Double Nickel gives his two cents

Jason Peter Hero of the Underground book signing today!

Jason Peter — 2009-12-05T17:47:00Z

Jason Peter Author Event

Author Event
Husker fans and avid sports enthusiasts are invited to an author event with Jason Peter, local author of Hero of the Underground.

Saturday December 05, 2009 2:00 PM

Lincoln
5150 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68510, 402-466-7122

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The Spread' show terminated

Jason Peter — 2009-12-01T14:21:00Z

The Spread' show terminated By JEFF KORBELIK and KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

Former Husker All-American Jason Peter was told Monday his radio show, “The Spread” on ESPN 1480, was terminated immediately by Three Eagles Communications.

The sports talk show featured Peter and Jeff Wilkerson from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays and had been on the air since the summer of 2007.

“They, the general manager Joy Patten and program director Mark Taylor, called us in and said it was an economy thing and we were done,” Peter said. “They said more changes were coming at the station but didn’t say what.”

Peter said he was puzzled by the move just days before Nebraska plays Texas in the Big 12 title game in Dallas. He said he was told two months ago that “everything was fine and that ratings were far beyond what was expected.”

He added: “I don’t know how they explain to advertisers who joined on because of my voice or the show.”

Wilkerson also was perplexed. Three Eagles let him go as the station’s program director as well.

“This is local radio in a recession,” Wilkerson said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”

Patten was unavailable for comment, failing to return phone messages Monday afternoon.

Three Eagles replaced “The Spread” Monday with a nationally syndicated show from ESPN Radio hosted by former Oklahoma State basketball player Doug Gottlieb.

“The Spread” began in September 2007 with then-program director Chris Schmidt, Peter and part-timer Wilkerson as hosts. It replaced the locally produced “Average Joe Show.”

Three Eagles removed Schmidt from the show the following year and released him in November 2008.

Wilkerson was hired full-time and became program director following Schmidt’s departure from the show.

Ratings surveys showed “The Spread” held its own among its target demographic, men ages 25 to 54.

According to Arbitron, the station ranked fourth in the demographic during drive time (3 to 7 p.m.) in the Spring 2009 survey, finishing behind 96KX, KLIN and Froggy 98.

“The Spread” was No. 1 among men ages 25 to 54 last fall during the college and pro football season.

“I thought we did a good production,” Wilkerson said. “I thought the show was good. Obviously, it took time for us to get on track. That happens with any new show.”

Peter, who wrote a New York Times bestseller, “Hero of the Underground,” said he will continue with a weekly show “Under the Helmet,” with Elissa Campbell Walker on radio in Texas and will pursue other radio or TV jobs. He will also continue his public speaking and fundraising efforts.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com. Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.

Jason Peter: Beyond the X's and O's with Elissa Walker Campbell

Jason Peter — 2008-12-18T17:37:00Z

Beyond the X’s and O’s with Elissa Walker Campbell

http://www.eradiosports.com

Jason Peter

Many Nebraska Cornhusker fans describe former defensive tackle, Jason Peter, as one of their most beloved players for his colorful personality and exploits on the gridiron. In the mid-nineties, he was a three time All American, a member of three National Championship football teams, and co-captain the championship team his senior year. Jason Peter was a young man - who had it all. He was respected for the games he won, records he broke and quarterbacks he sacked. As a result of his success in college, he was selected by the National Football League as a first-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers. Peter played for five years before injuries forced him to retire. Unfortunately, his life took a dramatic turn after his playing days came to an abrupt end. To cope with the physical pain from his injuries, he became addicted to pain killers and eventually cocaine and heroin. I interviewed Jason Peter on The Big E Sports Show (Fox Sports Radio) We discussed the details of his inspiring story of achievement, redemption and life after addiction.

EWC: Let’s start off by reflecting on some of your favorite memories as an athlete. What was it like playing at Nebraska for Tom Osborne, the legendary coach and Hall of Fame member?

JP: It was just special. You knew that you were paying for someone who would go down as a legend and as a hero. Playing football at Nebraska was like home away from home. My parents had no worries sending my brother, Christian, and me to the middle of the country, two thousand miles away from home, because they knew Coach Osborne and the coaching staff. It was always family first at Nebraska. Everybody knew everybody by first name. That was especially important to Coach Osborne. What also impressed me was the family atmosphere. As a head coach, he set such a strong example. He never cursed or even used the Lord’s name in vain. I remember my freshman year, having a conversation with him and being so nervous to talk to him. It was like I was in the presence of a saint. I would actually start to perspire under my arm-pits and on my forehead. Thankfully over time, we developed a relationship and understanding, and I became more comfortable with him.

