Saturday, April 19, 2008

Nebraska's Spring Game Is Today

This is a twilight photo of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln Nebraska. It is the photo I am currently using as my computer background. It's a neat photo when you click on it to make it bigger.
I will explain the need for the photo later.
Nebraska was easily the predominant team of college football in the 1980's and 90's. In 1993 they were a missed field goal from being national champs and were the national champs in 1994 and 1995. The 1995 team was voted the best college football team of all time in a recent ESPN poll. However in my opionion the 1983 team was just as good but failed to win the title on a missed field goal on the last play of the last game. Head coach Tom Osborne's era lasted 25 years and ended in 1997. His record was 249 wins 55 losses and 3 ties. Nebraska wasn't used to losing.
They fell on hard times the past couple of seasons. (hardtimes meaning they actually had one losing season).
They have hired Bo Polini as their new head coach this year. There are high expectations in Cornhusker land.
Now back to the stadium. It has been sold out every game since November 3, 1963. Easily an on going national record. Spring practice has been going on for the past two weeks in Lincoln. Most major college programs hold a 'Spring Game' at the end of spring practice. It has normally drawn 30,000 people in Nebraska. Today, Nebraska has sold out their 80,000 plus seat stadium for the spring game. It's a SCRIMMAGE. There will be 80,000 people in Lincoln today to watch Nebraska practice. How's that for football fans? GO BIG RED!

18 comments:

Rachel said...

That is a great picture Cliff! I enlarged it to get the full view. Very nice!!

80,000 people gathered in one place? That's quite a crowd!!

bobbie said...

The photo is really spectacular. Did you take it? and if so, were you in a helicopter?

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Hi Cliff! I am not a football fan, but it is very impressive that this is a sold out stadium since 1963. That is a beautiful picture of the stadium. Lisa

Shannon said...

Beautiful pic!!!!

Jerry in Texas said...

That's a very cool picture. I've been there too. On the outside of the stadium, not inside. If I could only get my hands on a ticket I'd....

Well I'd scalp it for cash! 80,000 for a scrimmage? Those Nebraska fans are nuts!

Unknown said...

Proceed Large Crimson!

Lucy Stern said...

Love the picture and the fact that they have some really loyal fans.

Jamie Dawn said...

Those are some loyal fans!
That photo is super cool!!
I hope they have a winning season with Bo.
I know nothing about any current sports teams of any kind. I do know the difference between the various sports though, so I am not totally ignorant.

EV said...

Did you take that great picture!? I have no idea you were that tall.

LZ Blogger said...

Cliff ~ Very cool shot! I've heard that the stadium ALONE on "GAME DAY" becomes the 3rd. largest city in Nebraska, behind only Omaha and Lincoln! GO BIG RED! ~ jb///

Brad Clements said...

Believe it or not they had tickets for this SPRING game on ebay for $150 for two tickets... Practice :-)

Paul Nichols said...

Not to take anything away from your delightful and enthusiastic post, but I'm gonna tell you that if Allen Field House in Lawrence, KS held 80,000 people, it would have been full a couple of weeks ago on the Monday night of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Just to watch TV, of all things.

Everything is Rock-Chalk-Jayhawk! around here right now.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Very nice picture and when I enlarged it I saw that the stadium was full of people. That's an amazing attendance for a scrimmage game.

JunieRose2005 said...

Great picture, Cliff!

Anonymous said...

cliff - I'm sure you've seen it but, if you haven't, SI just did a great story on Nebraska football:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/04/15/nebraska0421/index.html

marty

Janell said...

Spectacular picture! I picked up some extra hours at HV last Sat and around 5 pm, some people started coming through whose faces were a little on the pink side. They were all, however, in spite of the sunburn, smiling broadly that they hade been to the game. Must have been a really nice day.

1 plus twins said...

wow! you must have some die hard fans out there! how exciting! did you go??

Jim said...

The only thing missing now-a-days is the throwing of the oranges! I miss that!

You have a nice screen saver.

Mrs. Jim and I attended the first national football game after 9-11, played there. Our Rice team was playing the Big Red. Security was very high.
The only thing Rice won was the band music!
That was my last time, the first was in 1951.
..

I left this comment about the Nazi piano:
"I'm late, I've been gone. Of course I have the solution, I generally do. A smaller keyboard will fit nicely on horseback with the Nazi.
That wouldn't be as glamorous as the piano in the wagon, but the tuning problems would be nil.
Can't wait till the parade!"
..