I’m all over the map today. So, please, bear with me.
The Nebraska football losses don’t hurt as much as they used to hurt, and I really can’t explain why.
Even though I should know better, my childlike faith concerning Nebraska football still believes miracles can happen and NU will win games it isn’t supposed to win.
Such was the case last Saturday.
I thought maybe, just maybe, 1959 would renew itself and NU would upset the Sooners. Just as they had on Halloween Day 63 years ago in the same stadium.
However, the 2022 scoreboard read Oklahoma 49, Nebraska 14.
OU head coach Brent Venables — who as a Kansas State Wildcat defender in 1992 made 13 tackles in a game vs. NU — called off his Sooner warriors in the third quarter or the score may have resembled that which one sees on a pinball machine.
I watched the first quarter on television.
When it became painfully obvious that this was going to be a blowout, I played project catch-up at my office at the courthouse while I listened to the final three quarters on the radio.
Greg Sharpe and Matt Davison kept their comments as positive as they could. Hey, when you’re getting your hind end kicked, offer your opponent some kind words.
They did.
In my broadcast book, FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt and Brock Huard (former quarterbacks at Colorado and Washington respectively) are the two best college football analysts on television.
These guys explain the game in an intellectual way, and yet a football novice can follow their trains of thought.
Speaking of pain, 48 years ago, today – September 21, 1974 – I both watched and listened to an excruciating Nebraska football loss.
The Huskers were making one of their rare TV appearances against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
As was tradition, the TV volume was turned down and KFAB’s Lyell Bremser was turned up.
The Huskers held a 20-14 lead late in the game.
But the Badgers scored on a 77-yard pass play with 3:29 remaining, handing Nebraska a 21-20 defeat.
It was the first of three losses that season.
In Tom Osborne’s 25 years as head coach, this loss was one of only 17 games where NU was beaten by four points or less.
And all 17 of those losses hurt as if a knife were being jabbed into my thigh.
It was fun to see NU’s volleyball team rebound from a tough loss in Lincoln on September 13 to Stanford and beat Kentucky on the road this past Sunday afternoon.
A 3-0 sweep, to boot.
Head Coach John Cook became a living legend long ago.
And his daughter, Lauren Cook West, is getting close.
Not for her play as a Husker volleyballer, which reached All-American status, but as the color commentator during the radio broadcasts.
She explains the game incredibly well and fills in the gaps that the overly excited drama king John Baylor often provides.
She is a joy to listen to.
Another lady that I hope you will listen to is Debra Kleve White.
Ms. White will appear at the Alliance Public Library this Thursday, September 22, at 6:30 pm.
Kleve-White, a former Nebraska Cheerleader, will review her book, The Spirit of Nebraska, A History of Husker Game Day Traditions.
If you love Nebraska football history, this book is a great read. It became obvious to me that Debra worked diligently on her research and came up with stories that have been buried in University Annuals published up to 120 years ago.
I hope to see you there.
While the Cornhusker football program may be ailing a bit, the fan spirit is still alive, well, and kicking.
This book will remind you of how great it is to be a Cornhusker fan.