23 Days Until Gameday – Day #71 Platte County, Nebraska

[HuskerInCarolina]

We have 23 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Pierce County, Nebraska.

https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/24-days-until-gameday-–-day-70-pierce-county-nebraska.8927498/

Platte County, Nebraska

• Established in 1856 and named after the Platte River.
• No, North Platte is not located in Platte County.
• License plate prefix #10.
• The population is ~65,650 (2025) and has been growing and almost doubled since 1950.
• The county is approximately 685 square miles.
• Columbus is the county seat and the largest city in the county.
• The Platte River flows along the southern border of the county.
• The Loup River flows through the southern section of the county and empties into the Platte River near Columbus.
• Saint Bernard was largely settled by German immigrants.
• Rosenborg was mostly settled by Danish immigrants.
• Oconee was originally named ‘Lost Creek’ but was named to Oconee not long after the community was platted, most likely after Oconee, IL.
• Lindsay was platted in 1886 with most of the early settlers coming from Lindsay, Canada; giving Lindsay its namesake. The lands were first settled in 1862 after the passage of the Homestead Act.
• Lindsay Corporation was founded in 1955 in Lindsay and is a maker of irrigation and farm automation equipment. The company eventually moved its headquarters to Omaha. In 2005, the company accounted for 80% of the employment in Lindsay.
• Duncan was originally settled by Polish and Swiss immigrants in 1866. In 1871, the Union Pacific Railroad platted Jackson in the location where the immigrants settled. Jackson would be chosen as the southern terminus of the Omaha, Niobrara, and Black Hills Railroad because UP magnate Jay Gould was upset with Columbus for promoting a rival railroad in the area. In 1880, Jackson was changed to Duncan to avoid confusion with Jackson, SD. A year later, an ice jam destroyed the rail bridge across the Loup River and the railroad was moved to branch off the main line at Columbus.
• Duncan is home to the Dorothy Lynch salad dressing manufacturing. The 64,000 square foot facility in Duncan is the town’s largest employer.
• The Duncan Ribfest is a two-day street festival the last weekend of June annually.
• Creston was largely settled by German immigrants and named for its lofty elevation.
• Creston has the oldest swimming pool in the state of Nebraska.
• Cornlea was largely settled by German immigrants and its name means “land of corn”.
• Tarnov was largely settled by Polish immigrants and named after Tarnow, Poland.
• In 1943, the U.S. Army dropped 7 practice bombs on Tarnov, mistaking it for one of two ranges that were 25-30 miles away. Fortunately, there were no injuries and damage was minimal.
• Newman Grove was platted in 1887 and named for a grove of trees planted by Newman Warren.
• Columbus is the 10th most populous city in Nebraska.
• Columbus was named after Columbus, Ohio.
• In 1720, Otoe and Pawnee Native Americans aligned with French troops to massacre a Spanish expeditionary force just south of present day Columbus.
• In 1857, the Pawnee tribe signed over the bulk of their Nebraska lands (which Platte County was part of) and kept a reservation in what would later become Nance County.
• During WWII, Columbus was able to convince the US Government to buy 90 acres and to build a railroad line to the site. But before construction began, it became clear the war was going to end and the plant was not needed. It was sold to the Loup District and turned into an industrial site.
• The Harrah’s Casino in Columbus opened in May 2024 and holds the longest horse race track in Nebraska.
• Columbus dedicated the Andrew Jackson Higgins National Memorial to Andrew Higgins in 2001.
• At one point in time, there was a YMCA janitor and McDonald’s employee living in Columbus who once was an undisputed heavyweight champion and defeated Muhammad Ali. Leon Spinks was from St Louis and served in the Marine Corps. He lived the rest of his life in Las Vegas, but for a brief moment of his life after retiring from boxing, he was living in Columbus doing what he enjoyed, “being comfortable and keeping a low profile.”
• There are 368 bridges in Platte County

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

Raymond Magsamen – E 1948-1949, Lindsay, NE.

• 6’2” 188lb end wearing #49.
• Lettered at Nebraska from 1948-1949.
• The 1949 team was 2-8 in Bernie Masterson’s 2nd and final season.
• The 1949 team was 4-5 in Bill Glassford’s 1st season.

Cory Schlesinger – FB 1992-1994, Duncan, NE.

