OMAHA — Former Nebraska running back Thunder Collins was convicted Monday of first-degree murder and other charges stemming from a September 2008 shooting in Omaha that left one man dead and another seriously wounded.
The Douglas County jury also found the former Cornhuskers player guilty of attempted second-degree murder, felony assault and two weapons counts.
Collins, 29, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for the first-degree murder conviction. He faces up to 170 years on the other counts. Sentencing is set for Nov. 12.
As Collins left the courtroom, he yelled at the jury of six men and six women: “Are you happy? Are you happy? You know I didn’t kill anyone!” He later told reporters in a jailhouse interview that he believes he was convicted because he was a well-known figure in the community.
“If I was just any other Joe Blow, I feel I would have beat this case,” he said.
Collins, who played for the Cornhuskers from 2000-02, was arrested last September within a day of an Omaha shooting that left 38-year-old Timothy Thomas dead and another California man, Marshall Turner, seriously wounded. Prosecutors said the shooting stemmed from a botched drug deal in which Collins masterminded a plan to rob the men.
• Freshman offensive lineman Brent Qvale will be sidelined three to four months because of a shoulder injury.
Byers named captain
LOS ANGELES — Southern California offensive lineman Jeff Byers, a Denver Post Gold Helmet winner in 2003 from Loveland High School, was elected one of four Trojans captains by his teammates.
Receiver Damian Williams and safeties Taylor Mays and Josh Pinkard also were elected captains.
Tebow returns to practice
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback Tim Tebow returned to practice, getting back to “head-butting people” after missing some repetitions last week because of a sore lower back.
Tebow also revealed that he played most of last year with a bum shoulder. Tebow said he injured his nonthrowing shoulder in the season opener against Hawaii and needed painkilling injections before each game the rest of the way. He had surgery in January to remove a bone spur and reduce chronic inflammation.
• Safety Dorian Munroe underwent knee surgery and will be out at least five weeks.
Spurrier suspends Geathers
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier suspended starting defensive end Clifton Geathers following his arrest Sunday morning for fighting outside a nightclub.
Geathers, a junior, was charged with public drunkenness, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, police said.
Geathers is the brother of Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Robert Geathers Jr. and the nephew of former Broncos lineman Jumpy Geathers.
Irish turn to freshman for kicks
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame will have at least one freshman starter on the field when it opens the season against Nevada on Sept. 5.
Freshman Nick Tausch will handle kicking duties for the Fighting Irish after beating out junior Brandon Walker.
Walker struggled early last season, making just one of his first seven tries. He finished the season 14-of-24.
Dixie Rotary Bowl shelved
ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Division II Dixie Rotary Bowl has been put on hold for at least a year due to the recession. Western Washington beat Colorado School of Mines in last year’s game.
Denver Post wire services
