-Isms: Views on life in rural America

Last week, I received a survey from the Husker athletic office, asking questions about Memorial Stadium upgrades and potential structural changes that could be coming in the future.

Questions ranged from seating arrangements, tiers and costs of various seating arrangements, food and beverage sales, legalized gaming, parking and tailgating. Another section asked about the development of a membership-only dinner club.

Little did I realize, during the 15 minutes it took to complete the survey, I would feel such a wide range of emotions.

I've said it before and I will say it again: Memorial Stadium is one of my favorite places. It's this cosmic combination of family and memories and faith and loyalty. It's about Nebraskans coming together, in good and bad times. Simply put, spending the majority of fall Saturdays, throughout my lifetime, in the west stadium, near the 15-yard line, feels like, well, it feels like home.

Sure, row 16 can feel crowded Yes, Scott, we arrive at least 30 minutes before kickoff to stake our claim. And, yes, there have been those games where we've stood the entire game, from pre-game preparations until the last Husker saunters into the tunnel, en route to the locker room. Would it be nice to have more leg room? Sure. Would it be cool to have backs on seats? Maybe. But, I've lived with it this way for 60 years. Does it need to be changed?

Should alcohol be sold during games? Currently, 57% - eight of 14 - Big 10 schools allow alcohol sales at games. According to the survey, alcohol-free areas could be designated in the stadium. Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about it. We traveled to St. Paul a few years back. Beer was available for purchase in Minnesota's stadium. It was cold and snowy that day, so we didn't see a lot of fans pounding beers, maybe the $8-per-can cost kept things in check.

Heck, more people were lined up to order cheese curds. Speaking of which, questions about food options were posed. Are Runza and Val's pizza good enough options or should other chains and an expanded menu be offered? My suggestion: bring back the beefy nachos. The chicken variety seems out of place in the Beef State capitol.

Does the stadium need more lounge-like areas, complete with big screen TVs, buffet appetizers, cold and hot beverages and reclining seats? Not at the price tag pitched in the survey, coupled with season ticket costs and a required donation to the athletic fund.

In an interview with Lincoln Journal-Star sportswriter Steve Sipple, NU athletic director Trev Alberts posed the question, "How do we make Memorial Stadium more equitable?"

Ah, the multi-million dollar question.

During the COVID year, when only family members and cardboard cutouts were allowed at sporting events, the athletic department reported a $41.5 million revenue decrease from the previous fiscal year. Keep in mind, the amount does not all stem from football.

By making the stadium or seating costs "equitable," in the end, Husker football is going to price itself out of many fans' budgets. Factor in costs for gameday - ticket price, seating/donor fees and parking - and the figure is north of $200 per game. At. The. Minimum. How many Nebraskans can afford the expense?

At the core, the Nebraska football experience has - and hopefully will - maintain its Nebraska roots, where every man (woman and child) can afford to attend a game, no matter what tax bracket they fit in.