Shatel: Huskers, Boise discussing series

Bo Pelini has beefed up Nebraska's future nonconference football schedules, and apparently he's not done yet.

My sources at NU say that Nebraska is in preliminary discussions with Boise State about a future series, though not necessarily in 2011, when NU has an opening and Boise State needs a game.

The Broncos say they will go anywhere that year without a return — but reportedly want a $1 million guarantee to do so. Stay tuned.

This series is a good idea. I'd like to see a series — with NU even going to Boise State or playing BSU one time in an NFL stadium. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is usually open to suggestions. Maybe we can get that idea going again to play at Denver's Invesco Field at Mile High.

• If you haven't been to downtown Omaha in awhile, this just in: the new baseball stadium is done! Just kidding. But a new baseball palace is going up and it looks terrific. The shell of TD Ameritrade Park is taking shape, enough so that you can picture what it will look like down there. It's going to look good. One thing I wonder about: Will there be enough space for fans to hang out between games or, better yet, wait in line to get in between sessions of the College World Series? There sure doesn't look like much room at the main entrance on 13th and Cuming Streets. So far, that corner looks like a mini-version of the front of Wrigley Field. Maybe there will be entrances along the outfield (south) side. I guess we have some time still to figure all that out.

• It really wasn't that surprising to learn that Tom Osborne stops by the football floor of the Osborne Complex to offer help whenever he can. The hall of fame coach enjoys talking football. He's always been about helping Nebraska football and, as athletic director, Osborne's legacy is tied to Bo Pelini's success. That doesn't mean Osborne will always get involved; he won't. That's not his style. But if he can offer some insight to jump-start things once in awhile, you'd better believe he'll be there with the cables.

• I'll never fault Doc Sadler for roping tall young lads into the Devaney Center, and this 6-foot-11, 315-pound Brazilian sounds like he's got potential. I just wonder if Doc is leaning a little too much on the passport recruiting philosophy. I can't remember many foreign players making a huge impact in the Big 12. Then again, it's Nebraska basketball and what does he have to lose?

• You knew Dayton probably would beat Creighton, and you knew the Jays probably wouldn't play a lot of defense. What we didn't know is that Wayne Runnels would go for 16 points and nine rebounds and get some help from newcomers Darryl Ashford and Ethan Wragge against a tough opponent in a tough place to play. I take those as huge signs of optimism for the Jays, especially Runnels' performance. CU won't see many teams as good or as big as Dayton in the Valley. I don't think we've seen the last of Dana Altman playing a zone, either.

• It's a few weeks until Heisman Trophy polls close, and I can promise that Ndamukong Suh will be on my ballot. There's no clear-cut favorite now, and Suh is as good as anyone at any position. Where on the ballot? Don't know yet. Let's see how big No. 93 finishes. I don't look for him to start sliding this week, on Suh Senior Day.

• What we saw on Sunday night in Indianapolis, besides the two best quarterbacks in the game and one whale of a playoff preview, was Bill Belichick's ego on display. New England's Super Coach figures if he calls it, it has to work. That air of invincibility got him into trouble that time. But it's also the reason his teams win so much. It's hard to win at that level without arrogance and swagger.

• Chick-fil-a update: Reader Mike Messerly informs me that there is a Facebook page with a petition to get a Chick-fil-a to Omaha, and apparently if 1,000 people sign the thing, there's a chance for magic to happen. I'm just passing this on. I'm not a big Facebook guy.

While we're on the topic, someone in Internet land has started a Twitter page with my name on it. Let me be the first to say this is a fraud. I don't tweet, nor do I read them. I don't know anyone who is so interesting that I want to know what they are doing and thinking at any given moment, and that includes my kids, who are the most interesting people in the world. Want to see the latest picture?

Contact the writer:

444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com

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