[Husker] Money, Fans & Coaches/Players

[Gary Fead]

Good Morning All:

After such an "inspiring" discussion on the list after the Texas game I have the following to add.

First, about Todd Peterson's quote in the New York TImes (which may have been taken out of context, we don't know but for the sake of discussion we'll assume it hasn't), where does the comment about money come from? Well everyone one of these kids knows what a ticket costs and probably has some idea about the fact that folks have to donate to sit in them, so my guess is that's where that came from. These facilities in Lincoln didn't just appear by waving a magic wand. 

Second, Nebraska fans really are not any different that most other schools, and the recent "falling on hard times" pretty well bears this out. Look at all of the fighting and arguing going on in the various message boards on the internet and even this very mailing list. Win and everything is OK, lose and people are ready to poke each other's eyes out. 

Third (and finally), verbal abuse of coaches and players have absolutely no place in a sporting event. I realize people may think that a certain play was boneheaded or a certain call by the coaches (refs too) may have been boneheaded but to verbally attack the players, coaches and even game officials is dead wrong and anyone doing so in Lincoln should be ejected on the spot. 

My wife who rarely attends games and I had this discussion on Saturday (the day of the Texas game) I and I put up several scenarios regarding the coaching staff like what if we win every game (including Texas) yet this season or what if we lose every game or some combination there of? What do you do about the coaching staff? Fire some, all or none of them? 

The discussion continued on a bit and out son got involved and was a little upset with the coaches. At that point I could see he was headed down a path that wasn't right and I said right there wait a minute. What we are talking about here is their coaching ability not them personally and I stated while I don't agree with some of their coaching I cannot even begin to comment on them personally. First because I don't know them personally and second because I have absolutely no reason to think that they are anything but very fine citizens who go out and support their families just like the rest of us, it just so happens that they are in the coaching business and coach one of our state's football teams. 

There's been a quite a loss of reality with some Nebraska fans over the past several years and I think they need to step back and get refocused or quit going to games. The public display by some of our fans over the past few years has been nothing short of sickening and does not reflect well on our state at all. 

Gary Fead
Omaha