When Troy Dannen and Matt Rhule decided to drop the return of the Spring Game into a potentially very busy March 28th, I decided to give the fans the option of voting for which game they would dial into watching if they could choose only one. I realized I was tilting the board when I added the caveat of the hoops going as well as possible – that is, both the men’s and women’s teams advancing as far as possible.
The assumption was of course people would lean to an Elite 8 men’s game. But by how much
over the spring football game? Remember – in a previous poll, 43% of readers said they would trade away this season’s hoops success for a return to Top 10 prominence in football.
So would a significant number choose a spring game viewing over an Elite 8 appearance as well?
On the lighter side, I remembered former Husker John Parrella years back after another Orange Bowl loss to the Hurricanes on their home field musing that just once he’d like to see Miami come play in Lincoln on January 1st; perhaps call it the Polar Bowl.
So I posed the question – as Memorial Stadium looks for events beyond Husker football, suppose they did get a bowl game. I mean it’s not out of the question if Boise and the Big Apple can have one, right? If that came to pass – and understanding the Huskers likely wouldn’t play in it – would Nebraska fans show up in force in late December to support the school’s efforts?
Here you go:
- Fear not Husker basketball – it appears even many of the devout football lovers would set aside a glorified scrimmage to watch Sammy and company try to make the Final Four by a resounding vote of 72% – 15%.
- This survey also makes the assumption we’re winning that first NCAA game. When this happens, the following week’s survey – lifetime contract for Fred Hoiberg, yes or no?? 😎
- The other sports do have their die-hards as well. In a bit of a surprise, the Rhonda Revelle’s ladies are almost locked with the men in a 6%-baseball, 5%-softball finish. The women’s hoopsters, perhaps reflecting their slide pull the caboose with 2%.
- But 13% pulling for the non-gridiron/cager sports show that every sport has their ride or die fans. Had wrestling still been going at that time, I’m betting you’d see a higher than expected number there as well.
- That’s a lot folks showing up for potentially very northern weather. I guess we really do stick together in all kinds of weather. Even moreso if you start daring us to break attendance records. 😏
