Friday, November 30, 2007

Saturday's Ice Storm: Thursday Night Forecasts

Forecasts for Saturday's weather event changed from snow and ice to primarily an ice storm on Thursday's late-evening newscasts. Thursday was also the final night of the November "sweeps" - the Nielsen Media Research ratings period.

First, the official "Hazardous Weather Outlook" statement issued at 5:37 a.m. from the National Weather Service forecast office in Valley, Neb.:

Freezing rain or sleet will develop over the area after midnight, possibly beginning as a period of light snow. Glazing is expected by daybreak with significant ice accumulations possible by mid-Saturday morning. A winter storm is in effect from late tonight through Saturday evening.

Freezing rain or sleet should change to rain Saturday. This changeover should occur in the morning along and south of Interstate 80, and by early afternoon over the rest of the area. Additional glazing can be expected in the morning. The precipitation could change back to freezing rain or freezing drizzle Saturday night before changing to light snow or flurries early Sunday. At this time, freezing rain or sleet appear to be the main weather hazards from this system.

The exact path of the storm and the timing of the precipitation switch are still somewhat uncertain.


And the late-evening TV forecasts (in alphabetical order):

KETV Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby led off the newscast by emphasizing that there was still a whole day to "analyze, assess and prepare" for a blast of winter weather on Saturday. His initial forecast graphic emphasized freezing rain and rain.

"Noon to 6 will be rain but from 6 a.m. to noon it's that band of ice," Randby said, referring to a 75-mile wide band on his forecast map.

In his main weather segment, Randby said forecasts for a quarter to a half-inch of freezing rain on Saturday morning, followed by a quarter to half an inch of rain on top of that, has him worried.

"If that happens, that wouldn't be so bad," Randby said. "My worry is that somebody
- probably up here (pointing to an area in northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa) - gets stuck in just freezing rain for the duration and has power outages and trees down and power lines down."

Randby said the stage is set for a "very nasty Saturday morning in Omaha," but then added, "if our computer models are true to what they're saying tonight, we'll be spared because we'll get above freezing in the afternoon. (We) shouldn't then have power line issues and trees coming down."



KMTV Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike, whose forecast segment always leads off the late-evening newscast, emphasized that several weather systems will converge on the Midwest, putting the "First Warning Threat Tracker" in the orange, or highest level.

McPike said to expect frozen precipitation - snow or sleet, possibly changing to freezing rain, sometime after 4 or 5 a.m. Saturday morning - followed by rain around noon.

"Here's the setup: the storm track (is) very close to Omaha," he said. "It looks like it will be just south or right over the top of us."

More details on the forecast are posted on the station's weather blog.



KPTM Chief Meteorologist Tyson Pearsall told viewers in his main weather segment to expect a little bit of snow through the overnight hours in the Omaha metropolitan area, followed by freezing rain.

Pearsall said Omaha will receive its heaviest precipitation - in the form of freezing rain - between 6 a.m. and noon on Saturday.

"Yes, we could see some snow here in the Omaha metro, but the bigger concern right now is the ice," Pearsall said.



WOWT Chief Meteorologist Jim Flowers led off his main weather segment with a follow-up to the two computer forecast models he referred to in his forecast on Wednesday.

"Tonight, those same models are in much better agreement in terms of the type and amounts of precipitation," he said. "There could be a little bit of snow or ice pellets at the beginning, but the amounts are insignificant compared to the amounts of freezing rain and rain (that are) forecast."

Flowers said around 4 or 5 a.m., light snow, possibly mixed with ice pellets, will be falling in Omaha. But about an hour later, freezing rain takes over.

"Then the system begins lifting on to the northeast," Flowers said. "As it does so, we expect a changeover to rain by about 10 or 11 a.m. from Omaha on toward the south."

Flowers said the station's in-house weather computer model is forecasting about a third-of-an-inch of ice for Omaha.

Read more about the forecast on the station's weather blog.

Star 104.5 Radiothon Helps Nearly 2,000 Families

A planned two-day radiothon on KSRZ (104.5 FM) to provide holiday assistance to Metropolitan Omaha-area families wrapped up in less than 12 hours Thursday.

