A sellout crowd of more than 90,000 will roar, music will blare and moments before a 7 p.m. kickoff the Huskers and their heralded new coach Scott Frost will run onto Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium.
Since the Dec. 2 announcement of his hiring, Frost has gotten the blood pumping for Big Red fans, filled with fond memories of his 1997 national championship as the Huskers’ starting quarterback.
Despite the buzz created by his remarkable turnaround at the University of Central Florida and the high-powered offenses he ran as a coordinator at the University of Oregon, Frost has preached to his team, the media and the Husker faithful that the real measure of the team will come on fall Saturdays between the sidelines.
But not all of the action will be on the field. The Frost effect will swell crowded tailgate lots. Restaurants and hotels will be packed. And everyone will be wearing his or her Saturday -- and red -- best.
People are also reading…
So here we go.
The Journal Star has added to its own playbook in the off-season. First, you'll find a hefty, 32-page Ground Zero section in today's paper with everything you need to know about tailgating, dining and entertainment to make the most of every football weekend.
You'll also find a beefed-up Friday Husker Extra section. We're moving much of our pregame coverage from the Saturday paper to the Friday edition to give readers more time to digest and debate it. You'll still find all the last-minute news you need on Saturday's Husker Extra pages.
As always, Sunday's Husker Extra section will capture the action, analysis and images of the game, and Monday will offer some final thoughts and tee up the week to come.
Husker nation will hold its collective breath as the Frost era begins -- but only for a moment -- before it erupts in a chant of "Go! Big! Red!"