History and tradition mean very little to todays kids. If it did, Oregon, Stanford, Northwestern, Louisville, Texas Tech, Baylor wouldn't be getting the kids they do. They would want that great tradition.
As much as I hate to admit it. Nebraska needs to change, to acquire the kids. Oregon does it with flash, a quick paced offense. Louisville somewhat the same. Our recruiting seems to be heavy in the late year, when the weather, and the beauty of Lincoln are not at their prime. Bring kids in early in the football season. Make that time frame the priority time, might help.
Maybe we need to change some things. Of all the major schools that you think of when thinking blue blood, we seem to have fallen the farthest. Get the kids/students more involved. If we need to have a black our or white out, then the staff and the AD need to support it. Excitement with youth travels very quickly.
I am an old geezer, have followed the traditions and said no to everything. But this ship needs turning, and it has to be what the kids want, what they want to be part of.