Illinois Fighting Illini

Husker Tailgate: Week 5 against the Fighting Illini

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Big Red Football is 4-0 and it’s Homecoming week on campus!

Bring on the floats, the competition between the campus organizations, and bring your loud voice to the game. It’s been a tumultuous week — 3 Husker football players took a knee during the athem, 4 Husker football players held up the American flag, and the Huskers lost a Pipeline Legend, RIP Milt Tenopir.

Now it’s time for the Huskers to put that all aside for a bit and get back to business. Usually one associates champagne with a celebration, but last year in Champaign, Illinois, there was NO reason to celebrate.

The Huskers had one of their worst games. I don’t expect to see anything like a repeat this year though. Illinois will bring in a very stout defensive line so Tommy Armstrong will need to have another strong performance. So far so good, but I think there will be more air under the ball this game then on the ground. Plus, Nebraska Receivers Coach, Keith Williams returns to the sidelines this week. I expect his group of receivers will be putting on a show for his return.

Defensively on the Cornhusker side of the ball, the secondary is looking MUCH improved. Jones, Kalu & Gerry are keeping things exciting. The linebackers are starting to be the group we hoped they would be and are keeping things pretty contained. Since Illinois likes to throw the ball (over 300 yards in the air last week) I look for the Blackshirts to come up with at least one or more take aways.

BTN Tailgate show will be in town Saturday so head to the NE side of the stadium in the morning to show them why there is NO place like Nebraska. The show starts at 10:30 am. As for your Husker Tailgate, it’s time to bring out the grills and get busy.

Homecoming means lots of out of town visitors coming back to Lincoln so lots of grab and go stuff should be on the menu. You can keep it simple by cutting up a bunch of fruit, buying Husker iced cookies, bags of chips, or just red and white candies in a nut mix. Munchies make for easy conversation with out of town visitors rather than a big meal.

Photo by Kelli Anne, HuskerCorner.com

Orange is the color of the opposing team so why not start the day with a little OJ and champagne.  Later on grab a jello shot to toast the upcoming Big Red victory. This week I blended orange jello and butterscotch schnapps (jello mix,1 cup of water and 3/4 cup of schnapps). It’s a surprisingly subtle yet sweet taste, much like victory.

This week’s Husker game starts at 2:30. You might still need some sunscreen, but fortunately it won’t all melt off of you in the 1st quarter like the last home game. You can watch on ESPN2. Forecast is for mostly sunny skies and 72 degrees at kick off, with a 4mph light breeze. Get there and get loud. Let’s show the recruits on the sidelines why games in Memorial Stadium are a special experience. For more of a breakdown on the game click here.

Lagniappe: (that means “a lil something extra” according to my LSU friends) Given the amount of drama surrounding the Husker team this week, let’s not forget that we’re one big football family. And like a family, you may not agree with your brother or sister every day, but when someone takes the wrong tone or actions against family, you stand firm to support each other. I get both sides of the argument, but I’m also in the business of being able to agree to disagree. It costs nothing to listen. And the only way to a solution is the willingness to understand all sides. That being said, let’s go crush the Illinois orange!

I’ll be out and about enjoying the tailgate atmosphere. Stop me and say hello, let’s grab a selfie, and share some munchies. DPE breaks one for a touchdown Saturday. As always, GO BIG RED!

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