University passes up unique film opportunity

We remember one local public figure who used to joke to reporters, "I don't care what you write about me, just spell my name right."

We think the University should take a cue from him. As the Tommy Lee experience should have proven, even publicity that isn't tightly scripted by the public relations department can be priceless.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has turned down a chance to play a part in an independent film that examines social effects of football. What better place than Lincoln?

A synopsis of "The Good Life," describes the film thusly: "If Cornhusker football were a religion, Jason Prayer would be one of Nebraska's very few apostates."

Written and to be directed by Omaha native Steve Berra says the film isn't "superautobiographical," but it certainly sounds interesting.

The character wants to leave the state, but his mom is unemployed and his best friend, a theater owner, has Alzheimer's disease.

Prayer has lost his hair to disease, his father died by suicide, his troubled sister wants to live with him, a football fan is terrorizing the gas station where he works, and, of course, he comes to terms with his life after meeting a beautiful girl.

The producers -- including Patrick Markey who did "The Joy Luck Club" and "A River Runs Through It," don't even want to call the University by its real name, but "Nebraska Southern University" instead.

And, one of the investors is Mike McBride, son of former NU defensive coordinator Charlie McBride.

In a way, we can understand why university officials wouldn't want more filming on campus. It's hard enough to keep students' noses in the books without adding more distractions. It's the same reasoning that kept McCook High School officials from allowing MTV to recreate a graduation prank here back in February 2005.

But while school goes on year after year, unique opportunities for a brush with fame are few and far between.