• 6’ 230lb fullback wearing #40.
• 2x All-State player out of Columbus HS for Coach Dick Luebbe.
• Played at Nebraska from 1990-1994, lettering from 1992-1994.
• Starting fullback in 1993 and 1994.
• 1993 Husker Lifter of the Year
• 1994 All-Big Eight
• 1994 Academic All-Big Eight
• 1994 NCAA National Champion
• Scored 2 4th quarter touchdowns to come from behind to beat Miami in the 1995 Orange Bowl.
• Played in 34 games at Nebraska, starting 17. Finished with 127 carries for 706 yards and 7 TDs.
• Selected in the 6th round of the1995 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
• Played 13 years in the NFL.
• 3x Pro Bowler
• Member of the Detroit Lions All-Time Team.
• Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member.

Clete Pillen – LB 1974-1976, Monroe, NE.

• 6’ 205lb strongside linebacker wearing #61.
• All-State player out of Lakeview HS for Coach Jim McWilliams.
• Played at Nebraska from 1972-1976, lettering from 1974-1976.
• 1976 All-American
• 2x All-Big Eight
• 1976 Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year
• Led Nebraska in tackles in 1975 and 1976 with 134 and 137 tackles respectively
• Set the school record in 1975 with 85 unassisted tackles.
• Nebraska Hall of Fame member

Jim Pillen – DB 1976-1978, Monroe, NE.

• 6’ 190lb defensive back wearing #29
• All-State player for Coach Fred Kobza out of Lakeview HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1975-1978, lettering from 1976-1978.
• Younger brother of Clete
• Led the defensive backs in tackles in 1977 with 79.
• 1978 Academic All-American
• 2x All-Big Eight
• Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member

LaVerne Torczon – T 1954-1956, Platte Center, NE.

• 6’2” 185lb guard wearing #69 (nice)
• Lettered at Nebraska from 1954-1956.
• 2x All-Big Seven
• Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 18th round of the 1957 NFL Draft.
• Played 8 years of professional football.
• 1960 All-AFL
• 1961 AFL All-Star
• Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member

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

• 6’2” 285lb defensive tackle wearing #85.
• Went from walk-on to Blackshirt over his career.
• Academic All-Big 12
• Finished his career with 37 tackles, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks.

Matt Brandl – OG 1980-1981, Humphrey, NE.

Joe Blahak – CB 1970-1972, Columbus, NE.

• 5’9” 185lb cornerback wearing #
• Out of Scotus Central Catholic High School
• 1972 All-American
• 2x All-Big Eight
• 2x NCAA National Champion
• Nebraska went 33-2-2 his 3 years as a letterman.
• Selected in the 8th round by the Houston Oilers in the 1973 NFL Draft.
• Played 5 years in the NFL.

Bill Bomberger – HB 1967, Columbus, NE.

• 6’2” 210lb fullback wearing #46.
• Lettered at Nebraska in 1967.
• The 1967 team would go 6-4 in Bob Devaney’s 6th season.

Charles Brock – C 1936-1938, Columbus, NE.

• 6’2” 195llb center wearing #47.
• 2x All-State player out of Kramer High School
• 3x All-Big Six
• 1937 All-American
• Selected in the 3rd round of the 1939 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers
• Finished his NFL career with the Packers and with 20 interceptions
• Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member
• Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member
• Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame member
• NFL 1940’s All-Decade Team member

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Dan Brock – DT 1974-1976, Columbus, NE.

• 6’3” 215lb defensive tackle wearing #94
• All-State player out of Columbus Scotus HS under Coach Jim Puetz
• Played at Nebraska from 1972-1976, lettering from 1974-1976.
• Finished his career with 34 tackles, 6 TFLs.

Tim Carpenter – TE 1994-1997, Columbus, NE.

• 6’3” 250lb tight end wearing #90
• All-State running back out of Columbus HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1993-1997, lettering from 1994-1997.
• 3x NCAA National Champion
• Played in 41 games, starting 22
• Known for being a strong blocking tight end

Brandon Drum – DT 1996-1997, Columbus, NE.

• 6’3” 275lb defensive tackle wearing #58
• 2x All-State offensive lineman out of Columbus Scotus HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1995-1997, lettering from 1996-1997.
• Played in 13 games and finished with 3 tackles, 2 forced fumbles.
• 1995 & 1997 NCAA National Champion

Pat Engelbert – MG 1989-1991, Columbus, NE.

