If you mention the University of Nebraska anywhere in the nation, football used to be the first thing that came up. And why not, Husker football was what originally put the University of Nebraska on the map. It’s what we were known for on the national stage for years.
However, we’ve seen that map evolve with the success of volleyball and the struggles on the gridiron. Yes, without doubt Nebraska is now a volleyball state. Countless winning seasons and setting the national attendance record by filling memorial stadium should tell you all you need to know as to how the sport has exploded in the land of the Big Red. Throw in that not a single player entered the transfer portal last fall and you can see how strong the Dani Busboom Kelly program is. They will be in the thick of things for a national title again this fall.
As far as national attention is concerned, I shouldn’t leave out men’s wrestling either. Mark Manning’s crew has kept the Huskers in the national spotlight, pushing for both a Big Ten title and a national title as well. They continue to battle both Iowa and Penn State for the top spot in the Big Ten. Stiff competition makes everybody better and Husker fans are following.
And this season Fred Hoiberg’s basketball team is quickly becoming the Cinderella of the Big Ten with talk of being a number one seed. The round ballers are being compared to the Indiana football team who just won the national championship after years of dwelling in football purgatory. The Fighting Freds have turned things around, going from losers to undefeated. Standing at 19-0 it has become not when they lose, but if they lose. Nebraska fans have never experienced anything like it and talk has picked up if we are doing enough in NIL to continue the success.
But here is my thing. What if the national championship was played every year in the state of Nebraska for football, volleyball, wrestling, and basketball. Would our investment in those sports grow even more? Or would it mean nothing as appears to be the case on the diamond.
When it comes to baseball, are we truly all in? In multiple sports we have gone out on the national stage and brought attention to Nebraska. When it comes to NIL and facilities we have heavily invested in football, volleyball, and basketball. Are we making that same effort in baseball.
I realize Nebraska doesn’t have oil money and there is only so much to go around, but it’s crazy to me we aren’t making a greater effort to make baseball a bigger priority. We fight like hell to get other sports onto the national stage. Yet, with baseball the national stage has come to us.
I get it, the out-of-town money is great, Nebraska fans aren’t going to spend like LSU fans. But it’s a poor look on the University of Nebraska to never be a part of the party that’s in their own backyard.
So, the question needs to be asked, “As long as the national championship is being played in Omaha, what do we need to do to be a part of the College World Series at least occasionally if not on a regular basis.”
I’ll be the first to say it. I’m a football guy and only follow baseball when the Huskers are competitive. So, I get it. But it seems Nebraska is missing out on a real opportunity.
GO BIG RED!!
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