EWC: I’m sure there are a number of great games to recall, but can you share about the good ole rivalry days with Oklahoma?

JP: The memories I have from the Nebraska/Oklahoma series are good ones. It’s not like lately, where Oklahoma has dominated, not only Nebraska, but everybody. Playing Oklahoma during my time was always a great rivalry. You know today there are a number of great rivalries where you actually hate the opponent, but with Oklahoma and Nebraska there was just a mutual respect.

EWC: The University of Nebraska last year underwent a complete facelift within the athletic department and football program. Tom Osborne was hired as the Athletic Director. That had to energize the Cornhuskers nation, right?

JP: Yes! Bringing Coach Osborne’s back was a “HUGE” win, I think, for the university and for the state of Nebraska. Everyone was down on Nebraska football at the time. You would not believe the amount of negativity that I was getting on my call in radio show on ESPN Radio. Coach Osborne brought life back into the program. He got people excited.

EWC: Last year was an especially turbulent year for Nebraska. They had a losing record and fired their former head coach, Bill Callahan. Talk about the new leadership with Head Football Coach Bo Pelini and direction of the program since his arrival in Lincoln.

JP: I’ve had an opportunity to get to know Head Coach Bo Pelini and his staff. And I really like these guys. He has welcomed us former player back and I’ve even had the opportunity to talk with the team on several occasions. Although this year we will not be competing for a BCS game or perhaps even the year after, I am confident about the direction of where the program is going. He is laying the bricks, laying the foundation and building the program from the bottom up. He has his kids playing with passion and heart no matter what it says up on the scoreboard.

EWC: Jason, you had such an outstanding career at Nebraska and in the NFL. But despite all the fame, glory and talent, you almost lost your life to drugs. What happened?

JP: I really don’t know sometimes. I think there are different reasons. One was that I identified with myself as a football player. Even though I started playing the game late in high school, I knew this was all what I wanted to do. I was a football player. And when you go to a school like Nebraska – where as a player everyone puts you up on a pedestal -- you’re almost worshipped and you are the biggest show in town. So then imagine becoming a starter as a sophomore, winning three national titles and becoming an All-American. You’re a household name and you get used to that attention. Then I was drafted by the Carolina Panthers and eventually things did not work out. I learned that after all the injuries, how physical of a sport it was and soon became addicted to painkillers to cope with the pain. And that is where the abuse began and the start of my out of control addiction.

EWC: How did you finally get your life turned around and get clean?

JP: I have to be honest, there was no magical formula or religion that I suddenly started to practice. It was truly my father’s words. He asked me, “Why can’t you just stop?” So I came to the point that I’m not going to use drugs today. I’m just going to stop. Did I need help with getting off heroin and all that stuff? Absolutely! That is why I checked myself into a rehab clinic for one year and not just thirty days. Because it I was going to do it. I was going to do it! Because in the end it is pure misery. Whether you’re a football player, house mom and even a grandmother that uses drugs, you will eventually be miserable. I am just lucky to be alive today and can share my story.

EWC: Please share about life after addiction and where you are today.

JP: Life after drugs was still very challenging. For the first four to five months of being clean, I had this constant battle in my head whether to use or not to use drugs again. I was living healthy and feeling great, but I was still missing the biggest piece of the puzzle, which was my “purpose.” All my life I always felt my sense of purpose or my passion was sports. I figured I couldn’t do anything else than chase quarterbacks. While I was in rehab in California, I spent some time coaching in the high school ranks and then later met my wife. She really got me back on track. Sure, most people would like to consider themselves a good person, but with her I wanted to be a great person. Today, I co-host a live three hour radio show in Lincoln on ESPN radio. To be honest, I was really trying to crack into the coaching ranks, but did not have any luck. So this radio opportunity came along and I took it. I’m glad I did because I absolutely love my job! I’ve also released a new book that recounts my life story. I thought there might be a few people out there who would connect to it. It has exceeded my expectations and ended up being a New York Times best seller. To think that I was someone four and a half years ago who did not even want to go outside for more than an hour because I had a crack pipe attached to my mouth. I almost think, it can’t be real. Today I have a great job, a great family, and a great wife. Heck, I even have my own website now too! (www.jasonpeter.com) And, I could not have even imagined that five years ago.

Be sure and tune into Elissa Walker Campbell’s weekly sports talk radio magazine program on Fox Sports Radio 1460 AM KCLE from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays. You can e-mail her at info@eradiosports.com or listen online at her new website www.eradiosports.com

Jason Peter on Big E Sports Show talking Nebraska Football

Jason Peter — 2008-11-25T22:43:00Z

Jason Peter on KFDI Wichita's At Issues

Jason Peter — 2008-10-28T00:12:00Z

Hero of the Underground book signing Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 10 am in Bellevue, NE

Jason Peter — 2008-10-14T18:10:00Z

Jason Peter will discuss his New York Times Best-Seller "Hero of the Underground" and sign copies.

