Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Corso says NU fans the best then, now
Lee Corso offered me a sandwich.
Three times.
“Sure?” Corso said. “You don’t want a sandwich?”
Nah, but thanks, anyway.
Maybe Corso was feeling especially hospitable because he was in the bowels of Memorial Stadium, a place where Corso has been the recipient of some good hospitality in past years.
Corso remembers taking his Indiana team to Lincoln 30 years ago, losing, then receiving the traditional standing ovation by Nebraska fans.
“I never forgot that,” Corso said.
Corso used to be a coach, but he’s more famous these days for his antics and analysis on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” The show broadcast live before some 15,000 fans Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium.
Never mind that Corso had some circle-shaped, giveaway seat cushions flung his way after predicting a USC victory.
His view of Huskers fans hasn’t changed.
“The best college football fans in the nation are right here,” Corso said, “because they respect the way the game of football should be played — not only by the Big Red, but by the opponent, also.
“They’re very respectful here.”
Corso pointed to the piece ESPN aired on former USC kicker Mario Danelo, who tragically died in January. The fans fell silent during the story, then followed with applause.
“Very few schools do that,” Corso said.
In fact, co-host Chris Fowler, during a break, thanked the fans for their classy reaction.
As for Corso’s behind-the-scenes game prediction?
“I think Nebraska’s got a great chance, because I don’t think (USC) is as good as people think,” Corso said. “But I think they’re good enough to beat (Nebraska) close.
“Real close.”
‘GameDay’ patrol
I wonder if Corso’s opinion of Nebraska fans would’ve changed any had he seen the sign I saw.
Rather inappropriate, shall we say, the sign was among six or seven confiscated by local security.
Otherwise, (besides the seat cushions), there really wasn’t much to patrol. A well-behaved, exuberant crowd yelled at the appropriate times.
Yeah, they tossed some corncobs, too.
(So, you can take a corncob into the stadium, but not a cup of coffee?)
I’m guessing, though, that coffee isn’t what encouraged a few students to arrive at Memorial Stadium early.
I talked to a couple of students — one from Waukesha, Wis., who was visiting his brother in Lincoln — with front-row access to “GameDay.” They arrived at 6 a.m., with about 50 others. The gates didn’t open until 7:30 for the 9 a.m. show.
Going deep
* That’s the first time I’ve heard an injured player get booed while trotting off the field. Fans didn’t appreciate USC’s Alfred Rowe’s finger-pointing … moments after the stretcher came onto the field for his care.
* Nebraska issued 604 media credentials for the USC game, compared with 375 for the Nevada game.
* Nebraska basketball coach Doc Sadler took part in the ESPN “GameDay” festivities, too, donning a corncob hat and shooting T-shirts into the crowd. Let’s hope his team has better aim.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
Lee Corso offered me a sandwich.
Three times.
“Sure?” Corso said. “You don’t want a sandwich?”
Nah, but thanks, anyway.
Maybe Corso was feeling especially hospitable because he was in the bowels of Memorial Stadium, a place where Corso has been the recipient of some good hospitality in past years.
Corso remembers taking his Indiana team to Lincoln 30 years ago, losing, then receiving the traditional standing ovation by Nebraska fans.
“I never forgot that,” Corso said.
Corso used to be a coach, but he’s more famous these days for his antics and analysis on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” The show broadcast live before some 15,000 fans Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium.
Never mind that Corso had some circle-shaped, giveaway seat cushions flung his way after predicting a USC victory.
His view of Huskers fans hasn’t changed.
“The best college football fans in the nation are right here,” Corso said, “because they respect the way the game of football should be played — not only by the Big Red, but by the opponent, also.
“They’re very respectful here.”
Corso pointed to the piece ESPN aired on former USC kicker Mario Danelo, who tragically died in January. The fans fell silent during the story, then followed with applause.
“Very few schools do that,” Corso said.
In fact, co-host Chris Fowler, during a break, thanked the fans for their classy reaction.
As for Corso’s behind-the-scenes game prediction?
“I think Nebraska’s got a great chance, because I don’t think (USC) is as good as people think,” Corso said. “But I think they’re good enough to beat (Nebraska) close.
“Real close.”
‘GameDay’ patrol
I wonder if Corso’s opinion of Nebraska fans would’ve changed any had he seen the sign I saw.
Rather inappropriate, shall we say, the sign was among six or seven confiscated by local security.
Otherwise, (besides the seat cushions), there really wasn’t much to patrol. A well-behaved, exuberant crowd yelled at the appropriate times.
Yeah, they tossed some corncobs, too.
(So, you can take a corncob into the stadium, but not a cup of coffee?)
I’m guessing, though, that coffee isn’t what encouraged a few students to arrive at Memorial Stadium early.
I talked to a couple of students — one from Waukesha, Wis., who was visiting his brother in Lincoln — with front-row access to “GameDay.” They arrived at 6 a.m., with about 50 others. The gates didn’t open until 7:30 for the 9 a.m. show.
Going deep
* That’s the first time I’ve heard an injured player get booed while trotting off the field. Fans didn’t appreciate USC’s Alfred Rowe’s finger-pointing … moments after the stretcher came onto the field for his care.
* Nebraska issued 604 media credentials for the USC game, compared with 375 for the Nevada game.
* Nebraska basketball coach Doc Sadler took part in the ESPN “GameDay” festivities, too, donning a corncob hat and shooting T-shirts into the crowd. Let’s hope his team has better aim.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.