It's true that Illinois has never done anything, but that 2-5 Illinois team, that has lost to the likes of UTSA, Virginia, Maryland and Purdue, nonetheless beat the Huskers this year. And if you think being a fan means living in the distant past and not facing the current reality, then maybe YOU should find one of those other 106 teams to root for.
Merely stating an opinion that happens to be critical and realistic doesn't disqualify anyone as a fan. My honest opinion is that the glory days will not return for NU. A decent year here and there? Yes. An occasional close game or even an upset of a top 10 team at home? Yes. But mostly just an average program from year to year? Yes.
There are simply too many intrinsic disadvantages, including playing in a league with stronger programs that not only have top-shelf traditions, but also natural and fertile recruiting grounds in highly populated states – particularly Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. That's a big reason that the past 10 years have been a depressing slog, and nothing can change that major disadvantage.
But saying all of this doesn't disqualify me as a fan who is willing to accept that reality.