Blog: 2022 Nebraska Eight-Man Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Tribute – Rod Brummels (6/11/22)

It’s that time of year again. As a member of the NEMFCA Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, I am honored to introduce our second of 14 members of the NEMFCA Class of 2022 Hall of Fame.

These 14 gentlemen will be inducted into our Hall of Fame at halftime of the Sertoma 8-Man All-Star Game next Saturday (June 18) at Adams Central Central High School in West Hastings.

My second salute goes to the great, Rod Brummels, who, like Steve Borer, is one of the finest human beings I’ve ever known. Coach Brummels, like many other NEMFCA Hall of Fame coaches, was loyal to his former alma mater (Clearwater) and built powerful teams, often with a limited number of boys for football.

An extremely well-educated football man, Rod Brummels was always a master at getting the best out of every team he coached. In recent years, I’ve met the man who dedicated his life to the game of high school football at Pierce and, later, Osmond.

Rod Brummels continues to give and give to the sport he loves and now we honor him for his extraordinary efforts.

And now we proudly present Coach Brummels NEMFCA Hall of Fame Biography;

COACH ROD BRUMMELS – CLEARWATER HIGH SCHOOL

Rod has dedicated nearly 50 years of his life to eight-man football. Although his journey began as a player for the Clearwater Cardinal in 1968, it was when he returned a decade later to coach his alma mater that he was able to integrate them into one of the premier football programs in the state.

Over the next five decades, Coach Brummels took 20 of his teams to the state playoffs, reached the quarterfinals or better 11 times, and finished the 1993 season as a state runner-up. Since that time, Rod has also made head coaching stops at Clearwater-Orchard and Osmond.

In 1990, he was selected as an assistant All-Star coach and he went on to serve as the West’s head coach in 1995. Rod then served as both an assistant and head coach for Nebraska’s All-Star games against Kansas in 2009 and 2010.

During his career, Coach Brummels sent 27 of his players to the All-Star Game (including his two sons), and he also served as NEMFCA President for 5 years before retiring.

Rod cites the career accomplishments he is most proud of: coaching his two sons (Seth and Josh), seeing many of his former players go on to play college football, and building lasting relationships with the many coaches and players with whom he worked. with and against in Nebraska Eight-Man Football.

The NEMFCA is honored to welcome him to the Hall of Fame Class of 2022.