Gilda Radner was a brilliant performer.
Radner, who died in 1989 of ovarian cancer, is best known for her portrayal of Roseanne Roseannadanna on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1981.
As a gum chewing Weekend News Update guest correspondent, Radner – adorned with a fuzzy-wuzzy wig and thick bright red lipstick – would use a high-pitched voice to take on a social topic, such as quitting smoking.
However, she would venture off course sharing irrelevant stories, such as working out at a gym and coming across Dr. Joyce Brothers who had a ball of sweat sticking to the tip of her nose.
As the in-studio audience roared with laughter, anchor Jane Curtin would interrupt Radner’s alter ego and challenge her as to why she ventured off course.
Roseanne would begin with, “Well, that just goes to show ya. It’s always something. It’s one thing and then another.”
Cornhusker football fans can relate to Roseanne Rosannadanna. On the topic of losing football games: It’s always something. It’s one thing and then another.
Saturday night against eighth-ranked Michigan was another something.
First, a pass interference penalty on JoJo Domann. Replay proved the Michigan receiver ran into Domann as the ball sailed out of bounds.
The play initiated from the Nebraska 15-yard-line on 2nd down. The ball was moved to the Nebraska three and Michigan scored a TD on the next play.
What appeared to be a probable Michigan field goal attempt resulted in a Wolverine touchdown. A four-point swing.
The game was tied 29-29 with three minutes to play. Husker quarterback Adrian Martinez ran for a first down and appeared to be stopped. He dropped the ball. The officials rule 2AM fumbled and Michigan recovered. A short game-winning field goal followed for the Wolverines.
Two weeks earlier, Nebraska outplayed Michigan State in East Lansing. Nebraska was leading 20-13 late in the game when NU’s punter kicked the ball away from his coverage. The punt was supposed to go to the right side of the field – where all the NU defenders were racing to tackle the assumed receiver – but it was kicked to the left.
The Spartans Jayden Reed returned the kick 62 yards for a touchdown with 3:47 remaining to tie the score and force overtime.
MSU kicked the game winning field goal in OT.
A seven-point loss at third-ranked Oklahoma on September 18 was aided by eight NU penalties and a blocked extra point attempt by OU that was returned for a Sooner two-point conversion.
The season opener at Illinois was a comedy of errors including a botched punt return that resulted in a safety for the Illini.
A 41-yard fumble return for a TD just seconds before halftime provided Illinois the momentum needed to dominate the third quarter and mount a 30-9 cushion. Nebraska’s comeback attempt came up short, 30-22.
Space doesn’t allow for the shooting-themselves-in-the-foot recaps of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The statistic that jumps off the page?
Under Scott Frost, Nebraska’s record is 15 wins and 24 losses. 16 of those losses have been by eight points or less.
Nebraska’s last three losses have come by a combined 13 points to teams currently ranked in the top 10 with identical records of 6-0.
It just goes to show ya. With Nebraska football losses, it’s always something. It’s one thing and then another.
But, just like Rosanne Roseannadanna, Nebraska football may be off course, but it is still beloved.
And very entertaining.