We have 15 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Saunders County, Nebraska.
https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/16-days-until-gameday-–-day-78-saunders-county-nebraska.8938789/
Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska
Former Huskers and Spotlights (years are letterman years)
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 25 letterman football players from Scotts Bluff County, NE.
Marvin Thompson – E 1941-1942, Mitchell, NE.
Verl Scott – C 1950-1952, Mitchell, NE.
Erich Hohl – TE 1993, Gering, NE.
Frosty Anderson – SE 1971-1973, Scottsbluff, NE.
Frank Collopy Jr. – FB 1944-1948, Scottsbluff, NE.
Don Comstock – HB 1954, Scottsbluff, NE.
William Comstock – E 1960-1962, Scottsbluff, NE.
Larry Donovan – E 1960-1962, Scottsbluff, NE.
Gerald Ferguson – HB 1948-1950, Scottsbluff, NE.
Garrett Nelson – OLB 2019-2022, Scottsbluff, NE.
Brandon Quindt – S 1997, Scottsbluff, NE.
Alec Schneider – E 1945, Scottsbluff, NE.
Warren Scoggan – T 1931, Scottsbluff, NE.
John Selzer – HB 1944, Scottsbluff, NE.
Milton Selzer – HB 1914-1916, Scottsbluff, NE.
John Stevenson – G 1944, Scottsbluff, NE.
Travis Turner – QB 1984-1985, Scottsbluff, NE.
Jamie Worden- WB 1987-1988, Scottsbluff, NE.
Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Scotts Bluff County:
Hank Bauer – Born in Scotts Bluff but grew up in California. Played college football at Cal Lutheran and played for the San Diego Chargers from 1977-1982. He was named NFL Special Teams Player of the Year 3x. After the NFL, he became a TV and radio broadcaster.
Brook Berringer – Born in Scottsbluff. He mostly grew up in Kansas. Played for Nebraska from 1992-1995. Tragically killed in a plane accident just before the 1996 NFL Draft. 2x National Champion at Nebraska.
Terry Carpenter – Born in Iowa and moved to Scottsbluff as a teenager. Served in Congress for Nebraska from 1933-1935, and in the Nebraska Legislature for 7 years. He founded Terrytown.
Kip Gross – Born in Scottsbluff. Played college baseball for Nebraska and Murray State. Played 6 years in the MLB and 4 years in the Japanese Pacific League. Regarded as one of the best non-Japanese players to ever play in the Pacific League.
Nate Lashley – Born in Scottsbluff, Nate is a professional golfer with the PGA. He has 15 professional wins.
Randy Meisner – Born and raised in Scottsbluff. Randy is a founding member of the Eagles and Poco.
Adrian Smith – Born in Scottsbluff and raised in Gering. Has been serving in Congress for Nebraska since 2007.
John Nerud – Born in Minatare. He is a member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a horse trainer and owner.
Dave Raymond – Born and raised in Gering. He is the television play by play commentator for the Texas Rangers.
Teresa Scanlon – Born in California but attended Gering HS and graduated from Scottsbluff HS. Teresa was Miss Nebraska 2010 and Miss America 2011. She was the first Nebraskan to win Miss America and the youngest Miss America winner in 74 years.
GO BIG RED
Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotts_Bluff_County,_Nebraska
https://scottsbluffcountyne.gov/
https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county/scotts-bluff.html
https://visitscottsbluff.com/
Yesterday we looked at Saunders County, Nebraska.
https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/16-days-until-gameday-–-day-78-saunders-county-nebraska.8938789/
Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska
- Established in 1888 and named for a prominent bluff that served as a landmark for pioneers and settlers in the 1800s along the Oregon Trail. The bluff is named after Hiram Scott, a Rocky Mountain Fur Company trapper who died near the area in 1828. Legend has it that Hiram Scott was severely injured and abandoned and he crawled over 60 miles and died in the bluff.
- License plate prefix #21.
- The county seat is Gering but the largest city is Scottsbluff.
- The population is ~35,500 (2025) and has been somewhat stable since 1940.
- The county is approximately 746 square miles, ranking 32 out of 93.
- The North Platte River flows through the county.
- In 2022, a Volcano Warning was issued for the Scottsbluff area. The area was in the warning zone for wildfires.
- The primary crops harvested in Scotts Bluff County are sugar beets, corn, and soybeans.
- Lake Minatare is home to the longest continuously used bald eagle nesting site in Nebraska.
- Lake Minatare Lighthouse is a mock lighthouse on the shore of Lake Minatare. It was designed to simulate a lighthouse and is both a shelter house and an observation tower.
- Haig was originally called Haigville.
- Morrill is named after Charles Henry Morrill, president of the Lincoln Land Company and the namesake of Morrill Hall at UNL.
- Melbeta was primarily settled by German immigrants, and its name comes from a German word meaning “sugar beet”.
- Lyman is less than 1 mile from the Wyoming border.
- Henry lies on the Wyoming border.
- Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle.
- Gering and Scottsbluff have grown together to make the 7th largest urban area in Nebraska.
- Scottsbluff was the first town in the region to be located along a railroad line.
- Western Nebraska Community College is located in Scottsbluff.
- There is a historical marker at the site where Fort Mitchell once stood.
- Gering is an international sister city with Bamyan, Afghanistan.
- The Scenic Knolls Golf Course is a 9-hole course that opened in 1993.
- The Scotts Bluff County Fair was first held in 1887 and is held annually in Mitchell.
- Minatare means ‘crosses the water’ or ‘clear water’.