SAT 10/18/08 @ 10 AM- 12 NOON

Confluence Bookstore, Bistro and Business Center

505 Cornhusker Road

Bellevue, NE

402-502-0906

http://www.confluencebookstore.com

Former NFLer recounts harrowing tale of drug abuse

Jason Peter — 2008-10-06T19:56:00Z

canada, canadian search engine, free email, canada news

Monday » October 6 » 2008

Former NFLer recounts harrowing tale of drug abuse

STEPHANIE MYLES

The Gazette

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Hero of the Underground: My journey down to heroin - and back, by Jason Peter with Tony O'Neill, St. Martin's Press, 289 pages.

"I have no thought of the past or future, just the present, in which I crave absolute mayhem. My breathing is ragged and shallow, and I can feel it building now at the base of my skull, from somewhere deep inside of me, the greatest drug that I have ever felt, some God-given natural narcotic that will never again let me be."

Former NFL defensive lineman Jason Peter isn't referring to painkillers, cat tranquilizers, GHB, cocaine, crack, or heroin, all of which he consumed in superhuman quantities.

He's talking about playing football, about getting on the field and crushing a 300-pound offensive lineman before 80,000 screaming, crimson-wearing University of Nebraska fans.

It was the greatest drug he took. And once his football career ended, too soon, he tried desperately to replace that high.

The result was a decade of addiction, of self-destruction. That journey, one that - at least so far - has a happy ending, is chronicled in an extraordinary book.

It is, by far, the most gripping athlete autobiography I've read. It's not just the subject matter; that is compelling enough. It is Peter's vivid, rather profane, raw retelling of his story.

He changes a few names and details, but otherwise is unstinting with his descriptions of an aimless, desperate, pathetic period in his life.

For years, it was a life he did not want to leave behind. Through a half-dozen rehab stints, through the pain and devastation it caused his family, through the physical ravages, all he wanted was more drugs.

Every kind of drug.

Peter's NFL contract, about $4 million, meant he could afford it. His size (6-foot-4, 295 pounds while in the NFL) meant his body could absorb nearly as much as he wanted to ingest. It was a dangerous combination.

It's incredible enough that he can recall those lost years in such detail. But his self-awareness is astonishing, as is his ability to describe what he's feeling.

"I felt like a new person. A new man. A superman. Every single bit of worry, sadness, anger and my sense of being adrift, lost in an alien world following the abrupt end of my career in football, was suddenly lifted. ... It reminded me of something I thought I would never feel again. It reminded me of the dizzying, mind-numbing rush of stepping out onto the field, my body in peak condition, my mind focused into a sharp point. That superman transcendental moment of becoming something more than just Jason Peter, the man. I was once again Jason Peter, killing machine."

His description of heroin withdrawal is just as vivid.

"You are vomiting, (soiling) yourself, your body is twitching and spasming so hard you can involuntarily throw yourself out of bed. You feel like you have white hot sulfur in your veins in stead of blood, and your brain is literally screaming out for some heroin to take the pain away."

The addictions started off innocently enough, with six pain pills given to him by a doctor at the University of Nebraska for a knee injury his freshman year.

You won't find a football player who doesn't take them, just to get on the field each week.

It escalated quickly once Peter reached the NFL, where shoulder and neck injuries immediately surfaced, leading to many surgeries. After three years, the dream was over. It shattered him. Football was all he ever was, all he wanted to be. When it was over, at 25, there was nothing left.

He was nothing.

Peter's mission in life from then on seemed to be to find a high to replace it, in essence trading one addiction for another. And he devoted the same level of enthusiasm he had for football into doing cocaine.

It is shocking that Peter is still alive. He took enough to kill an elephant. Maybe two elephants.

About 18 months after leaving the game, he tried to commit suicide at his parents' home. He wrote a suicide note, emptied a bottle of 60 Vicodin, added 20 Ambien and a bottle of vodka.

It didn't work. He was saved by his body mass and the incredible tolerance to prescription drugs he had built up. But that didn't wake him up; he kept up the pace for several years.

Ultimately, Peter found the right treatment program. He met and married his wife, Sarah, a former reality-TV director, and relocated from Los Angeles to Lincoln, Neb., the college town where he was the king, where he was at his happiest.

Still only 34, Peter hosts an afternoon show on the local ESPN affiliate.

