When Creighton University, a private college in Omaha, Nebraska, played its first men’s basketball season in 1916, who would have known what they’d become over a century later?Not many. But one Omaha man, George Johnson, has been around for almost every season since.Born in Omaha in 1928, he said back then, everybody knew everybody.”Just growing up… couldn’t have been a better place, I don’t think,” Johnson said.Over his 95 years, he’s seen Nebraska’s biggest city change a bit.”I’ve seen it grow, seen it grow a lot. Never would have guessed it. It was just farmland,” he said. “This was a cornfield. There was no paved streets beyond 72nd street.”But some things have stayed the same, like Omaha’s love for Creighton basketball.With his Bluejays as a No. 6 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament, Johnson is rooting for a deep run.”Heck of an accomplishment for them to get to the Sweet 16, and I think it’s possible for them,” he said.His prediction comes from experience.In 1945, young Johnson was a three-sport athlete, leading his high school, Creighton Preparatory School. He played quarterback and safety on the football team, first base on the baseball team, and, he says, just about every position on the basketball team.For the sweat he poured all those years ago, on March 6, Creighton Prep inducted Johnson into its hall of fame.”Kind of blew me away ’cause I never figured that I would accomplish anything like that,” he said. “So I guess if you hang around long enough, all kinds of things will come your way.”He was honored on stage and joined by his four sons.”Really meant a lot to me to be able to bring those boys on stage with me,” he said. Johnson and his wife started a family, which has now grown to 50 people. They all compete in a March Madness bracket every year.Johnson has Creighton beating UCLA in the championship.
When Creighton University, a private college in Omaha, Nebraska, played its first men’s basketball season in 1916, who would have known what they’d become over a century later?
Not many. But one Omaha man, George Johnson, has been around for almost every season since.
Born in Omaha in 1928, he said back then, everybody knew everybody.
“Just growing up… couldn’t have been a better place, I don’t think,” Johnson said.
Over his 95 years, he’s seen Nebraska’s biggest city change a bit.
“I’ve seen it grow, seen it grow a lot. Never would have guessed it. It was just farmland,” he said. “This was a cornfield. There was no paved streets beyond 72nd street.”
But some things have stayed the same, like Omaha’s love for Creighton basketball.
With his Bluejays as a No. 6 seed in this year’s NCAA tournament, Johnson is rooting for a deep run.
“Heck of an accomplishment for them to get to the Sweet 16, and I think it’s possible for them,” he said.
His prediction comes from experience.
In 1945, young Johnson was a three-sport athlete, leading his high school, Creighton Preparatory School. He played quarterback and safety on the football team, first base on the baseball team, and, he says, just about every position on the basketball team.
For the sweat he poured all those years ago, on March 6, Creighton Prep inducted Johnson into its hall of fame.
“Kind of blew me away ’cause I never figured that I would accomplish anything like that,” he said. “So I guess if you hang around long enough, all kinds of things will come your way.”
He was honored on stage and joined by his four sons.
“Really meant a lot to me to be able to bring those boys on stage with me,” he said.
Johnson and his wife started a family, which has now grown to 50 people. They all compete in a March Madness bracket every year.
Johnson has Creighton beating UCLA in the championship.
