Nebraska Football Tickets

Remember your first Nebraska game?

If you still remember your first set of Nebraska football tickets, you can win a unique package that includes tickets to a Nebraska football game this season.
First National Bank of Omaha is sponsoring a contest where fans can go online and write a 300-word essay recalling their first Husker gameday experience. The seven winners will be featured on HuskerVision in Memorial Stadium, and each one will have a chance to stand on the sideline with one of the players they saw during that first game and wave to the crowd of more than 80,000 during a Husker football game this season.
Nebraska football fans can remember their first game, whether it was an early-season contest against a non-conference opponent or a big showdown against some of the Huskers' traditional rivals like Oklahoma, Colorado or Missouri.
If you have a Nebraska football fan who has never been to Memorial Stadium to see the Huskers play, you can help them enjoy the experience of a Husker game with Nebraska football tickets from Ticket Express -- where no Nebraska football game is ever sold out.

Tickets hot for Nebraska's last year in Big 12

Nebraska football tickets will be especially hot during the 2010 season, as the Huskers close a chapter in their history during their final season as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

With Nebraska moving to the Big 10 Conference in 2011, it will be the last time for Husker fans to witness traditional rivalries with over a century of history, including games against Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Iowa State and Kansas State.

The big game of the season comes on Saturday, Oct. 19, when Nebraska hosts Texas in a rematch of last year's exciting, and controversial, Big 12 Conference championship game. Big 12 Southern Division foes Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are also on this year's scheduled for the Huskers.

The Huskers have three home games on their non-conference schedule, including Western Kentucky, Idaho and South Dakota State. They will travel to Washington on Sept. 18 to face the Huskies in Seattle.

With Nebraska bidding the Big 12 adieu, you can bet every team in the conference will want to get their last shot in on the Huskers, so every game should be exciting for fans.

You can get the best Nebraska football tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no Nebraska football game is ever sold out.

Nebraska jumping ship for the Big 10 in 2011

Nebraska football has more than a century of tradition as a member of the Big Six, Big Seven, Big Eight and Big 12 conferences.
That tradition is going by the wayside, however, after the Big 10 conference formally approved Nebraska's application to join the conference beginning in 2011.
The topic of conference expansion has been a hot item in recent months, and there had been speculation that Nebraska was on the list of teams the Big 10 would be interested in bringing into its 11-team conference.
After the Big 12 Conference held its summer meetings, it became apparent that Nebraska wasn't the only school looking for greener pastures. Texas was being touted as a potential team on the move, possibly going to the Pac 10 or Big 10, but was going to wait and see if Nebraska or Missouri -- maybe both -- would follow through on rumors they were leaving for the Big 10.
In the end, it wasn't even one of those schools that started the chain reaction. While media reports were selling Nebraska's move to the Big 10 as all but a done deal, Colorado broke the ice Thursday by announcing its intention to leave the Big 12 for the Pac 10 Conference, beginning in 2012.
Friday afternoon, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents gave its blessing to make the move, and moments later the Big 10 accepted Nebraska's application to join the conference.
The move will change the Nebraska football landscape, as Husker fans will have to get used to conference matchups against teams like Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State and others. The days of matchups against Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma State and the rest of the Big 12 will come to an end after this season.
That makes this year's schedule a special one for fans looking for Nebraska football tickets. You can get the best seats in the house, both home and away, with tickets from Ticket Express -- where no Nebraska football game is ever sold out.

Thunder Collins arrested on murder charge

A former Nebraska running back was arrested Wednesday on charge in connection with a murder that took place Tuesday in Omaha.

An arrest warrant was issued for Thunder Collins on first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and one count of use of a weapon to commit a felony in connection to a shooting that occurred late Tuesday morning in Omaha. Timothy Thomas, 38, of Los Angeles was killed in a house in the 3900 block of N. 70th Circle.

Thomas was one of two people shot at the scene. A friend of Thomas, Marshall Turner, was shot and drove from the scene to a hotel at 72nd and Grover streets. He was taken from there to Nebraska Medical Center and was last listed in critical condition.

A second person was also arrested, Karnell Burton, 20, of Omaha.

Collins played at Nebraska from 1999 to 2002, quitting in the middle of his senior year. He is best known as the go-between in one of Nebraska's most exciting plays in this decade, as he took the handoff from Eric Crouch and flipped it to Mike Stuntz, who threw the ball to Crouch for a touchdown in Nebraska's win over Oklahoma.

Nebraska, Miami to play two-game series

Nebraska fans have had a lot of bowl-game nightmares regarding the University of Miami's football program. Now the Huskers will be playing a home-and-home with the Hurricanes.

Jeff Jamrog, NU's assistant athletic director for football, announced Thursday the Huskers will be signing a deal that will bring the Hurricanes to Nebraska for a Sept. 20, 2014 matchup. The Huskers will return the favor the following year, playing at Miami on Sept. 12, 2015.

This is the second of what is expected to be three announcements concerning future Husker football schedules. Earlier this week, Nebraska announced it would host Fresno State in 2011 and 2016 and will play on the road at Fresno in 2014.

