RedSnapper
Born: Oakland, CA. 1959
Raised: Omaha 62-70
Minneapolis 70-74
Omaha 74-78
College: UNL 78-82
UNMC 82-86
Current Hometown: Torrance, CA.
Favorite Husker: Tom Osborne
2nd Favorite Husker: (tie) Lyle Bremser & Bob Devaney
Favorite Husker Moment: Johnny Rodgers' 1971 OU punt return. (12 years old,
just into that period of Hukser hero-worship, living away from Nebraska for the
first time. A moment and a game that will forever be etched in my memory.....)
2nd favorite Husker moment: 1978 OU game. Watched as a fresman high in the south endzone. It was a magical moment in Husker history. (Unfortunately, that moment died a week later, as I watched from the sidelines with my athlete frat
bro.....)
I am a Los Angeleno now, but spent over 80% of my first quarter century in Nebraska- all but my 4 years of college in Omaha.
Despite the fact that I have now lived in California almost as long as I lived in Nebraska, I have strong ties to the state of Nebraska, including my family and a sense of pride in my roots. Plus the tradition of hard work and honest interaction with others, that is emphasized there.
Nowhere is the product of those midwestern ethos more publically visible then in the football program at the University of Nebraska. A quarter-century of excellence under native son Tom Osborne only strengthens that sense of pride. The fact that this unprecedented level of success was accomplished without any major NCAA violations or scandals involving those who "run" the program only serves to highlight what I am talking about when I refer to the midwestern ethos.
Finally, the experience of Game Day in Lincoln, NE. is something I have never seen equalled here in SoCal. Not even close. I have been to Laker playoff games, UCLA games, etc. The only time they even came close was when Nebraksa came to town to play the Bruins. (Especially in 1988- dadgummit!) My wife is from another country, and she did not grow up knowing anything about football. But when I brought her to Lincoln (somewhat against her will, I might add) she was impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being a part of that huge unifying force in the State of Nebraska - Cornhusker Football.
