OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Lots of reaction has been pouring in about the Huskers taking the field.
"I'm excited, for the players, the coaches, the state of Nebraska, the whole nation," said Luke Brenn, a local Husker fan.
Brenn shares the same sentiment as lots of other fans. So much so, he stopped by Husker Hounds to get some new gear.
"I think they made the right decision because I think they jumped too early after making the schedule out, then four days later, they cancel."
That decision was the Big Ten's choice to play football this fall, and it was hard to miss that announcement when walking through the store.
"Getting football back in the state of Nebraska are you kidding me that's just part of, and webbed in our DNA," said Scott Strunc, owner of Husker Hounds.
Strunc says sales are down 85% this year due to COVID-19 and the Huskers not playing.
"It's fun to be able to tell my staff that there's going to be football because everybody has kind of been like oh my gosh, am I going to have a job, is this store going to survive? I mean everybody has been waiting and dangling in the wind for months wondering what's going to happen," said Strunc.
But this announcement helps bring some joy to a down year for the staff and not just for retail stores, restaurants and bars were happy to hear the news.
"Having the Big Ten back and having the Huskers out on the field is definitely going to bring more volume in for us, and it will definitely be a lot more fun atmosphere wise to watch some football," said Sean Glen, GM of DJ's Dugout in downtown Omaha.
He expects business to pick up during those games, which also will help his staff.
"It gives them kind of a day where they know that we're going to have customers in the door, and they can make some money," said Glen.
As for Brenn, he's counting down the days to kick-off and isn't sure how many games we'll get just as long as they're played.
"If we can get seven games in, six games in that's better than not playing at all."
Husker Hounds will be expanding their store hours two weeks before kick-off as a result of this decision.
