Tradition.
It's a word that is proudly thrown around a lot on this campus. Of course it has a definition — Webster was a pretty busy guy, you know — but for Huskers, it's more than a word. It's a feeling.
It's an undying passion, win or lose, for our school and our teams. It's more than a century of legendary players and epic moments. It's a pride in ourselves and our university, in the classroom and on the courts/pools/ranges/fields.
But perhaps more importantly, it's a pride in the stands that starts with you — the fans.
Maybe you grew up with posters of Tommy Frazier and Scott Frost hanging above a bed covered in a giant bright-red N with matching red curtains — and lamps and rugs and clothes hangers. Or maybe you've never heard of a "cornhusker" and you're wondering who the heck this seemingly mythical man/god Tom Osborne is. In any case, there's something you need to know: Nebraska fans are known throughout this country as the "greatest fans in college football," if not all of college sports. (Yes, football dominates our sports landscape around here — it's just the way it is.)
But we're not the greatest fans because we yell the loudest — though 80-some-thousand screaming people sure do make a racket. We're not the greatest fans because of our obsession with all things Husker — though some accuse us of worshipping our team like some kind of false idol.
We're the greatest fans in college sports because of a tradition of sportsmanship.
Nowhere else in the country will you find such rabidly loyal fans who will gladly drown out the din that is Boomer Sooner with a hearty "HUSKER POWER!" and then turn around and buy a congratulatory beer for the nearest Oklahoma fan — even after a disappointing conference championship loss. I have seen it happen (and it always shocks our opponents), and I have heard the praises from even our deepest rivals (*cough* Texas *cough, cough*).
So this is what you're coming into, new students. You are the future of this tradition of character, and you better maintain it. It's been put to the test the last couple of years, so it's going to be up to you to make sure things don't slip up.
If you're at a game and one of your friends starts berating the refs for littering the beautiful green turf with their bright yellow hankies — and it will happen, it's part of the game — tell him to take a swig of his Pepsi and cool off. Or if some big-haired girl two rows behind you with sunglasses three times the size of her face is screaming obscenities in her pregame drunken state, politely ask her to take it down a few notches — if a series of glares don't do the trick first.
We have a reputation to maintain. Leave the game ejections to the Colorado student section.
Hopefully you'll catch this fandamonium fever in the fall. Hopefully you'll find yourself screaming your head off while the Blackshirts take it to our new Big Ten foes. Just remember this great passion comes with great responsibility. So keep it classy and remember, a storied reputation of tradition precedes you.
bradyjones@dailynebraskan.com
PIECES OF HUSKER TRADITION
SCHOOL SONG — The band loves to strike up this tune, and any good student should know the words to sing along: There is no place like Nebraska, good ol' Nebraska U. Where the girls are the fairest, the boys are the squarest of any old school that I knew. There is no place like Nebraska, where they're all true blue. We'll all stick together, in all kinds of weather, for good ol' Nebraska U.
The BONES — It's the sign of the Husker defense (see Blackshirts) and causes near riots when members of the other team mock it. And it's easy to do: Ball your hands into fists and cross your arms at the forearms. Do it!
THREE-AND-OUT — In Husker football, it's important to know a three-and-out: If the defense (see Blackshirts) prevents the opposing team from getting a first down, forcing them to punt, fans put up the Bones, but alter it a bit — making a three with their hands instead of fists.
DAS BOOTS — The origins of this tradition are left to legend, but on every kickoff, students take off a shoe and hoist it in the air, giving our kickers an extra boost.
STARTING THE WAVE — The key to starting the wave is communication. Let your neighboring friends and fans know what's gonna happen — including which direction the wave is going to go — and make sure to have them pass it on to others around. (NOTE: Make sure they pass it up and down the section, not just left and right down your row.) The best way to organize a group of people is to count off — three is best. Make sure you do it as loud as you can so that more people know when to start. It probably won't catch on right away, so don't give up. As it starts to build, more and more people will catch on, and before you know it, you've got everyone in Memorial Stadium on their feet.
-Compiled by Brady Jones
MEMORIAL STADIUM HISTORY
1922 — Faculty, students, alumni and other university supporters raised $430,000 to build a stadium.
1923 — Memorial Stadium was dedicated on Oct. 20. The stadium's capacity was 31,000.
1962 — The sellout streak started Nov. 3, when 36,501 attended the Homecoming game against Missouri.
1964 — Seats were added to South Stadium, creating a horseshoe and raising capacity to 48,000.
1966 — Both wings of the north end zone were added, raising capacity to 65,000.
1999 — $36 million West Stadium Improvement project completed including 42 suites and the current press box. Capacity rose to 74,056. FieldTurf was also installed, making NU the first Division I program to use the synthetic surface.
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