Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
One thing that I've been really honored to be able
to do is to be the on ice MC or
the entertainment MC or whatever for the ice hockey team,
the nationally ranked ice hockey team at the University of
Nebraska Omaha. And in doing so, I've gotten to know
a lot of the athletics that are going on over there.
I've got to meet a lot of great people, and
(00:21):
one of them happens to be the athletic director at
You and O as well as a guy who's the
vice chancellor. And he also got a pretty interesting honor
and we'll explain that in a second with the Great
Navy of the State of Nebraska. But Adrian Dowell is
on our phone lines. Adrian, first of all, thanks so
much for being on our show.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Today, Amory, thanks for having him. Man appreciate it. And
you're you're doing yourself not enough service. You are an
integral part of our atmosphere and the only thing I
wish is that we can get you get you there,
to get you there even more. But unfortunately you're a
crazy busy guy. But anytime Amory shows up and he's
on the ice, our fans are a lot more into it.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Hey, I will make time because you and o athletics
is probably in its most successful state right now in
the moment that we're chatting than they ever have been.
And I hate saying that because there is such great
history there, But Adrian, it's not just the hockey team,
which we all know has great history and was in
the NCAA Tournament the year ago, but the basketball team
(01:21):
is nationally recognized for a lot of the things that
they're doing. First place in the Summit League. You had
the volleyball team make it into the NCAA Tournament a
year ago and is still very much a player in
the Summit League. You're talking about the softball team who
is now nationally ranked. The baseball team is now a
co host of the College World Series. Can you tell
me about how incredible the last year or so has
(01:42):
been for this athletic department and a school that is
honestly very overlooked, not just in Omaha, not just in Nebraska,
but really all over the country.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, I mean it's been transformational, right, you know, ironically,
you know when I took this job, one of the
things that I saw as potential and really what this
jobb being attractive is you know, the broad based success
we could have for a live or sports, not just
one or two. And there's a lot of work that's
been put in over the last three and a half years,
certainly a lot of strategy and a lot of buy
(02:15):
in from our supporters. But it's been amazing to see
these four programs have competitive success to become more relevant.
And yeah, I mean, you know that we've won more
than we've ever won over the past two years. We've
got six programs not only competing conference championships, to win
conference championship and then go to the NCAA. And you know,
(02:35):
they're making quite a big splash as well on the
way of doing it. So I'm really proud of them.
But you know what I'm most proud of is the
profits along the way, and hopefully that process creates a
sustainable path forward for them to continue having competitive success.
Regardless of what this landscape with the NCAA looks like.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
It's a changing landscape and people, I think wonder what
college athletics is going to look like. For those who
follow Nebraska football, for instance, Man, we need our anil
money to get up so we can get guys like
Dylan Ryola in five star and four star recruits to
play for our team. It's like that for everybody and
you and O is a Division one program that operates
in that same way. How have you guys been able
(03:16):
to kind of transform in such a positive way with
all these challenges in college athletics today.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, I mean there's been incredible disruption in college athletics
as we all know, you know, certainly over the past
two years or so. And you know, some of those
are good, some of those a lot of us struggle with.
But you know, whether you're comfortable or uncomfortable or not
with it, like starting you know, really next year. Thanks
real look a lot more like professional sports than has
(03:42):
ever had within college athletics. And you know, the reality
is we can sit here and complain about it and
wish it was like it used to be, or you know,
when there's something that's a macro disruptor, like I think
what's happening has done our landscape. It's a huge opportunity
for school like you and l like the opportunity for
us based on where we're located, the profile or institution.
