35 Days Until Gameday – Day #59 Madison County, Nebraska

[HuskerInCarolina]

You get the evening special today! I am travelling back from Denver to South Carolina, so today's episode is a little different from normal.

We have 35 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Loup County, Nebraska.

36 Days Until Gameday – Day #58 Loup County, Nebraska - Forums

We have 36 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026. Yesterday we looked at Logan County, Nebraska. https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/37-days-until-gameday-%E2%80%93-day-57-logan-county-nebraska.8911341/ Loup County, Nebraska...

www.on3.com

Madison County, Nebraska

• Established in 1856.
• There are two accounts for the origin for the namesake of the county. The first is that it was named after Madison, Wisconsin, where many of the first settlers in the county came from. The second is that it was named after President James Madison.
• License plate prefix #7.
• The population is ~36,200 (2025) and has been growing since its inception.
• Madison County is the 7th most populous county in Nebraska.
• Norfolk is the 7th most populous city in Nebraska.
• Madison is the county seat, but Norfolk is the largest city.
• The Elkhorn River flows through the county.
• The starting line for the Cowboy 200 is in the Ta-Ha-Zouka Park at the Cowboy Trail path.
• The Cowboy Trail runs from Norfolk and through Battle Creek, Meadow Grove, and Tilden in the county, making its way towards Valentine and then on to Chadron.
• Tilden is located in both Madison County and Antelope County. Majority of the city is located in Madison County.
• Tilden was originally named Burnett from 1885-1887 until the post office changed the name of the town to not be confused with Bennett, NE. So it was named Tilden after the 25th Governor of New York, Samuel Tilden.
• Kalamazoo, NE was hit by an F4 tornado in 1954, causing extensive damage to the town while killing 6 people and injuring 23 more.
• Enola, NE is named after the founder of the community, TJ Malone. It is the last 5 letters of his last name spelt backwards.
• Norfolk is named for the North Fork of the Elkhorn River and the two words were combined to create ‘Norfolk” and is pronounced ‘nor-fork’.
• The Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad was built in 1879 running from Omaha up the Elkhorn River and across northern Nebraska into South Dakota.
• The Norfolk Regional Center was originally an Insane Asylum dating back to 1888 when it accepted its first patients.
• In 2002, 3 gunmen robbed the US Bank in Norfolk and killed 5 people in the process, which was the deadliest bank robbery in America in over a decade. The 3 gunmen were sentenced to death and their accomplice was given life in prison.

Former Huskers and Spotlights (years are letterman years)
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 33 letterman football players from Madison County, NE.

Gale Williams – OT 1967-1969, Meadow Grove, NE.


Paul Brungardt – DT 1987-1989, Battle Creek, NE.

• Honorable-Mention Academic All-Big Eight (1988)
• A three-year letterwinner at defensive tackle for the Huskers
• He helped the Blackshirts rank seventh nationally in scoring defense (13.4 ppg) and total defense (263.5 ypg) in 1989.
• In four seasons of varsity action, Brungardted total 27 tackles (17 solos) in 32 games. He notched six TFLs (24 yards), including four sacks (19 yards), while adding five QB hurries and one fumble recovery.

Matt Hoskinson – OG 1995-1997, Battle Creek, NE.

• Appeared in 33 games during his collegiate career.
• He finished with 163 pancakes (knock-down blocks).
• All- State player out of Battery Creek HS.

Wade Praeuuner – DE 1981-1983, Battle Creek, NE.

• Played at Nebraska from 1979-1983, lettering from 1981-1983.
• Finished his career with 45 tackles, 7 TFLs and 2 sacks.

Craig Schnitzler – P 1987, Battle Creek, NE.

Robb Schnitzler – SE 1984-1986, Battle Creek, NE.

Tyrone Uhlier – FB 1999, Battle Creek, NE.

Dave Volk – OT 1998-2001, Battle Creek, NE.

Dick Peterson – DE 1980, Madison, NE.

Casey Nelson – DT 1999-2001, Newman Grove, NE.

Jeff Anderson – C 1987-1988, Norfolk, NE.

Todd Bennett – K 1989, Norfolk, NE.

Clete Blakeman – QB 1985-1987, Norfolk, NE.

