Searching for Lost Mad Mike the Drum Beater

T

Tuckerp

Walk-on
Around the mid 80's, when I was a boy attending Nebraska football games, there was a man people called Mad Mike. I believe he was from Kansas City and he would attend every home game dressed in his Husker red and carrying his snare drum. He would roam the stadium beating his drum and getting the fans all fired up with chats of Husker Power, Go Big Red, etc. I was thinking about Mad Mike the other day and was wondering if anyone knows what happen to him? It seems like when Memorial Stadium lost M.M., it lost one of its greatest cheerleaders and Husker icons.

 
I definitely remember Mad Mike. Back in the day he was awesome.

 
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there was also another one- Husker Bob maybe? He dressed in all white(maybe) One of them did of a heart attack. At least to the best of my limited memory.

 
I remember Mad Mike and Husker Bob very well. I might be dreaming this but, I think I recall Mad Mike doing his thing at a Denver Broncos game circa John Elway and barrelman days (prob mid 90's). Husker Bob would always wear a white and red suit to the games. I don't remember him so good from him being in the stadium but I do remember he ate formal dinner at our fraternity once. I believe he was sort of dating our house mother for awhile. I recall he did have a heart attack back in the eightys. Not sure if he is still with us-kind of doubt it.

 
Hey Knapplc, great link! Those were the days I remember, when the crowds seemed louder and full of spirit. Correct me if I am wrong here, but I feel that when Peterson took control as AD everything went south when it came to the old fan cheers. I must admit, it's been awhile since I have been to a game but it seems to me that gone are the days of half the stadium yelling Husker and the other half yelling Power or Go Big Red circled the stadium. Maybe it's me, but they need to bring those things back.

 
I remember he left or something to work at the KC Chiefs games I believe.

I do remember one time he came to our school in 6th grade for an assembly. His speach ended up being on how America was going down the cultural toilet. I remember he also belittled a fellow 6th grader almost to tears because the kid's dad took him to an R rated movie. Kind of a sanctamonius d!(k, if you ask me. Good cheerleader, but not a nice guy.

 
Tuckerp said:
Hey Knapplc, great link! Those were the days I remember, when the crowds seemed louder and full of spirit. Correct me if I am wrong here, but I feel that when Peterson took control as AD everything went south when it came to the old fan cheers. I must admit, it's been awhile since I have been to a game but it seems to me that gone are the days of half the stadium yelling Husker and the other half yelling Power or Go Big Red circled the stadium. Maybe it's me, but they need to bring those things back.
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The stadium has improved in fan participation drastically this year, in my opinion. During booth reviews in the last 4 games the Husker Power chant is always going. I think that the stadium is more alive due to more faith in the team.

 
JJHusker1 said:
I remember Mad Mike and Husker Bob very well. I might be dreaming this but, I think I recall Mad Mike doing his thing at a Denver Broncos game circa John Elway and barrelman days (prob mid 90's). Husker Bob would always wear a white and red suit to the games. I don't remember him so good from him being in the stadium but I do remember he ate formal dinner at our fraternity once. I believe he was sort of dating our house mother for awhile. I recall he did have a heart attack back in the eightys. Not sure if he is still with us-kind of doubt it.
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Mad Mike was a guy that got paid to be there. He did his schtick at Chiefs games and at Broncos games at some point. Husker Bob was just a Nebraska fan who had a great time. Husker Bob had a heart attack at the stadium and died. Went out the way he wanted to.

 
Pretty sure Mad Mike either got paid or had some "formal" arrangement to be at the games. Also seems like there was a rift and he took his drum and show to another venue. Was great stuff though.

My favorite old time stadium memory was way back before the "wienerschlinger". There was an attorney/hippie guy that would dress in kind of an old coat/tie and actually hand toss hotdogs several dozen rows up into the stands. People would wad their money up and it would be handed from one person to another down to the vendor. That was the coolest thing ever I thought. He had an arm on him for sure.

Edit: Just read the link Knappic posted. The hot dog flinging attorney is mentioned in the same document, several paragraphs earier.

 
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The Husker - Power chant starts right before the Tunnel Walk. Depending on the delay from the earlier televised game it can go for a few minutes. Also during long commercial breaks, the cheerleaders might start the Husker - Power chant. That's still a part of the stadium experience. Along with the wave, and now the slow motion wave and the quick wave.

New this year are the team flags of all the B1G teams for the pre-game Marching Red experience.

Tuckerp, you should get to Memorial Stadium for a game!

 
dergibog said:
The Husker - Power chant starts right before the Tunnel Walk. Depending on the delay from the earlier televised game it can go for a few minutes. Also during long commercial breaks, the cheerleaders might start the Husker - Power chant. That's still a part of the stadium experience. Along with the wave, and now the slow motion wave and the quick wave.

New this year are the team flags of all the B1G teams for the pre-game Marching Red experience.

Tuckerp, you should get to Memorial Stadium for a game!
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Them flags were present last year as well.

 
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