As of November 6, 2024, there are three things in life that are guaranteed. Death, Taxes and Nebraska football heartbreak.
Just when most NU fans were again believing, the Huskers laid an egg.
This time against the UCLA Bruins. A California team Nebraska was favored to beat by at least seven points.
NU fell, 27-20.
Well, take away the Bruins third quarter goal line stand and Dylan Riola’s pick six on the first play of the second half and Nebraska wins by seven.
Nebraska, after starting the season by winning five of six games now has lost three straight contests.
The Corncobs are falling into the pattern it has battled the past few years.
Last year, Nebraska was 5-3 with winnable games remaining. It finished 5-7.
In 2022, Nebraska was 3-3 and lost its next five games.
In 2021, Nebraska started 3-3 and then lost six straight.
In 2019, the Huskers were 4-2 and missed out on bowl eligibility because they lost five of their last six and couldn’t beat 4-8 Purdue.
Our next trip is to Southern California and the USC Trojans.
In a stadium where Nebraska has never won.
The closest was in 1970 which ended in a 21-21 tie.
In 1972, UCLA upset top-ranked Nebraska, 20-17, in the Coliseum. The Bruins later claimed the Rose Bowl as their home stadium.
In 1988, UCLA spanked NU, 41-28 in the Rose Bowl Stadium. The Bruins repeated that feat in 2012, winning 36-30 in front of 25,000 sun tanned Big Red fans.
In 2006, USC topped Nebraska, 28-10, in the Coliseum.
The UCLA and USC misery continued inside Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium in the years that followed.
In 2007, the Trojans spanked NU, 49-31, after leading NU, 42-10, at the end of the third quarter.
In 2013, Nebraska, wearing black jerseys, blew a 21-3 lead and lost 41-21 to UCLA.
And then there was last Saturday’s “here we go again” debacle.
Will Nebraska beat USC while many sun and surf in the nearby Pacific Ocean on November 16?
Stranger things have happened.
This is why I continue to try to grasp the mindsight that athletic contests are simply entertainment.
On a different note, I saw this on facebook Sunday afternoon.
Did your candidate lose in yesterday’s election?
Are you distraught over the results?
Here’s possibly the most important thing you’ll read this year…
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.
You don’t have to answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you’ll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies.
Awards tarnish…
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money … or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.
As certain as death and taxes.
And Nebraska football heartbreak.