• Served primarily as a backup behind starting quarterback Steve Taylor.
• Appeared in notable games, including playing in the fourth quarter against Colorado in 1986 and winning the 1987 Sugar Bowl against LSU
• Began officiating high school and small college games in Nebraska and Iowa alongside his father starting in 1988.
• Advanced to the Big 12 Conference in 2000 before joining the NFL as an on-field official in 2008.
• Promoted to referee (white hat) in 2010 and served as the head referee for Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

Marion Broadstone – T 1928-1930, Norfolk, NE.

Tim Brungardt – FB 1981-1983, Norfolk, NE.

• Winner of the inaugural Sowers Award in 1983, given to a top senior reserve
• Earned three letters for the Huskers as a back-up at I-back and fullback
• Finished his career with 72 carries for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Ralph Eldridge – HB 1934-1935, Norfolk, NE.


Mike Hoefler – G 1984-1986, Norfolk, NE.

• 3 year letterman
• part of Nebraska’s 1985 rushing title where they paved the way for 374 yards rushing per game.

John Johnson – T 1944, Norfolk, NE.

Dusty Keiser – TE 2003-2004, Norfolk, NE.

Connor Ketter – TE 2016-2017, Norfolk, NE.


Bill Lafleur – P 1995-1998, Norfolk, NE.

• Played at Nebraska from 1994-1998, lettering from 1995-1998.
• 3x NCAA champion.
• 1998 All-Big 12
• 1998 Academic All-American

Jeff Long DT 1987, Norfolk, NE.

Lane McCallum – K 2019-2021, Norfolk, NE.


Brad Mundt – C 1991-1992, Norfolk, NE.

• 1 of 3 walk-ons in 1992.
• Led the 1992 team to its 3rd rushing title in 4 years.

Ethan Piper – OL 2020-2023, Norfolk, NE.

• 4x Academic All-Big Ten
• Played in 29 games at Nebraska, starting 23 on the offensive line.
• 8x Nebraska Honor Roll
• Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award winner

Kevin Raemakers – DT 1991-1993, Norfolk, NE.

• 1993 All-Big Eight
• Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
• 3x Big Eight champion
• Played in 31 games, starting 11, finishing with 92 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.

Magnus Robinson – HB 1945, Norfolk, NE.

Ryan Schommer – DE 2022, Norfolk, NE.

Cody Volk – OT 2003, Norfolk, NE.

Robert Young – HB 1928-1930, Norfolk, NE.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Madison County:

Merle E. Hansen – Born and raised in Meadow Grove, NE. Hansen was a notable regional activist and agricultural leader. He was heavily involved with the North American Farm Alliance, Nebraskans for Peace, and rural advocacy.

L. Ron Hubbard – Born in Tilden, NE and mostly raised in Montana. Hubbard is the founder of Scientology.

Richie Ashburn – Born and raised in Tilden, NE. Graduated from Tilden HS and played in the Neligh Junior League. MLB Hall of Famer spent 15 years in the league. 6x All-Star, 2x NL Batting Champion, NL stolen base leader in 1948, Phillies jersey (#1) is retired. Became a broadcaster for the Phillies.

Max Carl Gronenthal – Born in Platte Center, but grew up in Norfolk, Gronenthal is the co-lead singer of classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad. He also spent several years on the keyboard and lead singing for .38 Special.

Johnny Carson – Born in Iowa but moved to Norfolk at 8 years old where he lived until he graduated college. Johnny Carson was the host of the Tonight Show for 30 years.

Jeromey Clary – Born in Norfolk but went to HS in Texas. 2x All-Big 12 Offensive tackle at Kansas State. Selected in the 6th round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, whom he played for from 2006-2014.

Mike Flood – Born in Omaha but grew up in Norfolk. Currently the Nebraska 1st district Congressman in the House.

Shane Osborn – Graduated HS in Norfolk and was the 42nd Treasurer of Nebraska from 2007-2011. In 2001, while serving in the Navy, Lt. Osborn was “piloting an EP-3E aircraft with a 23-member crew near Chinese airspace when a Chinese J-8IIM fighter jet that had intercepted the U.S. aircraft collided with the EP-3E. The EP-3E's propeller cut the J-8 in half and its pilot was killed. The fighter's nose section cartwheeled upward, smashing into the EP-3E's nose and tearing off its radome. The impact sent the EP-3 plane into an inverted dive, dropping 8,000 feet in 30 seconds and falling another 6,000 feet before Osborn had the EP-3E's nose up and wings level. Once he regained control of the plane he called for the crew to prepare to bail out. They donned parachutes and initiated an emergency destruct plan, which included destroying intelligence equipment and sensitive documents on board.