(04:03):
Certainly the success we're having and being more relevant is
you know we can figure this out more efficiently than
our peers. We've proven we have. So with that, since
every school is being impacted by these changes, you know,
let's be strategic, let's be productive, and let's set UNO
up to be successful the next twenty years. With what's
going on right now in college athletics.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
We're speaking with Adrian Dowell. He is the vice chancellor
and director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
I when ever you ask somebody a question, I'm about
to ask, it's like, come on, are you going to
make me pick a favorite child? But because there is
no football program at UNO these days, hockey is so
(04:46):
unique and I know that that is what a highly
attended top five in attendance almost every year. Baxter Arena
is an incredible venue for it. But man, with the
success that you're seeing with the basketball team and now
softball and baseball is going to have a huge impact
on the national game. Now being a co host of
the World the College World Series, what the program do
(05:07):
you think kind of holds the most weight right now
for the general success as you see it and as
the administration of the university sees it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
From a success standpoint.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, well, I mean, first of all, they're all being
more successful than I've ever met, which is huge, right.
And you know, if you're an AD, all of your
sports programs are like children, right, They are all very
much just as important as the other. However, the reality
is is that one sport program for us right now,
and that doesn't mean we're not gonna have more sports programs.
(05:38):
They can't say the same in the future, but especially
one for us right now just gives us the perfect
niche in this market. You know, we all know the
monster that is you know, Husker football and the monster
that creating masculas, but Omaha, hockey for us is something
that sets us apart from our competitors in this market,
and it's incredibly relevant. Obviously, we have got incredible support
(06:02):
for hockey program, as you mentioned, top five in attendance.
The atmosphere has been really fun to see this evolve
over the past four years, back just becoming an intimidated place.
And you know, the really cool thing that I've noticed
over the past couple of years is now we're starting
to see a transition of like casual sports fans who
maybe didn't know a ton about hockey now they're becoming
(06:23):
hockey fans, right and that's that's been really cool. And
you know, whether we're talking about hockey or other sports
that are really really relevant right now, Like, that's huge
not only for those sport programs and for your athlete departments,
but more importantly for your institution. Right. Like, the reality
we need to double down on hockey just like other
sports is because with success in those sports, do we,
(06:45):
you know, become more nationally relevant? And consequence of that
is do we give our institution a bigger microphone to
tell the world about all the great things happening on
our campus. So that's why hockey success is important. That's
why going viral and basketball and being name co hosts
college World Series, all of those are important because hopefully
the general public starts consuming you and o the institutional test.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
We're speaking with Adrian Dall, who is the athletic director
and vice chancellor at the University of Nebraska Omaha Hockey
by the way, this weekend at one of the top
teams in the country in Western Michigan.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
A big one.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah, to two games against a nationally ranked opponent, to
two nationally ranked teams, but also for the conference lead essentially,
and then you're back at home against another top ten
team in Arizona State, and a couple of weekends for hockey.
But tonight it's another big one for you.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
You know, if you don't know anything about college hockey,
you don't know much about the n THCHC. We say
it's the the equivalent of SEC football in college hockey.
It's weekend week out. You are playing a ranked, huge
series and it's gonna be fun to see the next
few weeks, hopefully or fans will definitely that only consume
us even when we're on the road this week, and
it but certainly show up in a few weeks during
(07:56):
that Arizona State series.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah, and I just want to shout out basketball to
the men's basketball team has been just absolutely insane during
conference play and they have the lead in the conference,
but still some time left in there a three game
road trip. They've come back at home by the way
on February twenty second, and wrap up the season at
home on March the first, And of course we'll talk
more about those games as they come up here. But Adrian,
I want to talk about this thing with the College
(08:18):
World Series. I thought to myself last year and I
moved to Omaha just last summer or two summers ago now,
but I was just like, I'm surprised that Creighton has
such ownership over this and there's another D one school
that plays baseball in this city. You know, like, how
are they not like attached to this? What was that
process like for you and the institution to now be
recognized as a co host of the men's College World Series.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yeah, a little bit of a full circle moment. So
you know, previously in my experience, I did work at
Jay and the championships kind of department I was there.
College World Series is part of that, and even before
you and know it was actually Creighton for about eight years,
and you know, one of the things that I worked
really closely with was that partnership between in the College
World Series of Omaha in that event, and as you
(09:04):
saw last summer, it's an amazing event, right, I mean,
it's incredible seeing that now that visitors are city has
and it's well run. It's just the perfect platform not
only for the sport, but to show off the city
of Omaha and state Nebraska. So it's a big deal.
