The matchup between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Iowa Hawkeys takes place on Black Friday and is the last game of the regular season. The winner of the game is takes home the Heroes Trophy, so head to Lincoln and watch the Cornhuskers close out the season against rivals Iowa.
The Freedom Trophy is just three year old as it was first awarded during the 2014 season to the winner of this matchup. Although the schools have only met nine times, they both have a significant amount of talent that makes it an exciting game to watch.
These two teams have consistently played each other for many years, but the advent of the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy has given the age-old rivalry a new and exciting twist. This unique trophy came about from a back-and-forth banter between Minnesota mascot Goldy Gopher and a parody account for former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini (“Faux Pelini”) on Twitter. User Faux Pelini suggested a friendly wager in which if Nebraska won, Goldy would owe him $5, and if Minnesota wins, Faux Belini will get to smash a chair over Goldy’s back. The comical wager resulted in many Twitter users designing a trophy for the occasion, but Goldy himself ended up doing so, and it was first awarded during the 2014 season
Cornhuskers Tailgate Guide
Atmosphere
The area outside the stadium is a literal sea of red as the entire city of Lincoln wears red on game day; the fans/student section is even nicknamed “The Sea of Red.” Unlike other teams and stadiums, there is always a “red out” and you’ll rarely see people in any other color. When it comes to dress in and outside of the stadium anything with corn on it is always in play, including corn hats or taping some corn to your red clothes. Put on something red and tape on a piece of corn to it whatever you’re wearing if you want to fit in with Huskers fans when visiting Nebraska.
As one of only eleven football programs in NCAA Division I history to win 800 or more games, Cornhusker nation has a lot to celebrate on game days. Nebraska has an impressive history regarding a successful football team and program, making the atmosphere on game days exciting, enthusiastic, and a whole lot of fun regardless of who they’re playing. Fans here come out in droves to support their Huskers, and you’ll find that game days in Lincoln are all day parties that everyone is welcome to. No matter what team you cheer for Huskers fans are very friendly, so you’ll make friends quickly particularly if you have a good tailgate spread.
The Husker Legacy statue was erected in 1997 is modeled after a picture taken during the 1995 Nebraska-Kansas State game. The figure depicts six Husker defensive players tackling a Kansas State player and represents the sense of pride Husker fans feel for their team.
A great tradition to check out during your visit to Nebraska is the Unity Walk. The walk takes place approximately two hours and forty-five minutes before kick-off on the east side of Memorial Stadium. During the walk, Nebraska players and coaches get off the bus near the Husker Legacy statue and walk down the sidewalk between the stadium and the Husker Nation Pavilion to the throngs of cheerleaders, fans, and Herbie Husker and Lil’ Red all cheering them on. The Unity Walk is a Nebraska tailgating must that will give you a chance to show the players and coaches how much you love Nebraska football.
Fans can watch the band before the game even starts during their practice one hour before the game at the library. They’ll play some of the Nebraska traditional songs, such as “there’s no place like Nebraska” or “Hail Varsity. If you’re looking for something to do before the game head on down to the library to experience the Nebraska band before the game even starts.
Located on the grass turf practice field just outside the stadium, the Husker Nation Pavillion opens three hours before kickoff and is free for anyone to attend. This tailgating area is very family friendly and includes activities such as autograph signings, inflatables, and games. There is also a video board showcasing games across the country, as well as the IMG College Husker Sports Network pre-game radio broadcast.
Known for the best wings in town, this bar is a favorite for out of the city fans and locals alike. The place can get somewhat rowdy on game day so don’t be shy about having a great time with other Husker fans
Where to tailgate
Husker Nation Pavillion Located on the grass turf practice field just outside the stadium, the Husker Nation Pavillion opens three hours before kickoff and is free for anyone to attend. This tailgating area is very family friendly and includes activities such as autograph signings, inflatables, and games. There is also a video board showcasing games across the country, as well as the IMG College Husker Sports Network pre-game radio broadcast
“Do the Dock” at Embassy Suites Bar & GrillThis tailgate is open a couple of hours before and after the game, and offers live entertainment, food, and a big screen showing the game
Watering HoleKnown for the best wings in town, this bar is a favorite for out of the city fans and locals alike. The place can get somewhat rowdy on game day so don’t be shy about having a great time with other Husker fans
Stadium LotsTailgating is allowed in the stadium lots surrounding the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers but be careful: alcohol is not authorized on campus so any drinking must be done discreetly
Haymarket DistrictIf the bar scene is more your forte for tailgating, then head over to the Haymarket District where there are plenty of restaurants and bars to celebrate game day.