After an emergency landing at the Lingshui Air Base on Hainan Island, Osborn and his crew were taken to a Chinese military barracks where they were detained and interrogated for 12 days. The aircraft was dismantled by American engineers after much negotiation between the countries and returned to the US in boxes after months of scrutiny by Chinese officials. On April 12, 2001 the crew were released from Chinese custody and returned to the United States. After the Hainan Island incident, Osborn was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Doris Pawn – Born and raised on a ranch in Norfolk. Pawn was a silent film actress appearing in many films from 1914 to 1923.

Thurl Ravenscroft – Born and raised in Norfolk. He is known as the voice of Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes, singing “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Dean White – A billionaire born in Norfolk and grew up in Indiana. He took over his father’s billboard business and sold it in 1998 for $960 million and at his death had a net worth over $2.5 billion.

Maurice Coons – Born in Norfolk but moved out of the state at an early age. Known by his pen name of Armitage Trail, he is the author of Scarface that later became the movie versions, best portrayed by Al Pacino.


GO BIG RED


Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://madisoncountyfair.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_County,_Nebraska
https://www.madison-ne.com/

 

[WTFMatt]

NM

 

[dinglefritz]

Did Bill LaFleur have a brother who punted for NU also? Owned Big Red of the Rockies in Estes Park? Or was that just Bill. Talked to a La Fleur at that store and bought some merch from him about 15-20 years ago.

 

[FIFO]

My county currently residing

 

[Poster FKA schuele]

Did Bill LaFleur have a brother who punted for NU also? Owned Big Red of the Rockies in Estes Park? Or was that just Bill. Talked to a La Fleur at that store and bought some merch from him about 15-20 years ago.

Jesse Kosch is the former Husker punter who owned Big Red of the Rockies (he still may own it - not sure).

His dad, Bill Kosch, was a safety for Devaney's national champion teams. Between them, they were part of all five of NU’s national titles.

 

[dinglefritz]

Jesse Kosch is the former Husker punter who owned Big Red of the Rockies (he still may own it - not sure).

His dad, Bill Kosch, was a safety for Devaney's national champion teams. Between them, they were part of all five of NU national titles.

I think it closed during COVID. The guy I talked to in Estes Park talked about punting in the Fiesta Bowl . Looked up Kosch’s picture. It was him.

 

[TheRealPeliniTheCrutch]

I love their bridges.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

I love their bridges.

The bridges along the cowboy trail are (in my opinion) one of the best parts of the entire trail. Over 200 of them from Norfolk to Valentine if I remember correctly.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

The bridges along the cowboy trail are (in my opinion) one of the best parts of the entire trail. Over 200 of them from Norfolk to Valentine if I remember correctly.

If my fukcing ankle ever recovers from 2 recent surgeries, the entire Cowboy is on my bucket list. When I was younger, and pre 6 cycling related surgeries, that trail never appealed to me. Now tbat i'm on the back 9, it looks amazing

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

If my fukcing ankle ever recovers from 2 recent surgeries, the entire Cowboy is on my bucket list. When I was younger, and pre 6 cycling related surgeries, that trail never appealed to me. Now tbat i'm on the back 9, it looks amazing

I look forward to you making a thread telling your story about finishing that trail and sharing all the pictures. It’s going to be pretty awesome. It’s so beautiful out there. I’ll be back out on the trail at the end of September.

 

[dinglefritz]

If my fukcing ankle ever recovers from 2 recent surgeries, the entire Cowboy is on my bucket list. When I was younger, and pre 6 cycling related surgeries, that trail never appealed to me. Now tbat i'm on the back 9, it looks amazing

Sucks to get old. I’m not a cyclist but I imagine an ankle problem is pretty limiting. Have you done the Mickelson trail in the Blackhills. Maybe not challenging enough for you?

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

Sucks to get old. I’m not a cyclist but I imagine an ankle problem is pretty limiting. Have you done the Mickelson trail in the Blackhills. Maybe not challenging enough for you?