It's been two years. You hope that's only the beginning.

smyles@thegazette.canwest.com

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports

UNL Book Signing Saturday, October 4, 2008 @ 3:00pm

Jason Peter — 2008-10-02T18:33:26Z

MEET JASON PETER
Saturday, October 4 @ 3:00 PM
Meet former Husker & New York Times Best-Seller Jason Peter at 3:00 p.m. before the homecoming game against Mizzu. Jason will be signing the TeamMates "Tradition" poster and copies of his book "Hero of the Underground", ESPN Magazine's #4 Best-Selling Sports Book.

Unable to make it the book signing? Autographed copies are now available via http://jasonpeter.com

University Bookstore

14th & R Street

Lincoln, NE

402.472.7300

UNL BOOKSTORE WEBSITE

JASON'S WEBSITE

JASON'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL

JASON'S BLOG

Subscribe to the Jason Peter: Nickel News mailing list.

Husker Hog Ride & Post Run Party Champions for Children

Jason Peter — 2008-09-19T22:32:53Z

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008

Husker Hog Ride Motorcycle Run

THE FIRST ANNUAL HUSKER HOG RIDE AND CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN AFTER PARTY.

Meet the Husker Players:

The Champions for Children post run party will be hosted by former Huskers and Champions, Jared Tomich and Grant Wistrom. Co-hosted by Jason Peter, Matt Verzal, Chris Dishman, Jamel Williams, Tommie Frazier and Damon Benning, husker memorabilia and Jason Peter "Hero of the Underground" book signing.

The Jared Tomich Halo of Hope Foundation

http://huskerhogride.net/

The Grant Wistrom Foundation

http://www.grantwistrom.net/foundation.htm

JASON PETER RUNS OUT OF GAS / JARED TOMICH FILLS UP HIS TANK

GRANT WISTROM SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS

JARED TOMICH & A FEW OF THE HALO OF HOPE CHILDREN

JARED TOMICH< JASON PETER < GRANT WISTROM

Cornnation.com Interview With Jason Peter - Hero of the Underground

Jason Peter — 2008-09-16T21:47:00Z

Interview With Jason Peter - Hero of the Underground

by Corn Blight Sep 16, 2008 8:26 AM CDT in Reviews

I recently reviewed Jason Peter's book, "Hero of the Underground", the story of his life with drug addiction and recovery. It's a great read whether you're interested in football or not.

Jason and I talked mid last week about the book, his life after rehab, Nebraska football, and of course, that guy who sits next to Mark May. I hope that it adds to your experience with the book.

Let’s start out talking about your book, Hero of the Underground. I read somewhere in an earlier interview that you didn’t think the book would sell.

I didn’t think it would have the type of success it did. If you would have told me it would be on the New York Times Best Seller list, I would have asked you if you were taking drugs. I didn’t think that it could reach that many people. I thought it might do well in Nebraska, but not everywhere else because of the way it was written. I was very very nervous before the book came out, not just because of how people would react, but that they certainly didn’t know everything in detail.

There’s a lot of people who have this image of Nebraska football. I was part of three national titles, an All-American, a captain of a national title team, and they don’t want that distorted, they just want to leave it like that. I was worried whether those people would not want me in the family anymore, but I was amazed at amount of support I got after the book was released.

I think people can relate to it. Addiction, alcoholism, they affect a lot of people’s lives. Most people in the world know someone who’s struggled with it so a lot of people can relate to it.

What was your original intent in writing the book?

I wanted to tell my story in hopes that maybe there’s someone who would read it who would benefit from it. If it keeps a kid from going through the same thing I did now, or a NFL player from doing this, then that’s why I did it. It’s the same reason I did HBO Real Sports programs earlier. I thought maybe by me telling my story someone else could benefit.

It’s a really raw book, not just the subject matter, but there’s plenty of swearing. Was there ever a thought about cleaning that up?

I’m not a writer. I wrote this book, but I’m not a writer. The only way possible to do it was to write from my own voice. To tell those stories like I’m sitting here with me and you. People who read it who know me say it sounds like it’s coming right out my mouth. Back then, being a football player, a warrior type person, the adrenaline, that was the language I used, especially when carrying that over into the underground world, drug world.

Do you talk that way even now?

If I’m with my friends, the Jersey in me comes out. My wife.…

gets on your case?

a little bit. I clean it up when I’m around some people, like Tom Osborne.

It’s nice to know that wives are the same no matter who you are.

If she lets a curse word slip, well we know who’s fault that is.

I’ll tell you something that bothered me about the book. As I was reading through it, I won’t say it’s a glorification of drug use, but your life certainly had an attraction to it, here’s this guy who is a star, has all the money in the world, has all the women, doesn’t have to work and has all the stuff I can’t buy. There were times I felt like someone could read it and get the idea that what you did was okay, because until you’re at the end of the book, it doesn’t sound that bad.

