Nebraska Football Tailgate Tales: Road trip to Rutgers

Nebraska Football gets set to take on Rutgers this Friday.

Last week’s game… Yes, I’m still “unhappy” about it. Kudos to the pastel pant wearing troll for getting what was left of his team to beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Lots of things on which to reminisce like the targeting call on Husker Cam Taylor-Britt, the holding call that cost Nebraska a touchdown, or the low class trolling of the Huskers with Minnesota Football’s tweet copying an infamous one from Illinois. I didn’t think I could “dislike” that gopher head coach and team more, but I do.

Since Saturday, O Lineman Brendan Jaimes has decided to opt-out of the last game to focus on NFL options. Good luck to you. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed by him bailing on his teammates for what has been a grueling tenure at Nebraska for the seniors. However, I wish more good luck and good fortune to Freshman Turner Corcoran who will be taking his place.

Senior Husker, Collin Miller announced his retirement from football based upon medical advice from his doctors. Would LOVE to see him hang around as a grad assistant. Seemed like a super good guy based upon what his coaches and teammates said about him. Senior Husker, JoJo Domann appeared to be marking his last home game (and not returning for another year) when he knelt on the midfield N after the game. I’ll admit, I teared up. Another good dude who, by the way, handled the after-game press conference like a CHAMP!

Does that mean that Big Red is seeing this week’s game as just a scrimmage or not a real game? I certainly hope not. Winning this game is still important if Nebraska has any hope of getting an additional 2 weeks of bowl game practice. Not having any spring ball practices really cost a new team who also didn’t get a non-conference slate, especially when there are a lot of younger players. Although I don’t think it would be out of line if there is a series designed for QB waiting in the wings, Logan Smothers. That’s only if Nebraska is up comfortably, late in the game. (yes, I giggled a little when I wrote that).

It’s going to be a freaking freezing 8 degrees at kickoff at 6:30 local time Friday night. Well done BTN and the B1G focusing on student-athlete health & safety. A big snowstorm is headed that way with an estimated snowfall at Rutgers of 8-18 inches. I’ve been out east when it snows. They don’t handle it as well as NDOT. I’m leary the game will be played but I hope I’m wrong. Rutgers has played all 8 of their games this season, including 5 at home. So hey, B1G Ten powers that be, why the hell did Nebraska (only 3 home games) have to travel there instead of the other way around? Yeah…nevermind. Pretty sure I know the answer to that one too.

Rutgers is 3-5 in the conference. They are a tough, physical team and they love to drop in some trickeration. Cornhusker defense will need to “stay home” so to speak so as not to fall victim. They have a wily defense who has caused almost 2 turnovers a game this year. Nebraska doesn’t need ANY help turning the ball over. I’m still trying to figure out why you would pull a guy off the bench with a cold arm whose specialty is actually running with the ball and have him throw 2 passes (one being an interception). But hey, guess that’s why I don’t get paid BIG buck$ to coach football. That’s also probably why I don’t get why the Huskers didn’t run against the worst run defense in the league last week. But I digress…

I’m worried about this game because I think Husker QB Adrian Martinez is dinged up. I read a stat where his completion percentage tanked after the hit. I meant to save it, I didn’t. We all know how things go when he’s not healthy. (Mom, that’s a reference to last year when it came out he was hurt most of the year.) I’d love to be wrong. I’d love to see him throw and complete passes to WR Zavier Betts, or Tight Ends Austin Allen, or Travis Vokolek. I don’t care if I EVER see that stupid lateral pass to Wan’Dale Robinson again.

Friday night homegate recipes had me searching the internet for things that are New Jersey inspired. Other than Jersey Mike’s sub sandwiches which are “hoagies” in that neck of the woods, nothing really popped up. There was one sandwich on a Rutgers publication that had put cheese sticks, chicken fingers, gyro meat and other fried appetizer stuff in a bun and named it the Fat Sandwich from RUHungry. Hard pass unless you want hard arteries.

A search of popular Jersey drinks led me to the Wishniak. It’s a black cherry soda. In Jersey fashion, the article said you drink a little from it and then pour in vodka. Wow… that’s creative. I’ve made countless cherry jello and vodka jello shots over the years. They work well for Nebraska Football Saturday tailgates since our “Red Burns Brighter.” I think Coach Frost should keep his gameplan simple as well. Run the damn ball. Throw it a little. Score points. Have the Husker defense cause turnovers that lead to points too.

My spin on the Wishniak is also in honor of the first game past the brunching hour. It’s black cherry jello with vodka, however this vodka is espresso vodka to keep you up past 8pm! Grab a friend or two, order some pizza or catch the game at a sports bar and try to make your own Fat Sandwich. It’s the last game of the “regular” season so stay out all night! Hit me up on Twitter with your homegate/game photos at Kelian_NE. As always, GO BIG RED!