Star 104.5 morning personalities "Glennboy" and Glo Goodwin told listeners Friday morning that the station's efforts to help the Salvation Army assist those in need took only 11 hours and 38 minutes to match individuals and businesses with all 1,742 families that were up for adoption.

Star 104.5 Program Director J. Pat Miller said the station could not have been prouder of its biggest event of the year.

"It was an amazing sight to see businesses, individuals, volleyball teams, Girl Scout troops, bingo/poker clubs, etc., all call in to pick up a piece of the community," he said.

Saturday's Weather: The Latest Online Forecasts

Updating the online forecasts 24 hours before Saturday's expected weather event and 48 hours after we first checked them:

The Omaha TV station forecasts, alphabetized and in descending order:

KETV
KMTV
KPTM
WOWT

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Saturday Snowfall: Wednesday Night Forecasts

Omaha TV forecasters widely speculated on the possibilities of a winter storm Saturday during their late evening newscasts Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service forecast office in Valley, Neb., the storm system will bring a mix of precipitation to the region beginning Friday night.

Here is the rest of the NWS advisory, issued at 5:30 a.m. Thursday:

The precipitation is expected to begin as freezing rain and sleet after midnight Friday and continue through early Sunday. Rain and freezing rain are most likely Saturday across Southeast Nebraska and Southwest iowa. A mix of snow and freezing rain is more likely north of Interstate 80, with the heaviest snowfall across far northeast Nebraska and West Central Iowa. The exact path and timing of the system are still somewhat uncertain. So it is too soon to forecast specific precipitation amounts and types for any one location.


In alphabetical order, here are summaries of each Omaha station's forecast Wednesday night (at either 9 or 10 p.m.):

KETVKETV Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby said the key is where a cold front from the north mixes in with moisture coming from the south.

"Do we just get a little bit of snow, then quickly change over to rain and not have an ice storm? Or is the ice storm in Tekamah or Sioux City? I feel pretty confident there is going to be an ice storm across part of eastern Nebraska and a good chunk of Iowa. And a very heavy snow - something on the order of a foot for some people - certainly up toward the Sioux Falls area (and) southern Minnesota."

Later, Randby told co-anchors Julie Cornell and Rob McCartney "if the colder air stays in here ... a historical thing that our computer models don't handle well, we could be talking about just a substantial icing event."

KMTVKMTV Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike said moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and tropical moisture out of the southwest figure into the system, with the storm track appearing to be just south of Omaha.

"At the very least, we're going to see some type of wintery precipitation," McPike said. "It may start as a little frozen precipitation, go to rain Saturday afternoon and then maybe some light snow as the cold air works in behind this system."

McPike said it is still a bit early to forecast what type of precipitation, but "things are coming together."

"It looks like the track will be near us, or a little bit south which is favorable, especially south of us, for wintry weather," he said. "I don't think moisture is going to be a problem. Certainly the cold air is going to be in place. It just kind of depends how deep that cold air is as to what type of precipitation we see."

KPTMKPTM Chief Meteorologist Tyson Pearsall told viewers his forecast was an early indication of what was going to happen and that it would be updated over the next couple of days.

"(The) best chance for accumulating snow - possibly eight or more inches - as you start to make your way toward Northeastern Nebraska up around Sioux Falls, northwest Iowa, too, " Pearsall said. "Further off to the south, right here in the Metro, from Lincoln down toward Plattsmouth, a little bit of everything. Freezing rain a concern. Snowfall a concern. Sleet a concern, too. You can see the snow line of about four plus from just about Omaha north, then freezing rain becomes a big concern as we go across eastern, southeastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa, too."

Pearsall said one computer model puts "96 one-hundredths of an inch of precipitation - nearly the equivalent of one liquid inch of moisture" - on Omaha.

WOWTWOWT Chief Meteorologist Jim Flowers showed a graphic revealing information from two computer models, one keying in on ice and freezing rain, the other keying in on freezing rain that turns to rain.

