Steve Sipple from the Journal-Star asked for people to share Husker football spring game thoughts about your family so I did near the bottom!
Steven M. Sipple: Families' spring football memories are priceless
I absolutely love these family stories involving Nebraska football.
I’ll never tire of hearing a father say he had one of his best days as a parent when he took his 10-year-old son to his first Husker game. I’ll never tire of seeing a kid’s smile after he gets high-fived by a player during the Tunnel Walk. Of course, I was once one of those kids, enjoying games with my father and being mesmerized by the energy in the stadium and atmosphere all around it.
I remember being struck by the passion in the voices of fans calling into the postgame radio shows.
How many hundreds of kids have those same memories?
It’s wonderful to hear about the family that will have four generations sitting together at today’s Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium.
The Spring Game experience is different than a typical fall game day in Lincoln. In many ways, it is about family. Dads and moms and grandfathers and grandmothers can afford to take a whole clan of kids to the Spring Game. Indeed, it’s a rare chance for those fans who don’t have season tickets, or can’t afford them, to soak in the magical game-day atmosphere at the stadium.
Yes, it’s just a scrimmage. But think about it. The stadium will be full (or close to full) and the atmosphere around campus will be better today than many fall game-day atmospheres at prominent football schools all around the country.
What’s not to enjoy?
Recently, the Lincoln Journal Star asked Husker fans to submit their Spring Game memories. Following are some of their replies.
Fifteen of us are going to the Spring Game. In that bunch will be our 18-month-old daughter Ellie. We are so excited for her to see her first live game (er, scrimmage). She loves watching sports on TV, can’t wait to see her reaction. Her grandma even bought her a pair of red Husker overalls (yet to be detailed with rhinestones on the front pocket so she doesn’t look like a boy) to be geared up for the game. It’s nice being able to take her to the Spring Game rather than paying the expensive prices for season tickets for her to go when she would just sit on my lap anyway. GBR!!!!!
— Angie R. Bringenberg, Lincoln
I am bringing my 9-year-old son along with my dad, who just turned 70 years old, and my wife.
I feel that Husker football is a bonding experience that is linking us together. My son is becoming very interested in football and the Huskers, and my father and I have discussed and analyzed Husker games for years. It seems to be a neat link between us. There is something special about spending time with my son, dad, and myself either at a Husker game (Spring Game this time) or talking about them.
— Michael Gunter
My name is Brennan Downs and I live in Evansville, Ind. My father, Brian, and I have been to every Red-White Game since the beginning of the Callahan era. Last spring the Journal Star ran an article on us documenting our Husker fanaticism. Just to give an update to our story, we made all but one game last season. We were there through thick and thin, on the mild September evening for the thumping handed to us by USC, for the squeaker that was Ball State. We even ventured into the enemy territory of Colorado and sat through the frigid winds for what would become Bill’s last day on the job.
The day after Colorado I was up all night awaiting word of what would become of the future of Husker football. When the announcement came that Mr. Callahan was released, a huge sigh of relief could be heard here in our house in Indiana. Then the fun began. Tracking planes never really gets old. Bo is back and a new, exciting era is upon us. This season we are looking for big things. ... This season has tons of potential and Bo is just the man for the job. My father and I are very excited to see Bo’s staff at work this weekend and throughout the season.
Keep the Faith, Go Big Red.
— Brennan Downs
My family has been lifelong Husker fans but haven’t lived in the state for quite some time due to military service. I’m currently stationed at Fort Detrick, Md., but will be flying in this weekend to take my 6-month-old to Memorial Stadium for the first time. My father (a UNL graduate) and two brothers are flying in from California and we are meeting my grandfather (a retired UNL counselor), aunt and cousin.
With the sellout streak, it’s really difficult for my family to go to games together. My grandfather has had two season tickets for years and I’ve been able to fly back for several games but I’ve never been able to go to a game with both my dad and grandfather. So now for the first time, I get to sit in Memorial Stadium and witness the rebirth of the Husker tradition with four generations of Husker fans. Does it get better than that?
— Ian A. Breckenridge
I started taking my son to the Red-White “game”when he was 12 or 13. We also tried to attend one game per year as our “father -son” outing.
We have kept this up for over 13 years, along with the 1994 and 1995 national championship celebrations for the football team. My son now lives in Lincoln and I live five hours away in Ainsworth. But we both will be there Saturday!
And now I have a 3-year-old grandson, so I hope to continue the “tradition” for some years to come.
As far as Pelini and company, I can’t wait for the resurgence for the “Blackshirts” and a “Scoring Explosion.”
Last year at “Fan Day,” Coach (Shawn) Watson made a comment to me while signing my card that “We are going to surprise some people this year.” The “Power of Red” is on the horizon.
— Michael A. Rudnick
Well, of course we are going to the Spring Game. It’s the one day of the year where I can actually bring the wife and kids to the game and enjoy it without being all stressed out.
— Brian Reetz, Lincoln
How do I love the Spring Game? Let me count the ways ... I am a graduate of UNL, now living in Indianapolis. For me the game is an excuse to point my car toward the place I love so much and enjoy 8 or 9 hours of uninterrupted time in the car with my 15-year-old daughter. Upon arrival I can see dear friends, down a few Runzas and savor the “good life” that so intensely shaped who I am. Friends and co-workers here ask in amazement why I’d drive that far to see something they regard as inconsequential or meaningless. I tell them that I’m going to spend the afternoon with 81,000 of my closest friends. What a blast. I’m fortunate to serve on the board of directors of the Indianapolis 500 Festival. As part of my duties I drive a 2008, official Indy 500 Pace car.
So, if you see a middle-aged guy and a 15-year-old girl tooling down “O” Street, please honk and wave ... we’ll be making some great memories.
