It’s a perfect Friday in Minnesota, the kind that makes you grateful for life, good weather, and Nebraska football. But before talking about beating Minnesota, it’s worth pausing to answer a question someone recently asked me: Why do you love Nebraska so much?
For me, it starts in Curtis, Nebraska, a small town about 40 miles south of North Platte. Growing up there gave me a simple, grounded childhood — the kind where everyone knew everyone, and opportunity came from effort, not entitlement. Like
most rural towns, you eventually had to leave to build a career, but Curtis gave me roots.
Leaving home led me to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a place that completely changed my life. I arrived without confidence or direction, a kid unsure of who he was or where he fit. But UNL — and especially the people there — gave me a sense of belonging and purpose. My dorm-mates on Schramm 6 became lifelong friends, and my roommates helped me grow up. One of them, Roger Aden, went on to become a speech professor at Ohio University — and provided valuable life advice.
When I struggled with public speaking, Roger taught me the lesson that shaped both my career and my character: “Be yourself when you’re up there. If you try to be someone else, people will know — and they’ll hate you for it.” That advice carried me through years of public speaking, writing, and eventually a career in IT that I talked my way into after college.
UNL also gave me a second chance academically. I was a six-year undeclared senior — the president of the satirical “SCUM Party” and, eventually, the proud owner of a B.A. in Art with minors in physics, math, film studies, and computer science. The professors at Nebraska, like Dave Reed, encouraged creativity and curiosity. Reed even brought us to Minneapolis for a photography conference, where I met Garrison Keillor and fell in love with Minnesota — the state I’ve called home since 1987.
But Nebraska — the place, the people, the spirit — never left me. The University of Nebraska gave me confidence, a career, and an identity. It turned a shy kid from Curtis into someone who could speak to hundreds, write for thousands, and share his passion for Husker football with the world.
So, why do I love Nebraska? Because it built me. Because it gave me my voice. Because it’s home — even if I haven’t lived there in decades.
Go Big Red. Always.
