A series of articles by Brandon "Blankman" Cavanaugh.

A Call to Arms

It is that time of year again, folks. No more sitting around and moping, no more popping in tapes of yesteryear just for a taste of the college football goodness that you so richly desire. No more showing off your Husker driver caddy on the links or Husker sweatband on the racquetball courts to get a source of pride, not anymore. You, me and the entire Corngregation we’re just like that song by Chevelle, we’re seeing red again.

No doubt you, much like The Blank One, have plans made for a pre-OSU party be it a week, a day or even hours before the blessed event that is the season opener takes place. My advice, as a somewhat seasoned veteran of the pre-game and post-game rituals, is to simply enjoy it. Take in the fact that the long offseason is finally kaputski. Pretty soon, all of the arguments over the number Joe Dailey wears will wane instead into arguments over how many snaps he’ll get. “How well will DeJuan do?” will morph into “How well will (Super Secret Husker X, Not Named for Benefit of Super Secretness) do?” It’s a fantastic time of year, my friends. The longest possible time between the regular season and the mandated hell that is the offseason.

So, you’ve gone out, you’ve partied, it’s 2 in the frickin’ morning and Oklahoma State/Nebraska is tomorrow/today. There’s going to be at least 800 alumni, people I vaguely remember as a young Blanklette and people I’ve only heard about and read about in their jerseys overseeing what has been billed as “The Biggest Opener since That Jennings Guy Went Away”. So what’s a Husker to do? What can you, a measly single in a gaggle of thousands do to improve your beloved Red Corn’s chances for victory? Yell. And I don’t mean like yelling when Colorado’s up 28-13 and NU just ran a fullback trap for -3 yards yell (yes, that did actually happen and it wasn’t me doing the yelling). Yell when appropriate. When Josh Fields and Rashaun Woods line up, scream like Gary Barnett’s about ready to lead a rendition of show tunes at the 50.

So, you the kind of fan that needs a little motivation, I see. I can respect that, so how’s this fit your britches: Think of the streaks that ended and the teams that scoffed at the image of Nebraska. Think of the Longhorn who tried (and failed) to plant the UT flag at midfield of Memorial Stadium. Think of that damned fake punt pass one more time. I can even get simpler for you, if you desire. Think 7-7. Yeah, I figured that’d do it. Drown out any sound that isn’t in the Big Red’s best interests; make life miserable for the snap count.

Sure, I’ve heard it all in the past month. OSU by 46. Rashaun Woods with 300 yards. No, no, make that 400 yards, 450 even. “The Triplets”, they’re unstoppable. Why try? People have a very hard time understanding the new infusion of talent in the coaching ranks. Jimmy Williams is on the lips of seemingly every Husker recruit, it seems. Barney Cotton and Bo Pelini? Those guys are gold in the eyes of their men. Even Fearless Frankie is giving off an air of, dare I say, confidence? Less coach-speak and more “The Way It Is”. I dig that, I could get used to that and I hope it remains as such. The Huskers respect who’s in charge, now folks. They’ll run through brick walls, or at least the scorching heat of August to get where they need to go. Bryan Bailey’s whipping them into a finely tuned froth and they’re eating it all up.

Les Miles made a comment that even though Nebraska’s bringing back all of these alumni and what not, they can only put 11 on the field against his boys at a time. Well yes, Les, this is true, but that’s at least 800 more LOUD voices (probably at field level, too) that’ll be screaming when your boys have the ball. Not a good thing, there, Cowboy. Heck, we might even see a Big Red reincarnation of the stuff those Sooners are always talking about, a little Husker Magic, perhaps?

So there it is folks, a few basic rules during the upcoming NU/OSU bout. Have fun, yell when OSU’s got the ball, be the fans the nation knows you as and I can assure you that by the time it’s all said and done, regardless of the outcome, the ‘Pokes will be seeing red again. That’s just one Blankman’s take, anyway.

Questions, comments and your Corngregation take can be sent to [email protected]

===Brandon a.k.a. Blankman #71===

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