Fort, Hoppen, Strickland, Conklin: Big Eight, Big 12, Big Memories

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Jerry Fort used to go to discos in the '70s. He was not highly recruited out of high school, but earned first-team All-Big Eight honors for three consecutive seasons en route to a Hall-of-Fame career at Nebraska, an honor that he says "exceeded any expectation I ever had for myself."

Dave Hoppen loved watching comedy movies in the '80s. He also earned first-team All-Big Eight honors for three consecutive years en route to a Hall-of-Fame career that landed him at the top of Nebraska's career scoring chart. He selected the Huskers over Notre Dame, Missouri, Kentucky and Kansas.

Erick Strickland may have been the most athletic basketball player ever to put on a Husker uniform. He was the first post-1994 player inducted into the Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame and led the Huskers to the 1996 NIT National Championship. He also played nine years in the NBA.

Brian Conklin cannot match the individual awards won by Fort, Hoppen, Strickland and many other ex-Huskers who made the commitment Tuesday night to support the 2011 team. But like the vast majority of NU lettermen, the 6-11 forward from Youngstown, Ohio, was a genuine, humble, team-first winner.

With Nebraska playing its last Big Eight, Big 12 Conference game at home against Missouri, the N-Sider decided to look at the four most recent decades with Fort reminiscing about the '70s, Hoppen the '80s, Strickland the '90s and Conklin the last decade that began in 2000.

We also published an N-Sider with Willie Campbell looking at the Big Eight Conference in the '60s. Later this week, we'll even go back to the Big Seven Conference through the eyes of another Husker Hall-of-Famer. In the meantime, enjoy this nostalgic look back with four fabulous Huskers:

Jerry Fort, Guard, 1973-74-75-76: Looks Forward to Big Ten

What I'm doing now: I live in Newington, Conn., with my wife, and we have been married for 28 years. I have worked in the property and casualty insurance business for the past 30 years and am currently Vice President of Underwriting at AmTrust Financial.

What I remember most about the '70s besides basketball: What I recall about the 70's were the clothes we wore when we went to the discos. They were cool back then, but considered a very strange style based for today's taste. I also recall the serious issues we were dealing with as a country. We were at war in Vietnam and Watergate was daily news in the White House.  

Most poignant memory: Beating Kansas on their home court. During the game, Kansas fans threw coins at me. Beating KU any time is one of the greatest feelings I ever had as a Nebraska basketball player.

Most memorable team moment: My coach, Joe Cipriano, arranged a summer tour us to play various club teams in Italy. Hanging out with my teammates, along with Cip's son, Randy, was a special trip - one I will never forget.

What it means returning to the Devaney Center for the last Big Eight, Big 12 Conference game ever: It's great that former players have been invited to come back and witness the last Big Eight/Big 12 Conference game Nebraska will play. It is a bittersweet feeling I have because I grew up watching Big Eight basketball a young kid in Chicago. I also watched a lot of Big Ten basketball so I am happy that Nebraska will be playing in a conference that also has a long and storied history. However, I will miss the rivalries Nebraska has had with Kansas, K-State, Oklahoma and Missouri.

What I'll miss most about the Big Eight, Big 12 Conference: I will miss the rivalries we've had with Kansas, K-State, Oklahoma and Missouri. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this last conference home game in Lincoln, but I'm trying to make an annual trip to Doc Sadler's golf tournament. 

Why I'm excited about Nebraska playing in a new conference next season and in a new arena in 2013: Growing up in Chicago, I followed Big Ten hoops as much as I did the Big Eight. I visit Chicago quite frequently, and this will allow me to see Nebraska play Northwestern and go to the game with my first Nebraska roommate, Rick Marsh, a Chicago native who now lives in Evanston, Ill. Rick and I are very close, and we are already planning to attend the first game in Evanston. The new arena will be a plus for Doc and the whole Lincoln community. This will help Nebraska get top recruits that want to play for an up-and-coming program in a high-profile league.

Dave Hoppen, Center, 1983-84-85-86: Appreciates Sportsmanship

What I'm doing now: I own my own business, Cornerstone Financial Group, LLC, in Omaha. I'm a financial advisor.

What I remember most about the '80s besides basketball: Comedy movies (Airplane, Caddyshack, etc.) and the best era for music.

Most poignant memory: Setting the scoring record against Montana on the road.  I came within one point of breaking the record a couple of nights before at Washington State. So after I scored the first basket of the game, Montana stopped the game and presented me with a game ball. I thought that was a very classy thing to do. 

