Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 6 Center Dave Rimington (1980-1982)

The arms. When Rimington ran onto the field on a cold November afternoon without any sleeves, those massive arms popping out from his 6-foot-3, 290-pound frame screamed: Just try and stop us. Opposing defenses rarely did in those years. So good as a center that he had a trophy named after him, Rimington won two Outland trophies in 1981 and 1982 and, for good measure, the Lombardi Trophy in 1982, as well. Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997, Rimington is the college standard against which most centers are now measured.

He was so quick. Too quick, at times, as he was sometimes flagged for false start penalties despite hiking the ball. Rimington pounced on his foes so quickly throughout his career that he was often able to chip off and help another lineman. The man was built to block for an option running game, but his seven years in the NFL - playing for the Bengals and Eagles - weren’t quite as successful, in part because of the franchises themselves.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, No. 7

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Heartbeat - a sampling of links and quick wit to start your morning! Keep checking each morning, Monday-Friday, for new links! We look for the offbeat as well as the straightforward - so don’t just think of us as a typical link farm!

A quick abbreviation key FYI: OWH=Omaha World-Herald, LJS=Lincoln Journal-Star, CN=Corn Nation, BRN=Big Red Network, HI=Huskers Illustrated, BRR=Big Red Report. If we need to add more - we will. Others, like ESPN, are self-explanatory.

Cool? Cool!

*Tom Shatel argues why Nebraska should jump at the chance to join the Big Ten. His reasons: Money and security. We’ll hold off on a take until we can view the entire parameters of what the Big Ten is offering; indeed, if the Big Ten is really interested in expanding to 16 teams. Which we doubt.

*After a spirited speech from pitching coach Eric Newman, Tom Lemke turned in NU’s best pitching performance of the year. Coincidence?

*Fascinating story about how Nebraska first-round draft picks Trev Alberts, Dave Rimington and Larry Jacobsen got a rude awakening in the NFL after, frankly, being a little pampered at NU. Oh, the story spins it into the communal excellence of the Husker program vs. the strictly business culture of the NFL - and some of that is true - but, in reality college football players - at many schools - are sheltered and protected too much from the realities of the outside world.

*Prince Amukamara is angling for a little time on offense, but appears happy being a All-Big 12 cornerback, too.

*Washington begins an awards campaign for Jake Locker.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post