Extended conversations with Nebraska's most prominent and interesting sports figures. The World-Herald's Dirk Chatelain goes beyond the daily soundbites and cliches. Who are these people and how did they get where they are? What life experiences changed them? What have they learned? "Where I Come Fr…
Dirk Chatelain / The Omaha World-Herald
In the eighth episode of Season 3, host Dirk Chatelain interviews Ricky Simmons. The former Husker wide receiver discusses 25 years of cocaine addiction and the letter he received in prison from Tom Osborne that changed his life. Simmons, now a drug and alcohol counselor and motivational speaker, also shares thoughts on his childhood in small-town Texas, choosing Nebraska over Oklahoma, NU's 1983 Scoring Explosion and how he's helping other former Huskers overcome addiction. Support the show.
In the seventh episode of Season 3, host Dirk Chatelain interviews Jerry Bartee. The former St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguer, Creighton baseball coach and Omaha South High principal discusses his childhood in segregated Omaha, forgiving his estranged father, his Creighton team's fruitless attempts to plunk Joe Carter, raising a big-league baseball player and what happened to baseball in the black community. Support the show.
In the sixth episode of Season 3, host Dirk Chatelain interviews Gwen Egbert, the former Nebraska volleyball player who won six state titles as a high school coach and is now the head coach at Doane. Egbert discusses the early days of Husker volleyball, the drama between Terry Pettit and Russ Rose, the brilliance of Allison Weston and Jordan Larson, why some players aren't cut out for her style and who makes her all-time starting lineup. Support the show.
In the fifth episode of Season 3, host Dirk Chatelain interviews Porter Moser, the former Creighton basketball player who coached Loyola Chicago to the Final Four. Moser discusses “boot camp” under Tony Barone, losing his job at Illinois State, why he wants to write a book about Rick Majerus, meeting Sister Jean, his Final Four run, whether he’d someday be interested in the Creighton job and a lot more. Support the show.
In the fourth episode of Season 3, host Dirk Chatelain sits down for an in-depth interview with Omaha broadcasting legend Jack Payne. The 95-year-old Payne discusses growing up in a graveyard in small-town Oklahoma, learning football from Bud Wilkinson and Bob Devaney, dealing with the pressure of a radio booth, his favorite College World Series moments, why he still calls games in his head and more. Support the show.
In the third episode of Season 3, host Dirk Chatelain sits down for an in-depth interview with former Nebraska basketball player and Bellevue West standout Erick Strickland, who discusses growing up in the heyday of Nebraska high school basketball, his up-and-down career at Nebraska, his relationships with NBA stars like Jason Kidd and Latrell Sprewell, his new career as a basketball official and more. Support the show.
In the second episode of Season 3, former Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride discusses growing up in Chicago, the influence of his high school football coach, playing college football at Colorado, how he got a job working for Tom Osborne, his relationship with Milt Tenopir and a lot more. Support the show.
In the Season 3 premiere, comedian and Husker superfan Larry the Cable Guy discusses his unusual childhood, his joke-writing process, his comedy influences and of course Nebraska football. He tells stories of following the Huskers while touring as a young comedian, his relationship with Scott Frost and a lot more. Support the show.
In a special episode, Bruce Chubick and Eric PIatkowski reflect on their Nebraska careers, the biggest moments, the relationships and their memories of Danny Nee. Then at the episode's conclusion, Chubick and Piatkowski get a phone call from Nee, whom they hadn't spoken to in years. Support the show.
John Higgins, a renowned college basketball official from Nebraska, discusses developing thick skin in a big Omaha family, picking up a whistle for the first time, changes to the sport over 30 years, increased criticism in the social media age, his favorite college venues and more. Support the show.
Pat Venditte, pro baseball's only ambidextrous pitcher, discusses growing up with a six-finger glove, nearly failing at Creighton, making his big-league debut at Fenway, adapting to today's long-ball hitters, his favorite minor-league promos and more. Support the show.
Harrison Beck, former Nebraska quarterback, discusses losing his father at a young age, idolizing Brett Favre, how he ended up at Nebraska and why he left so abruptly, why he thinks he was blacklisted from the NFL and more. Support the show.
Renee Saunders, Omaha Skutt volleyball coach, discusses growing up as a two-sport star, playing volleyball and basketball at Nebraska, concerns about youth volleyball, memories of Skutt's 44-0 season and what it's like to coach a ninth-grade phenom. Support the show.
Koang Doluony, founder of the Omaha Talons Academy and Nebraska's first Sudanese basketball standout, discusses growing up in an African refugee camp, playing Division I college basketball, why he returned to Omaha and overcoming the inferiority complex that grips his community. Support the show.
Joba Chamberlain, former Husker and 10-year MLB veteran, discusses his humble childhood, his ascension from mediocre Division II pitcher to Yankees phenom, the "Joba rules," A-Rod and Jeter, his memories of Nebraska's 2005 CWS and the value of fatherhood. Support the show.
Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl offensive lineman and former Husker, talks about learning to confront bullies, his tumultuous career at Nebraska, his reputation as the dirtiest player in the NFL, the Jonathan Martin scandal, his post-football plans and more. Support the show.
Doug McDermott, former Creighton All-American and New York Knicks forward, discusses growing up in small-town Nebraska, the toughest phone call he ever had to make, the challenges of playing for his dad, why he thrived at Creighton and his struggles in the NBA. Support the show.
Gene Haynes, Omaha North principal and the first African-American high school head coach in Nebraska, discusses growing up in Mississippi, the mentors who drove him to succeed, shuttling Johnny Rodgers to high school practices, his approach to social grievances and what's keeping him from retirement. Support the show.
Terry Pettit, former Nebraska national championship-winning volleyball coach, author and poet, discusses lessons from his dad, how he built NU into a national powerhouse and the internal tension between competitiveness and creativity that drove him to retirement at 53. Support the show.
Carol Frost — 1968 Olympian in the discus, former Nebraska track and field coach and mother of national championship-winning quarterback Scott Frost — discusses being a pioneer in women’s sports, the resistance she faced at the University of Nebraska, coaching football, welcoming Bill Walsh to Wood River, Nebraska, and the backlash her son endured as a Husker. Support the show.
Will Shields, the former Husker and Pro Football Hall of Famer, discusses growing up in the drug capital of Oklahoma, his love for vocal music, why he picked Tom Osborne over Barry Switzer, learning from Joe Montana and Marcus Allen, why today’s offensive linemen struggle to adapt to the NFL, what Nebraska’s offense is missing and more. Support the show.
Darin Erstad, the Nebraska baseball coach and a former punter for the Husker football team, described his idyllic childhood in North Dakota, how his father encouraged him with hundreds of handwritten notes, his unconventional tryout for Tom Osborne’s football team, why he “was a linebacker in a kicker’s body," the tough transition into “retirement" and more. Support the show.
Kenny Wilhite, a former all-Big 8 cornerback and current high school liaison for Mike Riley, discussed a childhood of fistfights and gunshots in St. Louis. He details his interactions with Jon Gruden, Nelly, Kenny Walker and Tommie Frazier. He describes the car accident that killed an 11-year-old stranger, what he told family members at the funeral of his youngest brother, the importance of his grandmother, why he’s chasing the next generation of John Parrellas and more. Support the show.
Johnny Torres, two-time national soccer player of the year at Creighton and current Bluejays assistant coach, discusses his childhood in Colombia, leaving his family at age 9, playing in the College Cup in 1996, his disappointing professional career in the MLS and what he learned mentoring kids in South Omaha. Torres also shares insight on the problems with American youth soccer. Support the show.
Peaches (James) Keaton, the most dominant softball pitcher in Nebraska prep history and an All-American for the Huskers, discusses her struggles to get mean on the mound, her Women's College World Series duel against Jennie Finch and her perfect game at the Big 12 tournament. James, who now gives pitching lessons in Omaha, also touches on changes in softball and what she might be like as a baseball parent. Support the show.
Carl Washington, founder of North Omaha's most prominent boxing club, reflects on 40 years as a coach and community activist. He talks about how the 1968 riots pushed him into the ring and how Ron Stander shoved him out; the challenges of hosting 200 young fighters in his basement and the pain of losing dozens of kids to prison and gang violence. Support the show.
Sage Rosenfels, former Iowa State Cyclone and current Omaha resident, discusses his unique upbringing in small-town Iowa, his late development in football, playing for Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban and how Brett Favre interfered with his dream of being an NFL starting quarterback. Rosenfels also shares insight on how social media has changed the NFL and which fan base annoys him more — Nebraska's or Iowa's. Support the show.
Elkhorn native Kyle Peterson joins host Dirk Chatelain to discuss growing up at Rosenblatt Stadium, the culture shock of attending Stanford and the challenges of facing Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. He also reflects on the injuries that ended his pitching career, the best broadcasting advice he ever received and more. Support the show.
Creighton Athletic Director Bruce Rasmussen joins host Dirk Chatelain to discuss growing up in Webster City, Iowa, coaching track with Bruce Jenner, a chance encounter with Nike founder Phil Knight, what it was like during Dana Altman's short-lived defection to Arkansas, his coaching philosophies, how college athletics programs have changed over the years and more. Support the show.
Two-time Olympian Jordan Burroughs joins host Dirk Chatelain to discuss his rapid ascent to fame and fortune after London, his stunning defeat in Rio and why he’s getting back on the mat for 2020. The New Jersey native received few wrestling accolades in high school, blossomed at Nebraska and became invincible on the world stage. Now at 28, he’s facing not just better competition, but the challenge of being a family man. Support the show.