Elder Abuse in College Football

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Despite what people think about Nebraskans, we really don't put
Husker football before your garden variety list of important things, family, friends, god, country, community.
They all trump the big Red most days. Must admit
on fall Saturdays that priority list might play musical chairs

(00:20):
a bit. And Nebraskans respect their elders. At least we
used to. But after I posted a viewpoint on social
media this weekend, I'm not so sure. Didn't use any profanity,
didn't call anybody a Nazi, a kamie or a bedwetter,
no ridicule. In fact, called out nobody by name except Adidas,
the sports apparel giant from Germany, which bought its way

(00:43):
into deciding which uniforms the Huskers will wear on the
football field this fall. I said, I get it, but
believe going to all black uniforms for a game against
one of history's enduring powerhouses USC in Lincoln November first
ruined the optics of the game. Two iconic brands in
traditional uniforms would have completed the picture. The Trojans will

(01:06):
look the same, but Nebraska will more closely resemble Lincoln
Northeast High School. All black uniforms, white numbers, black face, masks,
black helvetica, n on the helmets, Google the rockets, that's them.
There's already a viral movement to black out the stadium
that day, maybe that night, meaning we all wear black.

(01:28):
If so, the closest thing in red around town that
day will be the noses on the tailgators. By November one,
the Huskers might be eight to zero. Sc will be
favored in at least seven of their first eight. So
you're talking a possible Top ten matchup USC versus Lincoln
Northeast on NBC Saturday Night, November first. The returns on

(01:50):
my take were about fifty to fifty. Half said, Rosie,
you're a relic. Try to ease your way up out
of the rocking chair. Your teeth are on the kitchen counter,
and make sure you don't forget that depends. Hey, old man,
it's twenty twenty five. Your Husker football has moss growing
on it. The kids want it, and they get what
they want. Ever heard of nil? The other half said, Amen, Rosie,

(02:13):
wor scarlet and cream. Ain't no black in there. What
I remember granted through the memory care unit is part
of the magic of Husker football has been the traditions
and our adherents to them. The world may be changing
in the palm of our hands, but dead gum it.
At least we can expect the Cornhusker Walking Band to
take the field at the same time play the same

(02:35):
songs after we stuff in or Runza Fairbury, Red Dye
and Avow's Pizza while scaling the south end zone, trying
to tether that red balloon to our belt buckle long
enough to let it fly. The first time our boys
strike pay dirt will recognize them by the white helmet,
red and red jersey, white numerals, white pants. Any chance

(02:55):
you under forties who vaguely remember te phrase LP Wistrom
and the Peter Brothers lead to one sided demolition Derby
every week could do this? Geezer a solid give me
at least this now I can see. Granted through the cataracts,
the sixty to three days are only in the rear
view mirror, but images evoke things like the idyllic youth

(03:17):
of my thirties. In those days, we didn't mortgage us,
we didn't pimp out game days to get clicks or
goose jersey sales, but Grandpa turned down the volume. Wake up.
This helps recruiting. Really, I remember in Nebraska football when
recruits weren't players until they made a play on the
scout team. Until then, their opinion in the locker room

(03:39):
held about as much value as Iowa State's late century
offensive lines. And I may be old, but I can count.
Seems to me zero's pretty much trump all the other
factors on a recruits t sheet these days. For enough
of them, the kid will break the huddle in a
burlap bag and a cornhead. If the contract says so,
how about this, Let's write into the contract no alternate uniforms.

(04:03):
Otherwise I might have to call somebody and claim elder abuse.