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He came to Nebraska because of a football scholarship and the desire for a college education, having turned down – six months shy of turning 16 – a tempting baseball offer with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Yet throughout the four years that Dennis Korinek played halfback for coach Bill Glassford, and alongside the great Bobby Reynolds, he always loved baseball the most.

A story from the spring of Korinek’s sophomore baseball season helps illustrate his preference.

Korinek had participated in spring football practices the previous year and missed too many baseball games for his liking. So this time, he aimed to stick with baseball and bow out of spring football.

One day at practice, Korinek and some of his teammates were standing at the snow fence that separated the baseball outfield from the football practice field (where the Hawks Indoor Championship Center and adjacent practice fields are now located).

“I was in uniform with my glove and my cap, and we were leaning over the fence and watching the football team work out,” Korinek said. “And Bill Glassford started walking over toward me and says, ‘Hey, Korinek! Tomorrow you’re going to be over here running a halfback slot, both right and left half – if you know how to do it.’ ”

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