JIM CONINE

Jim Conine came to UNL by way of Omaha and Benson High School, home of the Fighting Bunnies… “no laughing out loud!”  Feeling a need to beef up his resume for his all but certain Med School path, Jim joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity.  A few guys from the house were rugby players. It didn’t take much encouragement for Jim to jump into rugby with Bruce Nelson and Dirk.

With a promise of beer, rugby, a pass out of house “study hall,” how could he not join up??! So, just two semesters later, his “all but certain Med School path was a distant memory” according to Jim.  It was beer, fraternity life, college girls and rugby… the “Four Horsemen” that took him down.  Despite those “healthy vices” Jim would not have changed a thing.

Jim was 145lbs soaking wet and scary slow. Coach Vince Powers stuck Jim at Hooker between the two biggest guys on the team in an effort to protect his slight frame.  Jim played two years with UNL and then two years with Lincoln City.  His one and only try was at the Heart of America tournament in KC where he found a ball on the one meter line and picked it up.  A large rolling maul followed, picked him up and drove him across the try line!  “What a day!” recalls Jim.  He is still a fan of the game as a spectator only and did make a trip to the 2018 Vegas 7’s Tournament which was “awesome!” in his words.

Jim now lives in Dallas, Texas, is married, avoided the kids and opted for numerous Australian Shepherds.  He is looking forward to connecting with his former teammates during the upcoming reunion.