Big Red is the only fall color that matters

Ah! The pride Nebraskans have in their beloved Cornhuskers. Really, it's indescribable.

Maybe that's why fans put the Husker emblem on just about everything — from personal checks to license plates and doggy sweaters. Perhaps the corncob foam hat and cuff links are a bit extreme. But who cares?

With the opening game — Nebraska vs. Western Kentucky — less than two days away, we decided to showcase a handful of uber-fans foaming at the mouth for their good ol' Nebraska boys to take the field.

Here's what a few of them had to say:

LuAnn Schindler of Ewing, Neb.

Age: 29

How she prepares for the season: Purchases new Husker gear, reads articles and watches sportscasts about players and the season. She also marks the days off her calendar and plans tailgate parties.

Most excited for ... Bo (Pelini) said it (best) after the Holiday Bowl: “Nebraska's back.” I like the tradition; game day is a total package — from tailgating, watching the drum line before the game, getting to the stadium early to take in the pregame warmup, the flyover, the Tunnel Walk, the game, HuskerVision. I'm also excited to see how the offense responds and who steps up to be a leader on the field.

A Husker fan since: Birth. My parents have had season tickets for more than 50 years. I started going to games when I was about 8. It's been a part of my autumn routine since I can remember.

Game predictions: Nebraska 54, Western Kentucky 7.

You know you're a true Husker fan when ... You don't answer your oldest daughter's phone call so you can listen to her ring tone in its entirety — “Can You Feel It,” which plays before kickoff at Memorial Stadium. And yes, all my family members have Husker-related ring tones.

Chad Arens of Omaha

Age: 26

How he prepares for the season: Stays up-to-date with the news coming out of practices and also reads what other local and national writers that I like are saying about this team and the other teams in our conference.

Most excited for ... To see how big of a step forward (hopefully) the program can take this year. I am interested to see if all of the preseason hype this team is getting is going to end up being deserved or not.

A Husker fan since: Ever since I can remember, it has always been the team I have followed the closest and cared the most about.

Game predictions: I think on defense the Huskers will come out and get a lot of pressure on their quarterback early. The secondary should lock down their receiving threats enough to let the defensive line get pressure and hopefully force their quarterback into making bad decisions. On offense, it is anyone's guess on the passing game, but I predict that they should be very successful running the football. The offensive line should be more talented and deeper this year, so that will be something to keep an eye on. Nebraska 52, Western Kentucky 6.

You know you're a true Husker fan when ... You have more scarlet shirts in your closet than Missouri has conference championships. (Oops ... that's zero.)

Gregory Scott of Omaha

Age: 40

How he prepares for the season: With high expectations! Nebraska is finally getting back to being NEBRASKA. I expect NU to take most teams out back behind the woodshed and give each team a serious whoopin'. They got it coming, too. All the smack-talkin' they've been giving us when we are down.

Most excited for ... To see our team jacked up. To see Bo Pelini yell at everyone. To see the Blackshirts put fear in the opponents' eyes once again and just dominate. NU will beat Texas soundly! Texas can't always win; sooner or later, they have to lose! I just believe this is the year NU gets it done.

A Husker fan since: All my life. I grew up going to all the home games.

Game predictions: NU will beat Western Kentucky by at least 35 points.

You know you're a true Husker fan when ... You talk delusional about your team. Fanatic? Ah, yes, (sigh) Go Big Red!

Cassy Loseke of Washington, D.C.

Age: 23

How she prepares for the season: Just like any good Husker fan would — loading up on beer and making sure it's chilled in time for kickoff. Oh, and starting to taunt my friends from K-State, Missouri, Iowa State and Texas A&M while I can.

Most excited for ... The season to begin, period. (She was reared in Columbus, Neb.) Moving 1,200 miles away from the Cornhusker State has made me anxious for a taste of home that can't be satiated with any other sport or professional team. There's just a bond between Husker fans that unites, regardless of political position or demographics. Whenever I see someone in D.C. walking around with a Nebraska shirt on, I make sure to make them feel welcome by letting out a “Go, Huskers!” cheer.

A Husker fan since: Isn't everyone in Nebraska born Husker fans? As a child, I remember crying in front of the TV because we had somehow, to my disbelief, lost a game during the Osborne era (probably in '96) and my heart was broken.

