Posted on 10/14/2002 12:15:08 PM PDT by Shermy
Center Jake Young, among NU’s most celebrated linemen, is unaccounted for after an explosion in Indonesia that killed 188.
The father of former Nebraska All-American football player Jake Young fears that his son was among those killed in a pair of terrorist bombings Saturday night in Bali, Indonesia.
Jacob Young of Midland, Texas, said Sunday night that his 34-year-old son was in Bali this weekend playing in a rugby tournament for a team from Hong Kong, and may have been at a nightspot and restaurant when explosions killed at least 188 people and injured more than 300.
The younger Young worked as an attorney in Hong Kong, but had recently begun moving to Kansas City, Mo., where he planned to work for a bank-holding company.
"We're just waiting for word now," Jacob Young said. "We're clinging to a thread of hope that he's alive."
The elder Young said he has been in contact with members of the rugby team via e-mail. Jake Young was employed by the law firm of London-based Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells, the largest law firm in the world. The global firm has a regional office in Hong Kong.
Jake Young's wife, Laura, and 2-year-old son, Wilson, already are living in Kansas City. Laura Young said her husband's rugby teammates told U.S. State Department officials that they may have seen his remains at the restaurant.
Rep. Tom Osborne, R-Neb., who was head coach at Nebraska during Young's playing days, said Sunday night that he had spoken with State Department officials throughout the day about the possibility of Young being a victim of one of the attacks.
Osborne said State Department officials had recovered Young's passport, but had not located him by late Sunday.
"Indications aren't good (that Young's alive), but there's no confirmation one way or the other," Osborne said.
Osborne later added, "A friend of Jake's has been trying to get into the hospital (at Bali), but the hospital is just a zoo."
Jo-Anne Prokopowicz, a State Department spokeswoman, said Sunday that at least two Americans were confirmed dead and three injured. She said she was unable to release names or details about those Americans. There are ongoing efforts to identify other possible victims, she said.
Young was a consensus All-American center in 1988 and 1989, helping lead the Huskers to records of 11-2 and 10-2, respectively.
Also strong in the classroom, Young achieved academic All-American status after his final season as a Husker. In addition, the NCAA honored Young with the Today's Top Six Award, the organization's top honor for student-athletes.
A three-year starter, Young was also a two-time All-Big Eight selection. After college, he opted for law school instead of the National Football League.
In 2000, Young was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Nebraska coaches were subdued Sunday as they gathered at Memorial Stadium for their daily staff meetings.
In a prepared statement, Husker head coach Frank Solich said, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jake's family at this difficult time as they wait for more information. It's a tragic situation, and our sympathy extends to all those who lost loved ones."
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