Football Saturdays

I look forward to the fall.  I love football--especially college ball and super especially The Nebraska Cornhuskers.  I grew  up in a small town in eastern Nebraska.  There were 62 in my high school graduating class and that was the largest class in more than 40 years.  Guess we were one of the first baby boom classes.  For as long as I can remember everyone in the state talked Husker Football in the fall.

I went to the University of Nebraska.  My freshman year I was a "kernel".  We sat in a special section during the game--right on the 50 yard line.  We were the "card section" during the half time performance which meant that at specific times we would hold up predetermined cards that would make a picture that could be seen all over the stadium.  This was back in the 60's.  There is no way now that any students get 50 yard line seats unless they have season tickets and are big donors to the university.  We didn't all wear red back then either.  We dressed up for the games--shirts, ties and sport coats for the guys and suits or dress with nylons and heels for the gals.  We still cheered and had so much fun.  Our team was going great guns.  Bob Devaney was our coach--he had been their a couple of years already and he had us winning by a lot.  It was the beginning of Nebraska's relevance in college football.

Somewhere along the way, wearing Red became very important and the phrase "Go Big Red" was coined--or as the sign across one of the dorms on campus read--"Motivate Gargantuan Scarlet".  Now our stadium is known as "the Sea of Red".  Gone are ties for the men--although a few still wear sport coats--red ones of course and gone are suits and dresses for women being replaced by jeans, shorts or slacks and red tops, jackets, hats, mittens or scarves depending on the weather.  The complementing color is always white or black.  Black is for the "Blackshirts"--our defensive unit.  We take great pride in our defense--actually the entire team!!

Everyone wears Red on game Saturdays--including all the people in the senior homes.  Before my mother died, she had to have her red on every single game Saturday.  If you don't happen to like football, fall Saturday's are a great time to go shopping or to the movies as the malls and theaters are deserted.  It is also a great time to learn to drive as the streets are deserted during the game too.  Everyone in the state is into college football and that is a huge topic of conversation everywhere you go. 

The fans in Nebraska have been called the most knowledgeable football fans in the country.  They have also been called the best and nicest fans.  The opponents always get a round of applause as they leave the field after a game--whether they win or lose.  We are known for our hospitality!!!  We love for opponents fans to come to Lincoln.  We love to show them a good time.  And, we love to play a good game!!  Winning is nice, but we would rather play a great team to our best ability and lose than to play lousy and win.  Don't get me wrong, though, winning is important.  So is tradition and reputation.  Nebraska has the most Academic All Americans of any university in the country by a mile.  We also hold the NCAA record for the most consecutive sell-outs --over 300 now--that goes back a long time.  And, on home game Saturday's, during the game, the stadium is the 3rd most populated place in the state.

Yes, the fans of Nebraska football take great pride in their team and they are located all over the world.  Somehow most of them find ways to watch at least some of the games no matter where they are or what time of day or night the game is on TV.  So is it any wonder that football is so popular during the fall.  Its just so exciting!  My sister and I get so nervous before the games.  We are often on the phone to each other talking either during the game or at the half time and often before the game.  I also call my son with updates during games as well if he can't watch them.  He wasn't even raised in Nebraska.  Growing up, my son and daughter were smart enough to figure out that if Nebraska did poorly, they better tread lightly around mom for a day or so.  The fall is definitely a great time of the year!!  Another time we will talk about Pro-ball and playing Fantasy Football which has increased my interest in the pro games on Sundays.