Nebraska Husker Tailgate: Time for some Whiskey

Kelli Anne  breaks down everything you need to know before the Husker game.

I hope you are all rested after the bye week. I am and how bout dem Tigahhhs! I watched some really good football Saturday and am ready to get back to what’s left of the Husker season. Wisconsin – or Wiscy (whis-key) is on tap next. For keys to the game for Big Red, click here.

Those pesky Badgers are coming to town having just beaten Iowa (24-22) and boasting a record of 4-2 in the conference, and 7-2 overall. What’s is good for Nebraska is they are 1-2 on the road. They were upset at Illinois (24-23) and smacked around by Ohio State (38-7).

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Badger running back Jonathan Taylor, probably a first round draft pick, can tote the rock (16 for 135yds) and he can make big plays, 2 catches for 48 yards against Iowa. Badger QB Jack Coan was 19/26 for 201 yards with 2 touchdowns. That can make for one bad Wiscy hangover….Blackshirts will need to set the edge and limit his big plays for a chance to survive.

Husker defense will also need some turnovers this week. In whiskey terms, that’s called getting lucky. (Badgers don’t fare well with 2 turnovers btw) Having Cam Taylor-Britt back will take the sting out a little bit. It’s like drinking a tall glass of water after a long night of drinking. It will help, but not solve the overall problem. QB Adrian Martinez will need to look like he did LAST November. He will need to quicken his pace to be effective against their defense. Think shots instead of slow sipping.

Huskers will most likely be without Wan’Dale Robinson due to injury (game time decision). Yeah, that leaves a bad taste in my mouth like bar well whisky. Complete with the ‘icky” face you make after drinking it. Could be they are holding him out because they have a better shot at using him in Maryland and against Iowa. Just pouring it out there….

Big Red is going to have to contend with Wiscy BIG linemen, competent Tight Ends, and they use that thing…oh what is it called? We used to do it too,…  but we don’t anymore…um…. YEAH – a freaking FULLBACK!

It’s not all doom and gloom. There are some bright spots for the Huskers – Senior walk-on Wyatt Mazour finally got a scholarship on Monday! He’s been a solid option (excuse the pun) at running back, and proven he’s a team guy by returning kicks and punt receiving. I’ve met the kid and his parents. He’s someone we, as Nebraskans, can DEFINITELY be proud of! Congrats Wyatt!

Hard to believe another Blackshirt was handed out, but Outside Linebacker Garrett Nelson received his this week. In a part of the season where it has been the Husker defense that has let us down recently, it’s interesting to see another get awarded. However, this kid totally deserves it! You can tell it means a lot! If he was in a bottle it would be labeled 100 Proof!

This kid is the old school kind of gritty too! Like taking a shot of whiskey, in a dirty glass, with a hair in it kind of gritty! He warms up with the linemen because they go through a tougher warm up than the linebackers. Well done, Garrett! The other Blackshirt handed out went to sophomore defensive lineman Damian Jackson.

Why do I dislike the Badgers? It’s because they took the Husker playbook and are doing it better than the Huskers. They’ve been doing it to us ever since we joined the B1G. It’s like when you roll up to the open bar wedding reception in that smokeshow outfit and a younger, better built version of you with better shoes was at the reception an hour ahead of you. Ok, that may be a bit of a stretch. NO ONE would have better shoes than me, but you get the point.

Big Red will face BIG guys on the line of scrimmage and a defense that can stop your run game and make you 1-dimensional. And much like what happens after too much Whiskey drinking, there will be LOTS of hands everywhere, a key for lineman gaining an advantage! Wiscy has consistency (remember what that is?) and winning on their side. Their brand of football epitomizes a hangover. After it’s over, you don’t want to remember much, and you know you’re just going to feel awful for at least the next 24 hours.

My whiskey inspired jello shot this week comes in a double shot. Mix Skrewball whiskey with Jolly Rancher green apple jello. (1 cup hot water and 3/4 cup Skrewball). The other yummy recipe is 3/4 Crown with 1 cup hot water paired with peach jello. Trust me, we will need a little something to keep us warm as we tailgate. Temps are predicted to be low 50’s with partly sunny skies but since the game is at an agonizing 11 am start, it’s going to be in the 40’s for the pregame.

Speaking of needing a little heat, this recipe is inspired by my recent trip to Baton Rouge. It’s a pretzel mix with Hot Rod’s Creole Rub and Bayou Dust. Take 1 bag of pretzels, I prefer the waffle ones because it captures more of the seasoning but little pretzels work fine too. Mix together 4 TBS Creole Rub and 2 TBS Bayou Dust in 3/4 cup of olive oil. Pour on the pretzels to coat and stir it every ten minutes for an hour. Place pretzels on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Allow to cool and enjoy!

For bigger groups, I also mix in Cheez-its, smoked almonds, cinnamon toast crunch and hot n spicy bugles. You may have to go online to get those Bugles, but SOOOOO worth it!. A Husker gameday snack mix worthy of any tailgate!

Don’t forget to share your photos and tailgate stuff with me @Kelian_NE. Dress in layers, be loud and as always GO BIG RED!