Nebraska football vs Oklahoma Sooners: Where college football fans gather

This is different than my usual Nebraska football articles. Usually, I’m talking about the last game, things to work on, things that looked good, the point spread and the next game up on the schedule. This storied rivalry deserves a little more. I’m not going to give you a history lesson. Instead, I’m going to talk about the experience.

A large part of my Nebraska football memories for this game involved the huge tailgates in the parking lot of a fraternity house, or someone’s driveway, or even a large watering hole where people would gather to watch the game, en masse. There would be a grill or two, tables of food, coolers of drinks and lots of people hanging out, chatting, picking on each other, and laughing…. always laughing.

Early this summer one of my longtime Husker friends reached out and asked if I had ever heard of GOL. I had not. It stands for Gentlemen of Leisure. It’s a bunch of childhood friends from New Jersey (Mark, Glen, Don, Dave and Scott) who love college football and love meeting new people.  Their goal is to go to a different campus (or 2) every year and embrace the fans and culture of that football team.

The highlight of their trip every year is the tailgate party.  It is what they look forward to every year. When one trip is done, the planning for the next trip begins. One of the mottos at GOL is “Planning is half the fun.”

Mark Haft, who is a member of the group commented, “We’ve been to some great Universities and some great tailgate parties. If the tailgating is generally in a central location (like the Grove at Ole Miss), we might get our own tent. If it’s more spread out, we will do some research and try to find a local group to host us.”

This is year 12 and they’ve been to Ole Miss, LSU, Virginia, Alabama, Oregon, Wisconsin, Auburn Georgia, Washington, Arizona State and Arizona.  So far they have only been to one B1G 10 location. That is until this upcoming Saturday.

When Nebraska and Oklahoma scheduled the series in 2012, it was a must for this group. “NU v OU was THE GAME of my youth,” Haft said. “It was bigger than Alabama-Auburn or Michigan-Ohio State. I remember watching those games on Friday after Thanksgiving and that being my introduction to big-time college football.” GOL agreed this was the trip for them. Everybody was excited and they did their research through the Husker!! Power!! Facebook social media group

"“There was lots of feedback and invitations. Kelli Anne reached to us out through a friend and graciously invited us to her tailgate. I could feel her hospitality and that she lived Nebraska football. That’s exactly what we were looking for when choosing our pregame festivities.”"

We will finally get to meet on Saturday. Mark and his gang will be busy trying to soak it all in before and after the Nebraska football game. As fans, we should remember that it’s more than just a game around here, it’s part of Nebraska football magic. We should take a step back from the player bashing and the nasty comments that drip everywhere in social media and appreciate what we have here in Nebraska. It’s an indescribable experience, even for someone like me who is a verbal metropolis.

I’m excited for Mark and his Gentlemen of Leisure group. Getting together with your people is a large part of college football and, in my humble opinion, the best part of it. This Saturday, appreciate the little things you can control as a part of Husker nation. Cheer loudly! Support the team and coaches. Smile at an Oklahoma fan. I will even have some at my tailgate because my cousin, Kim, is visiting from Oklahoma with some of her people.

Be a good ambassador for Nebraska football and Husker Nation. You never know who spent months planning a trip to enjoy what we take for granted every home game. GO BIG RED! (A Cornhusker shout-out and thanks to Mark for his helpful information.)