THE NEBRASKA 100

Twenty-seven years later, Todd Brown still stands alone as the greatest triple jumper ever to come out of Nebraska.

But 27 years ago, Brown wanted more than that.

He turned down multiple scholarship offers from other schools, including a football and track scholarship package from Iowa State, to walk on at Nebraska and play football.

Brown said of the decision to turn down Iowa State: "I didn't like the school at all. When you're from Nebraska -- and I know it's bad to say this -- it's like going down a class in football."

Brown is commonly remembered as a walk-on who became an integral part of the Husker offense, ranking in the top 10 in receptions and yards by the time he left in 1982.

In high school, Brown became the first Nebraskan to clear 50 feet in the triple jump, leaping a state-record 50 feet, 2 1/4 inch. Since Brown did it in May 1978, only one other Nebraskan has broken 50 feet.

When NU football recruiters took issue with Brown's speed, he responded by running the 100-meter dash his senior year and taking the Class B crown.

After his career at Nebraska, Brown was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but elected instead to go north and play in the Canadian Football League, where he says he earned more money than he would have made in the NFL.

Brown returned to Nebraska after his playing days ended following the 1988 season. His two children, twins Micah and Ashley, each won state track and field championships and earned scholarships to the University of Kansas as seniors for Kearney High School in 2004.

-- Jon Crowl