A trip every Big Ten fan should make

You are not the ipitomy of an MSU fan. I'm glad you had a good time at the game. I had a good time watching it, too!

It goes without saying but the place to avoid is that wretched hive of scum and villainy in Ohio.

However for places to go, Lincoln is definitely on my list. All I've ever heard is how nice everyone is even if it's a Rival fanbase.

First thought that came to my mind after Nebraska joined the conference (well, the third, after momentarily reliving early January 1998 and the 2005 Alamo Bowl) was that I now have a reason to go to Lincoln and see a game.  Everyone raves about how great it is.

Similarly, I'd recommend making the State College trip.  Had a great time out there, would do it again in a heartbeat.

1. Dog feces thrown at me.

2. Random guys trying to fight.

3. Getting yelled "Go Blow."

Of course, haven't gone back there since 2004...

All kidding aside, I've heard Lincoln is great. Would love to go.

So what you're saying is, that it's the exact opposite of going to a game in East Lansing?

I might make the trip next year for the game.  What was Lincoln like? 

We don't care about Gholston's performance.

He's a dick.  That's all we need to know.

My roommate is a PSU alum and went to a game at Lincoln back in the 90's and also said it was the best away game environment he had ever been to.  He apparently went out in Lincoln Fri night with a PSU hat on and the owner of the bar allowed him and his friends to drink for free all night since they drove out to watch the game, and he wanted to "thank them for coming".  That alone makes me want to buy tickets now for next year.

That's interesting.  When I went to the UM/MSU game I received 0 taunts before the game but 7236 taunts after the game

Are highly underrated, in my opinion. There's something about getting heckled by drunk fans that does not adhere to me, maybe it's just me?

I recently moved to Omaha, and I must admit the Husker fans, while completely obnoxious about their own team (most seem to think that they are easily the best team in the country and just get screwed by the refs), are actually generally pretty friendly and willing to talk about college football intelligently. I haven't been to a Husker game yet, as I'm trying to save that experience for when we play there next year, but I'm definately looking forward to it.

I've heard that from everyone who has ever attended a Neb game.  For example, I sat next to some Washington fans the last time they played at Michigan.  They were very impressed with their reception in Ann Arbor, but said that Lincoln was even more hospitable---gracious hosts, whehter they are running up the score, or losing, doesn't matter.  I think it also helps that we're a "new" home for them---the Nebraska fans I know are pretty excited about being in the Big Ten.

I too love a good rye grin: welcome change from your everyday wheat or corn grins. 

I went out to watch a volleyball game there about 10 years ago, and I was utterly blown away. There were 16,000 out to watch an NCAA tournament game with the band in tow. It should be quite an experience for our women's volleyball team when they play there.

The Haymarket district is a great place to grad a beer and meal, and I suggest the NZone for fans of sports bars.

It's a reason I'm so looking forward to this rivalry.

Also, when Pelini gets it going, all that great atmosphere above will be the reason Ne starts pulling 3rd pickings in Ohio (behind Ohio and M).  Thank goodness for you that Dantonio recruits almost exclusively on a national stage.  Great post outlining your inevitable doom.

Sat in the Nebraska section in Norman in 2000 with an OU hat on. They were really good natured and cool. OU slapped them around that day too.  I was impressed with how positive and knowledgeable they were. 

The only other game in town is the USHL Junior A Lincoln Stars.  My son played there briefly and the rink atmosphere was awesome...almost as good as Yost.

When the visiting team was introduced, after each player's name was called most fans turned their backs to the ice and yelled, "Who cares?"  As I recall, there were some clever chants but the highlight came 5 minutes after the goalies fought.  The score got a bit lopsided so the visiting team decided they needed to "send a message".  After a couple of good fights, the goalies decided to skate out to center ice, drop the gloves and duke it out.  The visiting goalie suffered a minor cut and five minutes after they left for their respective dressing rooms, a page was issued over the stadium sound system.  "Would Dr. So-and-so please report to the visitor's locker room."

The place went absolutely nuts.  It was one of the loudest cheers I'd ever heard at a sporting event.

All in good fun...

As someone who has probably been to about 50 Nebraska football games, Rational's experience is very typical for a Husker football game. I have been at multiple games where the fans have given a standing ovation to the away team. (Usually a non-conference game where the away team gave Nebraska everything it could handle.) Overall, the fans act as advertised. Over the years I have seen very little taunting by Nebraska fans. Just like anywhere you will find a percentage of fans who think their team is the best in the world, a percentage that always think the sky is falling, a group of fans that are more rationaleand a small group that are asshats, but Nebraska is a great experience.
The balloons are released after the first Nebraska score and they have been doing that for as long as I remember. Only drawback to the games might be that every replay is shown on the big screens and they are always sponsored by local companies. Very commercial.

Big Ten needs a Hall of Fame. A trip all B1G fans, of all sports, should make kind of place. We got the best history across all sports of any conference. I'm thinking some place on State street. Just a thought.

Nice post, Sparty. For what it's worth, the MSU game was always more of a fun thing than "hate 'em and throw dog crap at 'em" kind of game (who brings dog crap to a game?). Too many of us knew too many of them, we're friends of too many of them, to cross that line. Not that it didn't get heated; but it was more of a "brother borrowed your car and didn't gas it up" kind of thing.