Nebraska Youth Enjoy Life Skills Pep Rally

Micah Johnson's day began at 5:40 a.m. so the 13-year-old from Wilcox, Nebraska, could be at school by 6:30 to ride the bus that would take Johnson and his classmates some 160 miles to Lincoln.
 
When you've never before been to Pinnacle Bank Arena for a Nebraska basketball game, it's worth an early start and long bus ride.
 
"This is my first time in Pinnacle Bank Arena," a smiling, wide-eyed Johnson said. "I've seen a lot of games on TV, but this is my first time here."
 
His impressions?
 
"What I love most about this is just the energy, the crowd," Johnson said from his front-row seat behind the north baseline. "I love to see them play and everything. I mean, I hope to play on this court someday."
 
Watching and cheering the Nebraska women's basketball team to a 68-46 victory over Alabama A&M in its season opener Wednesday was only part of the fun for Johnson, who was among nearly 2,000 elementary and middle school students from 27 school districts around Nebraska.
 
They converged on Pinnacle Bank Arena for the Nebraska Life Skills Sportsmanship Pep Rally, a special event for young students across Nebraska to hear inspirational messages from Huskers student-athletes and coaches, who embraced yet another opportunity to be inspirational role models and provide a positive impact. The pep rally began around 9:30 a.m., with the game tipping off at noon, before an overall crowd of 5,250.
 
Kate Frazier, Director of Life Skills, noted how this is the first pep rally of its kind since the debut of Nebraska basketball at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013. Before that, the Devaney Sports Center hosted similar pep rallies, and the women's basketball team wanted to provide another. In delivering invites to schools, Frazier heard back from excited teachers and advisors who said most of their students, like Johnson, had never set foot in Pinnacle Bank Arena.
 
Nebraska women's basketball coach Amy Williams talked to the students, as did player Nicea Eliely, who delivered an important message about anti-bullying. Alabama A&M coach Margaret Richards, the former Husker guard, and Bulldogs player Nigeria Jones, a Lincoln Northeast graduate, also spoke.
 
"Just fantastic role models to be able to spend the day with us today," Williams said, "and give great messages to youth across our state."


 
Volleyball players Nicklin Hames and Anezka Szabo spoke to the students about goal setting, while men's basketball players Charlie Easley and Akol Arop delivered a message about teamwork. To demonstrate, some students had a chance to deliver lob passes to the 6-foot-9 Arop for dunks.
 
"I really enjoyed all the speakers, just their message and learning from them," Johnson said. "I liked how the volleyball players talked about setting goals."
 
Johnson joked he even "got decent" during a game of "Simon Says" by a professional entertainer, Steve Max, who leads the popular game for special events. Amid his fun act, Max stressed to the students the importance of listening and showing respect, two important characteristics of successful "Simon Says" players. Max also played the game with students and teachers for the halftime entertainment.
 
De-Wayne, the DJ during home Nebraska basketball games, also taught students the art of beatboxing, or using your mouth, voice and tongue to make procession sounds.
 
Students were dismissed from the pep rally about an hour before the game and grabbed slices of pizza before taking their seats behind both baselines, while doors for regular ticket holders opened at 11. (Johnson, who's allergic to pizza, brought his own lunch).
 
During the game, the students were loud, especially for the frequent T-Shirt tosses, and most certainly when it came to sing along to the chorus of "Sweet Caroline."
 
"It was fun to hear those extra voices scream for us in the stands during the game," said Williams, whose team bolted to a 44-14 lead in the third quarter and sent home the students with a Nebraska victory.
 
Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal.