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Tom Osborne

It’s Time for Nebraska Big Red Football

November 23, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

The Phenomenon of Husker Football

It is time for Nebraska Big Red Football and if you live in Nebraska, the Midwest, or are a fan of college football you may of heard how passionate Husker fans are about their football, the players and their coaches. One person in particular strikes a solemn awe in Nebraskans, and that would be Tom Osborne. However, this is NOT your typical football blog post.

I Did NOT Grow up in Nebraska

The Nebraska Football ExperienceMy husband is just a little bit passionate about “his” team, me I like college football, but I grew up in Connecticut and went to Oklahoma State during the Barry Sanders years. (It was awesome!)

So, I’m not a dyed in the wool Nebraska fan. I do enjoy it though, for many reasons. First off, I like watching my husband enjoy a game. It’s like he’s back in college again.

Nebraskans are passionate about their Huskers, especially the football team. It’s a way of life in the state. When Nebraska alums move out of state they often find sports bars and form their own clubs. They have the most loyal following of any visiting team in the country. The Big Red is highly coveted for Bowl games just because our fans will travel.

100 Things Nebraska Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die (100 Things...Fans Should Know)100 Things Nebraska Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die (100 Things…Fans Should Know)What It Means to Be a HuskerWhat It Means to Be a HuskerThe Nebraska WayThe Nebraska WayHit 'em with Your Handbag: How Four Friends Helped Change Husker FootballHit ’em with Your Handbag: How Four Friends Helped Change Husker Football

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Memorial Stadium is sold out game after game and still holds the NCAA record for consecutive number of sellouts. However, if you want tickets they can be found. Often just walking up to the stadium just before game time you can buy them at face value. We are lucky (and thankful) that a friend from church offers to sell me their football tickets from time to time. In fact the first time she offered, the conversation went a little bit like this.

“Hi Dawn, I heard you might be interested in our Husker tickets this weekend?”

“Sure Betsy, Randy was going to be up in a tree stand deer hunting..” I look back at Randy in the kitchen, “..but judging on the look on his face I think he’d rather go to the game. It will be an early birthday present.” (I’ve been told I can’t say how old he’s turning, anyone want to guess?

Waiting for the Tunnel Walk, think he's excited?
Waiting for the Husker Tunnel Walk, think he’s excited?

The Loudest College Football Stadium in the Country

We got to the game early, it’s been said that only Nebraska fans show up in the stadium and hour early so they can watch warm ups. Well, we were there at least an hour ahead of time. That’s ok, I had my camera to play with and there was plenty of photo ops. The atmosphere in Lincoln Nebraska is like no other experience. Fans start tailgating at 9 am for a 2 pm game. Nebraska fans are also know for their hospitality towards visiting teams.

Nebraska Tailgating At It’s Best

Nebraska football tailgating at a Husker game is legendary. College football is not just a game here, it's an event.

Nebraska doesn’t have a professional football team in the state, but we make up for it with the Huskers. Husker fans take their Nebraska football tailgating seriously. Tents are erected, parking lots for a surrounding mile are rented.

Corporations rent space under the viaduct for catered parties and millions of dollars are spent on customizing trucks, vans, and party buses, all equipped with satellite televisions, grills and smokers.

Nebraska Corn Huskers NCAA Round Table Outdoor Patio TailgatingNebraska Corn Huskers NCAA Round Table Outdoor Patio TailgatingBest of Times Collegiate Patio Bar and Tailgating CenterBest of Times Collegiate Patio Bar and Tailgating CenterNebraska Cornhuskers Party Supplies Pack #3Nebraska Cornhuskers Party Supplies Pack #3NCAA 2' x 8' Tailgate Table NCAA Team: NebraskaNCAA 2′ x 8′ Tailgate Table NCAA Team: Nebraska

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Today we played Minnesota (2012), and for one of the few times this season we were pretty much assured a win. By how much would be the question. (Gotta keep reading to see by how much)

University of Minnesota visits the Huskers in Lincoln Nebraska
University of Minnesota visits the Huskers in Lincoln Nebraska

Saturdays attendance topped out at 85,330 and the Huskers still lead the NCAA record for number of sell outs for a college football team. An added bonus is getting to watch our local Elmwood-Murdock graduate play for the Huskers. Sam Burtch (below) was a freshman coming out of his red shirt year in 2012 and graduated with my son David. Sam has won Scout team MVP several times and has seen playing time during many games.

Sam Burtch, red shirt Husker freshman
Sam Burtch, red shirt Husker freshman

The game also represented  Tom Osbornes 500th official game and tribute ran from the pregame, to halftime and post game. Many people shed a tear, including my husband. The stadium reverberates with excitement and it’s something only to be experienced. The crowd, the noise, and the excitement of everyone in the stands is palatable, you can feel the vibration from your feet to your ears. It is infectious.

So really, going to a Nebraska football game is more than just the game, it’s an event. The camaraderie of the fans is second to none and even when they are beat by another team they are gracious and courteous to the fans of the opposing team. Husker fans don’t like to lose. Bill Callahan and Bo Pellini were evidence of that, but we don’t take it out on the visitors from out of state.

Nebraska Big Red Football
Tom Osborne and Coach Pelini do the tunnel walk together (can you spot them?)

Taylor Martinez completed 21-of-29 passes for 308 yards on the day, his third 300-yard passing day on the season and the fourth of his career. His favorite target was Bell, as the sophomore wide receiver hauled in a career-high nine catches for a career-high 137 yards with two touchdowns.