Game predictions: Who's Western Kentucky? ... I'll take a wild guess at 35-17.

You know you're a Husker fan when ... You meet fellow Nebraskans and proceed to tell them about the time when Eric Crouch spoke at your high school's athletic banquet, only for it to be interrupted by a tornado warning ... Eric insisted on standing outside on a lookout for a tornado because he'd “never seen a real one before.”

Rodney Frizzell of Omaha

Age: 48

How he prepares for the season: I always make sure I have my colors showing, especially during the week that Nebraska is playing. (Frizzell dresses up like Harry Husker.) I often get stopped for pics. Preparing for the Big Red, I attend local bars, spend time watching football with family and friends, and also at the games.

Most excited for ... I can feel the tradition back in the air, and with a great coach like Bo. These players deserve the best — they are the best — as they will play with heart. They are the Big Red Machine.

A Husker fan since: All my life. I remember Jerry Tagge, Turner Gill, Johnny “the Jet” Rodgers and Mike Rozier. I was about 10 years old when I saw my first game with Oklahoma, I was watching with my family. We were all excited that day. What a rivalry ... Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Game predictions: I'm not a person to make predictions, as I know that anything can and will happen in the game of football. Nebraska will do just fine.

You know you're a Husker fan when ... You dress up like Harry Husker because it “gets people in the spirit. Even the opposite team fans like it.”

Joe Teplitsky of Omaha

Age: 20

How he prepares for the season: Husker football is a year-round thing for me. My excitement builds as the season-opening kickoff nears, but it doesn't get any better than getting paid to sit in the press box at the 50-yard line and watch your favorite team. (Teplitsky is a junior broadcast journalism student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who covers Husker football games on 90.3 FM KRNU.)

Most excited for ... The lofty expectations that the team is facing. There hasn't been this much hype surrounding the team since 2001, so seeing how Bo and the rest of the Huskers respond has my interest piqued. We know the Huskers are going to get the best shots of every team on their conference farewell tour.

A Husker fan since: My entire life! My first memory was watching Tommie Frazier break tackles as well as the hearts of Florida fans as he and the rest of the Big Red ran all over the Gators in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.

Game predictions: Taylor Martinez gets his first career start and he leads the Huskers to a 48-9 victory to start off the year. Martinez, Zac Lee and Cody Green split time at quarterback, and the two-headed monster at running back (Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead) get 100 yards each.

You know you're a true Husker fan when ... You rank prospective recruits by amount of heart in addition to the traditional star ranking.

Lance Paesl of Omaha

Age: 18

How he prepares for the season: The final week before Nebraska football always seems like the longest of the year for me. I've been watching old games on ESPN Classic and reading just about any article that has to do with Husker football.

Most excited for ... Definitely the Texas game. The Texas-Nebraska game is always huge to Husker fans, but this year is on a whole new level. It's our last shot to win the Big 12, and it could be our last shot to beat Texas at home. I think this is definitely going to be one of the biggest games in college football this year, and I can't wait for it.

A Husker fan since: Birth. My parents and my brothers love watching Husker football, so I grew up watching the games with them. The first memory I can recall was watching Nebraska play Colorado with Scott Frost at quarterback in 1997.

Game predictions: A Nebraska win of 48-6. I don't see Western Kentucky giving us much of a game. They were one of the only teams that didn't win a game last year. But there are really a lot of unknowns still going into the game, and I'm really anxious to see who trots out there as the starting quarterback on Saturday.

You know you're a true Husker fan when ... Half of your wardrobe is red and white.

Chad Graff of Bedford, N.H.

Age: 19

How he prepares for the season: The wall behind my desk is covered with clippings from any major news source that so much as mentions the Cornhuskers and a large red Nebraska flag hangs above all that.

Most excited for ... October 16 (the Nebraska vs. Texas game). Period. It will be the biggest game of my lifetime.

A Husker fan since: Nineteen years ago. My grandparents went to Nebraska, all my uncles went to Nebraska and my father went to Nebraska. It's in my blood. Since the day I was age 1, I was dressed in red on Saturdays. And it's been that way for 19 years.

Game predictions: Nebraska 48, Western Kentucky 9

You know you're a true Husker fan when ... you realize the significance of one second and completely understand the risk-reward aspect of going for two.

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