Here's something you don't see at Memorial Stadium: Turkey legs for sale.

The smoke billowing from the small stand just inside the southeast fence of Lane Stadium was the result of nearly a dozen grills preparing “giant smoked'' turkey legs. Folks in red mixed with Virginia Tech fans in the line.

So do they sell?

“Oh, yeah,” one worker said. “We move them pretty good.''

Young travelers

The 88-player travel roster for Nebraska included 11 true freshmen, six of whom had not played in the first two games.

The freshmen making the trip but still expected to redshirt were defensive end Jason Ankrah; cornerbacks Andrew Green and Lazarri Middleton; quarterback Taylor Martinez; defensive tackle Thaddeus Randle; and offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles.

The others were receiver Antonio Bell, linebacker Eric Martin, I-back Rex Burkhead, quarterback Cody Green and long snapper P.J. Mangieri.

Not part of the travel roster was Collins Okafor, the redshirt freshman I-back who left the team earlier this week but then returned.

Husker huddle

Nearly 600 Nebraska fans congregated for several hours before kickoff northeast of Lane Stadium at the Husker Huddle, staged by the Nebraska Alumni Association.

The organization brought 170 fans on two charter flights from Nebraska and drew from a large base of NU graduates in Washington, D.C., 270 miles north of Blacksburg. Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne spoke to the crowd at the event, in addition to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman and former All-America QB Tommie Frazier.

Also in attendance: Sen. Mike Johanns and NU President J.B. Milliken.

The alumni association found a spot on several tennis courts adjacent to Tech's basketball practice facility.

Diane Mendenhall, executive director of the association, said the event was sold out and that more tickets could have been purchased if space had been available.

“We're extremely happy, especially with the (limited) number of game tickets that were available,” Mendenhall said.

For home games, similar events are held at the Champions Club near Memorial Stadium. The alumni association sponsors a Husker Huddle for Nebraska postseason games and usually one road game every season.

Last season, the alumni association didn't take its show away from Lincoln for a road game. The group is set to visit Seattle on Sept. 18, 2010, when the Huskers play at Washington.

Hokie hospitality

Nebraska fans filled about half of the three southernmost sections of the east stands at Lane Stadium and part of the upper deck in the south end zone.

Their presence made only a small dent among the sellout crowd, nothing like NU showings in road games at Wake Forest in 2007 and Notre Dame in 2000.

Tech fans appeared largely hospitable toward their visitors. A sign at a tailgate party of Hokie fans just north of Lane Stadium welcomed the Huskers to Blacksburg.

The stadium lived up to its billing as an intimidating environment — complete with the “Enter Sandman” entrance of the Hokies and turkey gobbles. But because of the overall lack of excitement in the game and the Hokies' ineptitude offensively, the crowd never became a huge factor.

A familiar feeling

The Nebraska fans who arrived early in Lane Stadium were treated to a friendly gesture by Virginia Tech's band.

The Marching Virginians, seated in the bleachers at that point, played Nebraska's “Hail Varsity” about 30 minutes before the game. A noticeable “Go Big Red” chant could be heard throughout the stadium after the fight song.

Fly over

The national anthem hadn't ended yet, but many of the fans started cheering anyway.

Their eyes were fixated on the north sky.

Three F/A-18 Hornets were visible for a while, but they flew over the field as the national anthem ended. It prompted a rather appreciative ovation from the 66,233 who packed into Lane Stadium.

Marine Capt. Aaron Jivrosky, one of the members of the flyover crew, graduated from Nebraska in 2004.

— Jon Nyatawa

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