I have been to 15? or so Husker games and as a lifelong Hawkeye fan, about 50 games in Iowa City. I have zero ill will towards Husker fans. If they're not playing Iowa, I will cheer for the Huskers every game. Here is an honest appraisal of both fan bases, written as more of a Hawkeye fan than Husker fan.
Remember these statements will be general. It doesn't apply to every single fan in each fanbase.
1.) Husker fans are definitely more intelligent than Hawkeye fans, in general, when it comes to football. Husker fans understand the little things of the game more than Hawkeye fans, due to watching such better football over the last 50 years. It's similar to Iowa wrestling fans vs. other fanbases. We're more knowledgeable due to the product we've been able to watch all these years.
2.) Husker fans are FAR MORE serious about their team's success than Iowa fans. This one's not even close. Iowa firing a coach that went 67-27? No way. Nebraska fans are pretty much about winning and winning only. Everyone is raving about Mike Riley's personality and how it fits the university so much better than Pelini. If Riley doesn't win more than eight games in either of the next two years, he won't be around. We all know that.
3.) Husker fans are more loyal, but not by the margin most Husker fans think about. Iowa fans have always brought big numbers, even when they're not very good. Over the last 40 years, Iowa brings more fans to road games than any other fanbase on an annual basis in the conference outside of Nebraska and Ohio St. Michigan St. and Wisconsin have brought a lot in the last five years, but when their team struggles, they drop much more rapidly than Iowa fans. Iowa brings fans even when we suck.
4.) Husker fans enjoy the day if and only if Nebraska wins. Iowa fans have fun even if the team gets beat. I was at the BYU game earlier this year and the mood walking out was somber/worried about the defense. There was little to no conversation when walking out. People were not happy. If that had happened in Iowa City, most fans would have been laughing with frustration, not worried about the defense. There would not be near the hard feelings about the result.
5.) Husker fans (remember, this is in general, not everybody) don't go for the entire gameday experience, and by that I mean tailgating and hanging out with friends. Husker fans go there for the game itself. Quite a few make the drive, get out of their car, walk to the stadium, go to the game, are intense while at the game, then walk back to their car and head home. That doesn't happen in Iowa City. Approximately 90% of the crowd at Memorial Stadium live within an hour or two of the stadium. In Iowa City, about 90% of the crowd live at least an hour away from the stadium and their entire 24-hour day is shot by going to the game. Night and day different. Iowa fans go to tailgate and hang out with friends. The game is just a part of the routine. It's the not whole reason for going. So if Iowa loses? Hey! Relax, and have a drink. Winning isn't everything. That wouldn't fly in Lincoln
6.) Both fanbases, overall, have great fans. A few Husker fans got spoiled by their 40 year run of success and now think they are entitled to great football. But both fanbases are some of the best. Husker fans are nice in general and so are Iowa fans. Each fanbase have their idiots...Iowa probably at a higher rate during the games, due to their alcohol consumption. With that said, if Nebraska wins in Iowa City, the average Hawkeye fan would still invite the husker fan to hang out and have a beer with them as they tailgate for a couple of hours afterwards. Nebraska fans would be bitter about the loss and not want to talk about it, as they sit in their cars in traffic. No one is right and no one is wrong. Each fanbase deals with it their own way.
Just some subtle observations over the years.
THE HERMENATOR
