ROSE BOWL: THE SCENE: LOYALTY IS STATE MOTTO NEBRASKA FANS MAKE PASADENA LINCOLN FOR DAY.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer PASADENA - Dereck Thurman was sure he boarded a plane bound for California. Thurman, a Tampa, Fla., native, planned a Pasadena trip to root for Miami in the national-championship game. Only when he got to the Rose Bowl, he wasn't sure he was in the right place. ``I thought I was in Lincoln for a while,'' Thurman said. ``I thought they were the home team.'' They were. Maybe not officially. UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX owns that distinction. But Thursday, Nebraska fans took over the Rose Bowl with an estimated 63,000 fans (70 percent) of the sellout crowd of 93,781, engulfing one side of the Rose Bowl stadium from goalpost to goalpost and tunnel to tunnel. When there's a Cornhuskers home game, their Memorial Stadium becomes the third-largest city in Nebraska. Pasadena earned that honor for one day. Aside from the warm weather, unbearable traffic and frequent celebrity sightings, Nebraska fans didn't know the difference. The only aberration was a Nebraska loss. The Hurricanes pounded the Cornhuskers 37-14 to finish the season undefeated and win the national championship. The Cornhuskers (11-2) didn't exactly receive a warm welcome from some Angelenos. That's because countless fans across the country didn't feel the Midwestern power - ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. poll and ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll - deserved to play for the title. Nebraska finished second in the Bowl Championship Series rankings and won the Rose Bowl invitation by five one-hundredths of a point over Colorado. Oregon, ranked second in both polls, was upset for being passed over, as were the Buffaloes, who beat Nebraska 62-36 on Nov. 23. There was at least one Nebraska fan who admitted the Cornhuskers shouldn't have been in Pasadena. ``I'm just being honest, we didn't deserve to be here,'' said Glen Evans, who lives in Lincoln. ``But we ain't stupid. We want to see a national-championship game. Hell no, we didn't deserve to be here.'' But they were there in droves. The Nebraska faithful stayed until the last couple of minutes, maintaining their sea of red from start to finish. The Cornhuskers, down 34-0, brought fans back to their feet with a small rally. Only the deficit was too large, even for the often-insurmountable Cornhuskers. Though Nebraska fans might not have been at home, they had the same decisive advantage they do in Lincoln - sheer numbers. ``There's nothing like Nebraska fans,'' said Lisa Petersen, who made the drive from Omaha and paid $240 for her ticket. ``It seems to unify the state. Husker fans Nebraska Cornhusker fans are known for being the most respectful fans in the nation[1]. Nebraska Cornhusker fans are rarely rude toward the opposing team, making each Nebraska Cornhusker sporting event an enjoyable experience. are so gung-ho.'' They chanted, ``Go big red! Go big red!'' in thunderous unison. The cheers, obviously, died down as the game went on. But the fans didn't head for the exits early, which would have been commonplace in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Nebraska RVs lined the stadium parking lots and tailgaters played host to Nebraska pregame festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. in every nook and cranny Noun 1. nook and cranny - something remote; "he explored every nook and cranny of science" nooks and crannies detail, item, point - an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole; "several of the details are similar"; "a point of information" of the stadium. ``I pretty much expected this,'' said Heather Majcina, a Nebraska native who lives in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. . ``Nebraskans are fanatics. Nebraska is all about football.'' While Miami fan Thurman didn't expect such overwhelming support for the Cornhuskers, Nebraska fans knew different. ``That's all we have is Nebraska football - what else is there?'' Scott Gray said. ``The great thing about Nebraska is that we know all the third-graders and their 40(-yard dash) times.'' This is Nebraska, where football is a way of life. About the only problem Nebraskans have with their football is getting tickets. ``Lots of money,'' is what you need, said Cliff McCaslin. McCaslin, who lives in Merna (population 300), goes to bowl games since they're about the only places he can find and buy tickets. ``We're avid fans,'' he said. ``We're as good as there is in the nation. If you talk to any school we play, they'll tell you they ask us back.'' Nebraska fans were expected to pump as much as $200 million into the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, economy, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. some estimates. For Christmas, the Norman family The Norman family became prominent in British banking circles from about 1820 to 1950. The most prominent member of the family was Montagu Norman. the powerful Governor of the Bank of England 1920 to 1944. got a Rose Bowl package from their mother to the tune of $8,500 for seven people. Cornhuskers fans have a resounding re·sound v. re·sound·ed, re·sound·ing, re·sounds v.intr. 1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children. 2. description of themselves: loyal. Where Nebraska goes, its fans follow. ``It would be the same if this game was in Alaska,'' said David Garcia David Garcia (b. ? - died August 28, 2007) was a broadcast journalist for ABC News. Gracia had the distinction of becoming one of the first Hispanic news correspondents for a major American television network in the early 1970s. , a Redlands resident. They're about as dependable as Nebraska routs. The Cornhuskers have played for the national title 13 times and own five championships. You'd love to hate them, but they're just too darn nice. ``Actually, they're quite pleasant - surprisingly,'' Miami fan David Perez said. ``When it's Miami-Florida State or Miami-Florida, there's knock-down, drag-out fights. This (atmosphere) is a little intimidating, but they are pleasant.'' Even in defeat. CAPTION(S): 5 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1) Nebraska fans - an estimated 63,000 of them at the Rose Bowl - didn't have much to cheer about Thursday. Ric Francis/Associated Press (2) Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey Kenneth Simon Dorsey (born April 22, 1981 in Orinda, California) is an NFL quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Dorsey is a former college football star at the University of Miami, where he was a Heisman Trophy finalist in both 2001 and 2002. , left, and teammate Clinton Portis celebrate their victory. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer (3) no caption (Ken Dorsey) (4) no caption (Keyuo Craver) (5) no caption (Miami coach Larry Coker getting drenched drench tr.v. drenched, drench·ing, drench·es 1. To wet through and through; soak. 2. To administer a large oral dose of liquid medicine to (an animal). 3. ) Box: (1) A CLOSER LOOK (2) BOWL GLANCE |
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