- Minatare is named after a sub-branch of Sioux Indians called the Minnataree who lived in the area.
- Minatare was originally named Tabor from 1887-1900.
Former Huskers and Spotlights (years are letterman years)
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 25 letterman football players from Scotts Bluff County, NE.
Marvin Thompson – E 1941-1942, Mitchell, NE.
Verl Scott – C 1950-1952, Mitchell, NE.
- 6’ 190lb center wearing #51
- 1952 All-Big Seven
Erich Hohl – TE 1993, Gering, NE.
- 6’3” 235lb tight end wearing #89
- Walk-on out of Gering HS.
- Played at Nebraska from 1990-1994, lettering in 1993.
- 1994 National Champion
- His son, Jacob, played for Nebraska in 2022 and 2023 but did not letter.
- His son, John, was the kicker for Nebraska in 2024.
- 5’11” 215lb linebacker wearing #23.
- All-State player and walk-on out of Gering HS.
- Played at Nebraska from 1995-1999, lettering in 1999.
- Played in 10 games in his career, making 6 tackles.
- 2x National Champion.
Frosty Anderson – SE 1971-1973, Scottsbluff, NE.
- 6’ 175lb split end wearing #89
- All-State player out of Scottsbluff HS.
- Played at Nebraska from 1970-1973, lettering from 1971-1973.
- 1973 Academic All-American
- 1973 All-Big Eight
- 1973 Academic All-Big Eight
- Led Big Eight in touchdown receptions in 1973
- National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete
- Caught 49 passes for 1,765 yards and 14 TDs
- Tied program record with 3 receiving touchdowns in 1 game
- Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member
- Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member.
Frank Collopy Jr. – FB 1944-1948, Scottsbluff, NE.
Don Comstock – HB 1954, Scottsbluff, NE.
William Comstock – E 1960-1962, Scottsbluff, NE.
Larry Donovan – E 1960-1962, Scottsbluff, NE.
Gerald Ferguson – HB 1948-1950, Scottsbluff, NE.
- 2x All-State player out of Scottsbluff HS.
- Lettered at Nebraska from 1948-1950.
- Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame member.
Garrett Nelson – OLB 2019-2022, Scottsbluff, NE.
- 6’4” 245lb edge rusher wearing #44
- 2x All-State player out of Scottsbluff HS.
- First commitment of the 2019 recruiting class.
- 2022 Team Captain
- 2022 All-Big Ten
- 2x Academic All-Big Ten
- Played in 43 games in his career, starting 22.
- Finished his career with 167 tackles, 26 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries.
- Currently plays in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints.
Brandon Quindt – S 1997, Scottsbluff, NE.
Alec Schneider – E 1945, Scottsbluff, NE.
Warren Scoggan – T 1931, Scottsbluff, NE.
John Selzer – HB 1944, Scottsbluff, NE.
Milton Selzer – HB 1914-1916, Scottsbluff, NE.
John Stevenson – G 1944, Scottsbluff, NE.
Travis Turner – QB 1984-1985, Scottsbluff, NE.
- 6’2” 205lb quarterback wearing #14
- All-State quarterback out of Scottsbluff HS.
- Played at Nebraska from 1981-1985.
- Finished his career throwing for 959 yards and 7 TDs, and running for 265 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Jamie Worden- WB 1987-1988, Scottsbluff, NE.
- 5’10” 175lb wingback wearing #31.
- All-State player out of Scottsbluff HS.
- Beat future teammate Keith Jones in the 100m and 200m state track meet.
- Played at Nebraska from 1984-1988, lettering from 1987-1988.
- Played in 20 games and finished with 3 catches for 32 yards.
Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Scotts Bluff County:
Hank Bauer – Born in Scotts Bluff but grew up in California. Played college football at Cal Lutheran and played for the San Diego Chargers from 1977-1982. He was named NFL Special Teams Player of the Year 3x. After the NFL, he became a TV and radio broadcaster.
Brook Berringer – Born in Scottsbluff. He mostly grew up in Kansas. Played for Nebraska from 1992-1995. Tragically killed in a plane accident just before the 1996 NFL Draft. 2x National Champion at Nebraska.
Terry Carpenter – Born in Iowa and moved to Scottsbluff as a teenager. Served in Congress for Nebraska from 1933-1935, and in the Nebraska Legislature for 7 years. He founded Terrytown.
Kip Gross – Born in Scottsbluff. Played college baseball for Nebraska and Murray State. Played 6 years in the MLB and 4 years in the Japanese Pacific League. Regarded as one of the best non-Japanese players to ever play in the Pacific League.
Nate Lashley – Born in Scottsbluff, Nate is a professional golfer with the PGA. He has 15 professional wins.
Randy Meisner – Born and raised in Scottsbluff. Randy is a founding member of the Eagles and Poco.
Adrian Smith – Born in Scottsbluff and raised in Gering. Has been serving in Congress for Nebraska since 2007.
John Nerud – Born in Minatare. He is a member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a horse trainer and owner.
Dave Raymond – Born and raised in Gering. He is the television play by play commentator for the Texas Rangers.
Teresa Scanlon – Born in California but attended Gering HS and graduated from Scottsbluff HS. Teresa was Miss Nebraska 2010 and Miss America 2011. She was the first Nebraskan to win Miss America and the youngest Miss America winner in 74 years.
GO BIG RED
Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotts_Bluff_County,_Nebraska
https://scottsbluffcountyne.gov/
https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county/scotts-bluff.html
https://visitscottsbluff.com/