"Looking at these rains, as far as freezing rain goes, both are giving us over half-an-inch of freezing rain before any potential changeover," Flowers said. "So that's the key we're looking at now as far as surface temperatures as we head into Saturday."

Flowers said somewhere in the pink area on his "Potential Ice Storm" graphic is looking at a fairly significant ice event. "It would tend to favor the northern half of the area, but we will of course keep you apprised as those models keep coming in over the next couple of days."

Want even more details? Read the station weather blogs:
KETV
KMTV
WOWT

Star 104.5 Adopt-A-Family Radiothon Underway

KSRZ (104.5 FM)'s annual "Star 104.5 Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family Radiothon" invites listeners to make a contribution to help Metro area families who couldn't otherwise afford gifts to make the holidays bright.

Last year, the two-day effort helped the Salvation Army assist more than 1,700 families.

The number to call to adopt a family is 898-6050.

A live webcam allows listeners to view the broadcast from the Salvation Army Headquarters. The station's website also features podcasts of families who are up for adoption during the radiothon.

Update at 1:15 p.m.:
More than 600 families had been adopted in the first five-and-a-half hours of the radiothon.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Saturday Snowfall: The Early Forecasts Online

The National Weather Service forecast office in Valley, Neb., provided the following information in its Wednesday morning (3:46 a.m.) forecast:

Friday night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Lows around 17.

Saturday - Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of light freezing rain and snow. Highs in the lower 30s.

Saturday night - Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Lows in the lower 20s.

Sunday - Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Highs in the lower 30s.

Here are the extended (graphical format) forecasts from the four Omaha TV stations' websites (in alphabetical order) at 11 a.m. Wednesday:



Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Voorhees' Topic: NU Fans Don't Want Black Head Coach

KFAB (1110 AM) morning talk show host Scott Voorhees baited listeners Tuesday with a topic that generated plenty of phone calls: There is talk that Nebraska football fans do not want Turner Gill to be the next head football coach because he is black.

"If you think I'm bringing this up just to get phone calls, you're wrong. You're absolutely wrong," Voorhees said.

(A portion of the segment is available via podcast here.)

KFAB's "Husker Insider" Sean Callahan of HuskersIllustrated.com, disagreed with Voorhees, discounting a former player's assessment to Voorhees that Husker fans don't appreciate blacks unless they are playing for the team. Once their eligibility is used up, the former player told Voorhees, fans could care less about Husker players who are black.

Callahan also said there was good reason that Gill was passed over for the interim head coaching job when former Husker Coach Frank Solich was fired in 2003. Omaha World-Herald columnist Tom Shatel pointed out in his column in Tuesday's editions that Gill held a higher position — assistant head coach - than Bo Pelini, who was named interim head coach for one game.

"A lot of people don't know this, but Jim Rose filled me in that Pelini had it written into his contract that he would become interim coach if the head coach was fired," Callahan said.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Callahan Firing Coverage

Radio station KFAB posted this picture on its website Saturday morning. Bill Callahan waved to the cameras as he left his meeting Saturday morning with interim Athletic Director Tom Osborne.

Sean Callahan announced on WOWT-6 at 8:58 a.m. that Bill Callahan had been "terminated without cause" during the coach's meeting with Osborne. KOLN/KGIN in Lincoln began its coverage of the 9:30 a.m. press coverage at 9 a.m. At about the same time, the Lincoln Journal Star was reporting that LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini had been contacted by a search firm hired by Nebraska.

By 10 a.m., the Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, was no longer accessible, its server unable to handle the traffic load. Husker fan forums like Huskerpedia.com and Huskerboard.com were also operating at record traffic levels.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Z-92's '92 Hours of Caring' Wraps Up Today

Nearly 5,000 pounds of food and more than $2,000 have been collected heading into the final hours of Z-92's "92 Hours of Caring Food Drive."

Since last Friday, the station has been providing listeners with live updates from the Baker's store at 156th and West Dodge Road. The collected food will be given to the Omaha Food Bank. Monetary donations are being accepted at all US Bank locations.