Cornhuskers Stadium Guide
In Game
Being called a huge sell out may not be a good thing unless you are talking about Nebraska football. The Cornhuskers are the biggest thing happening in the state, and it shows as people from each corner of the state head to Lincoln on Saturdays in the fall. The Cornhuskers have the longest consecutive sellout streak in all of sports going all the way back to 1962. The stadium is a sea of red as the entire town puts on red shirts, pants, hats, paint; you name it for the Huskers on game day. Hurry on down to Lincoln for your chance to take part in this grand tradition that dates back generations.
The atmosphere in Memorial Stadium on game days is electric. The magic that is a Huskers football game starts off right before the team enters the field. The scoreboard shoots off fireworks and plays a video of the Huskers jumping out of a military cargo plane with a fighter escort into the stadium with a graphic showing on the plane’s computer, ground support = 85,000 referring to the fans. The Huskers make a grand entrance to the stadium as just before they hit the field one side of the stadium chants HUSKER, and the other calls back POWER leading up to the team bursting out of the tunnel. The team bursts out of the tunnel as Alan Parsons Project blasts through the pa speakers and just like the Chicago Bulls the starters are introduced too. If this doesn’t give you goosebumps check yourself for a pulse.
One of the most unique things about a Huskers game is after the game, win or lose, the fans stay in their seats and cheer the opponents off the field. It is a great sign of sportsmanship by the fans and legendary coaches like Bobby Bowden and Barry Switzer has even said they were stunned by it and had never seen anything like it before. The Huskers have some of the best and friendliest fans in the nation, so you’re sure to have a great time taking in a game at Memorial Stadium.
The balloon release tradition has been in place since the 1940s and is the only one of its kind in college football. After the Huskers score their first touchdown, thousands of red balloons are released into the sky by the fans inside Memorial Stadium so make sure to grabs your balloon outside the stadium before game time.
In each corner of the stadium, there is an inscription from former UNL professor of philosophy Hartley Burr Alexander
Southeast - “In commemoration of the men of Nebraska who served and fell in the Nations Wars.”
Southwest - “Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory.”
Northwest - “Courage; Generosity; Fairness; Honor; In these are the true awards of manly support.”
Northeast - “Their lives they held their country's trust; They kept its faith; They died its heroes.”
The Husker defense is nicknamed the Blackshirts, which stems from the reference to the black practice jerseys worn by first-string defensive players since the 1960s. The Blackshirts have adopted a skull and crossbones as their symbol, and many players will make an “X” (nicknamed throwing the bones) after a key defensive play in tribute to their symbol.
Since the 1994 season Nebraska home games have started with the Tunnel Walk. Before the team enters the field, the HuskerVision screen lights up with a video feed of Nebraska players walking from the locker room to the northwest gate at field level. Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project blasts through the speakers, amping up the crowd as the Husker team captains lead the pre-game prayer. Before the gates are opened and the Huskers greet the frenzied crowd, each player touches the horseshoe near the locker room for good luck.
There is no place like Nebraska Dear old Nebraska U. Where the girls are the fairest, The boys are the squarest, Of any old school that I knew. There is no place like Nebraska, Where they’re all true blue. We’ll all stick together, In all kinds of weather, For Dear old Nebraska U!
Hail Varsity Fight Song
Hail to the team, The stadium rings as everyone sings, The Scarlet and Cream. Cheers for a victory, echo our loyalty; So, on, mighty men, The eyes of the land, upon every hand Are looking at you. Fight on for victory Hail to the men of Nebraska U.
March of the Cornhuskers
Rally Huskers, glory waits for you, Rally Huskers, show what you can do Fight! forever, Oh! You team, For the scarlet and the cream, Go! Gang Go! Rally Huskers, rally one and all. Fight on, Huskers, hear Nebraska call, Listen to the battle cry, Of Nebraska U. N. I.
Husker Power Chant
Just before the Tunnel Walk (see below), half of Memorial Stadium will yell “Husker!” followed by the other half shouting “Power!”. It is rumored to be so loud that it can be heard miles away in Omaha
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