Nebraska's Love Affair with Football

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
When we guys are eighteen nineteen twentytwenty one, the word love isn't something
that comes out very often. We'rejust learning about life. We're pretty grown
up physically, but inside we're stillpretty much kids, and most at that
age don't spend a lot of timein thought. Too much to do.
Everything is happening so fast, Butthrough the passage of time and the imprint

(00:21):
on our hearts and minds from life'sevents, we begin arranging those things about
us that count the most. Weare a day away from the start of
the football season. Outsider's snicker athow much that means to us Nebraskans.
It's just a game for crying outloud. Why do you all, you
people make such a big deal outof college kids playing football? Those common

(00:42):
observations mask and ignorance inflicted on mostnon Nebraskans, or jealousy or both.
On this occasion, I'm reminded ofour finest hours when a group of our
sons showed us all just what lovereally looks like. Twenty five some years
ago. We Nebraska who actually havea knack of putting family, community,

(01:03):
and country one, two and threein life's rankings with God and the Huskers
and nudging themselves on and off thatlist. We're in full bloom. We
are way of life, our loveof just being us for our time together
this morning, Let's close our eyesand return to New Year's Eve. Nineteen
ninety seven. The Husker football team, which had squatted on number one in

(01:25):
the rankings for most of five years, were topping off that with a blowout
of Peyton, Manning and Tennessee inwhat would be coach Tom Osborne's final game.
Sadly for the rest of us,Doctor Tom had planned his retirement at
season's end after twenty five years andtwo hundred and fifty five wins. At
the time, it was the mostprofound era ever in college football. Alabama's

(01:49):
Nick Saban teams have since bested it, but that five year run set a
standard. His last team, theninety seven team, was quite a group.
Eleven of the twenty two starters werenative of kids from Auburn and DeWeese,
Brainerd and Columbus Scotus to Lincoln Southeast, Craydon Prep, and Omaha Central.
They needed a miracle in the formof Chevin Wiggins foot in Matt Davison's

(02:10):
hands to stay perfect that year.Detractors never mind how good they were,
how prolific the ninety seventeam was,and how now we learned just how remarkably
devoted they were to each other.They loved but feared their coaches, They
feared letting them down. They lovedthe state. The out of towners like

(02:31):
Mike Rucker, Jay Foreman, JasonPeter were so awe struck by this pride
of place. It motivated them everytime they pulled on that jersey. They
loved the game. Before the WestStadium construction project concealed them, those words
chiseled into the southwest corner. Notthe victory but the action, not the
goal, but the game and thedeed. The glory greeted them every day

(02:53):
of winter workouts, summertime conditioning,and practice sessions, like deified commandments at
ball. Humanity's great inhumanity so taxesthe body, it rewards only those imbued
with the heart of a lion.Its symbolism reflects the great American ideal sacrifice

(03:14):
meeting great challenge. Glory is onlyone after a fight and complete devotion to
one goal winning and that we onlywin together. The ninety seventeen loved each
other. Fights were a common occurrenceon the practice field that fall, but
those scuffles were borne out of acommon bond. Excellence is not negotiable.

(03:36):
Veterans intimidated, but then mentored therising stars, aware that the stewards of
this tradition walk this pathway for justforty eight months. No love and devotion,
care and concern were not words tossedaround a lot among our championship boys
of ninety seven. But leadership wasoutstanding was. Valor was excellent was and

(03:58):
love was Do these guys today lovethe game? Do they love winning?
Or better yet, do they hatelosing more? Do they love each other?
They don't have to say it,We'll all know right after kickoff.