Dude... you said it. Old... blah!!

I did the Michelson last year, and had never been there or ridden in SD before. I loved it. Will make it an annual thing for sure.

SD is fantastic cause you get the "mountains" but not the elevation of CO.

Disappointed in Deadwood, cool town I guess but its one big casino and I don't gamble. But SD is awesome, would live there for part of the year when we retire and have diacussed it. You're not to far from there right?

 

[Big bo fan]

Dude... you said it. Old... blah!!

I did the Michelson last year, and had never been there or ridden in SD before. I loved it. Will make it an annual thing for sure.

SD is fantastic cause you get the "mountains" but not the elevation of CO.

Disappointed in Deadwood, cool town I guess but its one big casino and I don't gamble. But SD is awesome, would live there for part of the year when we retire and have diacussed it. You're not to far from there right?

Why would you be disappointed in Deadwood? Just because you don’t gamble? It is an America historical landmark.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

Why would you be disappointed in Deadwood? Just because you don’t gamble? It is an America historical landmark.

I have been before and we rented an ATV and we had a blast riding around in the black hills.. Love the area. I got stuck there and extra day on my bike tour because I had a long way back to my car and it was raining all day and I didn't want to do it in the rain , so I hopped on a trolly car and got driven around all the places to go in Deadwood. All casinos. Main Street, casinos. People watching other people play digital slots. It was a cool town, but also kinda sad. But I am all to famaliar with their history and thats why I love it and want to live there part time. Maybe not Deadwood, but further south a tad.

 

[dinglefritz]

Dude... you said it. Old... blah!!

I did the Michelson last year, and had never been there or ridden in SD before. I loved it. Will make it an annual thing for sure.

SD is fantastic cause you get the "mountains" but not the elevation of CO.

Disappointed in Deadwood, cool town I guess but its one big casino and I don't gamble. But SD is awesome, would live there for part of the year when we retire and have diacussed it. You're not to far from there right?

I’m in NE Nebraska near Yankton SD. Deadwood isn’t my favorite either but it’s tough to meet the expectations of the marketing campaign. There used to be better options there for dining when Costner still owned the Midnight Star. Jake’s was great. We haven’t been out there as much as I would like but we don’t spend much time in Deadwood. Supposedly the new owners has Jake’s improved again.

I really enjoy Custer. Sylvan Lake Lodge and the State Game Lodge restaurants were great last fall when we were out there. Concessionaire food but I had great meals at both places. REALLY enjoyed the tiny bar at the game lodge after dinner. Skogen’s in Custer has been really good when we’ve had dinner there. Reservations best.

We stay at one of the lodges when we go. Nothing like getting up in the morning to the smell of the pines and the need for a fleece. Hill City has a couple of restaurants that are supposed to be good but we haven’t stayed there for probably 10 years.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

I’m in NE Nebraska near Yankton SD. Deadwood isn’t my favorite either but it’s tough to meet the expectations of the marketing campaign. There used to be better options there for dining when Costner still owned the Midnight Star. Jake’s was great. We haven’t been out there as much as I would like but we don’t spend much time in Deadwood. Supposedly the new owners has Jake’s improved again.

I really enjoy Custer. Sylvan Lake Lodge and the State Game Lodge restaurants were great last fall when we were out there. Concessionaire food but I had great meals at both places. REALLY enjoyed the tiny bar at the game lodge after dinner. Skogen’s in Custer has been really good when we’ve had dinner there. Reservations best.

We stay at one of the lodges when we go. Nothing like getting up in the morning to the smell of the pines and the need for a fleece. Hill City has a couple of restaurants that are supposed to be good but we haven’t stayed there for probably 10 years.

Love SD. First time there was 1990, been many times since, and I will get back every year as my health allows going forward. Can't believe I never rode there or visited the Michelson before last season. Love all the places you listed and its a state that isn't very crowded.. it appears that outside of peak tourist season, traffic is very low, home prices are not terrible. Gotta like winter though, lol. If we stayed an extended period it would be fall most likely.

Keep wanting to get back to Yankton too. We havent been since my step daughter graduated USD. Yankton has a really great scene, better reataurants than they should, cost of living appears way low. We know a couple tbat moved and retired up there and they love it.