I wondered if some people would question the title, “Hero of the Underground”. What does he want? Does he want people to applaud him like he’s some kind of hero? If you read the book it’s about me finally taking responsibility for me. It’s more about the heroism that gradually became my life starting over.

I’ll go back to high school. You have all these college coaches coming in, talking about how good you are, about how they need you, and if you don’t come, the university is going to have to board up the windows, life won’t go on and the world will fall apart.

You start there, then you get to Nebraska, sign, and become a household name. There’s no where else on earth where people love their program like here. You become a starter, then a three-year starter, a captain, and all you hear is how great you are, that you’re the best. I don’t care if you have a good head on your shoulders, you start to think that this is the way people should be treating you all the time.

In the NFL, you’re still on a pedestal, people tell you you’re right when you’re wrong, so it carries over. You think this is how life is supposed to be. You’re supposed to be told how great you are all the time. When the day came when I couldn’t play football anymore, my life just went down the toilet. I thought I’d play forever and then everything was over.

My identity was football. I thought I could transition into something, I didn’t think I’d be that story on ESPN, the guy who lost it all, the guy who can’t deal with life without the cheers. I was scared to death to fail. Everything I’d done was sports and I had never failed at anything. The real world scared the hell out of me. The only way to get that feeling back, was to close those doors to my apartment, so then it was just me and the drugs. I could still live that hero mentality, still king of the castle in my underground.

I can tell you the moment in the book at which it hit me how bad you were doing. It wasn’t when your mom was in the hospital because she was worried about you, but it came for me when she calls, you were supposed to check yourself into a rehab and you don’t realize that a few days have gone by. They’re just gone and you wonder where they went.

When drugs is your life, three hundred sixty five days a year, twenty four hours a day and you are going from one high from next to the next, that’s the only thing that matters to you. I was at the point where I was losing track of days, weeks, months. You become so obsessed with drugs, making sure you have them that you shut the real world out. You shut everyone that’s living a normal life out and your days and nights just kind of run together. I can’t necessarily put a moment on when the switch went off for me. Maybe for me it was finally when my father said “When are you just going to stop?”

You don’t really mention faith in the book.… why?

I just think that there’s a built in excuse with faith. In all those twelve-step programs, you have to turn your life over to a higher power because what’s sitting in front of you, you can’t handle. God doesn't give you anything you can’t handle. You have to buy completely into the program. For me, it’s up to the individual. If you’re waiting for a magical moment, you’re going to be waiting for a long time and you’re going to relapse. There’s a common term - “white knuckling it” - when people are trying so hard to not do drugs.…

Like their hands are on the wheel and they’re gripping it so hard their knuckles are white.

Yeah, like they’re barely making it. I needed the doctors and the therapists so I’m not belittling those people and the work that they do, but in the end, it’s you, the individual who has to make the decision that you’re not going to use drugs today.

Yet you went in and out of rehabs.…

The problem for me wasn’t how long I was in rehabs. I spent a year in the last rehab. The problem for me was that for most of my life I had structure. Through high school, or college, or the NFL, I had to be at the stadium at a certain time, or I had to be at class, and after the NFL, now there’s no reason for me to get up, there’s nothing.

The last day in rehab, I knew that I had to do something to get back that structure. So I volunteered in California as a coach. I loved being with the kids, seeing the kids faces, the glow in their eye. They loved being coached by a guy who played in the NFL and was a first-round draft pick. I loved being with them and the relationships. I was tough on them. I won’t say they liked it, but they needed it. They needed the structure, they needed the discipline.

Joy came after a month of pounding repetition into their heads. You see they can execute in a game. You see them get a ten yard sack. It’s all there. But if they knew I didn’t show up one day because I was out doing drugs, they would have been tore up and I knew that.

So... did they know you had a problem or not?

I showed them the HBO show, the first one I did. They were over at our house for a party. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe it. But I talked to them about it, because at some point in their future, they’re going to be faced with these issues, someone asking them to take drugs or alcohol.

Why aren’t you coaching now?

I was coaching out in California, volunteering at Edison High School and Huntingdon Beach. I had blown through a lot of that money, so I had put myself in a position where I had to work. I was trying to get a college job in a Division I program. I put out resumes, some feelers, didn’t get anything back.

While I was coaching at a school, Harvard West Lake, the opportunity came along to do the broadcasting. It was something I was interested in after I’d done the HBO shows and Jim Rome’s show a couple times. The people on both shows said ‘you really handle yourself well’, so I remembered that. The last time I thought about doing broadcasting, I asked my agent about getting into it. He said “You don’t speak well enough” and it was a huge blow.

