To characterize my experience of Saturday’s game against Miami as a roller coaster would be an enormous understatement. I had called Flip’s Patio Grill the day before the game just to make sure that I was not relying on outdated information and that they were indeed expecting a group of Nebraska fans for the game. Perhaps I was being over-cautious, but I had my fingers burned one day last year when I turned up to the venue and found no red shirts in sight because the game was not being telecast. In any case, my fears were quickly relieved by the young lady who answered the phone and told me that “Y’all pretty much take over the whole first floor for the game.” I was later to find out that some 250 Big Red fans had come to watch the opening game against BYU.
After my wife and I arrived we were pleased to see red shirts spread throughout the restaurant, and a number of big screens ready to show the game to a lively crowd. A family group originally from Norfolk invited us to sit with them and watch the game, and soon I found myself in discussion with one of the family members about the new coach and the season so far. Thus far along my journey through the 2015 season I have come to understand two things for certain: it’s never a challenge to find a friendly face to talk with about Nebraska football, and that person will have a unique and strongly-held opinion that he or she is more than willing to share.
There was no shortage of opinions being expressed in the early stages of the game as a series of dropped passes and other mistakes saw the Huskers fall behind 17-0 by the end of the first quarter. The shots of the stadium in Miami looked odd at first glance because the seats were only about 75% full, but of course it’s unfair to compare that scene at Sun Life Stadium against the appearance of Memorial Stadium on a game day with its 342 consecutive sellouts.
Prior to the game starting, the TV cameras had shown a plane above the stadium towing an advertising sign that made us all chuckle. Apparently the Miami fan base is not too happy with their coach who is now in his 5th season, and the banner read: “C'mon. #FireAlGolden. These Banners Are Expensive” This was a sequel to last week’s banner that called for the return of its previous coach: “Make Miami Great Again – Butch Davis 2016” Having said that, the team began the day with a 2-0 record.
By the time the third quarter ended, the Husker were behind 30-10. But in the meantime I had taken the opportunity to meet a number of the Nebraska fans, who ranged in age from 6 months to 70-plus. Some fans had left by now, but among those who stayed were two brothers in their 60s – one of whom had played trumpet in the band in his younger days. As a result of always playing rather than singing the fight song, he had never learned the words and was unable to help the rest of us as we tried to sing it after Nebraska’s second touchdown of the day brought the score back to 33-18. But with only 9 minutes left in the game a defeat for the Big Red was clearly on the cards.
I chatted briefly with Alan, another long-time fan, and just before he left for the day he shared his views that 2016’s team would be better than 2015. However a few minutes later, Alan was back in his seat. He had apparently spoken with a co-worker on his way to the car and was persuaded by him to stay to watch the rest of the game. Just after Alan’s return, Armstrong threw his third touchdown and the score was now 33-25 with 4 minutes left to play. It was riveting to watch as the Huskers had come part-way back from 23 points behind in the space of 5 minutes. They had shown great resolve and character to make a game of it after being all but defeated.
Then with just over a minute left Armstrong threw another touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion and the game was tied at 33-33!
Just as the overtime period was about to start, with clear reluctance Alan dragged himself out of his seat to go pick up his wife from the airport. Her flight had been delayed earlier in the day but was now on its way. I agreed to call him with the result but resisted the temptation to ask whether she was a Nebraska fan who might have understood him staying to watch the final stages.
As it turned out, the interception of a Nebraska pass on the first play in overtime led to a Miami field goal and a 33-36 defeat for the Huskers. Although the team is now 1-2 after two very close losses, Coach Riley pointed out to his players in the locker room after the game that they are less than a minute away from being 3-0. They have played some very good football but need to eliminate the mistakes and penalties. Hundreds of thousands of red-shirted fans are depending on them!