Shatel: The return of Frank Solich mended broken hearts — and possibly a 20-year-old curse

Memorial Stadium was the scene of a group therapy session on Saturday, as over 66,000 rose to their feet to watch a Tunnel Walk like no other.

This was halftime of the spring game and it was about time. Twenty years after walking off the field on Nov. 15, 2003, Frank Solich was back.

The day had begun with a tribute. On the first play of the scrimmage, coach Matt Rhule called a fullback trap. Then, he called time out and walked over and handed the game ball to Solich.

A cool moment. But everyone was waiting for halftime.

Highlights of Solich’s Nebraska career played on the big screen, and for those younger fans, this is the man who played fullback for Bob Devaney, coached running backs for Tom Osborne and was fired as head coach after six successful seasons.

How do you mend a broken heart?

As Solich popped out of the northwest tunnel and walked slowly onto the turf, escorted by wife Pam, the people started cheering, with the noises getting louder with each step.

It reached a booming crescendo about the time Solich reached a group at midfield that included Athletic Director Trev Alberts, NU President Ted Carter and former coach Tom Osborne.

When Solich stopped, he was on the 45-yard line.

Touchdown.

Soon it was announced the new Husker football locker room would be named after Solich, and Alberts introduced the coach, and Solich said a few words and ended with an emphatic “Go Big Red!”

There weren’t many dry eyes in the old place, including some of the former players who had gathered on the field to see Solich. Some of the big, tough guys had huge lumps in their throat.

Sometimes a big event is somehow bigger — more human — than you imagined when it actually unfolds.

The walk off the field would take much longer. Solich was stopped by everyone. He hugged Eric Crouch and they exchanged smiles and thoughts.

Dane Todd, a former fullback who played for Solich, introduced himself and said, “Thanks for bringing me here.”

There was a quick stop for an interview with the Husker Sports Network and Solich was heard saying, “I’m old school and I can appreciate the locker room.”

Then Solich was brought over to the nearby fence, where the fans were lined up with cell phone cameras and photos. One guy had a program from the 1998 spring game — Solich’s first — with a photo of Osborne and Solich on the front.

Suddenly, there was Ed Davis.

He called Solich over and the two embraced. Davis was the quarterback for Solich’s 1977 Lincoln Southeast state championship team.

“I told him congratulations,” Davis said. “I almost started crying. He said, 'We had some good times, didn’t we?'”

Soon Solich was moving down the fence taking photos with fans and signing things and exchanging pleasantries and hearing them say “We love you Frank.”

On Friday, Solich said he was afraid he would get too emotional during this time. Too late.

The old fullback’s eyes were misting up.

Can a school forgive itself?

This was a Nebraska spring game like no other. Call it an exorcism. A revival. An awakening.

This was about Matt Rhule’s Huskers, their first dress rehearsal, all the first impressions. And spring games are always about the recruiting show it provides.

But those were backdrops on Saturday to another theme.

Frank. Herbie. Rhule.

Some like to say that Nebraska lives in the past but on this chilly Saturday, the past was living in the present.

There was the return of Solich, whose appearance was seen as an act of forgiveness and a green light to close a painful chapter and move forward.

There was Herbie Husker, the timeless and ageless mascot in blond hair and overalls, who represented winning and simpler times.

And there was Rhule, whose words and actions this spring have signaled a return to the fundamental and disciplined way of Husker football.

It was a good day to be a Husker fan and no accident that the three were intertwined and sending off positive karma vibes.

This is Alberts’ vision coming to fruition, the present of Husker football finally catching up with the past.

You’ve never seen so many fans acting like little kids over a former coach, a farmer-like mascot and football players running into each other repeatedly.

Why?

“This is Nebraska,” Alberts explained. “This is what our fans expect and want from us.

“I think Frank, in so many ways, symbolizes what Nebraska is really proud of. He’s a humble person, extraordinarily hardworking, is about the right things, has integrity.

“Herbie is embracing who we are, being authentic, agriculture, our roots. Agriculture built this university and athletic department. It’s just embracing the realities of who we are.

“And we’re okay.”

There’s a brilliance in this mindset. It’s the simple, time-worn idea that the most successful college football schools like who they are.

If you’re happy with your school’s identity, it’s much easier to survive the bumpy ride that is the modern Big Ten — especially with USC and UCLA joining in 2024.

It means that if you like the way the team plays, and what the entire operation is about, you’re not anxious to blow things up when you go 7-5 or, heaven forbid, 9-3.

The Nebraska Football that Alberts is creating is one that will be stable, consistent and ambitious — but not prone to huge emotional swings or actions.

Sound familiar?

Tim Albin remembers. Albin was on the sideline for Saturday’s game, wearing his green Ohio University jacket and hat.

Albin, the long-time offensive coordinator for Solich at Ohio, replaced Solich there as head coach. Back in 2003, he was a running back coach at NU.

He had to come back and see this. They had all waited a long time for this moment.

“Jimmy Burrow (former defensive coordinator for Solich at Ohio), myself and Frank and our wives got together about a month ago,” Albin said. “Frank said, “What do you think? I’m thinking about going back.’

“Jimmy and I didn’t say a word. Finally, we said, 'Coach, if that’s what you want to do.’

“He said, 'I think it’s time.'”

When I asked Albin if he thought Solich was too hurt to come back sooner, he stopped himself. He began to cry.

“Yes, I do,” Albin said. “My opinion. But this is the right time.”

On Friday, Solich was asked about the “curse” he had left on the program when he was fired. He downplayed it, then smiled and said, “The curse is gone” and waved his arms for effect.

It was an awesome, amazing moment.

The curse was firing the way Nebraska played football. Banishing Solich represented that.

His return seemed to represent a new direction. A new day.

The old stadium has seen some great days. This one was unforgettable.

“He never should have gotten fired,” Davis said. “I’m just glad he got to come back. It’s good to have him home.”