Tag Archives | Nebraska Cornhuskers

Burkhead Makes Cover, Centerfold Of Big Red Report Mag

By on August 22, 2012 in Alumni

Plano alum Rex Burkhead featured on the September cover of Big Red Report Magazine.

We were in Omaha this past weekend, buying dorm room supplies at a local Wal-Mart for our newly minted Plano grad and Creighton University freshman. While gawking at the usual check-out lane tabloids and magazines, our eyes locked on a familiar silhouette on a magazine cover. Is it? Yes! Plano grad and Nebraska Cornhusker senior Rex Burkhead is the sole player on the 2012 Football Preview issue of Big Red Report magazine.

But wait – there’s more! As we flip through the magazine we’re stunned by the double-page centerfold close-up photo of Rex’s face behind the red face guard of his Huskers helmet.

Rex sports a light mustache in the photo, and with his collegiate athletic accomplishments to date we’re sure even Coach Kimbrough would give him a pass on the facial hair.

For more on Rex, the Huskers, and contact info if you want to order your own copy of the magazine, check the BIGREDREPORT.COM web site.

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Wildcats Alumni Go To 2010 Bowl Games

By on December 28, 2010 in '10 Fall Season, Alumni

While the regular season ended in November for the Wildcats, a few former starters will be with their college teams in December BCS bowl games. Here’s a rundown.

December 18 – NEW MEXICO BOWL – BYU & UTEP (Carson Meger, Plano ’09)

Meger, leading Plano to a 41-20 playoff win over Dallas Skyline on Dec. 8, 2007./Photo courtesy of Thadfenton.com

Suiting up as #13 for the UTEP Miners, redshirt freshman Carson Meger was back-up quarterback but saw no playing time in the Miner’s 52-24 loss to BYU in Albuquerque.

With the graduation of starting QB Trevor Vittatoe this year, look for Meger to pull out all the stops in spring practice to earn the top seed as QB for the next season.

December 30 – BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL – Army & SMU (Blake McJunkin, Plano ’08)

McJunkin exits Texas Stadium after Plano's playoff win over Mesquite on Nov. 24, 2007./Photo courtesy of Thadfenton.com

As starting center this year for the Mustangs, #63 Blake McJunkin will enjoy his second BCS bowl game before a largely home audience as the Armed Forces Bowl will be played at SMU’s Ford Stadium in University Park.

The Mustangs have been practicing this week in Bedford for a change of scenery and routine to focus on its opponent, Army, a team known for its running game.   Before practices moved across the DFW Metroplex, Blake was interviewed by PonyFans.com to provide his perspective on the Army defensive line.

The game will be broadcast at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN.

December 30 – BRIDGEPOINT EDUCATION HOLIDAY BOWL – Washington & Nebraska (Rex Burkhead, Plano ’09)

#22 for the Huskers, Rex Burkhead returns to San Diego for his second Holiday Bowl appearance in as many years.  Last year, Rex helped the

Burkhead makes his move on a Dallas Skyline defender in the Dec. 8, 2007 playoff win./Photo courtesy of Thadfenton.com

Huskers earn their first-ever shutout of an opponent in a bowl game, and no doubt he’ll be in the thick of things once again this year.

This season Husker fans have witnessed Rex take on the role of “shadow QB” in the Wildcat formation as Nebraska struggled through starting QB injuries.   Rex’s ability to throw the ball or scramble from a direct snap is not news to Plano fans, who witnessed him take over as starting QB for the Wildcats into the 2006 season.

The game will be broadcast at 9:00 p.m. on ESPN, and we hope the announcers correctly identify Rex’s alma mater as just Plano Senior High.  Our Editor has received no small number of comments from Wildcats fans this season that ABC/ESPN on-air sportscasters can’t get this fact straight.


