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 Here's What People Are Saying About "Diary of a Husker"
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My husband brought home "Diary of a Husker" not too long ago. He seemed quite interested in what he was reading and I became curious. He told me it was your book. As soon as he put it down, I picked it up. My first thought was, "I'm just one step above not being a Husker fan, but I'll thumb through this and see what David has to say." I was very surprised at myself, I couldn't put it down!
Of course, I am reading this through a mom's point of view. I just kept thinking, "how can your mom take this?" The more I read, I had a lot of mixed feelings. I felt bad for you, the sleep deprevation alone would have put most of us to shame. But, you gave me a great insight to what being a "Husker" really means., I was proud of the way you handled yourself and the fact that you never quit. My heart ached when you wrote the email to your parents.
I think I drove my husband crazy asking him all kinds of questions, what are Hang-cleans? Why does there seem to be a "punishment" mentatility? Sometimes I would think "don't go back!", "Quit!".
I loved the book. I loved learning about football from behind the scenes and your years as a NE football player. I have more respect for players and for you. Thanks for writing the book.
Pam J.
Omaha, NE |
David does a fantastic job of telling it like it is. College football is no bed of roses, even if you make it to the Rose Bowl, and many of these young men make the personal sacrifice not for themselves, but for friends and family whom they'd hate to disappoint. I applaud David for making it through five years of sacrifice and coming out the other end a stronger person of high character. It's amazing to see how the Nebraska football program works from an insiders prospective, and it actually makes you want to root more for the guys on the bench, the ones who may never have their number called but who work just as hard, if not harder, then the starters, only hoping for one glorious moment where they can shine and know all the sacrifice was worth it. I hope, David, that when you look back, you realize that it was indeed worth it.
Matt S.
Kansas City, MO |
| [This review appeared on The Big Red Report]
I started reading it the day before Christmas and finished it while eating some lunch today. It's 487 pages long but it is a relatively easy read, particularly if you are a lifelong Husker fan like I am and are truly interested in trying to see what it was like to be in a program that you longed to be a part of most of your youth. I highly recommend it to every Husker fan as required reading. If you aren't reading it because you think it is a trash the coaches or trash the administration type of book, then reconsider your stance because it isn't either of those. It seems to me to be a very well written, middle of the road account of the things that were going on around one individual (David Kolowski) that was in a position to experience it all. While it is a little harsh on certain individuals (Ritchie Incognito was an even bigger AHOLE and disruption to the program than I originally thought), it doesn't go on and on in an attempt to dwell on anything or anyone.
The book sums up quite nicely what caused the deterioration of the program to the point where total change was required. It opened my eyes to the fact that there many other individuals and other circumstances that contributed to the fall of the Husker football program from it's apex in 1997 to the depths that it fell, not just the head coach. I only wish there was somebody of David's equal from the administrative side, the S&C side and the nutrition staff side that could have added to the book to give as much insight from those areas as David did from the athletic side, because all areas contributed to the fall.
What the book really gave me, however, was a first hand account of what it takes to make it through five years as a walk-on at the University of Nebraska. Looking back on myself in college, had I ever had the size and ability to be considered for the walk-on program at Nebraska, I doubt I would have had the wherewithall to survive it. David's walk-on class consisted of 41 players, and he was one of ten that made it all the way through. He and all of the walk-ons that survived that program should be commended. After reading that book I have a whole new appreciation for the will and guts that it takes to do that.
I don't want to give anymore of the book away than I already have, but just want to encourage you all to pick up a copy of it and also want to take the opportunity to thank David for writing it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Bradley H.
Omaha, NE |
The book is very insightful.
I was shocked to learn the players received meal money. Sometimes in the hundreds of dollars.
I knew players made sacrifices, but David provides incredible insight what was expected of the players during the off season, even though it “officially wasn’t expected” of them.
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the highest, I would give the book an 8 or 9. I think David was careful not to get himself into too much hot water by giving detailed information about Craig Bohl and some of the other coaches that were let go, but yet fed us enough info that, at least from his perspective, answered some questions we fans may have had about the coaching changes that took place.
To sum it up, as much as I enjoyed reading the book, it left me hungry for more information. I would recommend Husker fans purchase David’s book and learn the sacrifices he and other players endure month in and month out.
Kevin
Alliance, NE |
My girlfriend bought this book for me 2 days ago and I have not been able to put it down. It's a book written by walk-on Dave Kolowski (1998-2002) and is basically a candid view of playing for the Huskers through the eyes of a walk-on player. It's a little shy of 500 pages and as much as I hate to read, I'll finish this thing in 3 days (The last book I read with this much interest was TO's book "On Solid Ground", well I guess the media guides too ). Some of the stuff written reaffirms my beliefs of the struggles players go through but most of it I had no idea. How much the players are paid, the content of some of those players meetings, interactions between players (both good and bad), the workouts, struggling to balance school and football, game and season summaries, winter and spring conditioning, the injuries, and the coaches, and a boatload more, all in pretty good detail.
In reading this book, I think back to a great many topics that have been discussed on this board and then what Dave says in his book contradicts some of those things. Though this is only one player's experience I feel like I've gotten an uncensored 5 year tour behind the scenes and highly recommend this book to any Husker fan.
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"Diary of a Husker" is five years of young man showing doubts, at times disgust with some coaches and players, but a determination to become a football player and accomplishing his dream. This is "must reading" for anyone thinking of becoming a player for college football and what it entails day in and day out.
Spence & Betty B.
Greeley, CO |
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