This was the big game. Texas at Nebraska, for the last time together in the BIG XII. Cornhuskers were mad. At the end of the previous season, Texas beat Nebraska with a last (and I mean last) second field goal to win the BIG XII title and advance to the BCS National Championship.
This game was the hottest ticket in the country. The rivalry combined with last year’s controversy, Nebraska’s export from the BIG XII and their high ranking made for the perfect storm.
For some reason, we really had Nebraska’s number since the inception of the BIG XII:
• 1996: Texas over Nebraska – BIG XII Championship. The Horns saw victory as the first BIG XII Champions by beating the Huskers for the first time since 1959.
• 1998: Texas over Nebraska – in Lincoln. Texas broke the Nebraska home game winning streak of 47 games.
• 1999: Nebraska over Texas – BIG XII Championship. Fine, you can have it, Huskers. I was there when Bevo took a crap bigger than Frank Solich in your endzone.
• 1999: Texas over Nebraska – In Austin. Coming from a 10 point halftime deficit. First home win for the Horns (#18) over a top five team (Nebraska, #3) since 1990.
• 2002: Texas over Nebraska – in Lincoln. Texas breaks Nebraska’s 28 home game winning streak – no one had beaten the Huskers at home since Texas did in 1998.
• 2003: Texas over Nebraska – in Austin. Texas held Nebraska to its fewest yards since 1991.
• 2006: Texas over Nebraska – in Lincoln. Not a pretty season for either team, frankly.
• 2007: Texas over Nebraska – in Austin. Mack Brown’s 100th win at Texas’ head coach.
• 2009: Texas over Nebraska – BIG XII Championship. “Controversial” last second field goal secures a Texas win and sends them to the BCS Championship.
• 2010: ?! We shall see….
With this in mind, we tread cautiously to Lincoln for the game. I had somehow managed to get 10 tickets from a fellow alumni , which pretty much enabled half of our tailgating friends to join us in the bleachers.
With losses to Oklahoma and UCLA under our belts, we felt this was not the time to be overly confident. We knew those two games would be the first of many losses in 2010. Nebraska, still fuming over last December’s BIG XII Championship game, were mad, and felt in their heart of hearts that it was time to beat us. Texas was unranked at this point, with Nebraska sitting at #5 halfway through their last BIG XII season.
As soon as I arrived in Omaha, I sensed something strange about his Nebraska culture. I had never been to Lincoln before, but had heard the lore of Nebraska fans. They were touted as the “Nicest fans in the BIG XII” with the “Best Sportsmanship” and the “Friendliest Stadium”. Rumor has it that when the opponent leaves the field, they stand and clap, win or lose. They did so, based on the code, which they wore proudly on their shirts:
Dear Lord, in the battles as we go through life;
We ask for a field that's fair.
A chance that's equal to all in the strife;
The courage to do it or dare.
If we should win, let it be by the code;
With our faith and honor held high.
If we should lose, let us stand by the rules;
And cheer as the winners go by.
Day by day we get better and better;
A team that can't be beat, won't be beat.
And the Huskers didn’t disappoint. From the moment we arrived burnt- orange-clad in the bar, the Huskers fell all over themselves to make sure we were having a good time. Even their attempts to insult the Longhorns even fell short of mean:
Husker: You’re going to lose tomorrow.
Me: Probably. You guys are pretty good.
Husker: But….(confused by my lack of argument) your defense is really good.
Me: Meh, not really. We’re not even ranked…y’all are #5!
Husker: Well, I mean, you guys have beat us 7 out of the last 8 games….
Me: Yeah, we’re probably due for a loss to y’all.
Husker: But –
My Sister: Dude, whatever you’re looking for here, you’re not gonna find it.
Though deep down in my heart I felt like we were going to win, I would never say as much out loud. Not here. After a night of beer drinking, we headed back to the hotel.
In the morning, we left for Lincoln. It was a pleasant drive. As we neared our hotel, the streets became wild with Red and Black, Huskers in full force. Corn everywhere! The closer we got to the hotel, the more apparent it became that perhaps we had chosen the wrong hotel. In our attempts to secure our Hilton Employee Rates, we had neglected to note that this was the Official Hotel of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
It. Was. Nuts. We. Felt. Fear.