And what a lot of people don't know is the
U and has always been involved for a long time
(09:25):
with the College World Series. I mean crazy story is,
in the eighties, UNO had to make some tough fiscal
challenges and baseball was on the shopping block. To be
honest with you, and College World Series of Omaha actually
was an organization that provides some funding to keep U
and L baseball even up and running at that point.
Ever since then, there's been a lot of things you
(09:46):
and O and College World Series have done together. For example,
even over the past few years, the majority of the
team's practices right here at UNO's campus at Maverick Park
on Talla Anderson still right, whether we're doing their laundry,
when they're working out on their weight roam, we have
always been involved. So it's really nice in my tam
to formalize this relationship. Certainly there will be times ten
(10:07):
integration now including our sports medicine and marketing Department of
Sports Information tickning, but it's really good to button up
this relationship. And again he goes back, you know, I
hope it gives our lunch something to be proud about.
And again, you know, it's leveraging the brand now being
tied to one of the I think one of the
most important successful sport events in American sports is not
(10:29):
going to hurt at all. So we're proud to join
Creton's co host and we look forward with this relationship
with the NCA and the College Series.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Well, the announcement Adrian was yesterday and seventy five, the
seventy fifth anniversary of Omaha and the College World Series.
As part of that, of course we you and l
is a co host, but you, along with Chancellor Joanne
Lee were there and Governor Jim Pellan was also there
and awarded both of you the honor of being an
(10:58):
Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska,
which is the highest civic honor of the state. So
can you talk to me about what that felt like
and how you learned that you were going to get
this incredible honor.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
First of all, we are very appreciative of Governor pilling
in his office. They were very very much involved in
this opportunity for you and O become the co host
and Collegeural Series. They're very committed to this event too.
But yeah, speaking yesterday specifically about the honor, I've seen
this award bestowed before, and I think it's the perfect,
perfect award, right. It's it's serious, as you mentioned, it's
(11:35):
the highest civilian honor, but it's also pretty funny as well.
And so we had no idea that I was coming
at all. And so when Governor Pillan pulled that out
for doctor Lee, I thought it was the greatest thing
ever for doctor Lee, and I had no idea certainly
was coming my way as well. But you know, if
there's one thing that's good from it, and there's a
lot that comes from it, and this wants me, you know,
a couple of arguments with my family, you know, during
(11:57):
Thanksgiving there the holidays, it's definitely worth it.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I was gonna say.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I mean, that kind of trumps any sort of you know,
argument you might be having. Is it's like, well, I
am an admiral in the Great Navy of the State
of Nebraska.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
I'll have you out.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
No, I will tell you my wife refus called me
a admiral last night. But yeah, I was still trying.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Hey, hey, you know what, if for nothing else, at
least the effort was there, just like for the Omaha
Mavericks across the board, amazing stuff happening. I'm sure we'll
talk again, Adrian Doll, the athletic director as well as
the vice chancellor of the University of Nebraska. Well, thank
you so much for being on our show, and we'll
chat very soon.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I'm sure hey appreciate you having us and definitely make
sure you your huge barbar atmosphere, so we look forward
to seeing you on the ice in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Absolutely, man, as always, if you need anything, just let
me know. Any sport.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Honestly, I love being a part of it, really appreciate
what you guys do for me as well. Mentioned the
Omaha Mavericks are doing such great work, and this is
not just the hockey team, which of course I am
near and dear to my heart. Haven't missed a game
this season. Obviously I work on the ice, but it's like,
you know, the atmosphere is so fun because of all
the fans. But the basketball team has just burst onto
(13:06):
the scene. They are first place in the Summit League,
which means, as these big conglomerates sports networks do their
little bracketology previews, the University of nebrask Oma for the
first time, is landing in their projected bracket as the
automatic qualifier for the Summit League. Now Scott Vorhees is
joining me and of course a diehard Husker fan. And
(13:30):
the Huskers notoriously are the only Power conference men's basketball
team never to have won an NCAA men's basketball tournament game.
