Nebraska
Do You Really SUPPORT Nebraska Men’s Basketball?
I recently sparked a firestorm with a tweet questioning whether Nebraska fans truly support the men’s basketball team. The backlash was immediate and intense, but it revealed some important truths about the future of college sports.
Serious question on a Friday – how many of you really care about this?
I realize Nebraska wants to compete in every sport, but is that reality in the current landscape?
Why would we bother pumping money into this sport when we have so many others that are more successful? pic.twitter.com/V9ahWQuhK1— Corn Nation (@CornNation) March 21, 2025
What I discovered is that most fans equate “support” with buying tickets and attending games. While Nebraska boasts impressive attendance figures, the reality of modern college athletics is that genuine support now means financial investment through NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) contributions. Nebraska’s NIL figures hover around $2.5 million, near the bottom of the Big Ten. For comparison, Maryland recently received a $10 million donation for their basketball program.
When I pointed this out, not a single person responded that they had personally contributed to NIL funds. Instead, they defended their fandom through attendance and merchandise purchases. But in today’s competitive environment, that’s no longer enough.
The impending House settlement will dramatically reshape college athletics in 2025, allowing universities to pay athletes directly—up to $20 million annually. This fundamental shift will further intensify the financial demands of building competitive programs.
For those who think NIL is unsustainable, I encourage you to look at SMU. They’ve strategically used their financial resources to buy their way into the ACC, make the college football playoff, hire top athletic directors and coaches, and even defeat our revered volleyball team. They’re not waiting for perfect circumstances—they’re aggressively investing to create success.
Meanwhile, some Nebraska fans suggest we should wait for “the right coach” or “better players” before investing more heavily in basketball. This passive approach guarantees continued mediocrity and the persistent embarrassment of never having won an NCAA tournament game.
Tom Peters’ business philosophy from “Thriving on Chaos” applies perfectly here: “You’d better obsolete yourself or someone else will.” College athletics is becoming increasingly proactive and investment-driven. Programs can either adapt to this reality or accept perpetual mediocrity.
I’m not dismissing the importance of in-person support. Our volleyball atmosphere is electric, Memorial Stadium on football Saturdays is spectacular, and baseball fans show remarkable dedication. But financial support for athletes is the new reality we must embrace.
To put my money where my mouth is, I’m donating all proceeds from this month from Youtube to the 1890 Initiative for men’s basketball. Perhaps it’s enough for the “pinky toe of a decent point guard,” but it’s a start.
Whether we like it or not, college athletics is changing forever. The programs that thrive will be those willing to invest aggressively in their athletes.
The question is: will Nebraska basketball fans step up with the financial support needed to finally break through, or will we continue to be dragged nationally for never having won an NCAA tournament game?
(WOWT) – On this day in 1917, Nebraska law officially prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in the state.
Voters approved an amendment to the state’s constitution.
A picture from the Nebraska Historical Society is from that first day.
A Dakota County newspaper reported that bootlegging spiked after the law passed.
Raiding squads going after violators even targeted bathrooms.
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — which banned liquor nationwide — was ratified in 1919.
National prohibition was repealed with the 21st amendment in 1933.
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The Nebraska softball team (40-6, 20-1) will hit the road and face the Penn State Nittany Lions (32-17, 11-10) this week to wrap up the final regular-season series of the season. The Huskers are ranked No. 3 in the NFCA Poll. NU is also No. 2 by Softball America, USA Softball and D1 Softball.
The Huskers are led by two-way star Jordy Frahm and Hannah Camenzind. Frahm is hitting .423 at the plate on the season with a 15-4 record with nine saves in the pitcher’s circle. Camenzind is hitting .408 and has a record in the pitcher’s circle of 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA.
The Big Ten Tournament will take place May 6-9 in College Park, MD.
Here’s how to watch the Nebraska-Penn State doubleheaders today, including time, TV schedule, and streaming information:
What channel is Nebraska-Penn State on today?
TV Channel: Game one: N/A Game two: BTN
Livestream: Game one: B1G+ Game two: Fubo (free trial)
Nebraska vs Penn State will wrap up the final regular-season series of the year on the Big Ten Network on Saturday afternoon. Streaming options for the game include B1G+ and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Nebraska-Penn State Softball time today
- Date: Saturday, May 2 (doubleheaders)
- Start time: 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. CT
The Nebraska-Penn State softball doubleheader starts at 10 a.m. CT and 1:30 p.m. CT from Nittany Lion Softball Park in State College, PA.
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ASHLAND, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner) – Online trolls had a field day in March when Nebraskans got wind that a stiff breeze had taken a political sign that named a red barn along Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska.
Much of the social media discourse centered on a combination of higher gas prices, tariffs, war, political fatigue and polling headwinds during the second term for President Donald Trump.
The barn’s owner, farmer Alan Volger, told the Nebraska Examiner at the time he probably couldn’t afford another red-letter “TRUMP” sign, nor could he physically put a new sign up.
“I gotta have somebody else put signs up,” he said. “I don’t care how high it goes, I gotta keep one foot on the ground.”
Volger said the timing seemed OK since the president is term-limited and cannot run again. He still had his signs up supporting property tax reform and opposing abortion.
But this week, Dr. Pat Castle of LIFE Runners, an anti-abortion group from Lincoln, and a friend of Castle’s who owns a lift, posted a new “TRUMP” sign on the “Trump Barn.”
They had funding help from a supporter of Nebraska Secretary of State candidate Scott Petersen, who paid for the sign and let his preferred candidate for Nebraska’s top election official take the credit.
Petersen and fellow Republican Secretary of State Bob Evnen have been in a pitched primary race over the future of counting votes in Nebraska elections. Both have expressed support for Trump.
So this week a different set of online trolls had a good day, punching back against the Nebraskans who had said they were ready to see something else driving from Omaha to Lincoln.
One said, “He made his barn great again.”
Critics also clapped back. One said, “Surprised they could afford to drive it there with the price of diesel.”
Volger, on Friday, said he had heard from a number of people who wanted the sign back up, and he said a bunch of people driving on I-80 when it went back up on Wednesday honked at them.
He said even the Nebraska State Patrol has used his barn as a landmark, recalling a lost man he saw wandering on his property that troopers said the barn helped them locate.
His goal for this year is to get the barn repainted so it looks a little nicer in the pictures people share online. He said his painter agreed to take the signs down and put them back up.
“I’m sure not doing it,” Volger said, laughing.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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