Fans concerned about weather, not Red-White Game cancellation

On a Saturday when weather conditions were ripe for disaster, football wasn't the priority for Husker fans.

With most of eastern Nebraska anticipating severe weather and a likely tornado outbreak, NU officials canceled Saturday's annual Red-White Spring Game.

Minutes after the scheduled 1 p.m. kickoff time, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne announced the decision on HuskerVision screens, noting that the game would be played Sunday if conditions improve.

A little more than an hour later, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini took to the microphone to announce that the game will be canceled.

"I don't think that's going to work out," Pelini said of a Sunday scrimmage. "When we met with the team, there's a lot of issues that go with playing (Sunday). When you talk about family issues ... I had a show of hands of guys who had a problem with tomorrow — you have projects, academic things, a banquet coming up — it's not going to work."

Fans, initially, weren't too beat up about the decision.

Conditions had been deteriorating since morning, with rain and hail having already moved into the area. Tornadoes, they said, weren't to be taken lightly.

"I think it's a good idea, given the risk," said Justin Kallhoff of Lincoln. "We'll find something to do indoors."

"Golf's not an option," laughed Jeff Georgeson, also of Lincoln. "We'll just go drink some more."

Sen. Bill Avery said he and his wife, Ann, were almost to their indoor seats at Memorial Stadium when they found out about the cancellation.

Fans were restricted to the stadium's concourse before the scheduled kickoff, and the stands remained empty for the most part, arousing speculation.

Avery applauded the decision to cancel the game Saturday.

"They made the right decision because the forecast is for more bad weather this afternoon," he said. "Tornadoes are not something you want to mess with."

Donning ponchos and raincoats, and hoisting umbrellas, thousands filed out of Memorial Stadium in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, racing to the parking lots.

One thing was immediately clear Saturday: nobody was surprised. Fans were constantly briefing each other on the latest conditions, and once the announcement was made, word spread almost immediately.

Scott Auxier of York was walking toward the stadium when he found out the news. He said he'd been tracking the weather Saturday, and that an early-afternoon lull in the storm should have allowed the Huskers to play.

But like thousands of other dedicated fans, Auxier thought he'd be making a second trip.

"I still have the tickets," he said, before the cancellation announcement was made. "I'll be back."