Celebrating a Rich Tradition

Lincoln ? Over eight decades of Nebraska's rich football tradition converged onto Memorial Stadium for one emotional afternoon, as more than 800 former players returned to Lincoln to watch the Huskers' 17-7 win over Oklahoma State last Saturday.

The event capped over five months of planning since Athletic Director Steve Pederson announced the event in mid-April, as every living letterwinner was invited back to Memorial Stadium for the season opener. Over 800 alumni responded to the letters and phone calls sent out, as players from every year from 1934 to 2002 were represented in the largest player reunion in Husker history. A total of 40 states were represented, from places such as Maine, California and Florida, as the players made a triumphant return to Memorial Stadium to relive their glory days and add another chapter to the rich Husker tradition.

"It shows people that this is important to us," former quarterback Vince Ferragamo said. "It's not just the guys who are here, it's all part of our tradition."

The players and coaches who returned for this gala event represented the entire modern history of the program, spanning five national championships, 26 conference titles and all 41 bowl games. Individually, the group included some of the finest players to wear the Scarlet and Cream, including eight of the Huskers' 14 living retired jerseys, Heisman winners Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier and Eric Crouch, 40 first-team All-Americans and 38 academic All-Americans.

The afternoon began with a gathering of all the players at the Lied Center, where they received their Husker jerseys and followed the marching band in the traditional parade route down Stadium Drive and into Memorial Stadium. The event drew thousands of fans, who gave their appreciation to the former players who gave their efforts to make Nebraska the most successful college football program over the past four decades. The event reached a crescendo when the players were led into Memorial Stadium by two of the most recognizable names in school history ? Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osborne and Mike Devaney, the son of Hall of Fame Bob Devaney. The memories echoed around the stadium as the players ? over 800 strong ? encircled the stadium field to a standing ovation by the 78,000 fans in attendance. As the 2003 Huskers ran onto the field, the excitement continued to build as the former players joined the band in creating a tunnel, linking Nebraska's rich past and present together, before taking their seats to watch the Huskers open the 2003 campaign in victorious fashion.

The feelings of many of the former Huskers in attendance over the weekend were best expressed by former Outland Trophy winner Larry Jacobson.

"I don't think you ever lose being part of this program," Jacobson said. "You still get a chill when they do that tunnel walk and run through all the highlights up there on the big screen."

The current members, many of whom have relatives who have played at Nebraska, embraced the rich welcome and the energy they received from having as many former players back for this unprecedented reunion.

"It was great to have players from every decade out there cheering you on,'' I-back Josh Davis, whose dad was an I-back in the mid-1970s said. 'It was something that certainly got us really excited and got the fans excited.''

It was fitting that linebacker Barrett Ruud would score the decisive touchdown, as his family has been intertwined with Husker football since his great grandfather, Clarence Swanson, played at Nebraska following World War I. Ruud's father and uncle both participated in the pregame festivities and watched as Barrett scored his first career touchdown to spark the comeback.

Many of the former players hoping that reunion this would become a new Husker tradition.

"I hope we look to do this every year, instead of every 40 or 50 years,'' Rodgers said.