By the way Nebraska won 38-14, in case you were wondering.

Nebraska notched its fifth consecutive victory to improve to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten. The Huskers registered their fifth straight nine-win season under Head Coach Bo Pelini and moved a win away from clinching the Big Ten Legends Division title. NU closes its regular season at Iowa in the Heroes Game on Friday, Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. That game will be televised nationally by ABC.

Greatest Fans in College Football
Greatest Fans in College Football

 

If you didn’t think Husker fans were fanatical check out all the official licensed products and gifts. you can get everything from Husker t-shirts to a Husker toilet seat cover, honestly search for it below.

More on Big Red Football

Nebraska Big Red Football 2011: Bo’s Foundation Is Taking …

Hello Husker nation and sports fans around the world. Less then a week till kickoff and other then injuries up front for the offense, it sounds like the.

Well-Known Coaches Commit to Tom Tribute – Huskers.com …

… host Chris Fowler and ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe will be catalysts for interactive dialogues and salutes that will honor Osborne’s contributions to the state of Nebraska, Big Red football and service to our country.

Recruits ready to show off skills : Sports – Lincoln Journal Star

“I mean, top in the nation, offensive line commits — whoo!” Okafor said. “You can never be unhappy with that.” The first session of Nebraska’s Big Red Football School certainly would elicit smiles from Husker recruiting junkies.

Filed Under: Events, Photography Tagged With: Bo Pelini, college football, Elmwood-Murdock, football, Husker, Lincoln Nebraska, Memorial stadium, Nebraska, nebraska big red football, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Photography, sports, Taylor Martinez, Tom Osborne

Tom Osborne Speaks About Character

August 22, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Nebraska and football just go together and to just about every Nebraskan Tom Osborne is a football legend. . Former Nebraska football coach, member of Congress, and currently University of Nebraska Athletic Director spoke at the small school of Elmwood-Murdock just before the University of Nebraska joined the Big 10 and here is what he had to say.

Tom Osborne talks about character
Tom Osborne talks about character

This was just  over a week before the Nebraska Huskers kick off their season, Tom Osborne would take time out of his busy schedule to speak to Elmwood-Murdock Booster Club event. This says volumes about his character.

Elmwood-Murdock High School not a Class A school, we don’t have a huge population base, but Doctor Tom explained it this way.  “We scheduled this function quite a while ago, and although Rose Bowl committee was in town today and wanted me to attend a function tonight. I told them I had somewhere more important to attend.”

Former Nebraska Husker coach talks about character
“Character is a choice”

Tom Osborne is a very soft-spoken man, even with a mic it was difficult to hear him and you could have heard a pin drop in  the auditorium as everyone was as quiet as they could be so they could hear him speak.

Many people speak about character, and Tom emphasized that “Character is not inherited, or a trait, it is a choice.” A choice the “defines  how you act when there are no sanctions” (an appropriate  football reference) “It’s how you act when no one is looking, when you know you won’t get caught. Will you follow the rules when the coach isn’t looking? Return that wallet when you could keep the $50 inside.”

Tom referenced another famous Nebraska native,  Warren Buffet who once said that “Character was an aspect he looked for in an employee, along with Intelligence and Energy.” Intelligence and  energy were wonderful, but without character a lot of harm could be created. A positive character was a trait Tom looked for in players.  “Character will define how you react in adversity” Will you blame, divide or see adversity as an “opportunity to learn and grow.”

Tom and Nancy Osborne receive a check for TeamMates
Tom and Nancy Osborne receive a check for TeamMates

Very few times will you hear a public figure speak about spirituality. Tom Osborne does not shy away from this topic. He considers “spiritual dimension to be very important to character. Even if someone is not religious, spirituality is important. Every morning the football players had an opportunity to participate in morning devotionals and prayer before every game. The players were willing to sacrifice themselves for the team. ”

I couldn’t help but think of Notre Dame and the troubles in Happy Valley when former Coach Osborne spoke of honesty being part of character that he cherishes and looks for in a player. “It’s telling the truth, even when it won’t make you look good. A good reputation takes 30 years to build, but only five minutes to wreck”

This man has lived and built his character and reputation through not only how he has coached the Nebraska Huskers, but also through community service.  He created the TeamMates mentoring program in 1991, volunteers for many community events, and has made many unpopular decisions in support of his players.

More About Tom Osborne

Simmons says Osborne letter was life-changer

“Coach (Tom) Osborne gave me the play to take in and to this day, I use it for motivation,” said Simmons, a motivational speaker himself, who knows how to turn it around. As a matter of fact, Simmons credits Osborne for helping him turn his life around …
Day 1: Fast-paced and guided by GPS

Popular guy: Husker video coordinator Mike Nobler did his best Tom Osborne impersonation during Monday’s practice, wearing a practice wardrobe straight out of the mid-80s. @HuskerExtraBC believe the term is business casual. Very casual. pic.twitter.com …
The LIST- Tom Osborne | Sport Leadership

This week, legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne discusses the influences on his Hall of Fame career, what traits he believes are most critical to effective leadership and his advice to the next generation of leaders.

Filed Under: Events, Small Town Living Tagged With: athletics, character, Elmwood-Murdock, football, huskers, inspiration, Nebraska, Nebraska Cornhuskers, speaking, sports, Tom Osborne

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