• 6’2” 250lb middle guard wearing #97
• 2x All-State player out of Columbus Scotus HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1987-1991, lettering from 1989-1991.
• 1991 National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete
• 2x Academic All-American
• 2x Academic All-Big Eight
• 2x All-Big Eight
• Played in 32 games finishing with 134 tackles, 18 TFL, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 INT.

Nick Gragert – FB 2001, Columbus, NE.

• 6’ 230lb fullback wearing #49.
• Walk-on from Columbus.
• 2001 Academic All-Big 12
• Played in 6 games in his career and had 2 carries for 6 yards.

Seth Gutz – SE 2000, Columbus, NE.

• 6’1” 185lb split end wearing #83
• Played football at Concordia in 1996 and 1997.
• Played at Nebraska from 1998-2000, lettering in 2000.
• Played in 7 games in his career.

Ernest Hausmann – LB 2022, Columbus, NE.

• 6’2” 220lb linebacker wearing #15
• All-State player out of Columbus HS
• The 5th true freshman to start at Nebraska at linebacker
• Finished his season with 54 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery before transferring to Michigan

Tom Heiser – WB 1974-1975, Columbus, NE.

• 5’10” 180lb wing back wearing #27
• Played at Nebraska from 1972-1975, lettering from 1974-1975
• 1975 Academic All-American
• 1975 Academic All-Big Eight
• 1975 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winner
• Finished his career with 28 carries for 187 yards and 1 TD, and 14 catches for 171 yards.

Bill Kosch – S 1969-1971, Columbus, NE.

• 6’ 175lb safety wearing #24 out of Columbus Scotus HS
• Played at Nebraska from 1968-1971, lettering from 1969-1971
• 1971 All-American
• 2x All-Big Eight
• 1971 Academic All-American
• 2x NCAA National Champion
• 2x Big Eight Champion
• Finished his career with 100 tackles, 3 TFL, 10 INTs, 5 PBUs.

Jesse Kosch – P 1995-1997, Columbus, NE.

• 6’ 1990lb punter wearing #19
• All-State player for Coach Jim Puentz out of Columbus Scotus HS
• Played at Nebraska from 1993-1997, lettering from 1995-1997
• 3x NCAA National Champion
• Took over the punting duties after Darin Erstad got drafted
• Set a then Husker record with a career average 41.92 yards per punt
• Pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 47 times
• 2x All-Big 12
• Academic All-Big Eight
• His father, Bill, played for the Huskers. The father-son duo hold all 5 Nebraska football national championships rings.

Jeff (Robert) Lake – SE 1994-1997, Columbus, NE.

• 6’4” 210lb split end wearing #89
• All-Conference player out of Lakeview HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1993-1997, lettering from 1994-1997
• Played in 38 games at Nebraska, starting 8
• Finished with 10 catches for 172 yards and 2 TDs
• 3x NCAA national champion
• 2x Academic All-Big 12
• Undrafted Free Agent signing with the Arizona Cardinals in 1998

Josh Mueller – TE 2004-2007, Columbus, NE.

• 6’5” 265lb tight end wearing #81
• All-State player out of Lakeview HS
• Mother played volleyball at Nebraska.
• Played at Nebraska from 2003-2007, lettering from 2004-2007.
• 2x Academic All-Big 12
• Played in 44 games, starting 4.
• Finished his career with 6 catches for 44 yards and 2 TDs

Marvin Mueller – S 1965-1967, Columbus, NE.

• 6’1” 190lb safety wearing #30
• Played at Nebraska from 1963-1967, lettering from 1965-1967.
• 1966 Academic All-American
• 1966 Academic All-Big Eight
• First every Guy Chamberlin Award winner at Nebraska
• 1967 Team Captain
• 1967 All-Big Eight
• Finished his career with 135 tackles, 6 INTs, and 15 PBUs.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Richard Newman – QB 1918-1920, Columbus, NE.

• Quarterback out of Columbus NE
• Lettered from 1918-1920

Arnold Oehlrich – FB 1926-1927, Columbus, NE.

• 5’11” 190lb fullback wearing #18
• All-State player out of Columbus HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1925-1927.
• Had a reputation for making substantial gains as a ball carrier
• Played in the NFL for 2 years.

Dan Pensick – DT 1977-1979, Columbus, NE.

• 6’5” 245lb defensive tackle wearing #93.
• All-State player from Columbus HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1976-1979, lettering from 1977-1979.
• Finished his career with 78 tackles, 4 TFL, 5 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries.
• Selected in the 5th round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
• His son, Cole, lettered for the Huskers in football

Terry Rogers – DB 1972-1974, Columbus, NE.

