Expect two things on Saturday when Nebraska hosts
UCLA at Memorial Stadium. And both will most likely have little impact on who
wins:
1. Nebraska
will wear the No. 36 on its helmets during the game to honor Bruin wide
receiver Nick Pasquale, who was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning.
2. Memorial
Stadium will be silent for a brief instant to further remember the late UCLA walk on.
Nebraska football just can’t stay away from
emotional situations, but it seems to turn those situations into special moments.
Remember Penn State two years ago? Back when Joe
Paterno was the beloved coach that was forced to resign as head football coach
after 45 years at the helm because his offensive coordinator turned out to be a
sexual predator?
More than 100,000 Penn State fans stood silent that
day, some wiping away tears off their cheek, as the Huskers’ running backs
coach, Ron Brown, prayed in the midst of both teams on the 50-yard line, just
days after Jerry Sandusky was charged with sexual abuse.
How about that kid in the No. 22 Husker jersey with
a bobbling helmet on his head?
You know whom I’m talking about.
Jack Hoffman, the pediatric brain cancer victim who
scampered his way into the nation’s heart with his 69-yard touchdown run in
Nebraska’s spring game in April.
That touchdown run helped the kid raise more money
for his disease than he or his father could ever imagine.
Playing in an emotional football game from
unfortunate circumstances won’t be unfamiliar territory for
the Huskers. Nebraska coaches have already made multiple statements regarding this
weekend’s Top-25 matchup.
“That’s a lot bigger than any football game,” Nebraska
coach Bo Pelini said in his weekly press conference Monday. “The thoughts and
prayers of everyone associated with Nebraska are with Nick, Nick’s family,
Coach Mora, the football team and everyone associated with UCLA in getting
through this because obviously this has got to be a very difficult time for
them.”
“It is hard to put yourself in their shoes with
what they are going through.” Nebraska offensive coordinator Tim Beck said, “Obviously,
it’s a little sentimental for them, you hate to see that happen.”
Nebraska can’t put itself in UCLA’s shoes right
now. And slapping a number on the helmet or adding a moment of silence before
the game may not do much either.
But from what Nebraska has done in the past, expect
one more thing Saturday.
Goosebumps, and that fuzzy feeling inside your
chest.
