Open letter to Husker Nation...

[Blackshirt]

This was written by an OU Sooner fan who apparently has a pretty good

grip on life & football. It's long, but worth the read...

__________________________________________________

Dear Husker Fans,

Read this, but please don't think I'm talking down my nose at you.

I am writing from my own personal experience as a long-time Sooner fan, and

I think you need to hear what I have to say.

Some recent-history Sooner football scores:

11/01/97 Huskers 69 - OU 7

11/15/97 Texas A&M 51 - OU 7

10/5/96 KU 52 - OU 24

11/2/96 Huskers 73 - OU 21

Man, Tech clobbered you guys. I know exactly how you feel today. And

I hate to say it, but just when you ask yourself, "how bad can it

get?" you'll get an answer. But remember this, those tortilla throwers at

Tech don't have the proud past and future promise of the Cornhusker

program. Here's my thoughts on what you need to start doing now in

preparation for what is likely to happen in the next five to eight years -- your

return to the top of college football.

THE GREAT "FAN-FILTER"

First, get on the NU season-ticket waiting list now. The worst of

the worst "fans" will go first, and you don't want them in the stadium

anyway. You need to be there and sit through the hard times. When

greatness returns, you'll be there with the die-hards and the team

you love, and the atmosphere will be like never before. Those losers

that abandon the football program will be left outside where they belong.

Do this at any cost (buy season tickets). Work a second PT job if you

have to, but believe me, you won't regret it if you do it. There is a

great Book that's been around for thousands of years that talks about how

the branches must be pruned back so that the tree will bear more

abundant fruit. That is what is happening in Lincoln right now.

TAKE THE BEATING LIKE A FAN - IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.

Don't think that 70-10 is the way all games will go. Think of it as

a low point, and never forget it. If you guys have a few down years

ahead, there will be some great wins mixed in and some great players to

watch.

So it can still be lots of fun if you are a true fan. I doubt it

will get as bad in Lincoln as it was in Norman in 96 (3-8 season). That

hurt.

DON'T LISTEN TO THE IDIOTS

Don't listen to the critics WHO WILL SAY, "Nebraska's glory days are

done. Things have changed too much in college football. Nebraska

will never win another national championship. I guarantee it." Don't

listen to those idiots. They know nothing about the cycle of college

football that puts teams in the toilet for a while and then turns it around

to win championships. Take a look at the recent history of the schools

that have won championships over the past few years. Look at what

happened to OU.

And thinking in the opposite direction, do I think OU will be on top

forever? Heck no. But I won't abandon them either when they next

have a bad season or two. It all goes in cycles. (I dread when Texas kicks

our butt next. It will happen and we'll deserve a good beating, but hey

it's fun being where we are now. It all goes in cycles).

NEBRASKA'S PROBLEM

I don't know enough about your head coach to know if he's the guy or

not, but give him three more years - at least. Don't criticize the

guy yet. Let him find the right coaches to work under him. Obviously,

some changes will occur. I feel bad for John Blake, who is a really good

man, but is living the nightmare all over again. See scores above.

Don't boo the players. They don't get paid. They want to win more

than you do.

I think your problem is your athletic director. What a joke he is.

Getting rid of Frank S. was semi-dumb, but not hiring Bo was really

dumb. BTW - Frank has been at several OU games this year. And we

love Bo... thanks to your stupid AD. Rejoice on the day they send your

athletic director packing.

TRADITION DOES WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Remember Husker tradition. You'll here the idiots say, "You can't

win on tradition". That's a bunch of bull. Yes you can and you will, and it

starts with you supporting the program and the recruits feeling the

tradition when they come on campus. Your next student-athlete

champions are out there living right now, and their perceptions of where the

program is going is being shaped and formed as we speak.

KEEP WEARING RED

Go out and buy some more Husker gear tomorrow. Wear it proudly. When

the stupid punks at school all are wearing their Miami or USC trash,

just remember that you're wearing red for a completely different reason.

You have a proud heritage of greatness, both past and future. You are

passionate about the Husker tradition. Sorry you just aren't feeling

it now. Be patient.

A MAJORITY OF OU FANS ARE HOPING FOR A NU TURN-AROUND

Remember the high level of respect between Big Red and the Big Red

of the South. We hate Texas, KSU and Oklahoma-Lite in Stillwater. But a

massive majority of OU fans heavily respect the Huskers and support

your rebuilding. We want to play you guys to tough games. We want to have

heart-attacks games. We want the thrill of beating you guys like you

guys want to beat us. We love the history. We hate what the Big XII

schedules did to the annual game. My experience with the Husker fans

are golden memories. You guys are class fans..

So ponder what is important in life - God, family and then the

Huskers (in that order of course). One day you guys will be back on top,

maybe quicker than it appears today.

Boomer!

 

[DaveH]

Good read. I agree with most of it. :horns2

edit: I cleaned it up a bit for readability.

 

[AR Husker Fan]

Now, that was class.

And the letter writer is correct - I've said all along that it's amazing how much what's happening at NU resembles what happened at OU.

 

[faith]

Wow, that was enlightening. :thumbs

I thought that was Frank on the sideline at the Oklahoma-Texas game.

Much class from the Boomer Sooner, however; true Husker fans which there are many of are never going to give up on our team and would never abandoned them eithier. I also don't see many tickets becoming available anytime soon.

Is that still one record we still hold? Most consecutive sell-outs?

 

[Benard]

Now, that was class.
And the letter writer is correct - I've said all along that it's amazing how much what's happening at NU resembles what happened at OU.

How can we compare 10-3 to what okie was at when stoops got there. We are getting worse not better. They were bad and got better. I'd say it's a lot different.

Stoops and his staff can recruit and coach.

Blake and his staff could recruit but not coach.

CAllahan and his staff can recruit but can't coach.

 

[Blackshirt]

Good read. I agree with most of it. :horns2
edit: I cleaned it up a bit for readability.

Thanks Dave. I got it in an email FWD and considered doing the same but had to go to a meeting. Looks much better. :horns2

 

[RedCountry]

Thats awesome. I feel the same way about OU, and Im not just saying that after reading that letter. But like Faith mentioned I dont ever see us having the problem that they did with not selling out the games. But I shouldnt really say anything b/c if we had a 3-8 season..... arghhhhhh. lets just pretend I never said that! thanks for sharing that letter blackshirt.

 

[Redout]

So ponder what is important in life - God, family and then the Huskers (in that order of course). One day you guys will be back on top,

maybe quicker than it appears today

No I'm quite sure I'd put the Huskers first.