[Pezman]

Not that I want to fan the flames here gents, but the fans certainly have taken an ugly turn in Lincoln these days. Its a damn shame too since I've always regarded NU fans as some of the classiest (albeit snobby) fans in the college game. I've always respected the fact that they have never lowered themselves to these kinds of activities...
Lets hope these trends dont continue man...


http://www.dailynebraskan.com/vnews/.../436598cd64f81

ROBIN WASHUT: Saturday’s fans threaten Nebraska’s reputation

October 31, 2005

There was plenty to complain about following Nebraska’s 31-24 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday.

You could start with how the Cornhuskers once again were near comatose through the entire first half of the game, a trend that has put them in overly compromising positions over the past four games.

There’s also the fact the once 4-0 Huskers have dropped three of their past four games – including consecutive home losses – to go from leading the Big 12 Conference North Division to struggling to save their bowl eligibility.

For now, though, I’m going to stay away from the problems the Huskers showed on the field on Saturday.

This one is directed at a few morons and one ridiculous gesture by NU Coach Bill Callahan that jeopardized the reputation of Nebraska football.

With 10:58 left in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma’s Kejuan Jones scored on a 17-yard swing pass to put the Sooners up 31-14.

On the play, there was a questionable “no call” on what appeared to be a holding penalty on NU cornerback Cortney Grixby.

Rather than sticking to the standard boos and occasional verbal abuse to express their displeasure with the play, a couple of fans in the student section threw a yellow referee flag onto the field in protest.

It’s never OK to throw objects onto the field, but in this one particular case, I’ll admit I chuckled a bit.

Then things just got stupid.

A handful of super sweet dudes in the student section decided to start throwing water bottles and various other items of trash onto the northeast corner of the end zone.

All in all, roughly 10 bottles and other items of trash made their way onto the field from the time Jones scored to the ensuing kickoff.

During that time, I have never been more embarrassed to be a student at the University of Nebraska.

For a fan base that considers itself the best fans in the nation, the events on Saturday made a formidable case against that title.

This wasn’t a Manchester United game, and – at least I had thought – Nebraska fans are supposed to be a little classier than a mob of drunken soccer hooligans.

What those students did on Saturday was exactly what they threw onto Tom Osborne Field – garbage.

Nebraska fans have for years put themselves on a pedestal over other Big 12 schools in that they know what it means to be fans.

After Saturday, though, you have to wonder: How much longer that reputation will be valid?

That’s not the end of story, though.

Upon seeing the debris clutter the end zone, referee Steve Usechek stormed over to Callahan and demanded he control his fans.

Callahan continued to argue the missed holding call, and the two got into a shouting and pointing match.

As Usechek turned and walked away, Callahan did something that may end up hitting him in the pocket book next week.

Livid over the argument, Callahan held out his right thumb in a fist and made a slashing gesture across his neck/upper chest area.

Now I have no idea to whom the gesture was directed toward or even what its context was, but if Big 12 officials deem that as a threat against an official, Callahan could be waist-deep in a steaming pile of trouble.

Beyond that, it would mark the second year in a row he has let his temper get the best of him against the Sooners.

We all remember the fiasco that was NU’s trip to Norman, Okla., in 2004, and Callahan’s assessment of Sooner fans as “F-ing hillbillies.”

Just like the fans that threw the water bottles on the field, Callahan needs to take a step back and get a grasp of what Nebraska football is all about.

It’s easy to throw around words like “tradition” and “integrity” when referring to Nebraska, but it’s a whole different animal to actually abide by those concepts in the wake of defeat.

It’s also easy to be great fans when you win and to applaud your opponent after they get lambasted by 40 points.

The true test is how you act in defeat.

Champions use their losses as ways to learn and improve upon their weaknesses.

The rest throw water bottles.