Monday, November 19, 2007

New Format Debuts Today For 93.3 FM

Omaha's newest country music station debuts today at 3 p.m. on 93.3 FM (formerly "Legendary American Country: US 93.3 FM")

According to a press release sent to Omaha-area advertisers, the new "Twister 93.3" is the newest incarnation of Clear Channel's "Country Combo" strategic positioning, designed to serve the 18-to-34-year-old listener.

"Twister is the first place to hear new country music from Cari (sic) Underwood, Keith Urban, Craig Morgan, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Brad Paisley and more," reads the release.

In the most recent Arbitron ratings, the former KHUS (93.3 FM) was listed near the bottom among all listeners, aged 12-and-older. Another Clear Channel country-formatted station, KXKT, ranked third among all listeners in the same ratings period (summer 2007). KHUS made its debut in October 2005.

Drew Bentley, Liz Adams, out at KGOR

KGOR Program Director Drew Bentley has been let go by the oldies station at 99.9 FM. In addition, KGOR on-air personality Liz Adams was also let go.

Another layoff: Tom Goodwin, program director of the Kat (KXKT 103.7 FM), was let go, too. Both the Kat and KGOR are owned
by Clear Channel.

Taylor Walet, general manager of Omaha's Clear Channel stations, has yet to return phone calls. However, sources at the station confirmed the layoffs.

More details to follow.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

KETV-HD Moving Down The Dial On Cox

KETV's HD channel on Cox Communications is on the move again. After debuting on Channel 809, it was removed from Cox completely in October 2006 during a dispute over retransmission rights.

When an agreement between Cox and KETV's parent company, Hearst-Argyle, was reached in September, KETV-HD returned on Channel 806. Now comes word that it will be moving again - to Channel 709 on Dec. 11.

Summer Miller Widhalm, public affairs manager for Cox Communications in Omaha, said the shift down the dial for KETV-HD is one of a number of channels moves being made.

"We are shifting all of our channels to make room for more HD and to group like channels together," she said.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

KIOS Hires News Director

Non-commercial radio station KIOS (91.5 FM) has hired a news director to beef up its offering. Katie Knapp, who comes here from a news anchor and reporter job at WGIL-AM in Galesburg, Ill., will lead KIOS’ local news at the top and bottom of the hour during morning and afternoon drive times beginning in January.

For now it will be Knapp running the show, but “eventually, we may have more reporters,” she said. “It’s a big job creating a news department from scratch, but also a very rewarding one … We’re beginning to lay the framework for the news department, with the plan to do local news both morning and afternoon, as well as long-form reports and features during those times.

“I envision our news department will be more issue-based...not so much what’s happening in general, but why, how, and what it means for Omaha residents.”

Knapp has already begun work at the station, recently posting a story/audio on KIOS.org covering former President Bill Clinton’s visit to Glenwood, Iowa.

The 'Buzz' Turns 1

“Omaha Buzz” – WOWT-6’s locally produced entertainment-driven show aimed at 20- and 30-somethings – celebrated its first year on the air recently. It airs each Wednesday at 8 p.m. on WOWT’s digital signal on channel 620.

The brightly colored, fast-paced show might seem a tad cheesy to the hipsters in town, but for club-hoppers and social butterflies, “Omaha Buzz” provides a look inside Omaha’s nightlife scene and all things entertaining.

“It’s your V.I.P. pass to Omaha,” said the show’s creator Vic Richards, who also handles promotions for WOWT. “We take you to new venues, local concerts, interviews with local bands, visiting bands, new bars/clubs, events, nightlife.”

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Imus Signs Deal With Omaha-Based Broadcaster

Don Imus and Rural Media Group have agreed to a five-year contract that will make "Imus in the Morning" available on Rural Media Group's RFD-TV and RFD-HD.

Rural Media Group owns RFD-TV, an Omaha-based satellite and cable channel dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America and agriculture.

According to stories published Wednesday, Imus' show will air live on weekdays from 5-8 a.m. CST. "Imus in the Evening," a rebroadcast of the morning program, will air in primetime on RFD-HD from 5-8 p.m. and will be featured on video-on-demand.