I put some feelers out there. A month before 2007 football season was to start, ESPN was struggling with a time slot, so I guess they felt like ‘let’s see if Jason can do it’. They brought me out for a week to see how I’d do.

The first show we did over at Haymarket Park during baseball season. They told me to be there around two thirty, so I showed up at two-thirty and the show started at three. I had no newspaper and the Lincoln Salt Dogs are playing. I struggled through three hours with the other host. My wife was waiting back at hotel and I kissed her and said “This isn’t going to work out, it was brutal”. But I went back the next day. And it got a little better and a little better and at the end of the week they offered me the job, but they said don’t come back ‘til the (football) season starts.

In other words, don’t do baseball.…

Yeah, don’t do baseball. (laughs)

But I love doing the show. I’m not good enough with words to maneuver about... to make things sound good. With me, I say it like it is, like what I’m seeing. If you need someone to drink some kool-aid and tell you everything is great, then I’m not that guy, and I hear about it from fans.

What do you think of the 2008 Husker football team so far?

It’s a work in progress. There are things that I see improvement on. I spoke with the team a couple weeks ago, and I told them the only thing I am going to hold you to is that you go hard every play. I don’t care if you go 0-13. You need to play with passion. There are 85,000 people out there, hard-working blue-collar people who make sacrifices to enjoy a game. The thing you could do for them is to play like it means something. I told them as long as you outwork the opponent, Nebraska will have more points on the board.

So many times last year guys were loafing.

Have you seen guys loafing this year?

Have I seen that this year? Not completely. It’s gotten better. But they don’t know yet where it needs to be. It might mean that guys push each other. They need what we had, a group of young men that don’t tolerate anything less than maximum effort. They need to hold each other accountable. That’s who we were, if someone saw you loafing, even for a minute, you paid for it. They need to start having that physical, nasty mentality. I’m still waiting for them to start doing that. I’m happy with two victories, and they should be too. I think they know it’s gotta get better. But when you get into the Big 12, you can’t be doing anything but giving your best.

Do these guys know what that means?

I just don’t think that they know. They don’t know what they’re asking for. They don’t know the effort it takes. Every year you got away from 1997, guys from those national championship teams graduated. There’s nobody there who understands that kind of team. The coaches can only can do so much. At some point the players have to take control.

Those late teams that Tom Osborne had ran themselves. We set the tempo, we ran the practices because we made sure that everyone was working. The four-star five star stuff, it’s a joke. These kids today, they’re softer than they used to be. By the time they get to college, they’re on youtube, they’re on web sites, and everyone is telling them how great they are, so they believe it.

Every day we went out, we had to work for the positions, to be starting, and when you have to work for something and you finally get it, you don’t want to let it go.

So how does Nebraska get back to the championship level?

How does Nebraska get back? They need to run that smash mouth, physical mentality, in your face, down your throat offense because the defense doesn’t want to play that kind of ball today. These kids all want to run after the quarterback and get the sacks because that’s where you get the money and get in the NFL. But if you run that smash mouth stuff, it can hurt a defense because it’s demoralizing having the ball run at you that way.

Everyone today is running the spread offense. So week after week you’re preparing for the spread, and suddenly you have two days to get ready for big bruising Nebraska to come back through and these kids don’t want to play that game. I don’t think you can prepare a kid’s mentality for that type of game, so that gives Nebraska the edge they had before.

Okay, I have to ask, because I can’t stand him either, how do we get rid of Lou Holtz?

I don’t know how you get rid of him. I think there’s just more and more people who realize how full of crap he is. Once everybody sees that, he’ll be off.

If you’re auditioning for Lou’s position on ESPN, what are you going to tell ESPN to put you there instead of him.

For one you could understand my Jersey accent and it’d be better than he sounds. I’d get rid of him for the same reason they didn’t win national championships every year he was there. They should have. Every year Notre Dame had a ton of All -Americans coming to play for them. The fact that they didn’t win championships every year is because the guy standing in front of them wasn’t genuine. Some people think you can tell 17-18 year olds anything and they’ll run through a wall for you and that’s not true. They can tell when a guy isn’t being genuine and Lou Holtz isn’t genuine. He’s full of crap.

There’s nothing good to say about him.

And that’s a wrap. I know you’re thinking, that I edited that bit at the end where he said “crap”. Well, I didn’t. He actually said crap. I don’t think he swore once during the entire interview. I did, but I edited those out because, well, my Mom might read this.

Nebraska needs a guy who tells it like it is. We tend to have a media in Nebraska that’s a little soft on the Huskers, giving us what we want to hear, so it can be refreshing listening to something that isn’t so oriented towards kool-aid drinking.

