The 2018 Nebraska Football Red-White Spring game is this weekend. The scrimmage is SOLD OUT, so there will be plenty of Husker fans around.

The weather forecast looks better now than it did earlier in the week. At the time of this writing (Tuesday night), it looks like a high of 53 with a 30% chance of rain. Does it matter?

Every year I try to gauge the interest of the fan base and what they’re most concerned about by running a poll about what type of football play will bring about the loudest cheer from the fans at the spring game.

Last season - 2017 - Mike Riley’s third and final year, the poll totaled 1,114 votes. The top vote getter was Quarterbacks with accuracy and zero interceptions with 543 votes (49%). That was the landslide winner over four other options, one of which included “Shirtless Bob Diaco” that garnered 71 votes (6%).

It seems like Nebraska has had quarterback problems for the past several years. The previous year we also voted for quarterback play.

We’ve been doing this poll for several years now.

Here is the history:

2016: Mike Riley’s second year totaled 1,209 votes. 38% of the votes went to Quarterbacks! Armstrong and O’Brien with accuracy and zero Interceptions over 29% for “The defense force pressure in the passing game and no runs over 10 yards by the offense”.

2015: Despite the fact that 2015 was Mike Riley’s first year on the job, you voted in another landslide for quarterbacks. Again!!! Quarterbacks Quarterbacks Quarterbacks - Great Play By Quarterbacks took 43% of the 973 votes.

2014: Husker fans voted for the Newbies: Adam Taylor, Johnny Stanton, Tanner Farmer, Chongo Kondolo, Terrell Newby and Marcus Newby.

In 2013, Husker fans voted for "A linebacker closing on and wrapping up an I-back on a sweep", by quite a large margin. The vote no doubt reflected the frustration of watching Nebraska get destroyed by Wisconsin in the previous season's Big Ten Championship game.

In 2012, Husker fans voted for "Husker wide receivers not dropping any passes, including a nasty block from Quincy Enunwa and signs of progress from Jamal Turner " - the description was specific but adequate given the frustration of dropped passes the previous season.

In 2011, Husker fans wanted to see "Taylor Martinez back to playmaking speed", remembering the Martinez who exploded early in the 2010 season, becoming a Heisman prospect in process. That vote was very close as offensive line blocking was right behind Martinez in popularity.

In 2010, Husker fans were hungry for a quarterback - ANY quarterback - after having gone through the 2009 season with a championship-level defense and one of the most anemic offenses in the nation. The vote was won by "A big play by a quarterback" by a large margin.

In 2009, fans were still worried about the defense. The defense had made a significant jump during Bo Pelini's first season but Husker fans wanted more. "The defense - a big defensive play - a big hit or turnover" won by a small margin over Ndamukong Suh.

It wasn't hard to guess in 2008. Husker fans were just pleased that Bo Pelini was our new head coach.

This Year’s Poll!