Tales from the Heart of Huskerland

I'm getting sick to my stomach waiting for this game tonight. My guts are tied in a knot and I gotta tell ya. It feels great. It feels like it's been a long time since I've felt this way about a game. The last time was probably 2 years ago when Nebraska was 8-1, ranked 16th in the College Football Playoff Poll and was heading into a Big Ten West showdown with Wisconsin in Camp Randall. That's the last time Nebraska truly played in a big game and we all remember how that turned out. Sure, we beat #7 Michigan State last year, but it was a pretty meaningless game. There wasn't anything on the line. Tonight there is everything on the line. The Big Ten West and an outside shot at the College Football Playoff are still a possibility. And the winner of this game will take control of the Big Ten West. Going into this season I knew Wisconsin would be our biggest threat to the West, because I knew Iowa would pull an Iowa. (Don't worry Iowa fans. Only 30 more yea

In the words of Taylor Martinez: "I like playing at road games." I like them so much I try to go to one every year. It's a continuation of a family tradition. We always tried to go to a road game annually. We went to the 1998 Orange Bowl, laughing and cackling as the Blackshirts abused Peyton Manning so bad that he still has trouble bringing it up in therapy. Of course, I was also 3 years old and asleep by the 3rd quarter. I was probably just laughing at the Orange Bowl mascot. It's gotta be annoying forever looking out of the side of your eyes like that.  Then there was the time we went to the 2002 BCS National Championship Game. We got whooped that time 37-14 by Miami. I don't really remember much about that game. I just remember getting nachos at halftime and the Miami fan who threw a flaming marshmallow at our car. Classic Miami. But Jason? Why are you bringing this up today? We have a home game against Purdue in a couple of hours!

It’s always fascinating how complete strangers can become best friends in mere minutes when surrounded by a common interest as strong as Nebraska football.  Growing up, my parents always had two season tickets.   Sitting in those same seats year after year helps you get to know these people. You don’t always know their name, but you always look forward to hanging out with them every fall. One such person was the Lady from Fairbury. She was always tickled by the fact that those red Fairbury hot dogs were the official hot dog of Nebraska football. Around 2008, our family season tickets moved to Section16c, Row 88 and we were placed next to the Lady from Fairbury and her husband. I can’t remember her name but she was around 55 years old with silver hair and had the strength of an ox. I know this because immediately after Alex Henery made his go-ahead 57-yard field goal against Colorado in 2008, she scooped up my 8 th grade and 165-pound body and hoisted me high in the air. *