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Published Sunday October 10, 2004 NU-Tech Notes: Big 12 facilities race becoming 'depressing' for those keeping up BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

		SLIDE SHOW
		»	Texas Tech 70, Nebraska 10

LUBBOCK, Texas - No one is about to soon mistake the plains of west Texas for Austin, College Station or even Norman, Okla.

But since Nebraska's last visit here in 2000, the Texas Tech football facilities have undergone a dramatic upgrade.

NU officials in attendance Saturday to watch the Red Raiders' 70-10 win over Nebraska noticed the new look.

"It's almost depressing," said Boyd Epley, the NU associate athletic director in charge of facility development. "When you see what all the schools around the Big 12 are doing, you realize it's so hard to keep up. We're involved in a $50 million project, but even it doesn't measure up to the amount of dollars others schools are spending."

Tech spent $73 million to build a five-story addition to the west side of Jones Stadium. It houses 54 luxury suites. A new $11 million building, home to the Red Raiders' coaching offices, locker room and strength complex, sits southwest of the stadium.

Epley and Paul Meyers, the NU director of athletic development, said they were impressed with the attention to detail shown in constructing the buildings.

"It reinforces the idea that it's no longer just the schools like Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas who are putting money into their facilities," Meyers said. "It's everybody in the league."

The Huskers' $50 million project under construction north of Memorial Stadium is scheduled for completion in August 2006.

Epley traveled to Lubbock with a camera. He toured the Tech facilities Friday and will study images from his trip to help produce ideas for future projects at NU.

It's not a new practice. Last year when Nebraska played at Southern Mississippi, Epley and several other Nebraska officials rented a van and drove to Baton Rouge, La., to see the facilities at LSU.

"We pay a lot of attention," Meyers said. "They are our competition."

Tangerine Bowl hot for Huskers

Nothing about Nebraska's performance Saturday night in Lubbock soured the Tangerine Bowl on the Huskers.

Nothing, it seems, could - except for a losing season.

Bruce Del Valle, selection-committee member for the Dec. 21 game in Orlando, attended the NU-Tech game. He appeared thrilled about the opportunity to scout the Huskers this fall.

"We would be just delighted about being able to bring in a school like Nebraska," he said. "We are trying to increase our exposure. Nebraska could do that immediately for us."

The Tangerine Bowl pits the No. 4, 5 or 6 team from the Big 12 against the No. 4 team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

According to Del Valle, Nebraska's new West Coast offense and the presence of Coach Bill Callahan, known nationally from his two seasons as the Oakland Raiders' head coach, adds to the attractiveness of the school.

"But really, what seals it for Nebraska is their fans," he said. "I know it's said all the time, but they just have the best fans. The name appeal is second to none."

NU needs three more wins to become eligible to play in a bowl game for 36th consecutive season.

Del Valle raved about the hospitality in Orlando shown to fans and the participating schools. The Big 12 representative stays at the Caribe Royale Resort. Activities include outings to Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World.

"And we always have good weather," Del Valle said. "If anything, it's just a little too hot."

Bits and pieces

Nebraska tight end Matt Herian reached a pair of milestones in the first half Saturday. The junior from Pierce, Neb., caught three passes before halftime to reach 50 receptions for his career, becoming the fifth NU tight end to reach the half-century mark. Jerry List is the all-time leader with 61. Herian also joined Tracey Wistrom and Junior Miller as the third tight end to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards. . . . Nebraska quarterback Joe Dailey threw a first-quarter interception, his 12th of the season, to take the national lead from Tech QB Sonny Cumbie. Cumbie then tied Dailey with a second-quarter pick. . . . True freshman I-back Brandon Jackson replaced junior I-back David Horne on kickoff returns Saturday. . . . Senior place-kicker Sandro DeAngelis hit the right upright with a first-quarter field-goal attempt from 43 yards, his third straight miss. Sophomore David Dyches then drilled a career-long 46-yard second-quarter kick into a breeze on his first kick of the season. Dyches, who made 14 of 21 field goals last year, had a previous long of 41.

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