LINCOLN — Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini says he wants his charitable organization “to keep growing as much as it possibly can” and to possibly keep adding events.
The Bo Pelini Foundation hosted its first celebrity golf tournament Monday at Wilderness Ridge. The event was expected to raise between $125,000 and $150,000, similar to what has been netted with Football 101 events each of the past two years.
According to Connie Jamrog, executive director of the Bo Pelini Foundation, contributions have gone to benefit juvenile and adult diabetes, breast cancer research and treatment, and underprivileged children. Every dollar raised, Jamrog said, stays in Nebraska.
Jamrog is the wife of Jeff Jamrog, NU’s assistant athletic director for football. Also involved heavily, Bo Pelini said, is his wife, Mary Pat, who serves as co-director of revenue and sponsorships.
“The more money you raise, the more you can help more people,” Bo Pelini said. “Our foundation tries to get involved with more than just a couple specific causes. We have different people who come to us for help. So the more we raise, the more we can do, and the more we can get involved with some other charities and other causes that are important to us.”
The golf tournament featured lunch, golf, dinner and a silent auction. Pelini planned to travel from hole to hole to meet with people and maybe hit a few shots along the way.
‘Husker helicopter’
One of the more unusual sights Monday was a black helicopter circling the Wilderness Ridge course before golfers headed to their hole assignments.
Pelini stood near the practice green and waved it down as golfers wondered who might be aboard. The “Husker Helicopter” was merely a prop for the outing and the courtesy of Kim and Jill Wolfe, who own Midwest Medical Transport Company.
“I didn’t know it was a free ride,” said former Husker Neil Smith. “It looked very nice, though. If I get a hole in one, you think they’d give it to me?”
Bo mum on Big Ten
Pelini played for Ohio State and worked a graduate assistant at Iowa in the Big Ten. He has coached with Nebraska and Oklahoma in the Big 12.
So what’s his take on potential conference realignment, which has included talk of NU and the Big Ten having at least some mutual interest in each other?
“I’m not real concerned with any of that,” Pelini said. “We’ll see how it goes. I really have no idea where it is, where it’s going. All I’m concerned with is the here and now.”
Asked if he had an opinion on what might be in the Huskers’ best interest, Pelini said that remains to be seen.
“But I know coach (Tom) Osborne and Chancellor (Harvey) Perlman and the rest of the administration will make the decision that’s best for Nebraska,” he said. “I think there are a lot of unknowns right now. I think there’s a lot of speculation, but I don’t think a lot of people really know what’s going on.”
Huskers get time away
Pelini said Husker players continued working out through last week and now have some time off to take finals and then rest. They will be due back at the start of June.
“That summer time is an important part of the year for us,” he said.
Pelini said he has been using some time recently to study some of the Huskers’ nonconference opponents. Asked if quarterback Zac Lee remains on schedule with his recovery from surgery on his throwing arm, Pelini said: “We think so.”
“We’re in pretty good shape physically right now,” he said. “I look forward to having a healthy football team when we kick it off.”
— Rich Kaipust
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