BYU fans who witnessed a thrilling college football game at Memorial Stadium last Saturday went out of their way to thank Nebraska fans for their friendly, welcoming attitude. The most notable of those visitors may have been ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge, whose son is a freshman quarterback on the BYU roster. Hoge made his first visit to Lincoln and Memorial Stadium on Saturday and echoed the thoughts of many visiting fans who have visited Memorial Stadium.
"If we wanted a model for how sports should be," Hoge told Mike and Mike on ESPN, "you go to Nebraska and experience that." Listen to the full segment here.
Nebraska fans have a long history of taking great pride in being among the most loyal and supportive fans in the nation. A year ago, Nebraska was the only NCAA Division I program to rank in the top 10 nationally in attendance in football and men’s basketball, and also ranked in the top 11 in the nation in attendance in volleyball, baseball and women’s basketball.
Nowhere is that fan support more evident than Memorial Stadium, where Nebraska has sold out every game since 1962, and the gates into the stadium carry the inscription “Through These Gates Pass the Greatest Fans in College Football.”
Yes, Nebraska fans are proud of their loyalty and sportsmanship. But it is one thing to talk about it yourself, and another for first-time visitors to Lincoln to appreciate the Cornhusker fan base.
My name is Cory Green out here in Utah. I am a huge BYU football fan. I just wanted to thank Nebraska Nation for the...
Posted by Cory Green on Saturday, 5 September 2015
#Huskers is now my 2nd team. Best fan base I've ever met. Before, During, After. That's what #BYU should strive to be like. A Husker.
— ILoveIdahoQBs (@Y4LYFE) September 8, 2015
@merrilhoge I agree with your @Huskers comment 100% I almost felt bad celebrating the hail mary because they were so nice about it
— Skyler Aitken (@SkylerAitken) September 9, 2015
The @huskers fans were amazing. Best away game experience I've ever had. https://t.co/uhWfKzfUP1
— Jacki Wood (@JackiJWood) September 8, 2015
@Huskers @pedrodon @merrilhoge @MikeAndMike @HuskerFBNation I concur, everyone was welcoming and kind, well done Nebraska fans
— B (@BYU_Blackwell) September 8, 2015
Cornhuskers were the best sports on Twitter. Every BYU fan who went to Lincoln was effusive with praise. Classy team. Classy fans. Win out!
— Boney Fuller (@boneyfuller) September 7, 2015
Amen. good luck @Huskers https://t.co/YeyWcOrn92
— Nate Dubya Dubya (@natedub9) September 8, 2015
Back in Utah finally. Awesome experience, atmosphere, and classiest bunch of fans I've ever met. @Huskers #GoBigRed pic.twitter.com/jAeVzUdBxC
— Jeff (@jeffipson) September 8, 2015
@jeffipson @Huskers Amen. Despite your color pallet I will always pull for Nebraska. Class from start to finish. Top 3 favorite non BYU team
— Tay (@tayjoyce88) September 8, 2015
@huskers you have lots of new fans from #CougarNation. #cornhuskerfan https://t.co/aoZ9580nlo
— Alison P Hamilton (@allyg8er22) September 7, 2015