Shatel: Passion defines sellout streak

For the 300th consecutive time, Nebraska fans will fill Memorial Stadium for a college football game on Saturday night.

It's not like they have anything else to do, right?

I've heard that for years. I laugh every time. The Nebraska football sellout streak is so astounding, so unthinkable, it defies logical explanation.

The Streak has lasted through 10 U.S. presidents, five Nebraska coaches, three press boxes, three Heisman Trophy winners, five national titles, at least two recessions, numerous uniforms, countless offensive philosophies, the Independence Bowl and Steve Pederson/Bill Callahan.

So, as if to justify it, people say, “Well, there's nothing else to do there.''

Here's the thing about that: I'm a guy with a wife and three kids. All I really need is a zoo, a pool and a park. It's not like I have time for an exotic lifestyle.

The point well-taken is that we don't have major-league sports or any other Division I-A football in the house. That's certainly part of it. I think the bottom line is that this is a passion, our passion. But we don't exactly corner the market on singlemindedness.

You see this type of devotion in other burgs, too. Two that come to mind are St. Louis and Denver. There alledgedly are exotic, big-city things to do there.

But I'll bet you a pair of World Series tickets that if the St. Louis Cardinals played once a week, on a Saturday, everything in the Gateway City would stop. All eyes would be on all things Redbird.

Same for Denver. They may be terminally-hip there, but Broncos fans are as stodgy as Nebraska fans. When it's Sunday, the focus is on all things orange.

There are plenty of things (concerts, sporting events, shopping and restaurants) to keep us busy in our little corner of the world. But all things pale compared to this love affair with college football. And having a pasasion for something is nothing to apologize for.

In fact, we should be celebrating it.

You mean we are? Good for us. Good for UNL. Sure, the “300 Sellouts'' celebration smacks of a cheesy marketing ploy, but what the hay. This is a remarkable accomplishment, an acknowledgement of your passion, dedication and loyalty. It should be recognized.

Because it can't last forever, right?

I don't know about that. Truthfully, I don't see an end. I could see this thing going for decades, past 400, 500 and beyond.

Only two things could derail this train: losing or greed.

Forget about losing. Oh, it could happen. It has happened. But the “passion'' of the fans won't let it persist. Whoever is losing won't be losing for long because he'll be on the next train out. Ask Pederson and Callahan.

That leaves greed, including ticket prices and stadium expansion. It will be interesting to see how UNL handles those issues in the future.

There is a master plan at UNL that includes expansion of the east side of Memorial Stadium. An upper deck could be added, with more sky-box suites.

How many seats would you add? Would you take it to 90,000? Would you dare go more than 100,000?

No. This isn't Michigan or Tennessee or Texas. A look at the state population demands that basic economics be applied here. Obviously, there will be price hikes; bills must be paid. I think that Nebraskans will always make room in their budgets for Huskers. I wonder if 20,000 more Nebraskans would do that.

John Ingram, NU's longtime director of facilities and a Lincoln native, says “several thousand'' more seats would be appropriate, adding, “It's about quality of seats, not quantity.''

Anything more, Ingram said, and you're threatening the end of The Streak. I agree.

“You don't mess with the streak, just like in baseball,'' Ingram said. “I don't think anyone at the university would ever do that. It means too much.''

It will go forever, because there's nothing else we'd rather do on a Saturday.

Contact the writer:

444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com