Nebraska football fans optimistic for 2024 season

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Season two of the Matt Rhule era begins tomorrow, when the Huskers take on UTEP in their season opener. Husker fans are optimistic and hoping for a bowl-qualifying season.

The blitz is on at Husker Hounds, Nebraska fans lining up and rushing the cash register, buying everything from Husker sandals to Husker shades.

Store Owner Scott Strunc told 6 News sales are always good at the start of the season, but this year the mood of the fans feels different.

“People are really excited this year,” Strunc said. “They get excited every year. I think there’s a lot of reasons. lot of things that happened during the off season to give them true hope.”

A lot of hope lies in the arm of freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, and the fact that the youngster has his own Tee-Shirt before he’s taken a Big Ten snap could add a little more pressure to the true freshman.

Husker fan Jerry Dartmann says that pressure is just what the quarterback of the big red has to expect.

“Hate to put that much pressure on on a freshman, but when you’re stepping into that quarterback role, the quarterback is the player on the team the game revolves around most,” Dartmann said. “There is a lot of pressure, and I hope they haven’t put too much on him, but I think he’s gonna pull through and be our guy.”

Jenny Hardy is picking out a new see-through bag so she can get through security at Memorial Stadium faster. Hardy hopes to see an improved Husker team.

" I think they’re going to be way better,” Hardy said. “I just think the culture is better. and I think Matt Rhule has done a fantastic job of team bonding.”

All this talk of buying new football stuff is a part of Husker tradition, tradition that Mason Nab instills in his young children.

“This is his fourth season, and he’s about to be 10 months old, so this is his first season,” Nab said. “Keeping them involved as much as possible, even though we live out of state, we try to keep them up to date on games, and watching all the games we can.”

The Nebraska native and his family flew in from Nevada to be a part of that first Husker home game of the season tradition.

“Family trip. Bring the wife, bring the kids, their first Husker game,” Nab said. “I’ve been to a few when I was younger, so I want the family to get them and to enjoy the atmosphere and crowd, and see what it’s all about to be a Husker fan.”

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