Sports
Father confirms Davis will sign with NU
■ Tony Davis says his son,
Josh, will sign letter of intent
despite criminal charges.
By Brandon Schulte
Staff writer
While some key Nebraska football
recruiting targets have chosen to go
elsewhere, another long-time commit
ment whose status with the Huskers
had been uncertain will sign with NU
today.
Josh Davis, a 6-foot, 195-pound
running back from Loveland, Colo.,
will sign a letter of intent with Nebraska
on Wednesday, his father, Tony Davis,
said Tuesday.
“Josh will sign at 10 a.m.
Wednesday and he’ll do it at the high
school,” Tony Davis said.
Josh Davis, a high school All
American, was arrested on criminal
charges Jan. 21 for allegedly stealing a
Sony PlayStation from a Loveland resi
dence. Davis was charged with second
degree burglary and with providing
false information to a pawnbroker.
If convicted, Davis could face a
minimum of five years in prison and/or
$4,000 in fines. His father, who played
for NU from 1973-75, would not com
ment on the allegations against his son,
nor would he comment on his feelings
about them.
“Don’t ask me questions about any
thing but football,” Tony Davis said. “I
can't comment on the rest of it.”
It was unknown whether or not
media will be present at the signing,
Tony Davis said. He also wasn’t sure
whether his son would respond to any
questions concerning the allegations at
his signing or if NU Coach Frank
Solicit will make any statement at his
press conference, either. Solich’s press
conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. at
South Stadium on Wednesday.
Solich has been in contact with the
Davis family in the last few days, Tony
Davis said, and has assured them that
NU will not revoke the scholarship
offer.
Nebraska coaches are generally not
allowed to talk about recruits until they
have received a letter of intent from the
athlete.
Davis will sign Wednesday, but sev
eral other prospects have decided to
commit at other schools. Onterrio
Smith, a highly touted running back
from Sacramento. Calif., picked
Tennessee over Nebraska, Oregon and
Southern California according to
Bobby Burton of the National
Recruiting Advisor. Smith has a former
high school teammate at UT, which
played a big factor in his decision.
Both Chris Masseys have decided
to go elsewhere, as well. Chris Massey,
the quarterback, has narrowed his
choices to Arkansas and Oklahoma
State according to the National
Recruiting Advisor. The publication
also reports Chris Massey, the defen
sive back, has chosen Washington over
Please see DAVIS on 10
“He’s got the whole package. He’s got the potential to be a national champion - this year.”
NU GYMNAST JASON HARDABURA traded in packed powder for chalk powder about two years ago. Now, Head Coach Francis Allen said Hardabura has the talent to
be the national all-around champion this season.
SkT
toJuMP
Gym
Rat
Story by John Gaskins
Photo by Matt Miller
Hardabura left slopes for future at NU
Jason Hardabura could be a ski bum in British Columbia
right now, and that would be OK with him.
Instead, he's a world-class gymnast in Nebraska and hav
ing the time of his life.
The sophomore from Toronto said the turning point that
got him here was when he barely missed competmg for the
Canadian National Team in the 1996 Olympics.
“I was at a crossroads in my life, and gymnastics was def
initely not going to pay the bills,” Hardabura said.
“So I kind of took some time off and lived in Whistler,
B.C., and worked at a ski resort with my friends and pretty
much did nothing for a couple of months. Then I went home
and I thought, geez, I was either going to stay in Whistler and
become a ski bum, or go to school.
“I thought if school didn’t work out, 1 could go back to
Whistler, but if I didn't give school a chance, I was screwed.”
So, Hardabura talked to Nebraska Head Coach Francis
Allen, a renowned international coach for USA national
teams who had seen Hardabura compete in international
events for Canada. Allen told Hardabura to call him if he
wanted to go to school.
Hardabura made that call, and his teammates are thrilled
he’s not skiing right now.
Ask fellow Canadian, freshman Martin Fournier, a
Quebec native, who followed Hardabura to the United States
this year.
“Oh, man, he’s fun to be around. It's just one joke after the
other,” a laughing Fournier said with wide eyes and a thick
French accent. Fournier said that having a fellow foreigner on
team helped him feel more comfortable.
“He’s the kind of guy, when we’re practicing really hard
and getting serious, he’s always the one to make a joke and
make you laugh.”
Hardabura brings a lot more than humor to the No. 4
Huskers. Allen’s first foreign team member of his coaching
career at Nebraska brings years of international experience
and loads of talent.
“He’s got the whole package,” Allen said. ‘He s got the
potential to be a national champion - this year.”
Those are strong words, but Allen can back them up.
Hardabura was the top freshman in the nation last year, plac
ing ninth in the all-around at the NCAA Championships.
This past weekend, he finished third in the all-around at
the Rocky Mountain Open, with wins on the rings and the
high bar.
“The guy is amazing. He’s a natural talent,” Fournier said.
“But he likes the competition. I felt so nervous, the pres
Please see SKI on 11