Mellinger: Nebraska fans’ anger mars Huskers’ Big 12 farewell

[KcMizzou]

This seems pretty spot-on.

Mellinger: Nebraska fans’ anger mars Huskers’ Big 12 farewell

SAM MELLINGER COMMENTARY

Nebraska football fans won’t like this column. Cold truths are hard to take, and a lot of Huskers fans are spending this farewell football season deflecting and misdirecting cold truths.

Too many of them just don’t understand why people in what’s left of the Big 12 are annoyed at them, the school, the fans and the coach. So they won’t like reading what’s to follow.

That’s OK. Folks in the rest of the Big 12 might not like this column, either. Because their truth is easier to explain and harder to take than Nebraska’s — with much worse potential consequences.

Let’s start with the part that Huskers fans won’t like.

They’re too self-important to see what’s going on in the lead-in to the final Big 12 championship football game between Nebraska and Oklahoma on Saturday night.

Huskers fans are imagining conspiracies against their team, convinced that anyone else’s dislike is code for jealousy of all Nebraska’s awesomeness. They’re completely oblivious that it’s not necessarily the decision to leave for the Big Ten that ticks people off.

People are ticked at how it’s happening.

“The ‘how’ situation is a fair thing,” says Tom Ruud, inducted to the school’s Hall of Fame as a linebacker.

The arrogance came from the very start. Nebraska folks hate it when that word is tied to their school, but it’s true. If history is any indication, Huskers fans will lash back at being called arrogant by e-mailing about how great they are.

Nebraska self-importance comes in constant references to past success, in seeing Big Ten acceptance as license to slam a group that’s been good enough for them for decades, and, most of all, in the inability to recognize that the whole thing is wrecking a reputation of class and dignity that took so long to build and promote.

For decades, Nebraska football and its fans stood for something. The rest of us mostly admired them, a program succeeding in a place it shouldn’t, a remarkable consistency and very real bond between players and the citizens who rooted them on. In so many ways, that’s ruined.

When asked if he cares, Nebraska booster Roger Brown said, simply: “No.”

With all respect, he knows that’s hard to believe.

Being a Huskers fan is engrained in that state’s DNA and personality in a way unlike any other place in the country.

They applauded the other team after games — win or lose — set an ongoing NCAA record for consecutive sellouts, and even if the narrative became exaggerated, Nebraska fans became thought of by many as decent people. Well-liked, even, in a way that Kansas and Missouri and Kansas State will probably never know.

That’s often a very good thing, but it’s also true that through all their winning and cheering, Nebraska fans never received much pushback. Now that it’s here, they have no idea how to handle it.

First, the administration blamed Texas and conference leadership. Then some fans blamed Mizzou and, in the last month or so, have come close to losing their collective sanity. They see the league’s suspension of a backup linebacker as proof of conspiracy, harass referees, flood the conference office with threats of violence, then whine when nobody shows up to present the North Division trophy.

Every school has some nutjobs, but c’mon, this is college football’s classiest fan base?

In other words, they’re not who they claimed to be. They’re a whole lot like everyone else.

Most of the rest of us aren’t mad they’re leaving. We’re annoyed they’re acting like jerks on the way out. We understand wanting more money. But don’t pretend there’s some higher calling that the rest of us just can’t comprehend.

In six months, they’ve changed how we’ll think of them forever. Forty million people live in the five states that make up the remaining league. We can’t all be wrong.

Those are the words Nebraska fans won’t like. Now, for the truth that makes the rest of us uncomfortable, the one with potentially terrible consequences:

Even after all this, we’d totally take the Huskers back.

Because without them, this is a lesser league that nobody can be certain will exist beyond the near future.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/12/02...ans-anger.html

[Titty Meat]

Come on bloated Zach still waiting for you to address why they wouldn't send Ed Stuart the the locker room.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by billay

See smartass comments like this you aren't willing to debate the facts. They don't have ISP trackers in Texas? Really?

