No Such Thing as a Bad Seat for Spring Game

Doug Harris can’t believe there are tickets left for Saturday’s Nebraska Red-White Spring Game.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

“Maybe people think they’ll be sitting up too high in the end zone, but there’s no such thing as a bad seat in Memorial Stadium,” said Harris, a Leawood, Kan., elementary school principal who didn’t mind sitting in those higher seats.

He should know. Harris and a longtime teacher friend arrived early in the first quarter of a spring game a few years ago and, because construction blocked off most of the North Stadium, they headed for the South Stadium.

The two headed up the steps and started climbing and climbing and climbing ? all the way to Row 98 in the southeast corner, where they sat contentedly while reminiscing about Nebraska seasons past and theorizing about better seasons ahead.

“I know some people say the spring game is just another scrimmage or just another practice, but it’s the closest thing to game day you can see,” Harris said. “I love the atmosphere outside the stadium and enjoy just walking around, but it’s even more fun once you get inside. You know you’re in a place where everyone appreciates football. Not many places can simulate a game-day atmosphere in April like Nebraska can.”

Husker fans, Harris said, stand up and cheer every big play, whether it’s for their favorite players or for someone they’ve never heard about.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the new quarterbacks work with the new receivers,” Harris said. “I think most fans are like me. They enjoy learning new names and new numbers, and they can’t wait to get inside that stadium, especially if they can’t find tickets during the season.”

Harris enjoys Husker Nation Pavilion welcoming all fans ? with or without tickets ? three hours before kickoff.

“I’d recommend adults buy the tickets still available and bring their kids with them,” he said. “That clock runs awfully fast in the second half of a spring game. Before you know it, the game’s over, and everybody walks out of there with something to talk about.”

Unlike previous years, when almost all tickets were general admission, all seats are reserved for this year’s Spring Game. Nebraska Ticket Manager Holly Adam said about 8,000 Spring Game tickets are still available for purchase online, over the phone (800-8BIGRED or 800-824-4733 or 402-472-3111) or in person at the Athletic Ticket Office (625 Stadium Dr.) in Lincoln.

Adam said the reserved seating process allows Nebraska to distribute more tickets for the 2009 game than the 2008 game, which was declared a sellout 10 days before the game. Last year’s official attendance was 80,149.