Published: July 31, 2006 11:59 am      

Family ties

Chad Roark leaves OU to play Football with brother at Nebraska

ADA — Chad Roark insists there are no hard feelings.

Roark, an All-State lineman from Ada High, thought he had wanted to be an Oklahoma Sooner. In fact, he left high school last January during his senior year, enrolled in OU early and went through spring practices with the Sooners.

But when it came down to it, family ties ultimately proved stronger than running with the Crimson and Cream. He left OU this summer and decided to join big brother Craig at the University of Nebraska.

“It’s nothing against the program or anything. I still respect all the coaches up there,” Chad said. “I started looking at things, and realized I wanted to play with my brother. If we’re going to both be playing college football, we should be playing together.”

Now, instead of there being no place like home, ‘There’s No Place Like Nebraska’ — as the Cornhuskers fight song says — will be the Roark family cry. Still, it was no easy choice for Chad to make.

The Sooners have been ranked in the preseason Top 5 in most polls and are expected to have one of the best offenses in the country.

“OU is going to have a good team, and it was a hard opportunity for me to walk away from. I just had to do what I felt was best for me,” Chad said. “Their offense has a chance to be unbelievable. (Running back) Adrian Peterson is a freak of nature.”

Things were going great on the field for Chad in Norman last spring. In fact, he was No. 1 on the depth chart at center and was the starter during OU’s Red-White scrimmage.

“It was great. I got a lot of reps with the first team and second team and that was a very valuable experience,” he said.

Now Chad will have to sit out a year due to the NCAA transfer rule. He’ll be the starting center on the scout team and may get a few chances to go one-on-one with Craig — who has switched from the offensive line to the defensive line.

“That’s going to be a big difference because I probably would have been playing on Saturdays if I had stayed at OU,” Chad said.

Craig is looking forward to playing with his brother. And the two will get to spend three years together on the field. During the 2007 season, Craig will be a redshirt sophomore while Chad will be a true sophomore.

“It’s a good opportunity for him. I know OU would have been a good opportunity for him too, but our offensive line coach (Dennis Wagner) is one of the best in the country. The offense we run is an NFL offense, and if that’s what he wants to do, and that’s his dream, our offensive line coach will get him there.”

Meanwhile, Craig is looking forward to contributing to what looks like a promising 2006 season for the ‘Huskers. Nebraska is the favorite to win the Big 12 North title and Craig said NU head coach Bill Callahan basically guaranteed it during an interview at last week’s Big 12 Media Days in Kansas City.

“We’re going to have a really, really good team this year. I’m really excited about it,” Craig said. “Coach Callahan guaranteed we were going to win the north, and that’s not like him at all.”

After a successful set of spring workouts, there was plenty of excitement in Lincoln.

“Our head trainer (Jerry Weber), who has been there for 30 years, says this is the best Nebraska team he’s seen since 1995 and that team is considered our best team ever. For him to say that to us means a lot,” Craig said.

It was just before spring workouts began that the NU coaching staff approached Craig about a position change. He was more than willing to try it and he liked it.

“They told me I could switch back if I didn’t like it after a few practices. We’re really short on defensive linemen, and we needed someone who could come in and help and contribute,” Craig explained. “Why wouldn’t I try it? I made the move, and I loved it. It was awesome. I have a senior in front of me this year, but it’s really working well.”

Craig said he will enter preseason practices this Tuesday about 25 pounds lighter than he was last year (he’s listed at 6-2, 295 on the NU roster).

“I’m happy with the way things are going right now. I have a good opportunity to play a lot this year,” he said.

While Craig will begin workouts this week, Chad won’t join his ‘Husker teammates until Aug. 22. When he gets to Lincoln, he’ll be roommates with Craig and Matt Slauson, a 6-6, 335-plus pound lineman.

Last year, Craig set a new bench-pressing record for an NU freshmen with a lift of 415 pounds. Slauson then erased Craig’s name from the record books with a 420-pound lift a week later.

Chad hopes to meet up with some of his former teammates from Oklahoma this December in the Big 12 championship game.

“I still talk to a lot of the linemen. They’re upset that I left, but they understand. Ben Barresi (a reshirt freshman from Edmond North) is still one of my best friends,” Chad said. “It will be fun in the Big 12 championship to see everyone again if we both take care of business and make it.”

Nebraska has two heavy hitters on its schedule this year. The ‘Huskers travel to the L.A. Coliseum to take on USC Sept. 19 and host Texas Oct. 21.

So what do the Roarks think about tangling with the two teams involved in last year’s BCS championship game?

“We have a tough schedule, but I’m not worried about it at all. I think we’ll be able to compete with them,” Craig said.

“To be the best, you have to beat the best,” Chad added.

But whatever happens with the University of Nebraska during the coming years, one thing is for sure. The Roarks will go through it together.