• 5’11” 195lb defensive back wearing #40
• Played for Coach Jed Rood at Columbus HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1970-1974, lettering from 1972-1974.
• Finished his career with 16 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries.

Kelly Saalfeld – C 1977-1979, Columbus, NE.

• 6’3” 250lb center wearing #57
• Walk-on from Lakeview HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1975-1979, lettering from 1977-1979.
• 2x Academic All-Big Eight
• 2x All-Big Eight
• 1979 All-American
• 1979 Academic All-American
• Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member
• Selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 9th round of the 1980 NFL Draft.

Dan Steiner – OT 1978-1979, Columbus, NE.

• 6’1” 240lb offensive lineman wearing #58
• All-State and All-American player out of Columbus Scotus Catholic
• Played at Nebraska from 1975-1979, lettering from 1978-1979.
• 1979 All-Big Eight
• 1979 Academic All-Big Eight

Ross Tessendorf – DT 1997, Columbus, NE.

• 6’1” 275lb defensive tackle wearing #79
• Walk-on from Lakeview HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1994-1997, lettering in 1997.
• 3x NCAA National Champion
• Appeared in 5 games in his career.

Bill Van Lent – DT 1980, Columbus, NE.

• 6’3” 230lb defensive tackle wearing #90.
• Lettered at Nebraska in 1980.

Troy Watchorn – S 1998-2000, Columbus, NE.

• 5’11” 200lb free safety wearing #42.
• 2000 All-Big 12
• 2000 Academic All-Big 12
• 2000 Tom Novak Award winner
• Tied a school record with 4 consecutive games with an interception
• Played in 24 games with 4 starts, finishing with 30 tackles, 2 TFLs, 5 INTs, and 7 PBUs.

Steve Wieser – DE 1972-1974, Columbus, NE.

• 5’11” 210lb defensive end wearing #83.
• Walk-on out of Columbus Scotus High School.
• Lettered at Nebraska from 1972-1974.
• Finished his career with 42 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 INT.

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

James Keogh – Born and raised in Platte County. A graduate of Creighton. Worked for the Omaha World Herald and Time Magazine as an affairs reporter and editor. Assigned as the White House Director of Speechwriting under President Nixon from 1969-1970. Served as the Director of the US Information Agency from 197-1976 under President Nixon and President Ford.

Alfred Gruenther – Born in Platte Center and spent his childhood in Platte Center. Attended high school in Minnesota and graduated from West Point. He served 39 years in the Army and became the 2nd youngest 4 star General in Army history. He served as the NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe from 1953-1956.

Max Carl Gronenthal – Born in Platte Center and grew up in Humphrey. He graduated from high school in Norfolk. Carl is the co-lead singer for classic rock band Grand Funk Railroad. He also spent several years as the keyboardist and lead singer for .38 Special.

Andrew Higgins – Born in Columbus and raised in Omaha. He is the designer and builder of the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel), better known as the Higgins Boat. They could carry 36 soldiers and over 23,000 Higgins Boats were produced during WWII. The boat is seen in the D-Day beach landing scenes in Saving Private Ryan.

Chuck Hagel – Born in North Platte but graduated from high school in Columbus at St. Bonaventure. He graduated from UNO and joined the Army and fought in Vietnam. He is a 2x Purple Heart recipient and served as a US Senator from Nebraska from 1997-2009. Chuck was appointed as Secretary of Defense under President Obama from 2013-2015. He was the first former enlisted combat solider to be named SECDEF.

Brad Henke – Born in Columbus and graduated high school in Colorado. He would play on the defensive line at Arizona. He would be drafted by the New York Giants in the 1989 NFL draft. He would only play 1 year of football before six ankle surgeries would end his playing career. He became an actor with roles in movies like October Road, World Trade Center, Fury, and more to TV shows like Criminal Minds, Lost, Orange is the New Black, The Office, and more.

Chad Mustard – Born in Central City and grew up in Columbus. Graduated from Scotus Central Catholic HS and played basketball and football at North Dakota. He was most known for his basketball at North Dakota. He was an All-American in 2000 and finished 8th all-time on North Dakota’s scoring list. He would play for the Omaha Beef of the National Indoor Football League, which got him signed with the Cleveland Browns. He played 6 years in the NFL and currently lives in Omaha.