Quickly we realized our fears were for naught. Within two minutes of checking our bags, we were accosted by a Nebraska fan and his father. They introduced us to their ENTIRE FAMILY. They bought us giant sized beers and orange and white beads. They introduced us to their friends. All the while asking “Have you had fun in Lincoln? Has everyone been nice to you?” We assured them that our experience, having been all of 12 minutes so far, had been great.
After securing an invitation to the ‘most awesome tailgate in Lincoln’ and sufficient details to describe it, we managed to untangle ourselves from the Brady Bunch and head towards tailgating to find our friends. As we wove our way through masses of Huskers handing us beers, it was clear that these fans LOVED VISITORS. We kept asking the friendly masses where a certain location was. “Under the via-duct!” they called at us as they tossed us t-shirts and jello shots. “Have you had a good time in Lincoln? Is everyone being nice?” We assured them we’d been treated like royalty, and several times we paused for pictures with our foes. We traded sunglasses, we looked at each others’ boots and they gave us wristbands to tailgates!
At the actual game, most of the fans were pretty nice. There’s always bad apples, but the majority of the taunts to us were “Have you had a good time? Has everyone been nice? Isn’t the stadium great?”
About as dirty as we heard was some mockery of how uneducated the Longhorn Fans were based on some of our chants like “Texas! Fight!” While true, most football chants are simple in nature, I must point out that being able to yell “GO! BIG! RED!” did not ensure your status as a rocket-surgeon.
The only thing I will say, is that when the Huskers did not achieve their desired outcome of the game, our team was not clapped off the field politely. So much for the honor code. But if that’s the extent of their bad sportsmanship, I have to admit, they’re way up on us…and practically in heaven compared to Texas Tech.
Still, even after the Horns came out victorious, for being the only Orange in a sea of Red, we were treated very well, and repeatedly asked about it. This time though, they had added to the questioning even more “Are you having fun? Has everyone been nice? Isn’t the stadium great? Did you have fun at the game?” As nice as they were, it was starting to get a little annoying. Also, how do you respond to that last one “Yes, we enjoyed beating you on your home field, which, by the way, is lovely. And your fans were great, if a little quiet with shock!”
By the time we got back to the hotel, the questioning had reached Threat-Level: Burnt Orange. We made our way to the room, bathed ourselves and calmed down a little, away from the incessant questioning. In the lobby, the party was raging. Husker Central was in full effect, and the crowd couldn’t be nicer. After snagging a beer, we watched the elevators and cheered as they lined up just right, revealing the “Go Big Red” logo in their windows.
 |
| ....just before the threat of sodomy... |
We headed out to a particular bar, being told it was cool because it was a little off the beaten path. It was pretty cool. Live band, awesome fire pit/fountain in the middle of the patio. We had a great time chatting with the Huskers. We noted their questions had become less frequent and contained more expletives. A day of drinking, sun and losing had taken their toll, and the children of the corn were starting to resent the loss a little bit.
When the bar fight started, we just went ahead and skittadelled out of there. Having barely survived an alcohol and lust enraged brawl in Lubbock earlier that season, we knew it was best not to be the enemy in a hostile environment. Otherwise, someone could end up kicking you in the face with their boot.
We headed back to the main strip of bars and hopped from one to the other until it was clear we had overstayed our welcome in Lincoln. On the walk back to Huskerville, a few of the fine Nebraska fans suggested that as Texas fans, it was their duty to sodomize us. We went ahead and let them pass us, so we could keep an eye on them as we went the final two blocks to our hotel.
After a night of sleep and ESPN College Football highlights, we journeyed to the breakfast buffet to secure our post-game omelets and sausage. Lo and behold, upon entering the elevator, Debra and I were immediately accosted by some well meaning Huskers. “Did you have fun at the game? Did you enjoy Lincoln? How about the Stadium? Was everyone nice to you?” We nodded and cast our eyes down rather than destroy the truth these fans held so dear about their fellow Nebraskans. “Yes, thank you.”
By the time breakfast was over and we loaded ourselves back in the car, we had begun preemptively answering the questions before anyone could actually speak them to us.
Not surprisingly, as we got some distance on Lincoln, we realized it was all true. And to celebrate the truth of the road trip, and the many more that would come, we had shirts made up that said so. The fronts read: This is my away game shirt. And on the back, the hallowed words: Your stadium is gorgeous! Your fans are so gracious! I’ve had so much fun in your city!
please add a picture of the shirt.
ReplyDelete