This will be the first meeting between the Huskers and Hurricanes since the 2001 championship game, when the Hurricanes beat Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl to win the national title. The two teams have played 10 times and each has won five. Three of Nebraska' s wins came during regular-season matchups, with the other wins coming in the 1962 Gotham Bowl and the 1995 Orange Bowl. Miami has not visited Nebraska since 1976.

Three former Huskers nominated for Hall of Fame

Three former Nebraska football players are among 75 players and eight coaches who have been nominated for inclusion as the Class of 2008 for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Members of the National Football Foundation will vote on the list of nominees that will ultimately be inducted. The announcement of this year's class will be made Thursday, May 1, and induction ceremonies will take place at the National Football Foundation's annual awards dinner in New York City on Dec. 9.

Trev Alberts, Will Shields and Grant Wistrom are on the list of nominees this year. All three were standouts with the Huskers during the early- and mid-90's.

Alberts won the Butkus Award and was a first-team All-America selection in 1993. He was also a National Scholar Athlete and an Academic All-American who played a few years in the NFL.

Shields won the Outland Trophy and was a first-team All-American in 1992. An Academic All-American and National Scholar Athlete, he went on to a long career with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wistrom played on three national championship teams and was a two-time first-team All-American. He won the Lombardi Award and was a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams and played several years with the Seattle Seahawks.

If selected, they would join a list of 13 former Huskers and six Nebraska football coaches in the Hall of Fame. Those players or coaches with Nebraska connections include:

Players -- Forrest Behm, Bob Brown, Guy Chamberlain, Sam Francis, Rich Glover, Wayne Meylan, Bobby Reynolds, Dave Rimington, Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, George Sauer, Clarence Swanson, Ed Weir.

Coaches -- Dana X. Bible, Bob Devaney, Lawrence "Biff" Jones, Tom Osborne, Eddie "Robbie" Robinson, Fielding Yost.

Count on a better Husker defense in 2008

In Nebraska, football fans can count on four things in 2008:

-- Death

-- Taxes

-- Unpredictable weather

-- A better defensive effort from the Nebraska football team.

It certainly can't get much worse than last year, that's for sure. In 2007, the Husker defense was as porous as a spaghetti strainer. The days when Nebraska ran up the score on opponents came home to roost, as teams like Kansas, Oklahoma State and Colorado put up record-setting numbers against the once-feared Husker defense.

Things got so bad that the defensive coordinator stripped the Blackshirts from the defensive starters, saying they were no longer worthy of carrying the tradition that has been the defense's calling card for over four decades.

Last year, the Huskers were last in the Big 12 Conference in total yards, rushing yards allowed and points allowed. The 37.9 points per game average was one of the worst in the country, as was the 232.2 rushing yards allowed and 476.8 total yards per game given up. They set team records for points (455), yards (5,722) and first downs (299) allowed.

Husker fans are quite optimistic, though, that last year's pathetic defensive effort is going to be a thing of the past with the hiring of coach Bo Pelini. Pelini was the Nebraska defensive coordinator in 2003 and turned around a sluggish defense. That team created 47 turnovers, matching the record set by the 1971 national championship team. By comparison, last year's team forced 11 turnovers, the fewest by a Nebraska defense in over 65 years.

Pelini's brother, Carl, will be the defensive coordinator this year, and the two brothers will both be involved in trying to turn around a defense that would have had a hard time stopping some high school programs last year.

The Huskers begin spring practice on Wednesday, and will have their first public showing at the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 19 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Get your tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Ostergard back with Nebraska athletics

A familiar face is returning to the Nebraska athletics family.

Doak Ostergard was hired by athletic director Tom Osborne and will be involved in several activities in his new position as outreach director.

Ostergard was on the Huskers' training staff and was the head trainer on the football staff for nine years before he was unceremoniously asked to resign last year by former Nebraska football coach Bill Callahan.

Ostergard's departure served to be a lightning rod for controversy last spring. Some former Husker football players held a golf tournament in his honor that coincided with the annual Nebraska football golf tournament held on the same day at a different course in Lincoln. Ostergard wrote the forward for a book called, "The Nebraska Way" that described Callahan in less-than-flattering terms.

Osborne brought Ostergard back on board and he will serve in a variety of capacities, including being a contact person for the N Club letterwinners group, as well as serving as a consultant for the strength and conditioning and nutrition areas.

Ostergard will be at Memorial Stadium for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 19. Get your tickets for the annual Nebraska football scrimmage now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

String of sellouts dates back to 1962

If you are a Nebraska football fan, the date Nov. 3, 1962 should be one that is forever etched in your memory.

That was the day Nebraska lost its homecoming game to Missouri, but started a winning streak that continues to this day.

It was on that day in 1962 that the Huskers played before a sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium. The 36,501 in attendance cheered on a Nebraska team that had gotten off to a hot start under new coach Bob Devaney.

