Nebraska Cornhuskers! How powerful those two words are! Whether they are spoken or written, they evoke immense feelings in the Nebraska Cornhusker fan! Instantly memories come alive regarding this highly respected football team. For as long as I can remember, there has been deep respect and admiration for this team of extremely talented players and their coaching staff, whether it was led by Bob Devaney or Tom Osborne. Proudly wearing their red and white colors, this team would enter the field and the fans would be there to cheer them on with all the enthusiasm and pride that could possibly be mustered. Home or away games, it didn’t matter, Cornhusker fans had their sports tickets and were there and they were powerful supporters.
One of those greatest fans was my mother. Every Saturday they played, she would put on her special red and white “Go Big Red” outfit, complete with her Cornhusker pin. Daddy would tune in the radio or find the TV channel and she would be ready to cheer them on. And she sure wasn’t a fair weather fan either. Even if they did not come out victorious, which did happen once in a great while, she never criticized the players or the coaching staff. They were her team and she stood by them always. Daddy on the other hand could be critical when things didn’t go the way he wanted and he had no trouble expressing it, but boy not mom. My mother was a small woman in stature who suffered greatly with rheumatoid arthritis, that, along with the cost of the tickets and getting to the games, attending in person was really not an option, but her heart, her sole, her pride and encouragement was at every game.
I was able to get two tickets to take her to her one and only game. I don’t even remember now who we played, I just know we won. But what I do remember is my mother. Us two women, me in my regular red and white clothes and mom in her special Cornhusker outfit and pin; sitting, standing, hugging and cheering as our boys did what they did so well. I still have mom’s outfit, it hangs in my closet right where I can see it every time I open the door. Mom died in 1994 but now she has the best seat in the house to watch her beloved Cornhuskers.
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