— Rod Porter
Steven M. Sipple: Families' spring football memories are priceless
I absolutely love these family stories involving Nebraska football.
I’ll never tire of hearing a father say he had one of his best days as a parent when he took his 10-year-old son to his first Husker game. I’ll never tire of seeing a kid’s smile after he gets high-fived by a player during the Tunnel Walk. Of course, I was once one of those kids, enjoying games with my father and being mesmerized by the energy in the stadium and atmosphere all around it.
I remember being struck by the passion in the voices of fans calling into the postgame radio shows.
How many hundreds of kids have those same memories?
It’s wonderful to hear about the family that will have four generations sitting together at today’s Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium.
The Spring Game experience is different than a typical fall game day in Lincoln. In many ways, it is about family. Dads and moms and grandfathers and grandmothers can afford to take a whole clan of kids to the Spring Game. Indeed, it’s a rare chance for those fans who don’t have season tickets, or can’t afford them, to soak in the magical game-day atmosphere at the stadium.
Yes, it’s just a scrimmage. But think about it. The stadium will be full (or close to full) and the atmosphere around campus will be better today than many fall game-day atmospheres at prominent football schools all around the country.
What’s not to enjoy?
Recently, the Lincoln Journal Star asked Husker fans to submit their Spring Game memories. Following are some of their replies.
Fifteen of us are going to the Spring Game. In that bunch will be our 18-month-old daughter Ellie. We are so excited for her to see her first live game (er, scrimmage). She loves watching sports on TV, can’t wait to see her reaction. Her grandma even bought her a pair of red Husker overalls (yet to be detailed with rhinestones on the front pocket so she doesn’t look like a boy) to be geared up for the game. It’s nice being able to take her to the Spring Game rather than paying the expensive prices for season tickets for her to go when she would just sit on my lap anyway. GBR!!!!!
— Angie R. Bringenberg, Lincoln
I am bringing my 9-year-old son along with my dad, who just turned 70 years old, and my wife.
I feel that Husker football is a bonding experience that is linking us together. My son is becoming very interested in football and the Huskers, and my father and I have discussed and analyzed Husker games for years. It seems to be a neat link between us. There is something special about spending time with my son, dad, and myself either at a Husker game (Spring Game this time) or talking about them.
— Michael Gunter
My name is Brennan Downs and I live in Evansville, Ind. My father, Brian, and I have been to every Red-White Game since the beginning of the Callahan era. Last spring the Journal Star ran an article on us documenting our Husker fanaticism. Just to give an update to our story, we made all but one game last season. We were there through thick and thin, on the mild September evening for the thumping handed to us by USC, for the squeaker that was Ball State. We even ventured into the enemy territory of Colorado and sat through the frigid winds for what would become Bill’s last day on the job.
The day after Colorado I was up all night awaiting word of what would become of the future of Husker football. When the announcement came that Mr. Callahan was released, a huge sigh of relief could be heard here in our house in Indiana. Then the fun began. Tracking planes never really gets old. Bo is back and a new, exciting era is upon us. This season we are looking for big things. ... This season has tons of potential and Bo is just the man for the job. My father and I are very excited to see Bo’s staff at work this weekend and throughout the season.
Keep the Faith, Go Big Red.
— Brennan Downs
My family has been lifelong Husker fans but haven’t lived in the state for quite some time due to military service. I’m currently stationed at Fort Detrick, Md., but will be flying in this weekend to take my 6-month-old to Memorial Stadium for the first time. My father (a UNL graduate) and two brothers are flying in from California and we are meeting my grandfather (a retired UNL counselor), aunt and cousin.
With the sellout streak, it’s really difficult for my family to go to games together. My grandfather has had two season tickets for years and I’ve been able to fly back for several games but I’ve never been able to go to a game with both my dad and grandfather. So now for the first time, I get to sit in Memorial Stadium and witness the rebirth of the Husker tradition with four generations of Husker fans. Does it get better than that?
— Ian A. Breckenridge
I started taking my son to the Red-White “game”when he was 12 or 13. We also tried to attend one game per year as our “father -son” outing.
We have kept this up for over 13 years, along with the 1994 and 1995 national championship celebrations for the football team. My son now lives in Lincoln and I live five hours away in Ainsworth. But we both will be there Saturday!
And now I have a 3-year-old grandson, so I hope to continue the “tradition” for some years to come.
As far as Pelini and company, I can’t wait for the resurgence for the “Blackshirts” and a “Scoring Explosion.”
Last year at “Fan Day,” Coach (Shawn) Watson made a comment to me while signing my card that “We are going to surprise some people this year.” The “Power of Red” is on the horizon.
— Michael A. Rudnick
Well, of course we are going to the Spring Game. It’s the one day of the year where I can actually bring the wife and kids to the game and enjoy it without being all stressed out.
— Brian Reetz, Lincoln
How do I love the Spring Game? Let me count the ways ... I am a graduate of UNL, now living in Indianapolis. For me the game is an excuse to point my car toward the place I love so much and enjoy 8 or 9 hours of uninterrupted time in the car with my 15-year-old daughter. Upon arrival I can see dear friends, down a few Runzas and savor the “good life” that so intensely shaped who I am. Friends and co-workers here ask in amazement why I’d drive that far to see something they regard as inconsequential or meaningless. I tell them that I’m going to spend the afternoon with 81,000 of my closest friends. What a blast. I’m fortunate to serve on the board of directors of the Indianapolis 500 Festival. As part of my duties I drive a 2008, official Indy 500 Pace car.
So, if you see a middle-aged guy and a 15-year-old girl tooling down “O” Street, please honk and wave ... we’ll be making some great memories.
— Rod Porter
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