The Huskers were 6-0 coming into that game, having upset traditional Big Ten power Michigan on the road earlier in the year. They won their first two Big Eight games over Kansas State and Colorado, with the 26-6 win over the Wildcats serving as the last time the Huskers did not play a home game in front of a packed house.

Since then, though, getting a ticket to a Nebraska football game at Memorial Stadium has been nothing short of difficult, as they have played to a full house for a streak that now stands at 289 consecutive games over 46 seasons. With an expected sellout of all eight home games in 2008, that streak will run to 297 this year.

There have been many memorable moments for Husker fans over the years at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers have had more than their share of success during that time. Since the streak started, the Huskers are an amazing 253-36 (.875) at home. The Huskers went unbeaten at home 21 times in 46 full seasons during the streak, including a five-year run between 1991 and 1998 where the Huskers won 47 consecutive home games.

The Huskers' 100th consecutive sellout came in 1979, when the Huskers handled Penn State 42-17. The 200th consecutive sellout was over conference rival Colorado, a 24-7 win. Consecutive sellout No. 250 was also a big win, as the Huskers handled Utah State 44-13.

Memorial Stadium has been the site of some historic wins in the legend of Nebraska football. On Nov. 23, 1963, Nebraska beat perennial powerhouse Oklahoma 29-20 to give coach Bob Devaney his first Big Eight Conference championship. The stadium also played host to his 100th career win at Nebraska, a 59-7 pounding of Kansas State on Nov. 18, 1972, in what would also be Devaney's final home game as the Huskers' coach.

The Nebraska-Oklahoma rivalry saw many great matchups at Memorial Stadium over the years, few as memorable as Tom Osborne's first win over the Sooners. On Nov. 11, 1978, the Sooners appeared to be driving for another late touchdown, but the Blackshirts forced a Billy Sims fumble on the Nebraska 5-yard-line in the closing minutes and Nebraska held on for a 17-14 win.

Osborne, who won three national titles in his last four years as coach, picked up a win of personal significance late in his career, also against the Sooners. Nebraska's 69-7 mauling of the Sooners on Nov. 1, 1997, was Osborne's 250th win as Nebraska coach.

Memorial Stadium has seen its dark times as well during the 46-year sellout string. Last year was particularly difficult on Husker fans, as Nebraska lost three games at home for the first time since 1968. The 45-14 loss to Oklahoma State last year came on Nebraska's homecoming, and was also the Cowboys' first win at Memorial Stadium since 1960.

Speaking of 1968, it was during that season that the Huskers had the only home losing record during this sellout streak, going 2-3 on the year. Things were particularly rough that year, as many Husker fans called for the firing of Devaney after back-to-back 6-4 seasons. All seemed to be forgiven the following year, as the Huskers went 5-1 at home and won the Sun Bowl, paving the way for back-to-back national titles the following two seasons.

Nebraska's longest run of wins at home started after a 36-21 loss to Washington. That winning streak started three weeks later with a 38-31 win over Kansas State on Oct. 19, 1991, and the Huskers would not lose again until Texas won a 20-16 Halloween thriller in 1998. Nebraska was about as dominant during their 47-game home winning streak as a team could possibly be. Only four times during that streak did a guest lose by a touchdown or less. Nebraska's average margin of victory during their 47-game home winning streak was an amazing 34.7 points.

The Huskers will have eight home games on the schedule for 2008, and there is no doubt the Husker faithfull will continue to fill a stadium that has more than doubled in size from the one that housed over 36,000 fans for that first sellout 46 years ago.

You can be a part of the excitement and tradition that is Nebraska football. Get your Nebraska football tickets for the 2008 season now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.

Halligan was first Husker All-American

When you think of Nebraska football and its long, storied history of All-Americans, names like Rodgers, Weigert, Rozier and Reynolds leap to mind.

It's been five years since Nebraska last produced an All-American in football, with free safety Josh Bullocks and punter Kyle Larson being tabbed in 2003. But to see where Nebraska's list of 92 All-Americans began, you have to go back almost 90 years.

In 1914, Vic Halligan became the first Nebraska football player to earn All-American honors. The North Platte, Neb., native was a tackle on an outstanding Nebraska team when he was bestowed the honor after the 1914 season.

According to the University of Nebraska history books, Halligan was a leader on a Cornhusker football team during one of its early runs of success. In Halligan's three years on the team, Nebraska went 22-1-1 and went unbeaten in its last 21 games with Halligan on the team.

In 1912, the Huskers lost to a powerful Minnesota squad to mark the only defeat during Halligan's three years with the Huskers. The following year, Halligan led the Huskers to win over Minnesota and an undefeated 8-0 mark as Nebraska shared the Missouri Valley Conference championship.

The following year, Halligan capped his career by helping Nebraska beat Iowa 16-7. He was Nebraska's first three-time all-conference selection and played along side a group of three other three-time all-conference players, Guy Chamberlain (Nebraska's second All-American in 1915), Dick Rutherford and H.H. Corey.

Who will Nebraska's next All-American be? You might see him playing in this year's Red-White Spring Game, set for Saturday, April 19 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Get your Spring Game tickets now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker home game is ever sold out.