Like every Cornhusker football season that I have followed since staking an emotional claim in the Big Red 53 years ago (that’s 1969 if you’re keeping score), the 2016 campaign, Nebraska’s last winning season, was filled with cheers, jeers, and tears.
And a calendar full of memories.
Allow me to begin with the morning of Sunday, July 24.
I was relaxing in my living room recliner – spouting rude comments to my Sam-Dog concerning the internet news I was surfing – when my future son-in-law (future by six days) texted me that Husker punter Sam Foltz had passed away the previous night in an auto accident.
It was an instant immersion in emotion’s choppy waters.
Shake it off, Kevin; your daughter is getting married this Saturday.
On July 30, donned in a slimming black tuxedo, I walked my daughter down the marriage aisle of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alliance. As I released my offspring’s hand and welcomed Jason Shaneyfelt to our family, I reminded him that their first Husker football game as a married couple was in five weeks.
Anything to help ease the pre-vows tension.
Now, on to the, I do part of this gig.
A month passed, only to receive an early morning phone call from my best buddy, Darrell Walla of Touhy, NE, that his father had passed away. The funeral would be held on Labor Day. His first request: Please share a eulogy.
No problem.
But it came with a caveat.
Darrell had to agree to watch with me the Husker season opener vs. Fresno State at either his home or in the Touhy tavern.
And on the night of September 3, we enjoyed refreshments, dinner, laughs – and the Huskers scoring 43 points to Fresno State’s 10 – inside Tuffy’s bar in southern Saunders County.
Our gathering’s only negative?
I visited Tuffy’s restroom as Nebraska lined up for the game’s first punt.
We love you, Sam Foltz.
Your absence on (and off) the field is significant.
If not, then why do I remember that I was standing at a urinal years after Fresno State declined a delay of game penalty?
The classiest tribute ever originated by two football teams has been replayed 27 million times on ESPN and shared by the various YouTubers of the internet world. But missing it live would equate to missing that seven-year-olds 69-yard ESPY-winning jaunt during the 2013 spring game.
I managed to catch that Jack in the box.
And I am forever grateful for that moment of positive bladder control.
I’m sure I have shared that I was an activity bus driver for the Alliance Public Schools for 23 consecutive years, retiring in 2021.
On September 10, my bus, loaded with Alliance High School JV volleyball players, traveled to Hyannis for a tournament.
I had learned the previous week that the friendly convenience store located at the intersections of State Highways 2 and 61 – known as “That Stop” – offered a big screen TV and that proprietors Cliff and Pat Dailey would have it tuned to the Wyoming at Nebraska game.
I settled in at 9:30 am and didn’t leave until 2 pm, and I still had plenty of time to catch Alliance play in the tournament’s championship.
After my fill of sunflower seeds, bottled water, and chicken salad, it was Nebraska 52, Wyoming 17.
From a weather standpoint, September 17 was a glorious special-order day for the Alliance softball team.
I transported the Bulldogs to North Platte’s Dowhower Complex, where AHS claimed two victories.
From my Bulldog-blue lawn chair, situated behind the outfield fence, I watched Alliance handle Lexington and Chadron while my radio thrilled me with a Cornhusker victory over Oregon, 35-32.
It may have been my greatest moment of multitasking.
The last Saturday of September found me in Phelps County. My school bus had transported the AHS volleyball team to Holdrege for a three-match tournament, which ended in the early afternoon.
The spikers and I were back in Alliance for television’s second, third and fourth quarter offerings of Nebraska 24 and Northwestern 13.
The first day of October gifted western Nebraska with another gorgeous weather offering. I traveled to Chadron with the AHS Cross Country team as Chadron State College hosted high school runners from across the region. The swiftly run meet found us back in Alliance and in front of our televisions in plenty of time for Nebraska 31, Illinois 16.
Nebraska enjoyed an open date on October 8 and I enjoyed Chadron State College’s homecoming. It featured the Alliance Middle School band marching on Main Street in the morning parade and on the grass of Elliott Field during halftime of CSC’s 44-27 loss to Dixie State.
It was another bus trip to Scottsbluff on October 15, this time for the Old West Marching Festival.
The Alliance Middle School and High School bands were rated superior for their Broadway Avenue performances.
Later that afternoon, Nebraska’s category of play was less than superior as the Big Red managed to eke out a 27-22 victory at Indiana. Since I had driven one of the middle school buses, I could return home in time to see the Hoosier/Husker excitement on the tube.
I always enjoy my annual trip to Kearney for the Nebraska State Bandmaster’s completion – especially if it includes a Husker football victory.
The Alliance High Band offered the Foster Field crowd a wonderful show, a rating of excellent, and some tears as it was the final marching band performance of the year.
When music wasn’t entering my ears, the sound of Greg Sharpe and Matt Davison via my radio headphones was. They shared with me every play of Nebraska 27, Purdue 14.
For the first time in eight consecutive Saturdays, I enjoyed the home front on October 29. However, the result of the game I watched on TV that night was far from enjoyable. While I nervously munched on sunflower seeds, I witnessed Nebraska fall into a Badger hole, climb out, and then get buried in its attempt to win the game in overtime.
Wisconsin 23, Nebraska 17.
The first Saturday in November served as the date of the annual Box Butte Development Corporation banquet at the Westside Event Center. BBDC director Chelsie Herian did her best to move the banquet program along. Kickoff for the Big Red vs. Buckeyes game at the Horsehoe was slated for 6 pm. As the applause faded for those who helped make Alliance a better place to live during this past year, groans erupted as a Tommie Armstrong pass was picked off by Ohio State and returned for a Buckeye touchdown.
It was a sign of what was in store for Nebraska.
Ohio State left Nebraska in utter ruins as the final score read Buckeyes 62, Cornhuskers 3.
On November 12, longtime Alliance friends Gary and Tammy Griffee shared their big screen TV as Nebraska rebuilt plugged holes in the Riley ship that sprang a leak the prior Saturday night in Columbus.
Nebraska 24, Minnesota 17.
The following week, I labored at the courthouse during Nebraska’s 10 AM kickoff with Maryland. My portable radio gave vivid details of Nebraska’s 28-7 triumph over the Terps.
Even though we were still stuffed with Thanksgiving goodies, Black Friday found me and my family gathered in the spot addressed 213 Box Butte Avenue in Alliance to watch the Huskers simultaneously play on ten televisions.
“Hey, the drinks, wings, and nachos are on me!”
$49.50 later, it was Iowa 40, Nebraska 10.
Had it been Lent, another $49.50 would have been collected by the profanity jar.
The Cornhusker wrapped up the 2016 season with a 38-24 loss to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.
Nebraska won nine games in 2016 and lost four.
I’ll certainly be thrilled with nine wins during the 2023 season.
May returning to nine wins each season be the Rhule of the year!