Despite 20 years of frustration, Nebraska faithful believe that the ‘N’ will rise again

LINCOLN, Neb. — What made the shut defeats extra painful for Nebraska final yr was that everybody simply saved watching, like rubbernecked drivers who know to show away however refuse, because the pileups continued week to week in several however equally excruciating element. 

There was the scoop-and-score landing by Illinois that ignited a four-touchdown onslaught to wreck Nebraska’s opener. The Huskers botched a punt within the ultimate minutes at Michigan State to spoil a powerful defensive efficiency within the second half. They inexplicably fumbled late whereas tied towards Michigan and fell aside within the fourth quarter towards Iowa.

Worse but, all of it felt like one other chapter in an on-again, off-again nightmare. 

Nebraska has been tormenting its followers for the higher a part of 20 years. And by some means, a way, this soccer program, for many years the satisfaction of the state of Nebraska, largely stays in that place. Greater than 54,000 followers confirmed up final week to observe a spring observe. 

Deeply rooted satisfaction introduced Mickey Joseph again to Lincoln 4 months in the past. For the reason that finish of his time as a quarterback with the Huskers in 1991, Nebraska has stayed near his coronary heart, Joseph stated. Even whereas teaching at LSU, the satisfaction of his own residence state, for the previous 5 years, he felt a tug to return to his roots. He noticed the Huskers come shut, but all the time fall brief final yr, the primary staff in school soccer historical past to lose eight video games by one rating and 9 by single digits.

“If you watch it, you see that the youngsters are enjoying onerous,” stated Joseph, the 54-year-old affiliate head coach underneath Scott Frost and first-year extensive receivers coach, “one or two performs away. They got here up brief. They got here up brief so much.” 

Joseph believes. 

“You’ve acquired to embrace it,” Joseph stated. “I’m all the time going to like Nebraska.