Most memorable team moment: Going to the NIT Final Four as a freshman. After winning a home game against TCU, the fans charged the court and everyone could hear Frank Sinatra singing "New York New York" over the speakers!

What it means returning to the Devaney Center for the last Big Eight/Big 12 Conference home game: It will be exciting - the end of an era, but I'm looking forward to our move to the Big Ten.

What I'll miss most about the conference we've been in:  Rivalries. Playing great teams like KU and Mizzou. The familiarity with the teams and the coaches. 

Why I'm excited that Nebraska will play in a new conference and in 2013, a new arena: We get the opportunity to play against some of the traditionally strongest basketball teams in the country. I'm sure the new arena will be great, but I loved playing in the Devaney and always enjoyed watching games there.   

Funniest thing I ever saw or experienced at Nebraska: The Antler Club at Mizzou. They were out there as soon as we got on the floor to warm up and never stopped harassing us until the game was over. They had some pretty wild costumes and signs over the years. Even though a lot of what they were saying or doing was directed at me, I had to give them respect because they were almost always funny and had such passion for their team.

Parting shot for my fellow Husker players: I have always been very proud to have worn my Husker jersey and you should too. Nebraska is a GREAT school!

Parting shot for Big Red fans: The Big Eight/Big 12 Conference has been great, but let's get ready to make some memories in the Big Ten! Thank you so much for all the support you've given to me over the years.

Erick Strickland 1993-94-95-96: Got to Play Against Jordan

What I'm doing now: I'm in school, studying to get my license to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What I remember most about the '90s besides basketball: The evolution of the NBA going to new heights in marketing and the floodgate of the Top 50 players of all time coming into their prime and joining together to win the 92' and 96' Olympics. The worldwide web helped Michael Jordan become a sports and pop culture icon. Through all his deals, he revolutionized sports marketing.

Most poignant memory: Playing on the Big Stage at Madison Square Garden for the Final Four of the NIT Tournament and starting as a rookie in the NBA and not only playing against Michael Jordan, but winning in overtime.

Most memorable team moment: Winning the Big Eight Tournament Championship in Kansas City and running through three powerhouse teams - high-scoring Oklahoma, a strong Missouri team and a Final Four-caliber Oklahoma State team.

What it means returning to the Devaney Center for the last Big Eight, Big 12 Conference home game: It's the place where it all began for me. I have great memories of playing in front of one of the rowdiest crowds in the Big Eight at that time. There was nothing like it, and I look forward to seeing the transition out of the past into the future of the Big Ten.

What I'll miss most about the Big Eight, Big 12 Conference: I will miss "Rock Chalk Jayhawk" chants and KU coming in and taking a hit in the loss column at the Devaney, I will miss the Oklahoma fun-and-gun basketball games that we had together, I will miss the pit at Okie State, the Antlers at Missouri and how they knew all of our business. I will miss playing against "The Mayor" - Fred Hoiberg - in Hilton Coliseum.

Why I'm excited Nebraska will play in a new conference and two years from now, in a new arena: It's going to create new rivalries that we didn't have in the past. I always wanted to get a run at the Iowa Hawkeyes, and now they're right next door. There's great power basketball in the Big Ten, so it will be fun to stay in the Midwest. I see us having more recruiting opportunities in the Big Ten in basketball. 

Funniest thing I ever saw or experienced at Nebraska: Buying and wearing Danny Nee ties and watching Terrence Badgett act like, dress like, walk like and talk like Danny Nee.

Parting shot for my fellow Husker players: Never forget your experience with your teammates at this wonderful institution of higher learning. Nebraska has great facilities, great staff, great academia, great basketball and great sports all the way around. Nebraska also has great people, great friends and most importantly, great fans.

Brian Conklin 2001-02-03-04: Has a Keen Perspective

What I'm doing now: I live in Omaha and am the Director for the Omaha Fellowship of Christian Athletes. My wife Jenny and I have three kids - Jonah 5, Abby 3, and Levi 7 months.

What I remember most about the most recent decade besides basketball: The September 11 attacks. On that day, sports didn't matter to this country. People did matter.

Most poignant memory: Playing against Oklahoma State in 2001. We were their first road game after the tragedy of their team plane crash that killed 10 people. We wanted to win, play hard, and execute at a high level but at the same time, I remember feeling a great deal of love for those guys. Looking at their faces really put life and the game that we were playing into perspective.

