Fans flock to Husker Spring Game
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BY LISA MUNGER / Lincoln Journal Star
Fans are sporting cornheads, the pep band is playing the fight song, people are tailgating and scalpers are hawking tickets.
It’s a Husker football Saturday.
Fans poured down Lincoln streets Saturday en route to the annual Spring Game at Memorial Stadium. With 30 minutes left to game time, the stadium was nearly full, with only a few nosebleed seats available.
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“I hope Bo will bring people back in who jumped off the boat when Callahan came in. I want to see some smashmouth football.”
Paul Wickert, Ralston
“I’m here to see the defensive intensity brought back. There’s a great history at Nebraska, I think Pelini will help with that.”
Bruce Fuglei, Missoula, Mont.
“Like most everyone else, I want to see the defense flying around and playing aggressively. I hope he (Pelini) welcomes old players back.”
Chuck Buckner, Papillion
“Overall, I’m pleased. I can’t decide if our defense needs work or if our offense is that good.”
Mark Hansen, Lincoln
One fan’s T-shirt seemed to encapsulate the dominant attitude among fans: “Bo Knows.”
Chuck Buckner of Papillion snagged two first-row seats in the West Stadium. As the game began, Buckner said he could sum up the enthusiasm for the game in two words: “Bo. Pelini.”
Sound familiar?
The refrain echoed throughout the stadium.
“I want to see Pelini improve our defense,” said Trevor Jorgensen of Omaha.
Trevor, 13, and Emily Litel-Smith, 12, also of Omaha, had seats in the nosebleed section with their parents, but they snuck down to the sideline to get a better glimpse of the players.
Bruce Fuglei said he, too, hopes Pelini would restore the “defensive intensity to Huskerland.”
Fuglei drove in from Missoula, Mont., for the game with some friends.
“I like what he did at LSU,” Fuglei said. “He has a great history. Hopefully he’ll bring traditions back to Nebraska.”
Traffic update
Eastbound traffic on Interstate 80 is down to one lane near the 405 mile marker where the interstate meets U.S. 77 north to Wahoo because of construction in the area, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
People heading back to Omaha from the Spring Game are advised to take U.S. 6 (Cornhusker Highway) east to the Waverly interchange to avoid the heavy traffic.
Reach Lisa Munger at lmunger@journalstar.com.