I've heard that, and you had an interesting question here
about what maybe some wanderings are.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
It does beg the question now that Omaha is has
positioned itself as a Division I basketball team and gotten better,
who will get that first March Madness win? Omaha or Nebraska?
Lincoln and UMBC will tell you yeah, Omaha will most
likely be a sixteen seed, yes, should they make the tournament,
(14:05):
and they will probably sooner rather than later, maybe even
this year. There'll be a sixteen or a fifteen seed. Well,
we've seen sixteen sixteen, We've seen fifteen's win in these games.
There's no reason why Omaha couldn't get that first March
Madness win. Between the University of Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
I have a bit of a development on that because
you would think, yeah, I mean, it's going to take
a big effort for school like Omaha matchup against one
of the behemoths that are going to be the one
of the two seed. Well, they have this thing now
called the first four, and I'm sure you're familiar with
the first four, which is the four games that are
basically play ins into the NCUBA. Two of those games
(14:47):
are sixteen seeds battling it out, while the other two
are just large school at large bids that are like
the last four teams into the turn.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
They'll be like an eight or a nine seeds somewhere, correct.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Right, and Nebraska is just based on the just letting
everybody know. So Nebraska's just ahead of that. So they
are actually in the bracket, not in the play in
for now because they're on a little winning streak, but
they're not totally safe. Well, if Omaha does indeed win
the sumer League championship and they make it into the bracket,
they are currently projected to be a sixteen seed and
play in one of those first fours against another sixteen seed,
(15:20):
and they's projected to play Merrimack, for whatever it's worth.
And if Omaha plays Merrimac in their first ever nc
double A men's basketball tournament game, I have to tell
you that the odds are overwhelmingly favorable for them to
beat Nebraska to getting that first win in the NC
DOUBLEA men's basketball.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Sunt Does a win in the play in game count
as a March Madness win?
Speaker 3 (15:44):
As far as the Nancy Double A is concerned, it is.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
It is.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You can look it up.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
I'm talking about the real bracket. Once you get the
sixty four, you gotta get in the field of sixty four.
That's the field of sixty six.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
I'm just saying, I'm just the NC DOUBLEA is concerned.
If the Omaha were to win that first four game,
it would count as an ncuble A men's basketball tournament went.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Yeah, let's see Omaha get an NIT championship. You do that?
Braska did? Where's sixty fifth?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
What at school like Nebraska?
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Let's just like play this out to school like Nebraska,
even except the n IT bit, because I think more
and more of the bigger teams are saying now I
don't want to play the n IT anymore.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Man. We had such a good team in the mid
to late nineties and won the n What it meant?
Speaker 1 (16:37):
What it kind of meant something to win the n
IT because there wasn't sixty eight teams in the NC
DOUBLEA tournament at that point.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
I think they still the field of sixty four at
that point.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Yeah, but not sixty as sixty six, not sixty five.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Huh. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
We're just saying numbers now, but I got it. I'm
looking at the bracket. They are projected right now, for
whatever it's worth as a ten seed.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
I'm talking about game to win in the field of
sixty four. That's the bracket, the real bracket.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Well, if they were to beat Merrimac, that spot in
the bracket would be protected to play the Duke Blue
Devils in the first round of the tournament.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
There is no clear cut like oh man, this team
is absolute juggernaut. No one can beat them. So I
think the Mavericks could beat Duke. I think they could
beat like yukon Ku. These guys are beatable. They're gettable.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I don't know about Omaha being the team that can
get them. But Alma has played so good. They have
great athletes. I have been to a couple of the
basketball games. They play again tonight on the road to
take the jack Rabbits of South Dakota State, who won
this conference last year. Going to try to take them
out tonight and we'll see if they're able to do so.
