|
My brief Nebraska football story...
When the Huskers came to Berkeley in the late-90's, my friend Ben who's a total anti-sports weird/noisepunker was decorating his entire apartment complex with graffitied bedsheets to welcome NU alums. His apartment building was clearly visible at the last sharp left into the parking lot of the Cal stadium parking lot.
From each of the south-facing balconies of the six-story building were giant signs with proclamations such as "You know you're a redneck when... [next story down] ...your mascot is CORN!"
The game was uncharacteristically close for the Nebraska team which was perenially a top-three-ranked team throughout the 90's. I seem to recall that the Huskers had to come from behind in the final minute to win the game. Coach Tom Osborn was interviewed on the field, ducking debris, immediately after the game, and he mentioned on ESPN that the Berkeley fans were so hostile to his team and the NU alumni, specifically saying "They had signs outside the stadium telling us that we were rednecks because our mascot was corn."
My friend and his roommates high-fived each other and ran around the room like silly: "Dude! They're talking about us on ESPN!"
|