Longtime Husker fan shows true colors

When fans call themselves dedicated, they often refer to how much paint they have slathered on their bodies, how loud they scream or how many players’ statistics they can rattle off.

Betty Boslaugh, a Nebraska fan, knows the true meaning of the word. She’s been to every Nebraska home football game since 1927.

To put that in perspective, that was before World War II, before FDR was president, even before the Great Depression.

“They called us (children) knot-holers back then,” Boslaugh said. “That was before they filled in both ends of the stadium. It only cost a quarter to get in. Times sure have changed.”

The stadium, which was built in 1922, has been expanded five times while Boslaugh has attended games. While the record-sized crowd was dancing to pre-game music, Boslaugh, who wouldn’t reveal her exact age, was dancing right along, bobbing up and down to the music while swinging her arms around, her Husker-red shoes moving in time.

Lamenting the fact that the band had not yet entered the field, she told a story about how she became a fan.

“My father was such a big supporter,” she said. “Back then, they had different helmets, and he always wanted to play but couldn’t with his spectacles. He helped out in other ways, cheering for the team.”

In the span of nearly 80 seasons, Boslaugh has seen four national championship teams and three Heisman Trophy winners play. Johnny Rodgers, the running back in 1972, and Eric Crouch, the quarterback in 2001, were mentioned as some of her favorite players.

“We used to be able to get right down there,” she said, gesturing toward the field, “and meet (the players) after the game. The relationship between the fans and players was a lot looser then. After games, you used to be able to walk on out there and congratulate them after games.”

Her husband attended games with her before his death. He was a writer with the Associated Press and was in Harry Truman’s press corps. He also loved football, but glasses kept him from playing, too.

Many stadium workers know exactly who she is when asking for a Betty who sat on the level.

“She’s that really bubbly lady, about this tall,” a stadium worker said, holding her hand at about shoulder height.

No temperature or weather can keep Boslaugh away, as she was bundled up with her friend she made when she was three years old. Getting situated, she adjusted the pad on her seat and got ready for the game, chatting with her friend.

The sun bounced off her heavy red coat and her snow-white hair as the band ran onto the field. Clapping right along, Boslaugh didn’t miss a beat.

HUSKER NATION: While players were warming up for before Missouri’s football game Saturday, the real action was happening on a different field.

Hundreds of fans in red participated in Husker Nation, an interactive fan area at Ed Wier Track and Nebraska Soccer Field, which is right next to Memorial Stadium.

On one side of the track there were inflatable obstacle courses where little kids raced each other to see who could get through the tube crawl, get past the blocking cylinders and over a small hill the quickest, while on the other side there were life-size cutouts of Nebraska football and volleyball players that fans could take pictures with.

“It’s great,” David Scott said about Husker Nation. “For those of us who don’t have tickets, it lets us get involved even though we can’t go see the game.”

Scott, of Lincoln, Neb., came to Husker Nation with his son. He said he especially likes it when there are promotional events such as autograph sessions and book signings.

Besides the inflatable games and picture opportunities there was also a live band, The Bottom Line, playing rock and roll music, face painting, a scoreboard showing a college football pre-game show and multiple people playing catch with a football on the soccer field.

BOWL REPRESENTATIVES: Members of four bowls with a Big 12 Conference affiliation were on hand for Missouri’s game against Nebraska. The Fiesta, Cotton, Alamo and Sun Bowls showed up, hoping to get a better idea of which team will play where.

INJURIES: Tight end Martin Rucker’s left foot was in a boot after the game. He said it was because of mild turf toe, and he will be ready for the Iowa State game.