L. Harold DeWolf – Born and raised in Columbus. DeWolf would become a Methodist minister and professor of theology at several universities. While at Boston University School of Theology, he was an advisor, mentor, and teacher to Martin Luther King Jr. It is to DeWolf whom Dr. King attributes his theological and philosophical thinking. DeWolf spoke at Dr. King’s funeral.

Jack Van Berg – born and raised in Columbus. He and his father, Marion, are both members of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. They are both Hall of Fame horse trainers. For 19 years Jack was the leading trainer at Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack. He was the first trainer to reach 5,000 victories. His horse Alysheba won the 1987 Kentucky Derby.

Jim Pillen – Born in Columbus and graduated from Lakeview HS. He played football at Nebraska and was inducted in the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame. He has served on the Nebraska Board of Regents since 2012. Pillen is Nebraska’s 41st and current Governor.



GO BIG RED



Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platte_County,_Nebraska#
https://plattecounty.ne.gov/
https://plattecounty.ne.gov/about/
https://visitcolumbusne.com/
https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county/platte.html

 

[Poster FKA schuele]

For people who didn’t get to see Clete Pillen play, he was a lot like Lavonte David - an undersized LB who was an absolute tackling machine. Nobody seemed to be able to block him.

Jim Pillen was a good player, but Clete was a beast.

 

[Big bo fan]

For people who didn’t get to see Clete Pillen, he was a lot like Lavonte David - an undersized LB who was an absolute tackling machine. Nobody seemed to be able to block him.

Jim Pillen was a good player, but Clete was a beast.

Yep 2nd team all American and Big 8 DPOY in 1976. I got to know Both Jim and Clete. My dad put up some grain bins at the Platte Center CO-OP and their Dad Dale bought a couple for the Home place and Jim and Clete helped us put them up.

 

[Anon1752115983]

Yep 2nd team all American and Big 8 DPOY in 1976. I got to know Both Jim and Clete. My dad put up some grain bins at the Platte Center CO-OP and their Dad Dale bought a couple for the Home place and Jim and Clete helped us put them up.

One correction -- license plate # is 10, not 8

 

[Anon1752115983]

One correction -- license plate # is 10, not 8

Another correction -- there was an all-state QB from Columbus High in 1942 or 43 who started at QB for NU the following fall. Someone wrote a story about him after an article about Dylan Raiola starting at QB as a true freshman. Only a couple of others had done so, but they left this guy out. Forget his name, and for some reason he does not show up as an NU letterman, even though he started most of the season as a frosh. He then transferred to Cal, where he started a couple more years. Somebody help me out here!

 

[Anon1752115983]

Another correction -- there was an all-state QB from Columbus High in 1942 or 43 who started at QB for NU the following fall. Someone wrote a story about him after an article about Dylan Raiola starting at QB as a true freshman. Only a couple of others had done so, but they left this guy out. Forget his name, and for some reason he does not show up as an NU letterman, even though he started most of the season as a frosh. He then transferred to Cal, where he started a couple more years. Somebody help me out here!

Found it! His name was Ted Kenfield and he was NU's starting QB in 1943 as a 17-year old frosh.

 

[Big bo fan]

Another correction -- there was an all-state QB from Columbus High in 1942 or 43 who started at QB for NU the following fall. Someone wrote a story about him after an article about Dylan Raiola starting at QB as a true freshman. Only a couple of others had done so, but they left this guy out. Forget his name, and for some reason he does not show up as an NU letterman, even though he started most of the season as a frosh. He then transferred to Cal, where he started a couple more years. Somebody help me out here!

I found the story Sports illustrated did . Left Columbus in the spring of his senior year to enroll at Stanford. They suspended their football program. Came back to Nebraska in the fall started right away fit Hirt missed some games came back and stated again. Went 1-4 as a starter . Moved to California and played fullback at Cal the rest of his career.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Another correction -- there was an all-state QB from Columbus High in 1942 or 43 who started at QB for NU the following fall. Someone wrote a story about him after an article about Dylan Raiola starting at QB as a true freshman. Only a couple of others had done so, but they left this guy out. Forget his name, and for some reason he does not show up as an NU letterman, even though he started most of the season as a frosh. He then transferred to Cal, where he started a couple more years. Somebody help me out here!

Nice find! Did he start on the Frosh team or the varsity team? I went and checked, and like you said, he's not listed on the letterman list.