"Imus in the Morning" for radio will be broadcast on the radio from 5-9 a.m. by Citadel Talk WABC/New York and will be syndicated across the country by the ABC Radio Network.

RFD-TV is available on the DISH Network, DIRECTV, Mediacom, Charter, NRTC, Bresnan and NCTC cable systems. The corporate and national sales office is headquartered at 128th & West Dodge Road. Its studios and broadcast content originates from Nashville.

Christmas Music: Which Station Will Be Next?

Christmas Music JukeboxAt least one person is tracking which radio stations in the upper Midwest are making the switch to an all-Christmas music format.

Star 104.5 (KSRZ) re-branded itself as "Omaha's Christmas Music Station" last week. According to Upper Midwest Broadcasting, KSRZ is the only radio station in Nebraska to have "flipped" formats. At least four stations in Minnesota have plans to broadcast Christmas music.

According to the site's archive section of Christmas music stations, six stations in Nebraska made the programming switch last year, including four in Omaha.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Justice Defends Story On Callahan Resignation Request

KMTV-3 Sports Director Travis Justice reported Thursday that two separate sources close to the Nebraska football program say Nebraska football Coach Bill Callahan told his team before Thursday's practice that he was asked to resign.

"Both of the sources tell Action 3 News that coach Callahan told the team to play for themselves as the coaching staff will more than likely not be around next season," read a story posted on the station's website.

Justice defended his report Friday, which has resulted in a flurry of Internet message board postings and several spin-off stories by other media outlets.

"I got tipped off late last night, checked it out this morning, verified it and ran with it," Justice said on the "The Big Show" on KXSP (590 AM).

"People are really upset about me that I didn't say who asked him (Callahan) to resign," Justice said. "It may have been Tom Osborne. I don't know. I reported what was said at practice yesterday.

"To me, the big part of the story is that this is the first time that he has taken time with his players to say 'we're in dire straights right now.'"

The Associated Press' Eric Olson first asked Callahan during Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference whether he had been asked to submit his resignation. The question drew a nine-second pause before Callahan sidestepped the question.

If Callahan is fired at the end of the season, his contract calls for Nebraska to pay him more than $3 million.

'Murder House' on NET

Fans of the C.S.I shows will want to tune into Nebraska Educational Television Nov. 16 (9 p.m.), Nov. 18 (1 and 9 p.m.) or Nov. 22 (9 p.m.) to see what goes on behind the scenes.

“Murder House,” a new documentary from NET, takes a look at the next generation of crime scene investigators and how they are being trained.

The doc focuses on a masters degree program in forensic sciences at Nebraska Wesleyan University where students work on a mock crime scene set at an actual house as part of their training.

During the making of the doc, investigators in Omaha were getting to work on the case of Jessica O’Grady, a young Omaha woman who had disappeared. The Douglas County C.S.I. team collected enough evidence from suspect Chris Edwards’ bedroom to conclude that O’Grady died in the room. They charged him with murdering O’Grady in May 2006.

Due to what jurors felt was overwhelming evidence, Edwards was later convicted of murder in the O’Grady case. It was the first murder conviction without a body in the history of Nebraska.

“Murder House” talks with lead C.S.I. member David Kofoed about the O’Grady case and offers fascinating insight and images into the case and how the investigators went about solving it.

Kofoed said in a recent interview that his staff at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office provided several O’Grady crime scene photos, as well as aspects of Kofeod’s PowerPoint presentation that he offered in court during testimony to NET for the documentary.

Omaha.com Adds Profiles of Local Bands

The Omaha World-Herald's online portal, Omaha.com, is now offering profiles of local bands.

The 24 bands listed link to a separate page featuring genre, a bio, band member information, photos, a discography and official website (when available).

The Monroes list their genre as "Tractor Punk."

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Some No Longer Using Rodriguez's Name

Peterson, Rodriguez mug shotsMore than 1,000 news stories appear in a Google search related to the flight to Mexico by Lexington teacher Kelsey Peterson and the 13-year-old boy, Fernando Rodriguez, she once taught.

Rodriguez's picture even moved on The Associated Press wire when he and Peterson first disappeared last week.

