A Nebraska Cornhusker's Visitors Guide for Texas Longhorns Fans

This is what Texans should know about Nebraska and what to expect on Saturday night Oct. 16, 2010.

Near-record highs existed Friday in Nebraska, warm as the reception any visitor receives from their Nebraskan host or hostess.  But it will be cooler next weekend, in fact it will be downright cold. 

Yet Friday morning Husker fans circled the water coolers reminiscing about the previous night’s victory over Kansas State.  The Blackshirts, the pass plays, and Martinez running rampant all night.  That conversation lasted as long as an 80-yard run by Martinez, then someone had to spoil the party. 

Some foolish soul had to utter the word "Texas."  Guess who performed all the grunt work Friday at any office in Nebraska and guess who bought lunch at Runza.

Aerosmith has a song that reminds me of the championship game last year in Dallas:  "Rag Doll."  A rag doll is what Texas quarterback Colt McToy looked like when he met a man named Suh. 

I believe that Colt lost any chance at the Heisman in that game at the hands of Suh.  A minor victory but a victory all the same.  This tendency towards ruining Heisman candidate’s chances has already manifested itself in the play of the Blackshirts this year.  Locker (UW) and Thomas (KSU) will attest to that.

Texas fans need to prepare for the game; it won’t be an extended night for Texas, with the play time set at an exact 60 minutes.  I suspect that the clock has been calibrated in Memorial Stadium to as close to perfect time as possible by an expert.  There will be no final seconds that last 2.3 seconds in Nebraska. 

I hear that Mack Brown has never lost three in a row as the Texas coach.  Times are changing, and Mr. Brown will not have a Texan on the clock button this time.  Interestingly enough, the clock will be the least of Mr. Brown’s worries on Saturday. 

Mr. Brown has also never met a Nebraska team that is so talented and so hungry for victory.  In addition, Memorial Stadium is a different beast when the fans smell blood in the BCS waters.  Anyway, whatever the atmosphere, it won’t matter because this game won’t be close.  Nebraska does not run up the score anyone deliberately, but this is Texas.  There may be an exception made if the opportunity arises.  A victory may not be enough for Nebraska fans this time. 

Expect it to be loud...really loud.  And expect to see two things on a regular basis: Blackshirts logos on the Jumbotrons and many Nebraska touchdown replays on the large screen to the north. 

Speaking of the large screen to the north, did you know that when Nebraska announced how large the new big screen was, Texas had to buy a larger one for their stadium?  You can’t say that Texas does not follow Nebraska.

I suspect that there will be a lot of Texas fans who use the argument of past records against Nebraska.  Hold on to those memories because I don’t see any new ones in your future. 

Don’t worry about the food.  Bevo will be cooking in the parking lots starting at 8 a.m., and since no animal mascot is allowed in Memorial Stadium, we will put Bevo to good use outside.

The towns of Grand Island, Omaha, Hastings, Scotts Bluff, and Columbus may appear to be ghost towns at 8 p.m. Saturday night.  If you need someone, find a television and tune into the Huskers game. They will show up soon enough.

Finally, remember that Husker fans are happy you are here, glad to watch you play and lose, and gracious when you leave.  A small chapter in the final story of the Big XII will be written. 

As my neighbor so eloquently stated the other day, “Since the days of the Big 8, like any good Nebraskan I have always felt obligated to support our conference’s schools when they played non-conference teams.  I am glad we are joining the Big 10 because I will no longer feel obligated to support Texas.  I hate Texas!”  

An interesting fact about Husker fans, they applaud the opposing team when they leave the field.  They do this win or lose.  I expect there to be plenty of applause for Texas—it is just the Nebraska way. 

“Through these gates pass the greatest fans in college football.” We believe that so much we wrote it on the stadium.  It goes for our visitors, too, as our way of saying "welcome."

If you are visiting from Texas, maybe you should wear red.  Just a thought, Nebraska could be your favorite non-Big XII team.  Why not pick up your official Husker gear while you are here?  Anyone in red will point you in the right direction.

Make some new friends because after the game they will buy out the Big XII game in Texas.  You can meet up with them again and talk about beating Oklahoma.  Nebraska fans are extremely friendly when the conversation is about beating Oklahoma.  Enjoy the weekend.