently until our o-line becomes the vaunted pipeline once again, where we can get a consistent push up front so if the offense needs to get four, five or six yards to keep a drive alive, simply hand the ball off and go get it. When that eventually happens, playing quarterback at NU will become easier.
It’s just exciting thinking about Rich and myself being on the field once again, with 90,000 plus in the stands. 
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Did  you realize that if Blackshirts Will Honas, Deontai Williams, Marquel Dismuke, JoJo Domann, Connor Culp, Ben Stille along with wide receiver Levi Falck opted not to return to the Huskers, that the entire team would feature just one senior? Either way, Frost still has an extremely young roster, but one that will need to show maturity, opening up at Illinois, and later facing Oklahoma, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State (not to mention all the Big Ten west bullies).
Can you name that other senior?
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I’m not sure what to make of Nebraska’s interest in cancelling the Oklahoma game in Norman. What a public relations nightmare. Whoever leaked it out should be fired. Bill Moos should be feeling the hot seat, too. You don’t mess with tradition guys.
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My judgement is still out on Fred Hoiberg and his Husker hoops program. All I know is, and you can ask Cindy, my blood pressure skyrocketed every time I would try to watch.
Did they finish the season out on a strong note? Yes, despite the losses. Did they struggle with COVID, facing a murderous every-other-day schedule? Yes. Did they have stretches where they pushed some of the better teams in the BIG, not to mention the nation? Yes. Did they shoot bad shots and commit some really horrible turnovers? Yes. And yes.
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That one lone senior would have been FCS first team All-American receiver Samori Toure, a grad transfer from Montana.
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Our entire community mourned the passing of Ron Thompson. He and I, along with our wives Cindy and Debbie, started the Aurora Youth Basketball Tournament years ago when our kids were still playing youth sports. I was coaching Aaron’s team and he coached Ryler’s, traveling to different towns on select weekends.
It was very hectic, very fun and very rewarding.
I’ll always remember Ron’s infectious smile and laugh. He always lit up a room (or a gymnasium) when he walked in, and his sense of humor was non-stop. He loved his family, loved sports, loved basketball and loved life.
Rest in peace, my man.
DAVE BRADLEY can be reached at advertising@hamilton.net.