As you can see in the photo above, Q has really enjoyed his first year and a half at the University of Nebraska. Anyone who knows him knows that his studies are first and foremost, but he’s also enjoyed life on campus – especially the football games. If you watched Nebraska home games on television, you’ve likely seen the students wave their shoes in the air for every kickoff. But the TV can’t show it all. You miss out on the total experience if you haven’t heard them wave their arms and shout “Nemaha!” after the first touchdown. (Sadly, this year that occasionally took until the fourth quarter.)
Football is not the only place where Nebraska and television interact. Heartland was set in Pritchard, Nebraska; Out There was set in Holford, Nebraska; and Bless This Mess was set in Bucksnort, Nebraska. Not impressed? Maybe it’s not as impressive as Mary Tyler Moore set in St. Paul, Minnesota or Happy Days set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but you’ve got to admit these credits rival Parks and Recreation set in Pawnee, Indiana.
Q didn’t choose Nebraska because of football. He’s majoring in business at Nebraska’s Howard L. Hawks school of business. Many great business leaders have come from the state. The most famous of which is the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. But don’t forget Richard Cabela (who founded the outfitter), Carl Swanson (maker of TV dinners) or Evan Williams (Founder of Blogger and CEO of Twitter). Each of them had influence far beyond the state’s boundaries.
Pre-statehood, the area that is now Nebraska was home to Crazy Horse, a great warrior who led 1500 troops in a surprise attack on General Crook’s force of 1000 infantry and cavalry in the Battle of Rosebud. Although the casualties were fewer than 50 on each side, the attack slowed General Crook’s forces on their trek east, meaning they were unavailable to support General George Custer at Little Big Horn.
Nebraska is the birthplace of several politicians who are more often associated with other states. Michigan’s Gerald Ford and Wyoming’s Dick Cheney were both born in Nebraska. I’ll grant you that the most famous Nebraska politician – William Jennings Bryan (the inspiration for the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz) – was actually born in Illinois
Actor Nick Nolte is from Nebraska. You may remember him from a bad police mugshot, or maybe from the movie 48 Hours. Eddie Murphy was in that movie as well as Anette O’Toole, Kerry Sherman, and Greta Blackburn. None of them is from Nebraska, but Q believes they all wish they were.
It’s clear to see why Horace Greeley told his readers “Go West Young Man.” Nebraska has provided opportunity. While native son Tom Osborne found success in football at home, one of his linemen, Barry Alvarez found his success in Wisconsin. Which is why, despite all the great things about Nebraska, I still wish Q had gone to UW-Madison.
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