But now, The Associated Press and at least one local TV station, KETV-7, are no longer using Rodriguez's name, citing sexual abuse allegations in connection with Peterson's arrest. The change first came to light Tuesday when AP editors ordered Rodriguez's name be struck from subsequent stories, saying the most recent charges allege he was the victim of a sex crime.

In a report Wednesday night at 5, KETV reporter Farrah Fazal referred to Rodriguez as "the boy." However, stories archived on the station's website, KETV.com, still include Rodriguez's name.

The AP first used Rodriguez's name in its initial stories, explaining that wire service "generally does not identify people who may be victims of sex crimes, but the boy’s name had been widely publicized as police searched for him."

More of the Name Game
Some Omaha news media outlets are naming the woman suspected of writing bad checks under an assumed name to cover cash taken from the Douglas County Treasurer's Office. The Omaha World-Herald is not, citing its policy of not identifying someone who is not yet charged with committing a crime.

Christmas Music Starts Thursday on Star 104.5

The first Omaha radio station to break format and go with Christmas music in 2007 will be Journal Broadcast Group-owned KSRZ, better known as "Star 104.5."

A countdown clock on the station's website reveals the switch from its usual "hot adult contemporary" format will be made Thursday morning.

Last year, Clear Channel-owned KGOR (99.9 FM) was the first Omaha station to play Christmas music regularly (beginning Nov. 23).

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

More On Rose's Exit

Be sure to pick up this week’s issue of the City Weekly newspaper (on streets Wednesday), as it includes more insight on Jim Rose’s announcement that he is no longer going to do the play-by-play calls for the Husker Sports Network.

Some highlights:

Kent “Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown!” Pavelka, who was the voice of the Huskers from 1983 to 1996, said Tuesday he was “really surprised that he (Rose) decided to leave. But I understand the pressures of that job and I just wish the best for him and his family.” Would Pavelka, who returned to do play-by-play of Husker basketball games in 2006, be interested in the Husker football play-by-play gig? “I’d love to do the games again,” Pavelka said. He added that he has not been approached by the Husker Sports Network regarding the football job.

– One local sports broadcaster who doesn’t want the job is KMTV-3 sports director and Big Sports 590 co-host Travis Justice. “The truth is, that’s the toughest job in the state,” Justice said Tuesday after hearing about Rose’s exit. “They’re either going to love you, or they’re going to hate you. And I think with the changes taking place, I think everybody was paranoid. If you were associated with Steve Pederson whatsoever, and align yourself with that side of the aisle, I think pressure was always going to be on you. If there’s one job I never want, that’s the job. You can’t keep them happy. You’re not a homer enough, you’re too much of a homer … .”

– Said one local broadcaster of Rose’s explanation for stepping down as play-by-play voice: “It’s one of the best spin jobs I’ve ever seen,” and that Rose’s speech was “self-righteous bullshit in the extreme.”

Look for more coverage in this week’s City Weekly.

Rose Steps Down From Play-By-Play Job

Nebraska football play-by-play radio announcer and KFAB morning show personality Jim Rose is stepping down from the microphone as the "Voice of the Huskers."

Rose made the announcement on KFAB Tuesday morning at 7:15.

"My decision is to give up the games. I just can't do this anymore," he said. "It's not that I don't love it. I just can't make the sacrifice anymore. It's not fair to me. It's not fair to my family. It's not fair to my friends."

Rose said his absence from the radio booth during Saturday's 76-39 drubbing of the Huskers by Kansas was the result of "some serious soul-searching" over the past couple of weeks.

"I began to have some health problems. Just some fatigue and disorientation," Rose said. "I think it comes from having a lot of demands. It's been that way for six years - long days."

Rose said he was overworked, having focused much of his attention on preparing for the football game, while ignoring his friends and family.

"It just got to the point several weeks ago where I began to get concerned," he said. "I was just going from one place to the next and didn't know where I was even going.