And keep their winning ways of going,
One thing that I've been really honored to be able
to do is to be the on ice MC or
the entertainment MC or whatever for the ice hockey team,
the nationally ranked ice hockey team at the University of
Nebraska Omaha. And in doing so, I've gotten to know
a lot of the athletics that are going on over there.
I've got to meet a lot of great people, and
(00:21):
one of them happens to be the athletic director at
You and O as well as a guy who's the
vice chancellor. And he also got a pretty interesting honor
and we'll explain that in a second with the Great
Navy of the State of Nebraska. But Adrian Dowell is
on our phone lines. Adrian, first of all, thanks so
much for being on our show.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Today, Amory, thanks for having him. Man appreciate it. And
you're you're doing yourself not enough service. You are an
integral part of our atmosphere and the only thing I
wish is that we can get you get you there,
to get you there even more. But unfortunately you're a
crazy busy guy. But anytime Amory shows up and he's
on the ice, our fans are a lot more into it.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Hey, I will make time because you and o athletics
is probably in its most successful state right now in
the moment that we're chatting than they ever have been.
And I hate saying that because there is such great
history there, But Adrian, it's not just the hockey team,
which we all know has great history and was in
the NCAA Tournament the year ago, but the basketball team
(01:21):
is nationally recognized for a lot of the things that
they're doing. First place in the Summit League. You had
the volleyball team make it into the NCAA Tournament a
year ago and is still very much a player in
the Summit League. You're talking about the softball team who
is now nationally ranked. The baseball team is now a
co host of the College World Series. Can you tell
me about how incredible the last year or so has
(01:42):
been for this athletic department and a school that is
honestly very overlooked, not just in Omaha, not just in Nebraska,
but really all over the country.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, I mean it's been transformational, right, you know, ironically,
you know when I took this job, one of the
things that I saw as potential and really what this
jobb being attractive is you know, the broad based success
we could have for a live or sports, not just
one or two. And there's a lot of work that's
been put in over the last three and a half years,
certainly a lot of strategy and a lot of buy
(02:15):
in from our supporters. But it's been amazing to see
these four programs have competitive success to become more relevant.
And yeah, I mean, you know that we've won more
than we've ever won over the past two years. We've
got six programs not only competing conference championships, to win
conference championship and then go to the NCAA. And you know,
(02:35):
they're making quite a big splash as well on the
way of doing it. So I'm really proud of them.
But you know what I'm most proud of is the
profits along the way, and hopefully that process creates a
sustainable path forward for them to continue having competitive success.
Regardless of what this landscape with the NCAA looks like.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
It's a changing landscape and people, I think wonder what
college athletics is going to look like. For those who
follow Nebraska football, for instance, Man, we need our anil
money to get up so we can get guys like
Dylan Ryola in five star and four star recruits to
play for our team. It's like that for everybody and
you and O is a Division one program that operates
in that same way. How have you guys been able
(03:16):
to kind of transform in such a positive way with
all these challenges in college athletics today.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, I mean there's been incredible disruption in college athletics
as we all know, you know, certainly over the past
two years or so. And you know, some of those
are good, some of those a lot of us struggle with.
But you know, whether you're comfortable or uncomfortable or not
with it, like starting you know, really next year. Thanks
real look a lot more like professional sports than has
(03:42):
ever had within college athletics. And you know, the reality
is we can sit here and complain about it and
wish it was like it used to be, or you know,
when there's something that's a macro disruptor, like I think
what's happening has done our landscape. It's a huge opportunity
for school like you and l like the opportunity for
us based on where we're located, the profile or institution.
