Ulty
All-Conference
The year we played Pacific, we had a national championship team, and the excitement and hunger in 1994 was off the charts. The anticipation for the team in red is what draws the fans; the quality of opponent is a smaller factor.As long as I can see football being played I'll be there. I do remember one year we played Pacific, who I'm sure may not have been a division I-A team at the time.That's bizarre thinking to me. I'd go hang out at practice if they'd let me. I literally pay to watch a Spring football practice every year. I couldn't care less who they're playing, if it's Husker football, I'd like to be there watching it.Talking to some friends at UNL they thought the terrible home schedule was a big reason for them not being sold out.
The idea that if they're playing weak opponents we won't show up is weird. This Sellout Streak wasn't built on the most rugged of schedules. For the better part of the 60s-90s, you could count on at least five of the other Big 8 schools to be pretty much crap, plus two garbage non-cons and maybe a half-decent-to-good non-con opponent.
The years we played Oklahoma in Norman, we rarely played a "sexy" team in Lincoln. Yet they still sold out the stadium, because it was Nebraska and we were Nebraskans.
For several years not too long ago, Colorado consistently had some of the toughest OOC schedules in the nation, just so they could sell some tickets. Well, they still had a crappy team, and they have always had a crappy fan base and can't fill their stadium.
The product on the field is of prime importance. There just isn't too much excitement for the 2014 Huskers right now compared to previous years. But I also agree with Landlord that UNL needs to take better care of the student fans and make it more of a "collegiate" experience.