Star City Daily
LINCOLN’S MORNING BRIEF
Good morning, Lincoln. It's Friday, February 27. Nebraska just hired its first-ever flag football coach, Devaney is packed with high school swimmers chasing state titles, and 150,000 sandhill cranes beat us all to spring.
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⛅️ Upper 60s, sunny, southwest gusts near 20 mph. Don't get used to it.
NEED TO KNOW
Huskers Hire Sowers Sisters to Build Flag Football from Scratch
Nebraska became the first Power Four school to name a flag football head coach when Athletic Director Troy Dannen hired Liz Sowers on Thursday. Her twin sister Katie, who made history as the first woman to coach in a Super Bowl with the 49ers in 2020, joins as associate head coach.
Liz arrives from Ottawa University in Kansas with an 88-8 career record and five consecutive NAIA national championships. She also served as defensive coordinator for the gold-medal U.S. Women's National Team at the 2023 Continental Championships. The sisters finish their current season at Ottawa before starting in Lincoln on June 1.
Nebraska moved quickly here. The Huskers launched their flag football program in mid-January, the same day the NCAA approved the sport, making them the first Power Four school to commit. Recruiting begins during the 2026-27 school year, with the first full varsity season set for spring 2028 and 25 scholarships available starting 2028-29. In a sport where every major conference will eventually need a team, getting the Sowers sisters locked in two years early is a real recruiting edge.
State Swim and Dive Championships Take Over Devaney
The NSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships are running at the Bob Devaney Sports Center through Saturday, with diving finished Thursday and swimming prelims today. Lincoln High junior Colin Farr is back to defend the boys diving title he won last year, the school's first since 1973. He's seeded first at 539.03 points, with his freshman brother Owen right behind at 504.25. That sibling battle is one of the best storylines of the meet.
On the girls side, Omaha Marian's Meredith Peyton chases a repeat after winning four golds last year. A Nebraska commit, Peyton holds the state record in the 100 butterfly and could anchor all three Marian relays. Swimming finals start at noon Saturday and air live on NET, with tickets available only through GoFan.
QUICK HITS
About 150,000 sandhill cranes have already landed on the Platte River, well ahead of the typical mid-March peak. Drought to the south and a mild winter pushed them north early. Rowe Sanctuary near Kearney has viewing blind reservations open through early April at rowe.audubon.org.
Union Pacific crews are rebuilding the century-old railroad bridge over Salt Creek that collapsed after an unattended campfire last Monday. Salt Creek Levee Trail stays detoured around the site with no reopening timeline yet.
Weekend weather whiplash incoming: soak in today's upper 60s because temperatures crater to the 20s by Sunday with a possible wintry mix late in the day.
Lincoln Stars host Tri-City Storm at the Ice Box tonight. Check lincolnstars.com for puck drop.
Lancaster County's 2026 primary ballots will be color-coded by political party for the first time, part of an effort to streamline the partisan primary process. The election is 75 days out.
Husker guard Britt Prince made the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Midseason Top 10. She leads a Nebraska offense averaging over 80 points per game this season heading into tomorrow's regular-season finale against Rutgers at PBA.
EVENTS
Saturday, February 28 — Nebraska Women's Basketball vs Rutgers (Senior Day) at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Regular-season finale for the 17-11 Huskers. Details at huskers.com.
Saturday, February 28 — Boston Pops: Star Wars – The Story in Music at Lied Center. Keith Lockhart conducts the full orchestra through all nine films, with screen-accurate Star Wars characters in the lobby before the show. Details at liedcenter.org.
Saturday, February 28 — Nebraska Statehood Day Celebration at Nebraska History Museum. Free admission for the state's 159th birthday, with Nebraska-themed activities and community partners including Lincoln Children's Museum and International Quilt Museum. Details at history.nebraska.gov.
On This Day
In 1973, members of the American Indian Movement seized Wounded Knee, South Dakota, launching a 71-day standoff over treaty rights and tribal sovereignty. The Nebraska National Guard provided aerial support during the siege, one of the most significant Native American protests in modern history.
Go enjoy that sunshine and whatever weekend plans are calling your name. We'll see you Monday morning.
Star City Daily