Husker Nation: As Much As It Hurts, It's Time to Move On to Holiday Bowl

My voice is still gone. It probably won't come back until later in the week.

At least my side doesn't hurt anymore.

All game long, the smattering of Husker fans in my section and I had cheered furiously for the Big Red. When what we believed to be the final second ticked off the clock and Colt McCoy's pass landed harmlessly out of bounds, we erupted into a spontaneous release of joy and relief. As I grabbed my wife and shouted deliriously, I felt something tear in my abdomen.

I'm not kidding. It felt like a hernia, or at least how I believe a hernia would feel; I've never had one.

Perhaps it's just a strain.

We embraced and, after she let go, my vision started to waver. I grabbed the rail in front of me for support. For a couple of seconds, losing consciousness seemed like a real possibility. In all that exaltation, it seemed like every molecule of oxygen had been expelled from my lungs.

But I didn't care.

It was over. It was finally over.

All those years of frustration and futility against the Longhorns, gone.

2007. When Nebraska had a 17-9 lead after three quarters in Austin only to give up 19 points in the fourth. Jamaal Charles ran for a sickening 216 yards in the final frame and, despite a late touchdown by Maurice Purify, the Huskers fell by three points.

Forgotten.

2006. When fat snowflakes and a bitter north wind seemed like an equalizer for the Huskers against fifth-ranked Texas in Lincoln. It's conceivable that some of the Longhorns had never seen snow. Terrence Nunn made a reception that probably would have sealed the deal, as Texas was out of timeouts, but CB Aaron Ross jarred the ball loose and the 'Horns recovered.

McCoy was able to drive Texas into field goal range and their sophomore kicker, Ryan Bailey, converted his first ever attempt which handed Nebraska a gut-wrenching two-point loss.

Erased.

2003. One of just three double-digit losses to Texas in series history. The Huskers were ranked 12th in the nation, the 'Horns 16th. My teenage son, who lived in Austin at the time, went to the game with a friend and had beer poured on him by Texas fans. Meanwhile, the Longhorns poured 31 points on the Blackshirts.

Sweet vindication.

2002. I was at work, in an all-metal building, listening on a scratchy AM radio as Jammal Lord ran for 234 yards. However, the much-hyped UT signal-caller, Chris Simms, passed for 419 yards. The No. 7 Longhorns escaped Lincoln with a three-point victory after intercepting our Lord with nine seconds to go.

Ancient history.

There were two four point losses to Texas in '98 and '99. The first one snapped the Huskers' 47-game home winning streak and the second one was avenged in San Antonio by a 22-6 Nebraska win over Texas for the Big XII title.

But none of that mattered.

Not even the infamous 1996 "flu-game" for the first-ever Big XII title, when James Brown, faced with 4th-and-inches, rolled out and passed to TE Derek Brown, shocking the NU defense. Priest Holmes scored on the very next play and the Huskers were denied the possibility of a three-peat.

All of that was drowned out in that moment Saturday night, when the clock read zero and the scoreboard read Nebraska 12, Texas 10.

All of the trash talk that I had heard in Texas, by Texans for the past 15 years was immaterial. Even the incessant barrage of drunken profanity, demeaning Nebraska insults and threats of violence to any and all Husker fans we endured from the four late-arriving Longhorn fans in the row directly behind us was nothing more than the buzzing of four burnt orange mosquitoes.

The Cornhuskers rushed the field as we continued our exuberant celebration and, for one shining moment, all was right with the world. The Longhorn fans were finally silent. You could clearly read the expressions on their faces.

They knew that the better team had won.

The team in Scarlet and Cream.

All of this happened in slow-motion it seemed, like an automobile accident.

It definitely ended like one. Obviously, I do not need to elaborate further.

After the final outcome, I wasn't sure what to feel.

An elderly Longhorn fan walked up to me and shook my hand. He regarded me with an almost apologetic expression; no doubt he had seen how we had cheered for our Huskers.

Walking out, I felt angry, sure. But not surprised. Like many have said here on Bleacher Report, the necessary steps had been taken to ensure a Longhorn win so the BCS "worked."

But what else did I feel? Was it pride?

Yes, it was pride.

Pride for the Huskers' championship-caliber defense who fought to the bitter end.

Pride for a certain player, whose effort will forever be legendary, whose performance was epic on a massive stage, whose name was lustily shouted by the Husker faithful over and over again.

Suh. SUUUUUUUH!

I paid a hefty sum for the opportunity to be there, but Ndamukong Suh more than repaid the Husker fans in attendance with the single most dominating defensive performance I have ever witnessed on any level of football. Period.

When we returned home, words failed me. Normally, I just watch the game, take notes, read the box score for stats and then write from the gut.

This time it was different. A few comments was all I could muster.

I needed to process what I had just seen.

I wanted to watch the game again on the DVR. Wanted to read what the various media outlets had to say, as well as the writers on Bleacher Report, whom I respect greatly, especially my fellow Featured Columnists, Josh Klein and Tyler Dale. I had to watch the news and read both local newspapers, the Dallas Morning News and the Fort-Worth Star Telegram. The phone calls and texts came pouring in as well.

Now, it's Monday morning and I can finally move on.

Please don't misunderstand, fellow Husker fans, this one hurt.

I'm also not trying to convince anyone to be a good little Husker fan and take this one in stride, with an "aw, shucks" and a stupid grin.

Definitely not.

Going into the game, I wanted a win, but I also didn't want it to be an embarrassment for the Husker players who have gone through so much during this topsy-turvy season.

Yes, I had doubts, but they concerned our offense, not our defense. I imagined that unless the Huskers had a meltdown similar to the one in the first half against Texas Tech, that it would be a low-scoring affair.

I told everyone who would listen that the game was going to be closer than everyone expected, in a sense trying to assure myself as much as I was trying to convince them.

The game ended being that much, and more. Despite the outcome, I can honestly say I was glad I was there.

Yes, the refs had it in for us, aside from the extra added second, and non-existent pass interference calls. Every Texas scoring drive was aided by a Nebraska penalty. The lack of holding calls against Texas' O-line as Suh fought through them was just as appalling.

But since the Pelini brothers have had their tirades, with Carl screaming to the Longhorns that they "should be ashamed to accept that trophy" and Bo privately unleashing his emotions on Big XII commissioner Dan Beebe, we must do what they will tell their players to do.

Move on.

It's not going to be easy.

But Nebraska, whether we Husker fans like it or not, has a date with Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.

The team will move on, wanting to reach ten wins for the first time since 2003 and end the season on a positive note.

Husker writers, here at Bleacher Report and elsewhere, will move on, relentlessly analyzing the Huskers' bowl game for the next three-plus weeks.

So, like Suh, who should sweep all of the '09 defensive hardware (and in a just world, the Heisman), and then move on to the next level, Husker Nation should move on, too.

Let the Longhorns have their tarnished Big XII crown. Despite their belief that the gift-wrapped Championship they received is somehow payback for the Sooners making it to the BCS title game last year, karma is coming for them in the form of a Crimson Tide.

It's just unfortunate that they didn't drown in a "sea of red" instead.