"I began to think long and hard what was going on in my life. It became pretty clear to me that I had become more of a thing than a person. (Being) the voice of the huskers is thrilling and exciting ... the people you meet and places you see. But I had forgotten who I was. I had totally lost touch with really important things in my life. I didn't know who my kids were. I hadn't talked to my wife, my mother or done anything (other than the broadcasts) that I had enjoyed the past six years."

Rose said he approached management at KFAB and Host Communications, the rights holder for Nebraska sports broadcasts, with his concerns last Thursday.

"I told them I wasn't ready to do the broadcast," Rose said. "I simply could not go on the air if I wasn't ready. It would have been a disservice to the listeners."

Rose said he firmly believes that this is a good decision for him and his family. He has been a radio broadcaster for 25 years. He said it had nothing to do with the Huskers' poor performance this season.

"It's nothing more than that. It's all about the people who are important to me," he said.

KFAB Program Director Gary Sadlemyer, who has also previously been part of Nebraska football broadcasts, said the play-by-play job had been a "labor of love" for Rose.

"He grew up in Lincoln and this was really a dream come true for him," Sadlemyer said.

Rose agreed.

"These six years have been the most rewarding six years of my life. I just loved doing it."

Prior to his announcement, Rose kidded with Sadlemyer about the rumors that filled Internet discussion boards after his absence from last Saturday's game.

The two best ones, Rose said, were (fellow KFAB personality) Tom Becka's assertion that Rose was clairvoyant and knew the Huskers would come up way short against the Jayhawks ... and another that Rose was attending the birth of his first grandchild.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Calvert Collins Headed To Vegas

Former KPTM reporter/anchor Calvert Collins will soon be joining the Eyewitness News Team at Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS.

According to a KLAS station memo, Collins will begin her new job Nov. 12.

The University of Missouri graduate was terminated in June after an MSNBC investigation linked her name to a list of reporters nationwide who made monetary contributions to political campaigns.

Collins said her father made the donation in her name to Jim Esch, who lost the Democratic House race to Republican incumbent Lee Terry in 2006. Several months before the MSNBC story, Collins posted a picture of her posing with Esch on her Facebook page.

WOWT Post-Game Video Causing Quite A Stir

Video shot by WOWT-6 as Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan and Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove walked off the field from Saturday's 76-39 loss to Kansas is creating a ruckus among some Husker fans.

"I don't want to start anything but look at this piece of video," said WOWT weekend sportscaster John Chapman during Sunday night's early and late-evening newscasts.

The video (available on WOWT's news clips on demand section) shows Callahan and Cosgrove walking toward the camera after the game. The next shot is that of Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne, who is seen watching the pair - and a host of players and staff members - walk past. The actual moment when Callahan and Cosgrove pass directly by Osborne is not shown.

The video led to a five-page thread on Huskerpedia.com.

Sadlemyer Says Rumors About Rose Are Untrue

KFAB (1110 AM) Program Director Gary Sadlemyer reiterated to listeners Monday that a personal matter kept Jim Rose from handling the radio broadcast for Saturday's Nebraska-Kansas football game in Lawrence, Kan.

Sadlemyer said rumors he has heard about "the real reason" for Rose's absence are not true.

"I can only tell you, it's B.S. It's out there. It's on Mars," Sadlemyer said. "I'm not going to go on the radio and tell you what it is.

"The rumors say it has something to do with something he said on the radio, or in an interview (with the Omaha City Weekly) are simply not true.

"There's nothing sinister. Nobody's injured. Nobody's dead. You're going to hear speculation that it's his marriage. It's not that."

Greg Sharpe, a Kansas-based sports talk show host, handled Saturday's call of the game for the Husker Sports Network. Sharpe also hosted Coach Bill Callahan's weekly TV program, which aired Sunday night.

How quickly did word spread that Rose wasn't calling the game? KFAB morning radio personality Scott Voorhees said he was asked about Rose's absence while attending a wedding in Kansas City.

Husker-related message boards heated up with all kinds of speculation about Rose's absence.

Sadlemyer said he expects Rose to return to the station Tuesday. He said Rose told him Sunday needed another day to "deal with this thing."

"Things come up," he said. "And a thing came up. That's all."