85 Days Until Gameday - #9 Brown County, Nebraska

[HuskerInCarolina]

We have 85 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Boyd County, Nebraska.

86 Days Until Gameday - #8 Boyd County, Nebraska - Forums

We have 86 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026. Yesterday we looked at Box Butte County, Nebraska. https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/87-days-until-gameday-7-box-butte-county-nebraska.8857756/ Boyd County, Nebraska Population...

www.on3.com

Brown County, Nebraska

• Population ~2,800 (2025)
• License Plate prefix #75
• Ainsworth is the county seat and largest city in the county.
• Established in 1883 and named after two members of Nebraska legislature who reported the bill to create the county.
• Roughly 1,225 square miles and the 10th largest county in Nebraska.
• Brown County is located in Nebraska’s “Outback Region”.
• Cowboy Trail runs through Brown County.
• Long Pine has Nebraska’s longest self-sustaining trout stream.
• Ainsworth was the site of the 1986 World Horseshoe Pitching Championships.
• Long Pine State Recreation Area has 153 acres of beautiful hiking, camping, fishing.

Former (and a current) Huskers (years are letterman years)
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 3 letterman football players from Brown County, NE:

• Roger Brede – E 1957-1959, Ainsworth, NE.
• Mark Hagerman – PK 1983, Ainsworth, NE.
• Carter Nelson – TE 2024-Present, Ainsworth, NE.

Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Brown County

• Rita Meyer – born and raised in Johnstown. Went to University of Wyoming and served in the Wyoming Air National Guard where she attained the rank of Colonel and is a combat veteran of Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. Recipient of the Legion of Merit. Served as Wyoming state auditor from 2007-2011.
• Cliff Clevenger – born on a ranch outside Long Pine. Served 10 terms in Congress (1939-1959) representing Ohio’s 5th district.
• Marvel Rea – born in Ainsworth. Moved to California when she was 9. Silent film actress from 1917-1932.

Brown County Husker Spotlight
Mark Hagerman

• From Ainsworth, Nebraska
• Wore #9.
• Place Kicker for the Huskers from 1980-1983.
• Approximately 5’10” and 190lbs.
• Went 11 for 15 (73.3%) on Extra Points in his career at Nebraska, including 9 for 11 in the 1983 season.
• Retired in 2022 after 21 years as a teacher and the Head Coach for the Norris High School girls basketball team where he accumulated over 300 wins.

GO BIG RED

Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_County,_Nebraska
https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/long-pine/
https://browncountyne.gov/
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mark-hagerman-1.html

 

[Anon1752115983]

We have 85 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Boyd County, Nebraska.

86 Days Until Gameday - #8 Boyd County, Nebraska - Forums

We have 86 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026. Yesterday we looked at Box Butte County, Nebraska. https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/87-days-until-gameday-7-box-butte-county-nebraska.8857756/ Boyd County, Nebraska Population...

www.on3.com

Brown County, Nebraska

View attachment 1323262
View attachment 1323263
View attachment 1323264
View attachment 1323265

• Population ~2,800 (2025)
• License Plate prefix #75
• Ainsworth is the county seat and largest city in the county.
• Established in 1883 and named after two members of Nebraska legislature who reported the bill to create the county.
• Roughly 1,225 square miles and the 10th largest county in Nebraska.
• Brown County is located in Nebraska’s “Outback Region”.
• Cowboy Trail runs through Brown County.
• Long Pine has Nebraska’s longest self-sustaining trout stream.
• Ainsworth was the site of the 1986 World Horseshoe Pitching Championships.
• Long Pine State Recreation Area has 153 acres of beautiful hiking, camping, fishing.

Former (and a current) Huskers (years are letterman years)
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 3 letterman football players from Brown County, NE:

• Roger Brede – E 1957-1959, Ainsworth, NE.
• Mark Hagerman – PK 1983, Ainsworth, NE.
• Carter Nelson – TE 2024-Present, Ainsworth, NE.

Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Brown County

• Rita Meyer – born and raised in Johnstown. Went to University of Wyoming and served in the Wyoming Air National Guard where she attained the rank of Colonel and is a combat veteran of Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. Recipient of the Legion of Merit. Served as Wyoming state auditor from 2007-2011.
• Cliff Clevenger – born on a ranch outside Long Pine. Served 10 terms in Congress (1939-1959) representing Ohio’s 5th district.
• Marvel Rea – born in Ainsworth. Moved to California when she was 9. Silent film actress from 1917-1932.

Brown County Husker Spotlight
Mark Hagerman

View attachment 1323266

• From Ainsworth, Nebraska
• Wore #9.
• Place Kicker for the Huskers from 1980-1983.
• Approximately 5’10” and 190lbs.
• Went 11 for 15 (73.3%) on Extra Points in his career at Nebraska, including 9 for 11 in the 1983 season.
• Retired in 2022 after 21 years as a teacher and the Head Coach for the Norris High School girls basketball team where he accumulated over 300 wins.