(04:03):
Certainly the success we're having and being more relevant is
you know we can figure this out more efficiently than
our peers. We've proven we have. So with that, since
every school is being impacted by these changes, you know,
let's be strategic, let's be productive, and let's set UNO
up to be successful the next twenty years. With what's
going on right now in college athletics.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
We're speaking with Adrian Dowell. He is the vice chancellor
and director of Athletics at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
I when ever you ask somebody a question, I'm about
to ask, it's like, come on, are you going to
make me pick a favorite child? But because there is
no football program at UNO these days, hockey is so
(04:46):
unique and I know that that is what a highly
attended top five in attendance almost every year. Baxter Arena
is an incredible venue for it. But man, with the
success that you're seeing with the basketball team and now
softball and baseball is going to have a huge impact
on the national game. Now being a co host of
the World the College World Series, what the program do
(05:07):
you think kind of holds the most weight right now
for the general success as you see it and as
the administration of the university sees it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
From a success standpoint.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, well, I mean, first of all, they're all being
more successful than I've ever met, which is huge, right.
And you know, if you're an AD, all of your
sports programs are like children, right, They are all very
much just as important as the other. However, the reality
is is that one sport program for us right now,
and that doesn't mean we're not gonna have more sports programs.
(05:38):
They can't say the same in the future, but especially
one for us right now just gives us the perfect
niche in this market. You know, we all know the
monster that is you know, Husker football and the monster
that creating masculas, but Omaha, hockey for us is something
that sets us apart from our competitors in this market,
and it's incredibly relevant. Obviously, we have got incredible support
(06:02):
for hockey program, as you mentioned, top five in attendance.
The atmosphere has been really fun to see this evolve
over the past four years, back just becoming an intimidated place.
And you know, the really cool thing that I've noticed
over the past couple of years is now we're starting
to see a transition of like casual sports fans who
maybe didn't know a ton about hockey now they're becoming
(06:23):
hockey fans, right and that's that's been really cool. And
you know, whether we're talking about hockey or other sports
that are really really relevant right now, Like, that's huge
not only for those sport programs and for your athlete departments,
but more importantly for your institution. Right. Like, the reality
we need to double down on hockey just like other
sports is because with success in those sports, do we,
(06:45):
you know, become more nationally relevant? And consequence of that
is do we give our institution a bigger microphone to
tell the world about all the great things happening on
our campus. So that's why hockey success is important. That's
why going viral and basketball and being name co hosts
college World Series, all of those are important because hopefully
the general public starts consuming you and o the institutional test.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
We're speaking with Adrian Dall, who is the athletic director
and vice chancellor at the University of Nebraska Omaha Hockey
by the way, this weekend at one of the top
teams in the country in Western Michigan.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
A big one.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Yeah, to two games against a nationally ranked opponent, to
two nationally ranked teams, but also for the conference lead essentially,
and then you're back at home against another top ten
team in Arizona State, and a couple of weekends for hockey.
But tonight it's another big one for you.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
You know, if you don't know anything about college hockey,
you don't know much about the n THCHC. We say
it's the the equivalent of SEC football in college hockey.
It's weekend week out. You are playing a ranked, huge
series and it's gonna be fun to see the next
few weeks, hopefully or fans will definitely that only consume
us even when we're on the road this week, and
it but certainly show up in a few weeks during
(07:56):
that Arizona State series.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah, and I just want to shout out basketball to
the men's basketball team has been just absolutely insane during
conference play and they have the lead in the conference,
but still some time left in there a three game
road trip. They've come back at home by the way
on February twenty second, and wrap up the season at
home on March the first, And of course we'll talk
more about those games as they come up here. But Adrian,
I want to talk about this thing with the College
(08:18):
World Series. I thought to myself last year and I
moved to Omaha just last summer or two summers ago now,
but I was just like, I'm surprised that Creighton has
such ownership over this and there's another D one school
that plays baseball in this city. You know, like, how
are they not like attached to this? What was that
process like for you and the institution to now be
recognized as a co host of the men's College World Series.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yeah, a little bit of a full circle moment. So
you know, previously in my experience, I did work at
Jay and the championships kind of department I was there.
College World Series is part of that, and even before
you and know it was actually Creighton for about eight years,
and you know, one of the things that I worked
really closely with was that partnership between in the College
World Series of Omaha in that event, and as you
(09:04):
saw last summer, it's an amazing event, right, I mean,
it's incredible seeing that now that visitors are city has
and it's well run. It's just the perfect platform not
only for the sport, but to show off the city
of Omaha and state Nebraska. So it's a big deal.
And what a lot of people don't know is the
U and has always been involved for a long time
(09:25):
with the College World Series. I mean crazy story is,
in the eighties, UNO had to make some tough fiscal
challenges and baseball was on the shopping block. To be
honest with you, and College World Series of Omaha actually
was an organization that provides some funding to keep U
and L baseball even up and running at that point.
Ever since then, there's been a lot of things you
(09:46):
and O and College World Series have done together. For example,
even over the past few years, the majority of the
team's practices right here at UNO's campus at Maverick Park
on Talla Anderson still right, whether we're doing their laundry,
when they're working out on their weight roam, we have
always been involved. So it's really nice in my tam
to formalize this relationship. Certainly there will be times ten
(10:07):
integration now including our sports medicine and marketing Department of
Sports Information tickning, but it's really good to button up
this relationship. And again he goes back, you know, I
hope it gives our lunch something to be proud about.
And again, you know, it's leveraging the brand now being
tied to one of the I think one of the
most important successful sport events in American sports is not
(10:29):
going to hurt at all. So we're proud to join
Creton's co host and we look forward with this relationship
with the NCA and the College Series.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Well, the announcement Adrian was yesterday and seventy five, the
seventy fifth anniversary of Omaha and the College World Series.
As part of that, of course we you and l
is a co host, but you, along with Chancellor Joanne
Lee were there and Governor Jim Pellan was also there
and awarded both of you the honor of being an
(10:58):
Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska,
which is the highest civic honor of the state. So
can you talk to me about what that felt like
and how you learned that you were going to get
this incredible honor.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
First of all, we are very appreciative of Governor pilling
in his office. They were very very much involved in
this opportunity for you and O become the co host
and Collegeural Series. They're very committed to this event too.
But yeah, speaking yesterday specifically about the honor, I've seen
this award bestowed before, and I think it's the perfect,
perfect award, right. It's it's serious, as you mentioned, it's
(11:35):
the highest civilian honor, but it's also pretty funny as well.
And so we had no idea that I was coming
at all. And so when Governor Pillan pulled that out
for doctor Lee, I thought it was the greatest thing
ever for doctor Lee, and I had no idea certainly
was coming my way as well. But you know, if
there's one thing that's good from it, and there's a
lot that comes from it, and this wants me, you know,
a couple of arguments with my family, you know, during
(11:57):
Thanksgiving there the holidays, it's definitely worth it.
Speaker 4 (12:01):
I was gonna say.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I mean, that kind of trumps any sort of you know,
argument you might be having. Is it's like, well, I
am an admiral in the Great Navy of the State
of Nebraska.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
I'll have you out.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
No, I will tell you my wife refus called me
a admiral last night. But yeah, I was still trying.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Hey, hey, you know what, if for nothing else, at
least the effort was there, just like for the Omaha
Mavericks across the board, amazing stuff happening. I'm sure we'll
talk again, Adrian Doll, the athletic director as well as
the vice chancellor of the University of Nebraska. Well, thank
you so much for being on our show, and we'll
chat very soon.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
I'm sure hey appreciate you having us and definitely make
sure you your huge barbar atmosphere, so we look forward
to seeing you on the ice in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Absolutely, man, as always, if you need anything, just let
me know. Any sport.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Honestly, I love being a part of it, really appreciate
what you guys do for me as well. Mentioned the
Omaha Mavericks are doing such great work, and this is
not just the hockey team, which of course I am
near and dear to my heart. Haven't missed a game
this season. Obviously I work on the ice, but it's like,
you know, the atmosphere is so fun because of all
the fans. But the basketball team has just burst onto
(13:06):
the scene. They are first place in the Summit League,
which means, as these big conglomerates sports networks do their
little bracketology previews, the University of nebrask Oma for the
first time, is landing in their projected bracket as the
automatic qualifier for the Summit League. Now Scott Vorhees is
joining me and of course a diehard Husker fan. And
(13:30):
the Huskers notoriously are the only Power conference men's basketball
team never to have won an NCAA men's basketball tournament game.
