All hail Lincoln, Nebraska
By BERRY TRAMEL, Staff Writer, btramel@opubco.com
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Published: November 7, 2009
Visitors to Lincoln have been singing the praises of Nebraska fans for decades. Here are two examples, an excerpt of a 913-word blog by Louisiana-Lafayette radio announcer Jay Walker, whose team played at Nebraska in September, and a 118-word letter written by Florida State coach Bobby Bowden after the Seminoles’ 18-14 victory in 1980.
→Jay Walker, Sept. 2009
"I’ve been to College Football Nirvana. It’s located in Lincoln. From the time we touched down ("Welcome to Lincoln,” the police officers doing the escort said) to the time we left the stadium ("Thanks so much for coming. Have a safe trip home. We hope you’ll come back again”), every Cajun fan felt like a guest.
"For the first time ever in my years covering the
Cajuns, I did not hear a single boo when the Cajuns came out of their tunnel onto their sidelines; in fact, I heard a smattering of applause.
"In the fourth quarter there were STILL over 80,000 in the stands ... and when it ended, the fans stayed for another Cornhusker tradition: They applauded the Cajuns as they left the field.
"Then it was over. And, as the buses left for the airport, the fans that were still there waved and applauded. No one-finger salutes. No ‘you suck’ chants — Simply, safe travels, my friends.
"Trust me, there is no place like Nebraska.”
→Bobby Bowden, Oct. 1980
"I have been coaching college football the past 28 years and have played before some great crowds in this country. I have never seen people with more class than I saw at Nebraska last week. The Nebraska fans, players, cheerleaders, band, officials, coaches, etc., gave me a living testimony of what college football should be all about.
"I actually had the feeling that when we upset the Nebraska team, that instead of hate and spite, the Nebraska fans thanked us for coming to Lincoln and putting on a good show. This is nearly unheard of in today’s society. Nebraska, you are a great example for Americans to copy. I hope we show half the class your people do.”
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And a note to my Sooner friends confused by the video clip - the DT opposite Suh and defensive player of the week is Jared Crick, not "Jordan Click" as reported by two(count em - 2) of the expert panel.