My Husker Experience

In a bit of retroactive blogging, I will now rewind to last Saturday to my Husker football game day experience. The whole time we've lived here, I've felt a little on the outside of the "true Husker experience." True, I do follow football, volleyball and basketball to varying extents, and I obviously have an "in" for enjoying the marching band. Best among these, of course, are the game day band rehearsals in the stadium where the kids and I can go (for free), sit wherever we want, and enjoy the band and the freedom for the kids to run the bleachers of one of the great stadiums in college football. However, watching the football games on TV and then listening to Cliff's game stories made me want to really be there at least once. Lo and behold, thanks to a lovely lady I know through the Y, I was able to land a ticket to last Saturday's game against South Dakota State. I lined up some neighbors to watch the kids, and I was all set. Saturday morning came, and so did the rain, clouds and cold temps. But by about 2 hours before kickoff, the sun came out and a beautiful football evening ensued. I took the kids to the neighbors' and headed downtown to join the sea of red that is Lincoln on game day. First, I enjoyed watching the marching band do a stand-still performance of their show outside the music building before heading off to the stadium to find my seat. Cliff later told me he thought I might be bored sitting in the stands on my own, but actually I was in HEAVEN by being able to enjoy this without holding little hands while navigating the crowd or having to worry about potty stops. It turned out my seat was GREAT, and despite the lackluster play of the team (17-3 is a win, but it wasn't pretty), I had a fabulous time. The band was great, as usual, and the halftime show (with drill written by Cliff!!) was extremely well received by the crowd. After halftime, I left my seat and went to field level with Cliff to enjoy the band up close (LOUD!!). After the game, the band does another run through of their show music from the stands, and Cliff got me out of the field with the band staff to enjoy this--my second time on the turf this year! It really was a spectacular night out for me. Now I can say I've had a true Husker experience. :)

Pre-game performance outside the music building:

I had a great view of Cliff conducting during the pre-game show just before kickoff:

One of the 2 N's the band forms during their pre-game performance of "There's No Place Like Nebraska":

The band doing the full choreographed dance to Beyoncé's "Single Ladies", part of the halftime show, a tribute to the TV show "Glee":

So proud and happy for Cliff for how well the halftime show came off:

The band rocking out on "Don't Stop Believin":

Me and Lil' Red :)

Me, Cliff & Herbie Husker:

The field level view of the band playing in the stands during the game:

Gina