Wednesday, March 19, 2008

When they say Big Red, they mean it

LINCOLN, Neb. -- They really paint the town red here. Really.

It's everywhere. And if something isn't colored red, then red is in the name. Like "Big Red Storage," "Big Red Sports Bar" and "Big Red Pizza."

Red of course is the color of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and there is little way you can visit this Midwest city without knowing -- or quickly learning -- that fact.

Did you know Nebraska has won five national championships in football? You will soon enough. It's EVERYWHERE - on signs, on the stadium, in the city's brochures.

And the Bob Devaney Sports Center, where Charlotte meets Nebraska Wednesday night in the National Invitation Tournament, is almost totally red - red seats, mostly red court, red chair backs on the court. This is Cornhusker country and they obviously take it seriously.

According to local media, almost 9,000 tickets had been sold to the Charlotte/Nebraska game as of Wednesday morning. With students on spring break, some thought the attendance would be down. Are you kidding? What else is there to do here?

It was 45 on Wednesday afternoon. That's like summer here this time of year. Lots of folks out and about. A gentleman came up to us when the team and I were leaving the arena after shootaround and asked everyone if they liked Lincoln.

"I hope you do," he said. "I've lived here all my life. It's a nice little town."

And very red.

11 comments:

Jon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

That was a tough game to watch after the first 5 minutes when we started to fall apart. We need a couple people to shoot the ball rather than just one go to guy! But the future looks bright!

Anonymous said...

Another first round bounce for a Lutz team - what a lousy coach - the future looks as bleak as ever for 49er b-ball. Let's hope they don't let him coach the football team...

Anonymous said...

It was hard to watch. The last 2 games stopped the good "mo" we had afetr the URI and UMass wins. SCoring 45 and 48 points and shooting 27% and 31% if awful.

Anonymous said...

I can't type with making a damn typo. Sorry 'bout that.

Anonymous said...

too bad theres stuff to do here... or maybe we would paint this bloody town green...

Anonymous said...

That is what you will get every year with Lutz at the helm. NCAA here and there. NIT most seasons. Nothing special, just average. It will stay average. And that is what Judy Rose wants.

Anonymous said...

Despite some of the criticism, Charlotte had a good year. They got into postseason which wasn't predicted by Lindy's or Athlon and they produced a 20 win season. So give Lutz some credit, he deserves an extention (Not a big one, just a couple of years to prove he get Charlotte back in the NCAA's). I think he can still coach and with Rob Moxley on board hopefully the recruiting will improve. Its not Bobby's fault that Charlotte didn't get in the NCAA'S or that the NIT scheduling was lousy. So, the future looks better this year than last. Overall I would rank this year's team 14 out of the 17 teams that made postseason.

Anonymous said...

No wonder Luta called you idiot fans, you can't even add. Five NCAAs and three NITs = "mostly NITs" I hope you dont work at a bank.

Anonymous said...

For all you haters out there, be careful what you wish for. Lutz has done a respectable job for what he has to work with. I am not a Charlotte fan, but as a Charlottean I keep track of Niners' hoops. I wonder what would have happened if he bolted to an easier job such as S. Alabama. We are in basketball rich NC and Niners' basketball is in better shape than most of it's counterparts: State, ECU, App, UNCG. You will never be an elite team when you can't draw the big recruit and have to rely heavily on JuCo prospects. Lutz knows his place in this state and the niche that Niners' hoops can fill. Everyone is quick to crucify the man. But what would have been a better outcome this year and how could it have come to fruition? I would love to know what Jim thinks of Bobby. Wasn't this team voted to finish 9th preseason? Just weeks ago everyone heralded Bobby for his work, now an NIT loss to a much deeper and more talented team from a power conference in their building is unacceptable? I just don't get it.

Anonymous said...

If Bobby had taken the South Alabama job and they made postseason with 20-24 wins, as expected, he could write his ticket to the next big job. Now.
People don't realize what he has done here. I don't care how "disappointed" you are with 8 postseasons in 10 years, hell, count it as 5 NCAA apeparances in 10 years, this is a stepping stone job and he has chosen to make it home.
He should leave for greener pastures. But, I bet he stays and I bet you keep ripping him for anything you deem is below your expectations.
I love the 49ers, but I know our place. I have attended all but maybe 10 home games since 1979 and will continue to do so. I'll walk out disappointed when we lost at Halton and be happy when we win. And, I'll hope for anotehr NCAA or NIT each year because with Lutz, I have the right to do so.
If that's mediocre, go pull for someone else.