You are acting like you are on some higher plane of conversation. When I am simply pointing out something very basic and obvious. If you want to equate someone not being caught with a threat not being made. You are an idiot.

It is fun for your to make that logical leap but it isn't based on facts.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

You are acting like you are on some higher plane of conversation. When I am simply pointing out something very basic and obvious. If you want to equate someone not being caught with a threat not being made. You are an idiot.

It is fun for your to make that logical leap but it isn't based on facts.

Why wasn't Ed Stuart sent on behalf of the Big 12?

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by billay

Come on bloated Zach still waiting for you to address why they wouldn't send Ed Stuart the the locker room.

I don't care in the least. It isn't an issue I am interested in at all.

[|Zach|]

You guys just can't deal with facts.

then...

They didn't arrest anyone so a threat wasn't made.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I don't care in the least. It isn't an issue I am interested in at all.

You dont care to answer the question because it doesnt fit in your narrative.

[siberian khatru]

Look at KcMizzou stirring the pot!

Have you and Saul Good been hanging out together?

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

You guys just can't deal with facts.

then...

They didn't arrest anyone so a threat wasn't made.

Tell us the "Facts" Zach. Since you seem to work for the Big 12 can you tell us these facts? And while you're at it answer why they didn't send a former Husker if Beebee was threatened?

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Look at KcMizzou stirring the pot!

Have you and Saul Good been hanging out together?

Hey, I just thought it was a good read.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by billay

You dont care to answer the question because it doesnt fit in your narrative.

I see you moved on from the threats line you were trying to feed us.

I have no interest in it because it means so very little IMO. I don't think anything can be inferred from it. I mean, I understand if I was the type of guy who went out of his way to be offended it is something I would probably hold on too.

That isn't a knock on you but on fans. I think so many fans look for everything they can to show their team is being disrespected often at places where they are not there.

That simply isn't my style.

[Sam Hall]

The Big 12 has marred our farewell. No matter what happens to us in the Big Ten, we are leaving for a better place.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by billay

Tell us the "Facts" Zach. Since you seem to work for the Big 12 can you tell us these facts? And while you're at it answer why they didn't send a former Husker if Beebee was threatened?

I don't have the facts. I am not affiliated with anything that knows more than anyone else.

Because of that...

I am not making silly statements and trotting them out as truths like you are.

I am not saying a threat was made. I don't know. I have merely been responding to your stupid comments that one wasn't made because nobody has been arrested. You are the one that keeps bringing up facts but you are also the one making statements that has no basis in them.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I see you moved on from the threats line you were trying to feed us.

I have no interest in it because it means so very little IMO. I don't think anything can be inferred from it. I mean, I understand if I was the type of guy who went out of his way to be offended it is something I would probably hold on too.

That isn't a knock on you but on fans. I think so many fans look for everything they can to show their team is being disrespected often at places where they are not there.

That simply isn't my style.

I'm not offended and i'm not even denying Nebraska fans are arrogant. KU, Mu, Ksu, ect. all would be arrogant too if they had a final chance to flip the conference the bird before leaving to the Big 10.

What am I stating and you've proved is the conference has took swipes at Nebraska the trophy presentation just being one of them.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Sam Hall

The Big 12 has marred our farewell. No matter what happens to us in the Big Ten, we are leaving for a better place.

Don't worry. You will still get the rent checks from me and other people for allowing us to live under your skin.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by billay

Tell us the "Facts" Zach. Since you seem to work for the Big 12 can you tell us these facts? And while you're at it answer why they didn't send a former Husker if Beebee was threatened?

Why reward fans for being ****heads?

You don't want to play nice, you don't get your public presentation. But I'm sure the Nebraska faithful didn't take their cues from the raving ****ing lunatic that patrols their sidelines.

Next time - try not being a pit of whiny dicksmokes and this won't happen.

I don't even care if you win the B12 at this point, I'm no fan of Oklahoma either. I just want you and your fellow beacons of wisdom such as LiveSteam to get the **** gone.