2021 Nebraska Football Spring Game: For What Will We Cheer?

Tomorrow is the Nebraska Red-White Spring Game!

We didn’t get to have one last year. Not only do we get one this year, but we get fans at the game! If that doesn’t get you excited, I have no idea what to do with you.

This is your annual “For What Will We Cheer” article. Every year we do a poll to see what Nebraska fans are most interested in seeing from their great spring get together.

It’s pretty clear the Scott Frost offense needs to catch up with the Erik Chinander defense. We have gobs of youth everywhere, but considerably more experience on the defense. It’ll be interesting to see how well, for example, Logan Smothers or Heinrich Haarberg throws the ball. What about those big receivers, Omar Manning or Samori Toure? What will they look like in action?

There will be no tackling the first half, which is fine. There’s no need to get more guys injured, and you have fall camp to get into game-playing shape.

What are you most interested in seeing?

Here is the history:

2020: There was no spring game. An overwhelming sadness engulfed the land.

2019: Remember back when everyone wanted Erik Chinander fired? We voted for The Defenses Making Stops Against The Offenses. Who wrote that? What terrible English.

2018: The first year of the Scott Frost era, we voted for Quarterbacks Quarterbacks Quarterbacks – Great Play By Quarterbacks. What is it with quarterbacks and Nebraska football?

2017: Mike Riley’s third and final year, the poll totaled 1,114 votes. The top vote getter was Quarterbacks with accuracy and zero interceptions with 543 votes (49%). That was the landslide winner over four other options, one of which included “Shirtless Bob Diaco” that garnered 71 votes (6%).

2016: Mike Riley’s second year totaled 1,209 votes. 38% of the votes went to Quarterbacks! Armstrong and O’Brien with accuracy and zero Interceptions over 29% for “The defense force pressure in the passing game and no runs over 10 yards by the offense”.

2015: Despite the fact that 2015 was Mike Riley’s first year on the job, you voted in another landslide for quarterbacks. Again!!! Quarterbacks Quarterbacks Quarterbacks – Great Play By Quarterbacks took 43% of the 973 votes.

2014: Husker fans voted for the Newbies: Adam Taylor, Johnny Stanton, Tanner Farmer, Chongo Kondolo, Terrell Newby and Marcus Newby.

In 2013, Husker fans voted for “A linebacker closing on and wrapping up an I-back on a sweep”, by quite a large margin. The vote no doubt reflected the frustration of watching Nebraska get destroyed by Wisconsin in the previous season’s Big Ten Championship game.

In 2012, Husker fans voted for “Husker wide receivers not dropping any passes, including a nasty block from Quincy Enunwa and signs of progress from Jamal Turner ” – the description was specific but adequate given the frustration of dropped passes the previous season.

In 2011, Husker fans wanted to see “Taylor Martinez back to playmaking speed”, remembering the Martinez who exploded early in the 2010 season, becoming a Heisman prospect in process. That vote was very close as offensive line blocking was right behind Martinez in popularity.

In 2010, Husker fans were hungry for a quarterback – ANY quarterback – after having gone through the 2009 season with a championship-level defense and one of the most anemic offenses in the nation. The vote was won by “A big play by a quarterback” by a large margin.

In 2009, fans were still worried about the defense. The defense had made a significant jump during Bo Pelini’s first season but Husker fans wanted more. “The defense – a big defensive play – a big hit or turnover” won by a small margin over Ndamukong Suh.

It wasn’t hard to guess in 2008. Husker fans were just pleased that Bo Pelini was our new head coach.