I have been lucky enough to have lived in a number of different countries and cultures around the world but I see something unique in the way that Nebraskans are proud of both their 37th State in the Union and the college football team that bears its name.
I was first exposed to Nebraska football by my wife's parents in Omaha, who were season ticket holders and alumni of the school, having met and married in Lincoln. Over the subsequent 14 years since my first trip to Nebraska I have become more and more intrigued by the way the entire state seems to unite around their beloved Big Red, and hence my desire to write a book about the people and the team to which they seem to feel such a sense of belonging.
I plan to attend each home game this season, spending a couple of days before each game in a different Nebraska town meeting with local residents and exploring the local links to history and the Big Red football program. After the game I will attend the post-game news conference for further insights from the coaches and players on the events of the day. On those weeks that the team is playing away I will visit several of the Husker Fan Clubs in different parts of the country. Each week of the season will thus represent a chapter in the book and I'm also making plans to interview prominent fans along the way such as Larry the Cable Guy and Warren Buffet.
I will be blogging about my progress throughout the season and I hope you'll enjoy sharing the journey with me!
