BLOG: Thoughts, Emotions, and What’s Next from Volleyball Day

What a moment.

What a memory.

There is no place like Nebraska.

I have lived my adult life for 26 and quarter years, have been a Husker Athletics fan for each and every moment of it. As all Nebraska fans have the past two decades, there hasn’t been much to cheer for in longevity at Memorial Stadium. However, there are always key note moments.

I was in attendance for Suh’s pick-six and Alex Henery’s field goal against Colorado. My seats were in the northwest corner for Brandon Reilly’s controversial touchdown that toppled Michigan State. I viewed from afar the agony of defeat during the 2021 Nebraska/Michigan matchup where the Huskers nearly pulled themselves out of their rut.

But nothing compared to Wednesday night at Memorial Stadium.

As someone who wears their emotions on their sleeve more often than not, I am not surprised that it was an emotional moment when the Tunnel Walk began. Watching John Cook, Lexi Rodriquez, and Merritt Beason walk side-by-side brought a tear to my left and right eye. Luckily no one was looking at me during the moment, as all eyes were fixated on the moment.

Nebraska Volleyball Head Coach John Cook // CNT Sports

The game was memorable in the fact that it was exactly what the Huskers do best – shut down their opponent early, swiftly moving through sets, and get to celebrating quickly. But Omaha’s Mavericks were never the opponent on Wednesday night; history was. If you haven’t heard, history was broken on Wednesday night as the world-record crowd of 92,003 crushed the previous attendance mark for a women’s sporting event set in 2022 at a Champions League match in Europe.

However, I feel that each Husker fan shared the same sentiment when arriving home or traveling back down packed highways and interstates late in the evening after the final song by Scotty McCreery: How do you ever top that?

To be frank, I am not an expert in programming, event management, nor planning this scale of an event. However, my wheels began turning after Head Coach John Cook stated on the Huskers Radio Network post-game show that he’s already planning something big:

Here are my thoughts on what Nebraska could do next to (possibly) top 2023’s version of Volleyball Day at Memorial Stadium:

1. This seems like the largest improbability – but make it a complete tour across the state. Begin the day at Memorial Stadium at 10 AM with matchups at each level – starting with prep teams. Invite legendary high school programs from the state to compete similar to State Football Championships in late November. Would an invite to Columbus Scotus (the school with the most volleyball state titles) and Bellevue West (second in state titles) garner interest? Maybe asking the reigning seven-time consecutive champion Omaha Skutt Catholic would pique general fan support? There are no shortage of options.After the prep contest, bring in the NAIA programs that have been highly competitive and respected nationally in recent memory: Hastings College and Concordia. Add in the wrinkle of a state-wide rivalry and easy travel for both schools and it could be an easy addition to a larger scale event.Continue with the UNK/Wayne State matchup – or cycle different state schools from each Volleyball Day experience. Finally, wrap the event with Nebraska facing Omaha or Creighton. The finishing touches sound much more simple now that it has already been done once.

   *Personally, this feels like the longest shot odds to happen. A lot of coordination, scheduling, and accommodations would have to be made to make this happen – and to add that it makes a long day for an event staff this seems like more a fluttering thought than a real possibility.

2. Most likely everyone’s immediate thoughts leaving Memorial Stadium last night – Nebraska versus a premier name. Want to sell Nebraska Volleyball at the national level? Pit the Huskers against a top program in the country. Perhaps Stanford, whom Nebraska fans know very well and would likely take the challenge seriously. There might not be a better way to welcome Oregon to the Big Ten than a visit to Memorial Stadium for their first visit. However, my favorite pick sticks with Husker ties – Dani Busboom-Kelly’s Louisville Cardinals. A matchup with a rising program and Nebraska alum would sell tickets faster than the one week for the Omaha showdown this year.
3. My personal favorite – and one that places Lincoln, Neb. at the center of the volleyball universe – “Nebraska Versus the World” (feel free to use that name, Nebraska Athletics). Have the Huskers compete against a women’s national volleyball club from France, Spain, etc. Give the national team a tour of the facilities and program in Lincoln, parade them around town and treat them to local flare and flavors. Not only would it be a great look for the University, the city of Lincoln, but it would place Nebraska Volleyball from a national stage to a global stage. The competition would be an exhibition, and may not fair in the Huskers favor (they would be playing an All-Pro national team after all). Can you imagine the fanfare?

While all of these ideas may be pipe dreams, my favorite prevailing thought after this exercise is this; never again. Let’s lock these memories from Volleyball Day in Nebraska and keep Wednesday, Aug. 30 at Memorial Stadium as special as it was for everyone in attendance. If it is never done again, we will cherish the next time someone questions our fandom and asks our perspective on the greatest night in the history of collegiate volleyball.

There is truly no place like Nebraska.