On any given workday, any little thing might send Steve Smith's thoughts spinning back to Saturday-last Saturday, Saturday two weeks ago, Saturday two years ago, back into the thrilling minutiae of game day-until reality reminds him: this is not how well-adjusted adults act. Steve Smith is not a well-adjusted adult. He's a Nebraska football fan, and this is his rollicking account of what it's like to be one of those legendary enthusiasts whose passion for the Cornhuskers is at once alarming and hilarious. A journey into an obsessed Nebraska fan's soul, Forever Red immerses readers in the mad, mad world of Cornhusker football fandom-where wearing the scarlet-and-cream Huskers gear has its own peculiar rules; where displaced followers act as the program's ambassadors, finding Cornhusker subculture beyond the pale; and where the team's performance can barely keep pace with its followers' expectations but sometimes exceeds their wildest dreams. Blending wit and insight, Smith's story of twenty-plus years following the team takes readers back to memorable game moments from 1980 to the new era under coach Bill Callahan, offering the uninitiated and the fellow fanatic alike a window on the world where fantasy and football meet, where dreams of glory and gritty gridiron realities forever join.
Industry Reviews
"Much has been written about Nebraska football, but nothing quite like this. Steve Smith treats a sometimes-solemn subject with self-effacing humor and insight belying his assertion that Cornhusker football fans aren't unique. In fact, they are. And Forever Red is Exhibit A. It is not only about football but also about growing up in small-town Nebraska, which is as good as it gets." Mike Babcock, author of Stadium Stories: Nebraska Cornhuskers "In Forever Red Steve Smith captures the true spirit of the state of Nebraska and what makes it tick. You will quickly recognize yourself, family members, and friends in Smith's hilarious observations and stories about Nebraska football history, as seen through the eyes of its fans. This is a must-read not only for Cornhuskers but for true sports fans everywhere." Charlie McBride, former Nebraska defensive coordinator