What to Buy A Nebraska Husker Fan

If you live in Nebraska you are either a Husker fan, related to a Husker fan, or have a Husker fan as a friend. It can't be helped. The Nebraska Huskers has one of the largest, if not the most loyal football fans in college football.

This phenomenon takes some getting used to for a Connecticut Yankee that moved to the Midwest. In the east coast basketball ruled when I grew up, my Dad watched pro football, I went to high school games, but not to watch the game but to socialize.

In Nebraska you don't socialize during a game, you watch the game, you analyze the plays, you talk about it for days afterwards and then talk about the next game coming up. The season of Nebraska football is a culture, a passion, an obsession, and a way of life.

Even though I'm a Connecticut Yankee, and went to school at Oklahoma State, I'm a wife of a die hard Husker fan, so I've learned to adapt, overcome, and use this to my advantage. I'm never without a gift idea for birthdays or Christmas.

We don't go to many football games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln Nebraska, tickets are hard to find and can be very expensive depending on the game. The stadium has been sold out for 325 games, every game since 1962 and is an ncaa record. It is the third largest population in the state on game day and the highest attended Husker game was played in front of 86,304 people.

This doesn't count the thousands of people who tailgate in the parking lots outside the stadium and watch the game on satellite TV's or listen on the radio as they party with friends.

Game day in Lincoln Nebraska is something to experience, it's more than a game, it's an event.

The top three items for every Husker fan; a red Husker shirt, a Nebraska flag to put on the window of the car, and a Husker baseball cap. This is the basic survival gear for any Nebraska fan whether you are going to a game in Memorial stadium in Lincoln, or attending a football party.

So if you know of someone moving to Nebraska or starting college at the University of Nebraska, this is a perfect gift combination to introduce them to the world of Nebraska football. From here they can start to build their Husker collection and maybe add a Blackshirt or two.

The entrance of the Nebraska football players to the field is accompanied by the infamous tunnel walk. It's three minutes at the start of the football game that sends electricity, excitement, motivation, and a frenzied emotion through a sea of red that is unsurpassed in college football.

Just the start of the music pumps up the crowd and even the most jaded person can't help but get into the moment and become a Nebraska Husker for a few minutes.

Below are just a few videos of the various Nebraska tunnel walks and crowd responses, might want to turn your speakers down a little.

A special tunnel walk tribute to the heroes of 9-11 during the next game after the Twin Towers tragedy.

Even though the game may not start until four or five o'clock Nebraska fans start to arrive in Lincoln early in the morning to get a good tailgating spot. Some even camp overnight. Tents go up, grills come out, and friends start arriving hours before the game.

The parking lots for a mile radius around Memorial Stadium are a sea of red, and it soon becomes clear the game is only a small part of the event. Food, fun, friends and family is all part of the tradition of a Nebraska tailgating party. Of course everything is Nebraska red from the tents, the coolers, the chairs, and of course the shirts.

Everyone needs more Husker clothing, really. Can't have enough T-shirts, polos, or athletic pants. Nebraska clothing comes in all styles for every fashion conscience fan. Athletic polo shirts are classy, but t-shirts are casual for a tail gate party.

My husband is a defensive player fan, so the big bad Blackshirts are his favorite. For him it's Blackshirt defense all the way. So I wear Red and he wears black. (Just be warned wearing black during an early season game can be very warm)

During the fall you can drive through the state and see just who is the loyal Nebraska Husker fan. In some neighborhoods it's almost a competition.

I've even seen Christmas displays set to the Husker theme music. To someone from the east or west coast this may seem obsessive, but we don't have a professional football team in Nebraska so the Huskers take their place.

Christmas time is always perfect to add another Husker ornament on the tree. No one should have any excuse for not having an idea for Christmas if you have a Husker fan in the household.

There is more Husker gifts than you can shake a stick at and I know people who have Husker themed Christmas trees. Herbie Husker sits on more trees across the country than you can count. It's an easy gift for kids to get their Dad, Uncle, or Grandfather for Christmas, and can easily become a tradition.

I would love to hear your experience at a Husker football game, or at a tailgating party. Does your school do it better? What traditions do you have in your state? Drop me a comment, especially if your a Nebraska fan or live in the state.