Embrace the Role of Villain

For generations the Nebraska Cornhuskers have played the role of the friendly neighbors from the midwest. All those people care about is loyalty, hard work, and football. It’s all they know.

Not any longer…

The Huskers are the most hated team in College Football right now.

Which, in a weird way, makes us the most important team in College Football, similar to the Yankees in the MLB or Duke in College Basketball. People want to see Nebraska lose. But, even more then that, Nebraska fans want to win. Want. To. Win. This distinction most likely goes away after this year, so enjoy it while it lasts.

We all knew we were heading for something like this when Nebraska announced they were leaving the Little 12 for the Big Ten. But that’s not the only reason the Huskers are drawing the ire from around the country.

They think Bo Pelini is a whiny baby, with anger management issues, that pees his pants during games. That may be true (except for the pee part – still unconfirmed), but he also builds the most physically dominating defenses in the country and I wouldn’t trade him for any other coach in the nation.

They think Husker Nation needs to shut up about what happened against Texas A&M a few weeks ago. Understandable, but anybody who watched the game realized something fishy was going on, and most Husker fans remain convinced that it was at the hand of a puppet master posing as a commissioner. But the game didn’t end up serving any importance.

They think that Nebraska fans are the most arrogant football fans in the country. Let them think it.

Nebraska won’t find a single friend from the other 11 school’s fan bases currently making up the lame-duck Big 12 Conference. Some would call it spite, which can stem from jealousy. Most fans in the know, realize the power heading Texas’s direction, and the expiring clock ticking down on a conference run by a buffoon. The Longhorns (or maybe the other 9) can only hope that a review puts 1 second back on the clock. Again.

So if you were to ask a fan of any Big 12 team outside of Big Red Country who they will be rooting for on Saturday night, not only will they tell you they’re cheering on the Sooners, they will justify it with a tale of good vs. evil. This is what it has come to.

And I’m here to tell you that that’s awesome. Husker fans should embrace this. It’s a sign of respect. ARen’t the most memorable characters of a movie the villains? Then why should we be fighting for good guy status? This is the ultimate us-against-the-world mentality, which can be an underrated theme in sports.

It reminds me of when Hulk Hogan turned on all his fans, stuck Randy Macho Man Savage with the big Leg Drop, joined the nWo, and told all his Hulkomaniacs to F*** off. This was easily the coolest moment in wrestling history, and I’d go as far as saying one of the best moments in sports history (we want drama and that was serious drama).

Maybe this whole situation is overblown to me because I currently live in Kansas City, where I’m forced to listen to Missouri people talk about the Nebraska community like they endorse dog fighting.

Kevin Keitzman, of 810 sports, is the worst, and constantly talks about how superior his life is to Nebraska fans that take football “too seriously,” in a transparent attempt to cover something up about himself. He’s the kind of guy that would rub it in to you if he won something, but would act like he didn’t care as much as you if he lost. It’s pretty interesting to listen to, which I do, which means he’s succeeding at his job, if you care to look at it that way.

Let me get back on track. This is a great opportunity to unify Husker Nation. You’re either with us, or you’re against us. And if people want to hate, then let them hate. Let’s start a new tradition. It’s good to evolve. And it’s much better to be hated and matter, then to be irrelevant.

Our beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers are back, but not yet all the way back. Winning on Saturday would go a long ways toward completing the redemption. Let’s get it done and disappoint the nation.