Former Nebraska Cornhuskers Tryout For Omaha Nighthawks
April 11, 2011 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Omaha Nighthawks News Release
OMAHA, NE - Monday, April 11 - Heisman Trophy winner and former Nebraska college football standout ERIC CROUCH was among the players who attended open tryouts for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League at Bellevue West High School in Nebraska.
A total of 175 prospective players were put through their paces by Nighthawks head coach JOE MOGLIA and his staff at the UFL team's third and final open tryout of the offseason on Saturday, which followed similar chances for players to impress in Jacksonville, Florida, and Dallas, Texas.
"Of the three tryouts we have had, this one was our best attended and will likely produce the most prospects," said Nighthawks general manager RICK MUELLER.
The most familiar name on show was Crouch, who was named the 2001 Heisman Trophy winner while playing at Nebraska. "Eric is very intriguing," Mueller added. "I met him on my first trip to Omaha, and we have stayed in touch ever since. He is a really good guy, and from what I saw Saturday, a talented quarterback."
Another former Cornhusker who participated was running back MARLON LUCKY, who played in two games in the inaugural UFL season in 2009 with the New York Sentinels and returned five kickoffs for 122 yards (24.4-yard average) and tied for the UFL-best return of 40 yards that season.
"I think that experience certainly helps a player like Marlon," said Mueller. "He did a really nice job Saturday and stood out to me in the drills."
Mueller estimates there were about 600 Nighthawks fans in attendance and thanked the Nighthawks Fan Club, whose members were there to lend a helping hand.
"The Nighthawks Fan Club was extremely helpful, and it was great having them out there," Mueller said. "They have been a big part of this team from day one, and it was great to get them involved in something like this. They jumped in and assisted with everything from registration to shagging balls. I really can't thank them enough for all their help.
"I also want to thank our business operations staff that assisted Saturday. We would not have been able to pull off such a successful event without them."
The Nighthawks went 3-5 in their first season of play, selling out all four 2010 home games at venerable Rosenblatt Stadium, and set a UFL single-game attendance record with 23,554 fans for a Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Locomotives.
United Football League Stories from April 11, 2011
- Defending UFL Champion Locos Kickoff 2011 Open Tryouts - Las Vegas Locomotives
- Former Nebraska Cornhuskers Tryout For Omaha Nighthawks - Omaha Nighthawks
- Hartford Colonials Hire Harold Jackson for Coaching Staff - Hartford Colonials
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