MShurt
A.K.A: Matt Shurtliff
Occupation: Enviromental Management Consultant
Hometown: Bellevue, Nebraska
High School: Bellevue East
College: BS, Nebraska, 1990; MS, Iowa, 1992
Current Residence: St. Louis, Missouri
Marital Status: Married (8 years) with two children
E-mail: [email protected]
Favorite Husker(s): Rick Berns was my first favorite player. Over time, other faves have been Derrie Nelson, Turner Gill, Mike Rozier, Ken Clark, and of course, Tommie and Scott. Eric Crouch will probably get there.
Favorite "Native Son" Husker: I love the in-state guys who give it their all with maybe a bit less talent. Phil Ellis is my favorite, I love watching the post-game videotapes from the 95 Orange Bowl, when he says "I sold out my body for my teammates, and they sold out theirs for me." Folks, that's what Nebraska football is all about.
If I could be a Husker player for a day: I'd be Corey Schlesinger against Miami. Sometimes people just plain step into "the moment." and have the gretest day of their lives when the stakes are the highest. I won't speak for Cory, but I'd bet that his experience comes close. Up he steps, at the most critical of moments, a walk-on from Duncan, Nebraska. Think he'll ever have to pay for his own beer in a bar in the state of Nebraska?
Favorite Husker moment, live: I was in the stands for the 98 Orange Bowl. As the clock counted down to kickoff, the OB jumbotron ran an awesome video sequence of alternating Nebraska and Tennessee highlights. The plays got better and better as they went along, and the fans of each team screamed louder and louder. The last Nebraska highlight was the flea-flicker against Missouri, and Husker fans went wild. Then they showed some Vol play that I can't remember, probably a huge TD in their SEC title game, and Tennessee's fans when bonkers. They closed with a closeup of Osborne -- the classic stone face profile, wearing a hat, chewing gum, and of course the headsets with the "Osborne" label. The whole stadium erupted -- Husekr fans and Vol fans, all screaming their guts out for T.O. I cried right there.
Favorite Husker moment, TV: The 78 OU game. This was the biggest win that Osborne would have until Jan. 1, 1995.
What the Huskers mean to me: When I was nine years old, I woke up on a cold Novemeber morning, took out the OWH sports page, and cut the Oklahoma Sooners roster out of the paper. I put it in a cup of water, and stuck it in the freezer. My parents asked what I was doing, and I replied, "I'm going to make them fumble." The year was 1978, the Sooners fumbled six time, and T.O. brought home his first win against Oklahoma. You all have me to thank. It's gotten consistently worse since that day.