Memorial Stadium

We all knew Phillip Bates was an amazing player but after Saturday’s game in Nebraska, I have an even great appreciation for him. The freshman from Omaha had only two catches for 19 yards but the most amazing aspect of it was the mere site of Bates in a Cyclones uniform. His dad Phillip Sr. played fullback for the Cornhuskers before moving onto the NFL as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. He was recruited to go there, his friends signed there, but Bates picked Iowa State and walking around Memorial Stadium, its hard to figure out why.
You walk into the front doors and in a glass case you see five national championship trophies. You walk through the lobbies and you see walls filled with Sports Illustrated covers that have Nebraska athletes as centerpieces. Keyword: walls. State of the art training facilities are throughout the building. I half expected to be served lobster tails in the press box.
I didn’t realize just how important all these things were until another reporter turned to me and pointed at a picture of some female athletes wearing dresses in a team photo. “See, “ she said. “It’s small things like that would make them some good.” After some though, I completely agreed. Granted the photo was a nice touch, but what high school football star isn’t impressed by the site of cases filled with national championship and Heisman trophies?
Last week the Cornhuskers were getting booed after barely beating Ball State. With the trophies come expectations, to win weekly.
“I think we have to get better,” said Nebraska coach Bill Callahan after the Cornhuskers 35-17 win over Iowa State Saturday. “That’s the great thing about coming off a win like this. You’ll see plenty you can improve from and plenty that you’ll certainly learn from and get better.”
As a few of us were walking out, another reporter asked for a picture in front of one of the national championship trophies.
“This is as close as we’re ever going to get he,” said.
Rome and even Memorial Stadium weren’t built overnight.