Husker Dan: From the Email Bag

To beer, or not to beer

Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

It's time to get caught up with answering my Husker Dan email messages. So here goes.

Game Day Enhancements?

Husker Dan:

What are your thoughts about selling alcohol at Husker football games?
Rita Booke
Portland, OR

Dear Rita:

Coming in at #1 in UNL's recent poll of Husker season ticket holders was the desire to have seats that are more comfortable. That doesn't seem to be too much to ask for, right? Farther down on the fans' wish list was the ability to buy alcohol at Husker home football games.

The COVID shut down of 2020 may have influenced fans' requests. Why? Because fans who weren't allowed to attend games in person in 2020, discovered how nice it was to be able to watch Husker games in the comfort of their own homes. They could sit in their favorite leather recliner, consume as much (or little) adult beverages they wanted. Restrooms were easily accessible and weather was never a problem. Big screen HD TVs with a pause button made for a very nice game day experience.

And when Husker fans returned last year, they had to sit in narrow, rock hard seats. They also had to cope with long lines in the concession stands and had to endure the changing Nebraska weather. Throw in the cost of parking and tickets and you have the makings of a sometimes unpleasant game day experience.

To enhance the game day experience, I believe UNL will find a way to to widen the seats and make them more comfortable in the coming years. The selling of alcohol is also likely to happen.

The question is, will there be abuses from fans who might drink too much at Husker home games?

Probably.

But what do most fans do when they tailgate prior before games? What do many people do in the bars in Lincoln on game day?

Right. They drink copious amounts of beer and whatever else they wish to consume. To think that alcohol hasn't been consumed during Husker football games in the past is a bit disingenuous.

I'm in favor of making Husker football game day experiences the best they can be for all Husker fans. It may not happen this fall, but look for UNL's to sell alcohol and make the seats more comfortable. Is that too much to ask?

Thanks for writing.

Husker Basketball

HD:

I was disappointed to see Nebraska's men's basketball team end their season by losing last week in the first round of the B1G men's basketball tournament in Indianapolis. After winning three consecutive road games to end the regular season, they stunk up the place by losing to fellow bottom feeder, Northwestern, 71-69.

And the next night after the Wildcats beat Nebraska, Iowa absolutely destroyed that same Northwestern team, 112-76. I thought Fred Hoiberg's team had finally found themselves late in the season, but this game was a bit too much for me. What a disappointment.

Lisa Karr
Grand Forks, ND

Dear Lisa:

I feel your pain. I have no clue why the Huskers went from beating two ranked teams (Wisconsin was ranked #10) and Ohio State (#23).

Just when we thought maybe Fred's team had found the magic formula on how to win, they shot themselves in the foot.

One play in the second half seemed to set the tone for the Huskers. Late in the game and with no defensive pressure from the Wildcats, Alonzo Verge inexplicably had a 10 second violation called on him, resulting in a turnover on Nebraska. I don't know if I've ever seen a play like that happen in a Power Five game. When the margin of the loss was by only 2 points, fans have to wonder what's going on.

Thankfully, Husker women's head basketball coach, Amy Williams has her Huskers playing in the women's Big Dance. And no matter what happens in that tournament, the Husker gals will return a core of some really good players next season. B1G Conference Player of the Year, Alexis Markowski is just a freshman. Jaz Shelley and Isabelle Bourne are sophomores, while Sam Haiby is just a junior. Best of luck, ladies!

How 'Bout Them Huskers Podcast

HD:

I've enjoyed listening to your podcasts. Especially liked the one you did with Jordan Westerkamp. How did the podcasts come to be?

Betty Dussent
Cleveland, OH

Dear Betty: Great question. My 16 year old grandson, Will, approached me earlier this year asking if I would be interested in doing a podcast with him about Husker sports. Of course I said yes!

Will had been doing a podcast mainly about soccer with a friend of his. His buddy couldn't do it any more. Will had the operation already in place, so all we had to do was create a title and away we went.

Speaking of the podcast, you don't want to miss the latest interview we did with former Husker Heisman winner, Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers. He gave as an update on how his battle with COVID has gone, how and why he chose Nebraska to play college football and why he had to give up his love of playing professional baseball. Thanks to all of you who have been listening!

Previous episodes can be found here.

---