If you've read the book, I've love to hear your comments on it, or if you're a listener of his radio show, let us know your thoughts on that too.

http://www.cornnation.com/2008/9/16/615407/interview-with-jason-peter

Jason Peter at the Nebraska Bookstore Sept. 13, 2008

Jason Peter — 2008-09-10T23:23:00Z

Hero of the Underground book signing

Saturday, September 13 @ 11am-1pm

Nebraska Bookstore

1300 Q Street

Lincoln, NE

Jason Peter on Huskerpedia Live

Jason Peter — 2008-09-05T23:24:00Z

JasonPeter on HuskerPedia Live with John Fricke and DavidMax. Jason talks about his memoir Hero of the Underground and Husker Football.Huskerpedia thread.

Jasonhas signed 100 copies of his New York Times best seller book Hero ofthe Underground for HuskerPedia.com and they are available now at this link.

Jason Peter on Omaha's Action 3 News Sports Sound Off

Jason Peter — 2008-09-02T18:53:00Z

http://youtube.com/herooftheunderground

Jason Peter on Drive Time Omaha with Tom Becka

Jason Peter — 2008-09-02T18:09:00Z

Jason Peter appearance at Barnes and Noble and Celeb Softball game this Saturday

Jason Peter — 2008-08-20T21:30:00Z

SATURDAY, AUG 23 08 @ 12 NOON
BARNES & NOBLE
5150 O Street
Lincoln, NE

Jason will be discussing Hero of the Underground, answering questions and signing books.

SATURDAY, AUG 23 08 @ 5:00 PM
CELEB SOFTBALL GAME
Rosenblatt Stadium
Omaha, NE

Celebs include:
Former Huskers Eric Crouch, Rob Zatechka and Jason Peter
Congressman Lee Terry
Actor John Beasley
UFC Fighter Houston Alexander

Post Game, Hero of the Underground book sales & signing
7:00 PM Omaha Royals vs. Memphis Redbirds
more info:
Click here for more information

Jason Peter on Sirius NFL Radio "The Opening Drive" with Dan Reeves and Vic Carucci

Jason Peter — 2008-08-18T13:08:00Z

Jason Peter on Fox Sports Radio 1310/1160 WOBM AM Monmouth/Ocean County, NJ

Jason Peter — 2008-08-14T19:14:00Z

Jason Peter talks about Hero of the Underground with huskerfaithful.com

Jason Peter — 2008-08-14T16:14:00Z

August 14th, 2008

An exclusive interview with Jason Peter

Former Husker All-American Jason Peter’s new book Hero of the Underground: My Journey Down to Heroin and Back was released in July 2008 to rave reviews. The book is a raw look at his life in football and how he coped once his career came to an end. It’s a must-read for Husker football fans and people struggling with drug addiction. Jason was kind enough to answer some questions for HuskerFaithful.com.

HF: Would you say Hero of the Underground is more about a football player who nearly lost everything or a drug addict who pulled his life out of a nosedive?

JP: I would say a football player that thought he lost everything. I identified myself through football so when Jason Peter the football player no longer existed, Jason Peter the person was gone as well. Such a huge part of my struggle in life was finding a purpose, trying to find something else that I could be great at. The thought of failing or not having success in a particular field was enough to keep me from trying altogether.

HF: What are the main things you want the reader to take away from your book?

JP: First of all, I hope the book gives the reader a better understanding of addiction. A lot of people think that in order to be an addict you must come from a broken home or from the other side of the tracks. Both of those excuses couldn’t be farther from the truth. I come from a family that has a lot of love for one another and I was raised in a middle to upper class neighborhood. The other thing I hope the reader takes away from the book is a feeling of hope. There are many people out there that can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. They have feelings of hopelessness and feel like they don’t have any purpose on this Earth. Some of them feel like death is the only option they have. I know because I felt that way. I hope people that feel this way read my book so they know that I was at a point in my life where I didn’t have any hope, but it wasn’t the end for me. I buckled down, put in the effort and hard work and was able to get myself out of that hole. You always have to have hope.

HF: When you hear "#20 on the New York Times Bestseller List" what are your thoughts?

JP: I am truly amazed that it reached that high. I didn’t write the book to sell as many copies as possible. My intentions were to tell my story so that maybe it could benefit others. The responses I have received have blown me away. I’ve heard from addicts who say my story has given them the will and hope to try and get clean. I’ve had parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters of struggling addicts tell me my story has given them a better understanding of what their loved one has gone, or is going, through. When I hear these unbelievable stories, it really makes me feel like I did the right thing in telling my story.

