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Walking Tall Playing for Nebraska A Story of Husker Walk-ons Each fall a select group of young men have the chance to fulfill a boyhood dream in Lincoln. Story by Whitney Keyes Photography by Bobbi and Steve Olson

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THERE ARE, OF COURSE, THE HEROES. The football players, suited up in thick pads, wearing the famed colors. The white numbers proclaim boldly from their red jerseys, numbers that Nebraskans know – businessmen from Lincoln, farmers from the Sandhills and everyone else who cheers for this team.

There are the cheerleaders, their curls bouncing up and down, up and down, as they spread Husker spirit through Memorial Stadium. They are there. Their faces illuminated by wide smiles every game, no matter the weather.

There is the coach, yelling into his headset, his eyes never leaving the game. His face is a cycle of concern, elation, anger and hope as he watches his boys, no, his men, play what is more than just a game.

And most of all, there are the fans. There are frat boys with painted faces and hats shaped like ears of corn. There are alumni, couples who met at the University and have stayed loyal fans. There are parents, sisters, brothers of players, cheerleaders and trainers.

And there are a seemingly infinite number of little boys who have a definitely infinite hope that one day they too can walk through the tunnel to that fight song to which Nebraskans cling.

Brandon Rigoni was one such boy.

Rigoni, a Lincoln native, sat in the stands next to his father for almost every home game as a child. He watched with hopeful eyes, hoping they would score, they would win, and hoping he could play.

“My dad would sit next to me, and Dad was always watching, just taking it all in,” Rigoni said. “After an important play, or a good play, he wouldn’t say anything. He just used to look over at me and make sure I’d taken it all in.”

Those looks inspired in Brandon an unstoppable desire to play for his favorite team. While playing football for Lincoln Southeast, he wasn’t recruited by anyone, but it didn’t even matter.

“I never considered anywhere else. Thanks, but no thanks.”