I do not consider myself a “Jaysker.”
A Jaysker is a combo Creighton Bluejay and Nebraska Cornhusker fan.
If Nebraska and Creighton are playing each other in any athletic event, I am rooting for Nebraska.
However, when Creighton’s men’s basketball team is competing in March Madness, I am rooting for the Jays.
Such was the case this year.
Creighton played a great game last Thursday defeating Louisville, 89-75, and then losing to Auburn, 82-70 on Saturday.
Despite a slow start, which included a home loss to Nebraska, the Jays had a very good season, winning 25 basketball games.
While Nebraska men’s basketball equals heartbreak, Creighton provides headaches.
A few examples.
On March 14, 1974, Creighton battled Kansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas won, 55-54.
My 18-year-old brother was rooting for Creighton while I was rooting for Kansas.
My 14-year-old heart belonged to the Big 8. And the Jayhawks were a member of this once grand conference.
Yeah, it doesn’t have to make sense.
Our opposing cheers did cause some sports friction between my brother and me. Our arguing throughout the game gave my father a huge headache.
The night of Saturday, December 9, 1978, was another head throbber.
A packed housed at the Civic Auditorium in downtown Omaha witnessed Creighton defeat Nebraska 78-61.
I attended the game with my college roommate, Darrell Walla.
Darrell was a huge Creighton fan while I clamored for my beloved Huskers.
The game was close until midway through the second half when one of the Huskers stole a Creighton pass and was racing toward the basket.
However, a Bluejay’s attempt to block the shot was successful.
Nebraska head coach Joe Cipriano believed a foul should have been called on Creighton. He went ballistic and raced to the center of the court.
It took the official 13 seconds to slap Cipriano with three technical fouls and an ejection.
Creighton capitalized on the technical free throws and scored again after receiving possession of the ball.
Cipriano’s loss of self-control and theatrics certainly contributed to the Husker loss.
It dampened my NU basketball spirit for the remainder of the season.
Following the game, I was exiting the building when I met former Husker basketball announcer Dick Perry of KFOR Radio in Lincoln. I told Perry that Cipriano’s actions was the wildest show I had ever seen.
Perry said he had only seen Cipriano more animated once.
It was against Kansas in Lawrence in early 1975 when Cip was ejected from that game after receiving three technical fouls – which included throwing his jacket on the court.
Not Bobby Knight throwing a chair on to the court, but just as colorful.
Other Creighton headaches include overtime victories over Nebraska in 1980 and 1987, as well as seven consecutive victories for the Bluejays between 2011 and 2017.
My biggest Creighton headache?
It occurred in early 1979
I took Darrell and one of his friends from college, Harry Petracek of Table Rock, to a Creighton game at the Omaha Civic Center.
Harry and Darrell both consumed several beers while on our trip from Lincoln to Omaha.
Why not — both men were blind.
As we entered the arena, I had an intoxicated blind man on each arm, which certainly turned a few heads.
We sat on the top row behind one of the baskets.
During the contest, I quickly rose to my feet to cheer for a Creighton basket. However, the old arena’s roof was only a few feet above us. I slammed my head into a steel beam, which knocked me back into my seat.
A massive headache followed for several hours.
After the game, the three of us traveled to Table Rock and then raided the bars in nearby Humboldt.
My headache diminished – until I awakened the next morning at Harry’s house in tiny Table Rock.
Harry’s blindness was caused by diabetes. He died a year later at the age of 22.
Darrell died on October 13, 2022, at the age of 67. He had fought cancer and dementia.
Bluejay headaches are highly overrated.
Grieving aches and pains are not.