Should Husker Fans Continue To Support This Program?

by Jon Johnston on Oct 8, 2007 11:50 AM CDT in Nebraska Husker Football

Samuel McKewon at Nebraska Statepaper.com says that Husker fans need to start voting with their checkbooks if they don't like the product they see on the field.

Let's keep this short, sweet and simple: If you don't like what you're seeing out of the Nebraska football team, there's one effective (and respectful) way to scream it.

Close your wallet.

A good recommendation. Unfortunately, it's doubtful that it will be followed since Husker fans are collectively held hostage by two distinct items:

A sell-out streak that's gone on since 1962.
A sign that says "Through these Gates Pass the Greatest Fans in College Football".

People worry about the streak ending so they'll continue to buy tickets and go to the games. They'll worry about booing an emotionless, passionless team because "Great" fans don't show that kind of distaste for college football players. The extortion will result in the athletic department doing what it's been doing since Steve Pederson took over; pretending that everything is all right, that Steve's way isn't just the right way, but the only way.

Steve Sipple at Husker Extra writes today:

Speaking of leaders, Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson constantly reminds his employees, "Everyone’s accountable." Pederson’s mantra, of course, should apply to Pederson himself, for he was responsible for hiring a head football coach who presides over a program that suddenly appears to be spiritless, rudderless and lacking in chemistry.

Is it any wonder that the football team is 'spiritless, rudderless, and lacking in chemistry" given that the guy in charge of the place can't even go on Tom Osborne field to make a half-time presentation because he is so widely despised by Husker fans? Bill Byrne wasn't Mr. Popular while at Nebraska, but most Husker supporters respected the fact that he took the athletic department out of the dark ages. Steve Pederson doesn't seem to be doing much but making people angrier with every year he's in place.

There will come a time at which the sell-out streak will need to end for real change to come to Nebraska's football program. When it does, we can close the book on a truly magnificent era of college football and then look to the future. Until then you have a choice to make - support this program in hopes that things get better or cut off your funding and cripple it to the point that change must occur. What you going to do?

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Comments

We All Stick Together Through All Kinds of Weathr

With season tickets sold out for years, not buying or using tickets is simply not feasible. We love our Huskers and only want what's best for them.

That being said, that love has it's limits. Sometimes you have to show "tough love" when the program you love has lost it's way. Stop buying tickets? Too late... the rest of the games are sold out for the rest of this season. Stop buying merchandise? Well, eventually it will show up in the University's accounts...but probably not for 6-9 months.

So we do what any family does...we argue. We hope it comes soon and we this doesn't get any worse. That's why the outpouring of outrage is valuable. Even Matt Davison who literally works for the University acknowledges the problems. It pretty much guarantees that changes WILL occur at the end of the season.

If we ever STOP caring, that's when Nebraska football is dead.

by Husker Mike on Oct 8, 2007 3:18 PM CDT reply actions