HF: Ten years ago, what would have been the odds of you writing a book this well received?

JP: That’s funny because ten years ago Grant Wistrom and I had our book (Heart & Soul) on the shelves at bookstores but it never reached #20 on the New York Times Bestseller List. I don’t have to go back ten years to think about a book being this well received, I only have to go back about a month. I never thought this book would have as much success as it’s had. I remember telling my wife that it will be a waste of time for me to do a ton of PR for the book because nobody was going to read it anyway. That thinking is still that voice in my head that tells me I might fail.

HF: In an interview on The Jim Rome Show recently, you said your former agent told you that you'd never make it in broadcasting. Was that a huge motivating factor for you, to prove him wrong?

JP: Not a huge factor. I didn’t want to pursue a career in broadcasting because someone told me I couldn’t. I wanted to pursue it because I love sports and I love to talk about sports. I look back at that situation though and realize what a large part it played in my life after football. I was never someone who had a lot of confidence in anything that had to do with using your brain. That was the one thing I thought I could do that didn’t require me to learn an entirely new craft. So when he shot down that idea, I really was lost in my life after football.

HF: How have you adjusted to living in Nebraska again?

JP: I love it. I absolutely love being back in Nebraska and I love that my wife is able to experience a lot of the great things that made me love this place 10 years ago. The lifestyle, the people, Nebraskans know the true meaning of life. Work, spending time with loved ones, and Saturdays in the fall (and hopefully one night in early January).

HF: Let’s do a little word association. What one word describes each of the following people:

Tom Osborne = Nebraska

Christian Peter = Leader

Lou Holtz = #!$%&%$@#$%!

Jason’s radio co-host, Chris Schmidt (besides asthmatic) = HuskerFan (not his internet nickname)

HF: What is your favorite Bruce Springsteen song?

JP: Thunder Road

HF: What else is on your iPod?

JP: Led Zeppelin, Audioslave, Bob Dylan, Cream, The Cult, Eminem, Fugees, Jane’s Addiction, The Killers, Neil Young, Outkast, Traffic, 311

HF: What's on your "Bucket List”? (What things in life do you want to do that you haven't already done? Skydiving, climbing the Great Wall, letting Christian beat you at golf, etc.)

JP: Safari in Africa, Paris with the wife, swim with the sharks (in a cage of course), helo skiing

HF: Who is better looking, faster, funnier, and smarter...you or Christian?

JP: Do I even have to answer? The correct answer is Damian.

HF: Who was a bigger lunatic leader in the locker room...you or Christian?

JP: Christian

HF: As a fellow September birthday (mine is the 15th), why do you suppose people born in September are more successful and better looking than those born in other months?

JP: I don’t have an explanation for you, but I definitely agree with you.

HF: Hank, your basset hound, played a big role in bringing you and your wife, Sarah, together. Is Hank still around and do you have any other dogs now?

JP: Hank is still around and he gets treated like royalty. We have two Rottweilers as well.

HF: You mention in the book that Sarah is a big Ultimate Fighting fan. Have you finally taken her to Vegas to see it live?

JP: Not yet, but we will be going to Omaha in September to see Houston Alexander fight at The Civic.

I’ll end the interview with some questions borrowed from James Lipton of Inside the Actor's Studio:

HF: What profession other than football or broadcasting would you want to attempt?

JP: Race car driver

HF: What profession would you not like to do?

JP: Mixed Martial Arts fighter (absolutely love watching, but you couldn’t pay me enough)

HF: What is your favorite word?

JP: Blackshirt

HF: What is your least favorite word?

JP: Buffalo

HF: What is your favorite cuss word?

JP: #!$# or !$*& or I really love #$!*#$!#$*!@$ @$!#*$!*#$

HF: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

JP: What the heck happened at the Big 12 Championship Game in ’96? (On a serious note) I knew you could handle it.

HF: Thanks for taking the time, Jason.

I would personally like to thank George Witte of St. Martin’s Press, the book’s publisher, and Sarah Peter, for arranging this interview.

For more on Jason’s battle with drug addiction, check out the interviews he did for HBO’sReal Sports. Part One of the interview is here and Part Two is here.

Buy Jason Peter's new book Hero of the Underground: A Memoir through this link.

Jason Peter at Barnes & Noble 8/9/08

Jason Peter — 2008-08-07T01:29:00Z

I'd like to thank everyone who came to the Lincoln Barnes & Noble Book signing/ discussion on Saturday.

Barnes & Noble
2910 Pine Lake Road
Lincoln, NE

Jason Peter on The Jim Rome Show Part 1

Jason Peter — 2008-07-30T18:12:00Z

Discuss Jason's interview on The Jim Rome Show