my.journalstar.com

Vacation is a fun time to follow the rumor mill...

** That said, don't bet on Nebraska playing South Carolina in the 2011 Chick-fil-A College Kickoff in Atlanta. The possibility popped up on message boards this past weekend, apparently because the matchup was at one point included on the annual game's Wikipedia site (the site now says of the Sept. 3, 2011 game: "Participants to be determined.").

Nebraska won't be one of those participants, according to two school officials reached Monday. No surprise there. The Huskers' 2011 schedule is difficult enough without adding South Carolina. NU already has home games scheduled in 2011 against Fresno State and Washington before traveling to Wyoming. NU is likely looking for a home game to start 2011. What's more, no way Nebraska schedules itself into the Chik-fil-A game without first knowing its Big Ten schedule.

Alabama smoked Virginia Tech in last year's Chik-fil-A contest. This year's game, set for Sept. 4, pits LSU against North Carolina.

** Bob Burda, assistant Big 12 commissioner, wants to dispel a rumor he's heard circulating. Yes, Nebraska is scheduled to be the first team to meet the press this coming Monday at Big 12 media days in Dallas. And yes, Texas is scheduled to be the last team to meet the press, next Wednesday. But no, Burda told me Monday, the media days lineup is NOT the result of cautious Big 12 officials seeking to avoid the Huskers and Hookems having to cross paths.

In fact, Nebraska and Texas last year occupied the same spots in the Big 12 media days lineup. What's more, Burda says, the lineups are set during the spring. Furthermore, Nebraska's desire to be the first team "up" at Big 12 media days dates to Bill Callahan making the request during his tenure as head coach (2004-07).

** A hearty congrats to 1620 The Zone, which is a finalist for a Marconi Award as one of the five best sports radio stations in the United States. Other finalists include WFAN in New York, WAXY in Miami and the Ticket in Detroit. "It's a huge honor for our radio station to be included in an illustrious group of stations," Kevin Kugler said Monday. "It validates the great work Neil Nelkin and the entire crew here have put into the product."

** Kugler is Kugler. Very talented, obviously. Mike'l Severe, in my opinion, has the most in-depth knowledge of football of any "media type" I've ever been around. He also knows a thing or two about boxing, which is even more impressive to me.