GO BIG RED

Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_County,_Nebraska
https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/long-pine/
https://browncountyne.gov/
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mark-hagerman-1.html

That stretch of Cowboy Trail from Ainsworth to Johnstown is beautiful. I highly recommend it. Outside of Johnstown I came across a historical marker I was previously unaware of. I don't recall some of the details, but a bomber of some type crashed in that area during a training run in WWII. It was hard to reach the wreckage because of the rough canyon terrain, and all were killed.
Johnston is basically a ghost town these days, with an abandoned bank and high school, but the bar there is open and a small park is a great stop along the trail. Long Pine is also a beautiful little town. Great country there.
PS. Wasn't there a real good basketball player out of Ainsworth recently? Carr?
Thank you again for these features every day. I am a Nebraska geek and love my state.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

That stretch of Cowboy Trail from Ainsworth to Johnstown is beautiful. I highly recommend it. Outside of Johnstown I came across a historical marker I was previously unaware of. I don't recall some of the details, but a bomber of some type crashed in that area during a training run in WWII. It was hard to reach the wreckage because of the rough canyon terrain, and all were killed.
Johnston is basically a ghost town these days, with an abandoned bank and high school, but the bar there is open and a small park is a great stop along the trail. Long Pine is also a beautiful little town. Great country there.
PS. Wasn't there a real good basketball player out of Ainsworth recently? Carr?
Thank you again for these features every day. I am a Nebraska geek and love my state.

Highly recommend the Cowboy Trail to everyone! I can't wait until the project is finished and you can go from Norfolk to Chadron. 100% beautiful area the entire way. You hit a small town approximately every 10 miles or so. So many bridges!!!

 

[Poster FKA schuele]

PS. Wasn't there a real good basketball player out of Ainsworth recently? Carr?

Jesse Carr, who played for Colorado State about 10-12 years ago. Had some good games for the Rams but got derailed by a lot of injuries.

 

[Poster FKA schuele]

Mark Hagerman could get a retirement gig as a stand-in for Nick Saban in TV commercials.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Mark Hagerman could get a retirement gig as a stand-in for Nick Saban in TV commercials.

That's actually a good doppelgänger call out!!

 

[dm1330]

We have 85 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Boyd County, Nebraska.

86 Days Until Gameday - #8 Boyd County, Nebraska - Forums

We have 86 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026. Yesterday we looked at Box Butte County, Nebraska. https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/87-days-until-gameday-7-box-butte-county-nebraska.8857756/ Boyd County, Nebraska Population...

www.on3.com

Brown County, Nebraska

View attachment 1323262
View attachment 1323263
View attachment 1323264
View attachment 1323265

• Population ~2,800 (2025)
• License Plate prefix #75
• Ainsworth is the county seat and largest city in the county.
• Established in 1883 and named after two members of Nebraska legislature who reported the bill to create the county.
• Roughly 1,225 square miles and the 10th largest county in Nebraska.
• Brown County is located in Nebraska’s “Outback Region”.
• Cowboy Trail runs through Brown County.
• Long Pine has Nebraska’s longest self-sustaining trout stream.
• Ainsworth was the site of the 1986 World Horseshoe Pitching Championships.
• Long Pine State Recreation Area has 153 acres of beautiful hiking, camping, fishing.

Former (and a current) Huskers (years are letterman years)
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 3 letterman football players from Brown County, NE:

• Roger Brede – E 1957-1959, Ainsworth, NE.
• Mark Hagerman – PK 1983, Ainsworth, NE.
• Carter Nelson – TE 2024-Present, Ainsworth, NE.

Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Brown County

• Rita Meyer – born and raised in Johnstown. Went to University of Wyoming and served in the Wyoming Air National Guard where she attained the rank of Colonel and is a combat veteran of Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom. Recipient of the Legion of Merit. Served as Wyoming state auditor from 2007-2011.
• Cliff Clevenger – born on a ranch outside Long Pine. Served 10 terms in Congress (1939-1959) representing Ohio’s 5th district.
• Marvel Rea – born in Ainsworth. Moved to California when she was 9. Silent film actress from 1917-1932.

Brown County Husker Spotlight
Mark Hagerman

View attachment 1323266

• From Ainsworth, Nebraska
• Wore #9.
• Place Kicker for the Huskers from 1980-1983.
• Approximately 5’10” and 190lbs.
• Went 11 for 15 (73.3%) on Extra Points in his career at Nebraska, including 9 for 11 in the 1983 season.
• Retired in 2022 after 21 years as a teacher and the Head Coach for the Norris High School girls basketball team where he accumulated over 300 wins.

GO BIG RED

Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_County,_Nebraska
https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/long-pine/
https://browncountyne.gov/
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mark-hagerman-1.html

I know there has been injuries but Nelson appears to be a bust at this time. Hate to see it though.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

I know there has been injuries but Nelson appears to be a bust at this time. Hate to see it though.

I don't fully disagree. I think he's a bust in the sense of not living up to some lofty expectations. I think the bust label also comes out because he's spent 2 years of eligibility with next to nothing to show for it. Now, if he were to have a decent 3rd year, pretty good 4th year, amazing 5th year, I think the bust label would be void. But the current trajectory definitely leans towards disappointment over success and stardom. Sucks for the injuries. I also saw some rumors months back on reddit that he has a very questionable work ethic. If that's true, that's unfortunate. I also blame Nebraska's poor player development. If we're truly being honest, it is not good. We have some onesies and twosies, but overall it is very below average. There's a part of me that thinks if Nelson went to Georgia or Notre Dame or Alabama that his learning curve would have magically been a flat line and his injuries would have been nonexistent. Fingers crossed for a healthy, successful and developmental 2026 for Carter. I really want to see him succeed.