Husker Football Tailgate Talk: Eastbound and down to Champaign

Hard to believe that this time last year Nebraska Cornhuskers weren’t even going to have a season. My how some things have changed,  and how some things are still the same, for better or worse. For 3 things the Husker football team needs to do, click here.

What have you missed in the off-season? There’s probably too much to put in this article. Suffice it to say that the Huskers have a lot of change on offense and the same old thing (mostly) on defense. I was thrilled to see JoJo Domann and Cam Taylor-Britt come back to play another season. No doubt CTB will be gone after this year due to his draft status already in a good place.

New toys. Who doesn’t love new toys once they are unwrapped and played with? However, we have yet to play with Husker transfer portal wide receiver Samari Touri and running back Markese Stepp. The transfer portal is akin to getting Christmas gifts from a long-lost cousin, not expected, you don’t know how good it is, but usually a welcome sight.

The scuttlebutt has been high on Samori. I’ve heard chatter using references to a Stanley Morgan-esque dude. Ahhhh Stanley… Don’t forget that Husker receiver Omar Manning, (the kool-aid going into last year) and Zavier Betts are also going to be on the field. Lots of Husker love being tossed Betts’ way around the water cooler as well.

I, for one, will be screaming loudly when that long deep route is successfully completed, even if it’s not a touchdown. Big Red has been missing a big deep threat for a while.

As for Nebraska Husker running backs, what we do know is there is a very full room of them. Names like Stepp, Ervin Jr., Morrison, and the back row in the room would be Yant, Johnson, and Scott.  I long for the Rex Burkhead days (*insert heavy sigh here). That “in between the tackles”, gritty, sure-handed DUDE! The guy who can square up the pads and get you those yards!

No idea who the starting RB is (no depth chart released), or backup, or next in line. If betting weren’t illegal at Bushwood CC, I would say Stepp – 1, Ervin – 2, and Morrison – 3. The only good news is that there are options and Lord knows the Huskers have missed a solid running game. However, I would also suggest that was more due to a lack of good O-line play and strange play calling.

THERE WILL BE TAILGATING! And for now, without masks. I can’t wait to see those other Husker hopefuls and fans. It’s week zero. That means it’s the start before the start. It almost makes up for the canceled Akron game 4 years ago. Almost.

Other fan bases are GREEN with envy that Nebraska Cornhuskers will be playing at noon on Fox. Using that theme, and the fact it’s yet ANOTHER freaking morning tailgate/homegate, the cocktail is similar to a mimosa. After all… the game is in “Champaign.”

It’s called the Melon Mimosa. The mix is 2 oz of Midori, 4 oz of Champagne, and a splash of either Squirt or Mountain Dew, or for you bartending snobs, 1 ounce of sweet n sour. Some recipes call for simple syrup and lemon juice. I’m not that high maintenance in the morning.

I’ll be sure to craft up some tasty tailgate recipes and jello shots for next week. Another morning game. Can’t wait to learn about Nebraska Cornhuskers. Who is the premier running back? Do we have a deep threat? We will know a lot more by supper on Saturday.

In the meantime, send me your thoughts and/or recipes directly on Twitter at @kelian_NE and as always, GO BIG RED!