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Alumni report

By on September 12, 2010 in '10 Fall Season, Alumni

C.J. Martin had among the best performances of Plano alumni this weekend. He collected a career-high 18 tackles in a losing Holy Cross effort Saturday.

Also, Matt Nicholson had eight tackles and defended two passes Friday as Houston defeated Texas-El Paso, moving up to No. 23 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. Rex Burkhead had 118 total yards as No. 8 Nebraska defeated Idaho. Burkhead will play in a nationally televised game next week and Holy Cross will play in a game of significance for Plano fans.

In more local action, Greg Harrell scored a touchdown as Austin College won.

Read more through the links provided to our alumni section.

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Wildcat Nine to see time in opening week

By on September 2, 2010 in '10 Fall Season

It has been a while since the opening week of the college football season featured this many Plano Wildcat products all expected to see significant playing time.

Nine former Wildcats figure into significant roles this weekend for their respective major college football programs.

Rex Burkhead, a true sophomore, is expected to have an increased role at running back for No. 9 Nebraska this season. The Cornhuskers host Western Kentucky at 6 p.m. Saturday in an FSN pay-per-view. He is the primary backup to starter Roy Helu Jr.

In other games including teams ranked in the USA Today/Coaches Poll, No. 12 Wisconsin will meet Nevada-Las Vegas and defensive end Beau Brence at 7 p.m. Saturday in a game to be televised on Versus. Utah State and Maxim Dinka will travel to meet No. 8 Oklahoma at 4 p.m. Saturday. Dinka, a hard-hitting safety at Plano, had been moved up to linebacker and now starts at defensive end.

Howard travels to meet Holy Cross and starting inside linebacker C.J. Martin at 2 p.m. Saturday.

A pair of brothers should be among the former Plano products to see playing time in the opening weekend of the college season, as receiver Alex Lott will carry North Texas into a meeting with Clemson at 2:30 p.m. in a game to be televised on ESPNU. Kris Lott could see time at receiver for Stephen F. Austin as they travel to meet Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Saturday. The team has a crowded receiving corps, but Lott was competing for a starting job this spring and summer.

The opening week could also answer a burning question around the Plano fieldhouse. Carson Meger was a hot-button subject this spring, rising from a walk-on deep on the quarterback depth chart at Texas-El Paso to a scholarship player. It remains somewhat unclear whether he will be the No. 2 or 3 quarterback, but performing the way he did this spring if given an opportunity Saturday in a 6 p.m. game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff could solidify the primary backup spot for the redshirt freshman.

The other question is not if, but how much will Matt Nicholson play. The linebacker will start for Houston in a 7 p.m. home game against Texas State, but the team so far has been careful with his touches after knee injuries ended his past two seasons. Houston just missed a top 25 spot in the USA Today poll, coming in at No. 27. Nicholson, a former program walk-on in his final season, has been selected as a defensive captain.

The weekend will end with Blake McJunkin playing for SMU in a 2:30 p.m. Sunday game at Texas Tech on ESPN. McJunkin had been in an offensive line battle that it appeared he had lost at one point, but he will reportedly get the nod at center in the season opener. A noteworthy item concerning McJunkin, the former all-state lineman at Plano plays close enough to home that he was able to take in most of the spring scrimmages and the fall season opener at Plano. See our complete alumni list here.

Sat., Sept. 4
Beau Brence No. 12 Wisconsin at UNLV, 7 p.m. (Versus)
Rex Burkhead W. Kentucky at No. 9 Nebraska, 6 p.m. (FSN PPV)
Maxim Dinka Utah State at No. 8 Oklahoma, 4 p.m.
Alex Lott North Texas at Clemson, 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Kris Lott Stephen F. Austin at Texas A&M, 6 p.m.
C.J. Martin Howard at Holy Cross, 2 p.m.
Carson Meger Ark-Pine Bluff at UT-El Paso, 6 p.m.
Matt Nicholson Texas State at Houston, 7 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 5
Blake McJunkin SMU at Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
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