Most memorable team moment: Unfortunately, my most memorable moment was a loss. In 2002, we played No. 1 Kansas at the Devaney Center. The game was nationally televised on CBS. The crowd was as loud as I had ever heard it. We played really hard and made 18 three-pointers but came up one point shy (88-87). I can also remember John Turek making a crazy 360 tip-in dunk right in the middle of a big run that we were making. The electricity in the building that day will always be something that I remember.

What it means to return to the Devaney Center for the last Big Eight, Big 12 Conference home game: Another very special day. There have been a lot of big memories in that building. 

What I will miss most about the conference we've been in: The rivalries. The years that I played, the Big 12 was the best conference out there. Every game you needed to be at your absolute best to get a win. I loved the fact that it demanded so much out of each player and each coach.

Why I'm excited Nebraska will play in a new conference and two years from now, in a new arena: Being from Youngstown, Ohio, I grew up in Big Ten country. I was raised watching Jimmy Jackson, the Fab 5, Bobby Knight and Tom Izzo. You can't ask for a more pure form of basketball than the brand played in the Big Ten. The new arena will be a huge recruiting boost. Hopefully, it can be Lincoln, Nebraska's version of a warm sun and a sandy beach that will help attract the athletes that it takes to win consistently at this level.

Funniest thing I ever saw or experienced at Nebraska: Not so funny at the time but super funny after the fact. In 2000, we were in Omaha about to play Creighton at the Civic. Every player but two had terrible food poisoning from our pre-game meal. Coach Nee gave the pre-game speech outside the bathroom stalls because all of us were lined up going to the bathroom. The entire game we had guys running off the court and racing to the locker room. It was a nightmare. 

Parting shot for my fellow Husker players: Never take the opportunity to wear or have worn the Husker uniform for granted. You may have put in a lot of hard work, but it's truly a blessing from God to currently have or have previously had the opportunity to play at the level that you do.

Parting shot for Big Red fans: Thanks for all of the special memories. Your support to the Husker program is very much appreciated.

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Voices from Husker Nation

Jerry, Dave, Erick, and Brian just about said it all in your column. The only thing I could add would take an entire volume; a book perhaps. Maybe I will try to do that one day. When I began broadcasting Husker football and basketball back in 1974, I told myself repeatedly to keep a diary and take pictures at each venue. I didn't do it. So I'm afraid all I have are memories prompted by scores recorded in the media guides. That's okay, though, because in the end, the real value for me has been relationships with the people: coaches, players, staff and fellow journalists. Tuesday night was a blast from the past. Thanks for the memories. Onward and upward! Kent Pavelka, Omaha, Nebraska

My fondest memories of Nebraska basketball were watching Jerry Fort play for the Huskers in the old Coliseum. He could shoot from any point on the floor, and his 23-foot jump shots (good for 2 points) would cause Coliseum calamity. Fort, Steve Willis, Larry Cox, Bob Siegel, and Allen Holder were the starters on my favorite team in Nebraska's basketball history. They finished the 1975-76 season - the last in the Coliseum - with an overall record of 19-8 and a Big 8 mark of 10-4. Unfortunately, when it came to post-season invitations, the Big Red was snubbed. Kevin Horn, Alliance, Nebraska

I enjoyed reading the look back at the last four decades of Husker basketball. The players you wrote about were both deserving and entertaining. Laughed how KU fans threw coins at Fort and how Hoppen actually enjoyed the rants of the Antlers, who represented the Missouri team he spurned. My favorite stories were Strickland describing Badgett's impersonation of Nee and Conklin's recollection of Nee's pregame speech in front of the restroom stalls because everyone was so sick in Omaha. If there had only been cell phones with video cameras in those days, we'd probably see both of those funny scenes on YouTube. In all honesty, though, it was just as much fun reading about them. Thanks for the memories.Steve Brown, Omaha, Nebraska

Thanks for a piece that took us beyond the constant focus on winning. Jerry Fort mentions Vietnam. Dave Hoppen talks about Montana's sportsmanship when he breaks the Nebraska scoring record. Erick Strickland reveals he's going to be a minister. Then you read about Brian Conklin, who brings up two very important subjects - the September 11 attacks and playing against Oklahoma State after they lost 10 people in an airplane crash. Conklin said just looking at their faces put life and the game into perspective. How true that is! As a Nebraska fan, I'm still hoping this team can make a great run and wind up in the NCAA Tournament. But if we don't, I hope everyone from here to Ravenna still packs the house for a possible NIT game. This young, hard-working Nebraska team deserves our support. Linda Taylor, Lincoln, Nebraska