For a few glorious minutes on Saturday afternoon, Anthony Colandrea had Memorial Stadium believing.
The Nebraska quarterback had just delivered one of the most electrifying plays of the last decade, scrambling into the end zone to give the Huskers a 17-6 fourth-quarter lead over defending national champion Indiana.
After years of close calls, heartbreaking losses and seemingly endless frustration, Nebraska football was on the doorstep of a long awaited breakthrough. Of course, we know how the story ended. Indiana rallied to win 20-17, delivering another gut punch to a fan base that has absorbed too many to count.
But Colandrea’s performance reinforced what we’ve seen from him all season. He’s not just a physically talented quarterback. He’s a spark for the entire program.
The Perfect Fit
As we discussed on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast, Colandrea isn’t without flaws. He’ll miss throws, occasionally hold onto the ball too long, or scramble to the point that it turns into an adventure. But then he’ll do something you may never have seen before.
He’ll escape a collapsing pocket, turn a broken play into a first down, or take off on a touchdown run that sends 90,000 people into absolute hysterics. Common Fan co-host Matt Owens has been one of Colandrea’s biggest advocates since the offseason, and after the Indiana game, he summed it up nicely: “He’s giving you a fighting chance, guys.”