and the stadium is filled to its 94,954 capacity. All in red. All with red balloons. They cheer for their Huskers, celebrating the back to back national championships, and 4 out of the last 8 national championships. They are a dynasty. The media speculates "is this the greatest team ever?" Nebraska, synonymous with "college football", is the envy of every other program in America.
The Four Horseman, Jaidyn Doss, Trey Palmer, Omarion Miller and of course Malachi Coleman, are in attendance. Mickey has always credited them with being the Spark that turned around Nebraska's fortune. Though Nebraska never actually won a national title while they were there, the 3 Big 10 championships they won put Nebraska squarely back in the mix for the national title hunt from their perch on top of the Big 10. Coleman, being Nebraska's fourth Heisman Trophy winner and 2nd #1 pick was greeted with roar, many still wearing his retired #3 jersey. Palmer, a two-time NFL MVP and first ballot Hall of Famer raised his hand to the crowd, and nearly blinded all from the shine of his 4 super bowl rings. Doss and Miller recently retired from the NFL as annual pro-bowlers and defining Nebraska's new reputation as "Wide Reciever U".
Just beside the four horseman, are three former Husker walk-ons: Jacob Joseph, Zackary Joseph, and Mickey Joseph Jr. Jacob is now an assistant coach at Ohio St. Zackary, a successful attorney in Chicago. And Mickey Jr, who defied the odds and is now a starting wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. They stand there, in awe. Tears flow from their face as they think back to all the practices, hours in the weight room, and tough victories over Big 10 foes. They are all champions. It has all come to this. This one moment. They know this is what they worked for. They know what it feels like to achieve your dream. Then...an announcement is made, and a banner is dropped... North Stadium will be renamed...the Mickey Joseph Stadium. Suddenly, 94,954 chant "Mickey! Mickey!" at the top of their lungs, and thank God that they were patient with Mickey. He asked for patience. He delivered.