Genie Sullivan took the blankets from her New York City hotel room and shivered, alone, in the stands of a nearly-empty Yankee Stadium on Dec. 15, 1962 — the day Bob Devaney led his first Nebraska team to the football program's first bowl win.

Nebraska beat a talented Miami team that day, 36-34 in the Gotham Bowl.

“I froze to death, but I was there,” Genie, 75, said.

Genie's husband, George, 82, is a veteran of the football program and served as the team's head trainer from 1976 to 1997. He saw the classic game from the field, but remembers the Gotham Bowl in less romantic terms.

“That was a cold son of a biscuit,” he said.

Genie and George have seen every Nebraska home game since 1962, many away games and the majority of games since the early 1950s. George's duties required him to be on the team's sideline every week, but Genie faithfully filled the same seat in Memorial Stadium on her own through the years.

“I've been to the most of them,” Genie said. “I've been there longer than anyone else.”

In the process, she's seen some of the most famous names in Husker lore play the game — Tom Novak, Bob Brown, Bobby Reynolds.

Plus, Genie said, “(Ndamukong) Suh is about as good an athlete that you'll ever see.”

She has a hard time picking a favorite game. “Oh my gosh, I get worked up about all of them,” she said. “I care about all of 'em.”

She notes the Nov. 8, 1997, “Miracle in Missouri” — when Shevin Wiggins kicked a Scott Frost pass into the air and into the hands of Matt Davison for a tying touchdown that set up an overtime victory for NU.

Then there's the “Game of the Century” between Nebraska and Oklahoma on Nov. 25, 1971. The game that ended in a 35-31 NU victory is widely regarded as one of the greatest games ever played and stands as an immortal moment in Nebraska football history. Both Sullivans were in Norman, Okla., that day — George on the sideline, Genie in the stands.

“You just knew you were going to win for some reason,” George said.

— Juan Perez Jr.

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