Husker fans: Did YOU execute well?
By Kelli Anne
As the bowl game fast approaches Husker fans have seen a lot of drama and change over the past few weeks. There are still some changes to come as we await the final hires of coaches on Mike Riley’s staff. I’m personally hoping Ron Brown gets to continue to be part of the Husker culture in some way. Those are all the things we can’t control. (I’m assuming Perlman & Eichorst aren’t reading this article). But what about the things you can control? “At the end of the day” what have YOU done to make sure you’re holding up your end of the bargain. Are YOU a good Husker fan?
Jan 16, 2013; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers mascot Herbie Husker poses with Cornhuskers cheerleaders during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in the first half. Purdue won 65-56. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
To answer that question you must first make a list of what you consider a good Husker fan to be. Rule #1: Support the team, win or lose. We all know it’s way more fun to win than lose, but what is your demeanor and behavior after a loss? Do you pout, throw insults at the other teams’ fans, get on twitter and rail at the players or coaches? I certainly hope not. Husker fans are known to be the nicest fans around. But this is a culture with a hair trigger and an outlet in social media. For the life of me I will NEVER understand how someone feels they have the right to tweet at a player or coach and be negative or hateful. It’s best to subscribe to the rule, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” If you want to complain to your friends or colleagues, ok but NEVER be disrespectful to the players or the other team and their fans.
Husker tailgating (Photo Credit Kelli Anne)
Rule #2: be a good Husker fan when we win. Be graceful in the victory. You never know when the tables will turn. I certainly want to ENJOY the win, that goes without saying. I’m smiling, I’m hugging and yes, I may even do a little dancing. However, if you’re in enemy territory, take the win, smile graciously and take your celebration to a different location or one that is mostly all Huskers. It’s horribly rude to “rub it in” when you’re out of town. I certainly don’t like it when others do it in Lincoln. I was in Michigan for the Husker victory a couple years ago. I walked quietly out of their stadium and waited patiently until we made it to a Husker invaded pub and then celebrated. When I returned to my car (Husker bling all over it of course) someone had written on the back window “go home.” My friend was all upset. I said, “They didn’t slash my tires or bend my antennae. I’ll be just fine.” (Yes, I remember going to Colorado games)
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After the Husker loss to the Gophers we went back to our tailgate and the first people there were some Minnesota fans. They had tailgated next to us earlier in the day before the game. There were about 40 of them and they told me they made the trip to Lincoln because they LOVE our fans. Before the game there hadn’t been any trash talking or mean spirited anything. They were just merely thrilled to be enjoying what they felt was a “warm day “and being amongst friends tailgating and laughing. After the game, they were low key and very respectful. One of them, I’ll call him Dave, asked if hugging a chubby guy from up north would help ease the loss. He said it’s how they’ve dealt with losing games and losing seasons. Well heck ya that helped! It even helped me crack a smile. The BEST part of that day is I met and laughed with a very nice group of people and now have a standing invitation to tailgating in Minnesota.
Tailgate Diva Kelli Anne with Minnesota Gopher fans tailgating together. (photo credit Kelli Anne)
I know it’s just a game. But I also know we tend to live and die by those games on Saturday. My family knows to avoid me and my foul mood after a loss. Nonetheless, if you’re expecting your team to be their best, you should be the best Husker fan you can be. Unless we are holding up our end of the deal of being good ambassadors for Lincoln and the University, and as fans from Nebraska, we are failing to execute OUR game plan. Being a good Husker fan has fantastic rewards. I can wear my Husker Red anywhere and people see it and smile. I’m personally looking forward to being up North come next year and if it weren’t for their fans, I wouldn’t have even considered it. But if WE weren’t good fans, they wouldn’t have come to Lincoln. So go cheer on our Huskers! Only one more game. Be GREAT fans and GO BIG RED!