Ex- Husker Eric Crouch Attempts to Resurrect Career with UFL's Omaha Nighthawks

At some point over the last decade, former Nebraska Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch morphed from a local hero and Husker legend into the punchline of countless jokes.  All of this happened without Crouch ever playing a meaningful game on American soil.

Maybe fans have turned on Crouch because he failed to deliver a national title in 2001.  Maybe fans have turned on Crouch because of his failures as a professional football player.  Maybe fans have turned on Crouch simply because he never ended up being who they wanted him to be.

Whatever the reason for this transformation, it appears as though Eric Crouch will have one last shot to turn public perception back in his favor.  Crouch is looking to resurrect his career as a professional football player as he joined the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks last week for their mini camp.

At 32 years old, Crouch has not played football since a stint in the CFL almost five years ago, so he by no means is a lock to even make the Nighthawks roster, much less to log significant playing time this fall.  

Still, it appears as though Crouch will be given a shot to leave the sport he loves on better terms than he has in the past, if for no other reason than the publicity his very presence will generate. Assuming he is on the roster when the season starts, Crouch will be in a fight with former Georgia star D.J. Shockley and rookie Jeremiah Masoli out of Ole Miss to get on the field as the quarterback for the Nighthawks.  

Reports out of camp have been mostly positive for Crouch, even if they are a little vague.  Comments were generally in the neighborhood of Eric Crouch keeping himself in good shape and looking pretty good despite some rust.

While the feedback from those involved with the Omaha Nighthawks has been supportive, the reaction from the general public has been almost shockingly opposed to Crouch giving football one last try.

For most Husker fans, the two memories that likely resonate the loudest about Eric Crouch are the way his senior season ended (blowout losses to Colorado and Miami) and how he retired from the NFL before his first regular season ever began.  When put in that context, it could be at least somewhat understandable why fans have soured on Crouch.

What is not understandable, is how the same fans who used to cheer on Eric Crouch so faithfully every Saturday, can now wish him to fail so miserably in his post-college endeavors.  As the word of Crouch's presence at Nighthawks camp rapidly spread, so did the venom spewed by hateful radio show callers.

How quickly those fans have forgotten about all Eric Crouch did for the University of Nebraska.  The Huskers have not reached a BCS Bowl game since Crouch left Lincoln.  For all the great players that have worn the scarlet and cream, only three have won the Heisman Trophy, and one of them is Eric Crouch.

Hopefully those who have been wishing ill of Eric Crouch and his attempts to play for the Omaha Nighthawks are simply a vocal minority, because he has meant far too much to the Nebraska football program to be treated so poorly.

Eric, if you're reading this, I wish you the very best.  I hope you'll be leading the Nighthawks to the UFL title this fall.  However, even if you never play a down of football again, best of luck in whatever you end up doing.  You have meant a great deal to this state, even if many people seem to have forgotten.  God bless.

Information for this article was used from Omaha.com and HuskerExtra.com