I've heard that, and you had an interesting question here
about what maybe some wanderings are.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
It does beg the question now that Omaha is has
positioned itself as a Division I basketball team and gotten better,
who will get that first March Madness win? Omaha or Nebraska?
Lincoln and UMBC will tell you yeah, Omaha will most
likely be a sixteen seed, yes, should they make the tournament,
(14:05):
and they will probably sooner rather than later, maybe even
this year. There'll be a sixteen or a fifteen seed. Well,
we've seen sixteen sixteen, We've seen fifteen's win in these games.
There's no reason why Omaha couldn't get that first March
Madness win. Between the University of Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
I have a bit of a development on that because
you would think, yeah, I mean, it's going to take
a big effort for school like Omaha matchup against one
of the behemoths that are going to be the one
of the two seed. Well, they have this thing now
called the first four, and I'm sure you're familiar with
the first four, which is the four games that are
basically play ins into the NCUBA. Two of those games
(14:47):
are sixteen seeds battling it out, while the other two
are just large school at large bids that are like
the last four teams into the turn.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
They'll be like an eight or a nine seeds somewhere, correct.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Right, and Nebraska is just based on the just letting
everybody know. So Nebraska's just ahead of that. So they
are actually in the bracket, not in the play in
for now because they're on a little winning streak, but
they're not totally safe. Well, if Omaha does indeed win
the sumer League championship and they make it into the bracket,
they are currently projected to be a sixteen seed and
play in one of those first fours against another sixteen seed,
(15:20):
and they's projected to play Merrimack, for whatever it's worth.
And if Omaha plays Merrimac in their first ever nc
double A men's basketball tournament game, I have to tell
you that the odds are overwhelmingly favorable for them to
beat Nebraska to getting that first win in the NC
DOUBLEA men's basketball.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
Sunt Does a win in the play in game count
as a March Madness win?
Speaker 3 (15:44):
As far as the Nancy Double A is concerned, it is.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
It is.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
You can look it up.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
I'm talking about the real bracket. Once you get the
sixty four, you gotta get in the field of sixty four.
That's the field of sixty six.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
I'm just saying, I'm just the NC DOUBLEA is concerned.
If the Omaha were to win that first four game,
it would count as an ncuble A men's basketball tournament went.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Yeah, let's see Omaha get an NIT championship. You do that?
Braska did? Where's sixty fifth?
Speaker 3 (16:20):
What at school like Nebraska?
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Let's just like play this out to school like Nebraska,
even except the n IT bit, because I think more
and more of the bigger teams are saying now I
don't want to play the n IT anymore.
Speaker 4 (16:30):
Man. We had such a good team in the mid
to late nineties and won the n What it meant?
Speaker 1 (16:37):
What it kind of meant something to win the n
IT because there wasn't sixty eight teams in the NC
DOUBLEA tournament at that point.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
I think they still the field of sixty four at
that point.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Yeah, but not sixty as sixty six, not sixty five.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Huh. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
We're just saying numbers now, but I got it. I'm
looking at the bracket. They are projected right now, for
whatever it's worth as a ten seed.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
I'm talking about game to win in the field of
sixty four. That's the bracket, the real bracket.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Well, if they were to beat Merrimac, that spot in
the bracket would be protected to play the Duke Blue
Devils in the first round of the tournament.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
There is no clear cut like oh man, this team
is absolute juggernaut. No one can beat them. So I
think the Mavericks could beat Duke. I think they could
beat like yukon Ku. These guys are beatable. They're gettable.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
I don't know about Omaha being the team that can
get them. But Alma has played so good. They have
great athletes. I have been to a couple of the
basketball games. They play again tonight on the road to
take the jack Rabbits of South Dakota State, who won
this conference last year. Going to try to take them
out tonight and we'll see if they're able to do so.
And keep their winning ways of going,
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