Spending a week away from home with no schoolwork to keep them busy, the Huskers have plenty of downtime during their Gator Bowl preps. After a morning practice, Nebraska was shuffled off to the Jacksonville Zoo. I decided to tag along. Honestly, had the Huskers not gone, I would not have gone. There’s nothing more pathetic than a man going to the zoo by himself. Maybe a movie. Not the zoo.
We see the Huskers in front of the podium every week giving the typical soundbites. That’s why it’s so refreshing to catch these guys when they’re loose and unguarded. After a second lunch (these players eat seven meals a day) the Huskers wandered into the zoo. I followed Joe Ganz, Ndamukong Suh, Beau Davis, Mike McNeill, Zac Lee and a few others around. “There are the Suh’s, everybody. There’s Papa Suh, building a fort for the family,” said Ganz, pointing to a rhinocerous. “And there’s Suh. Look, he’s just standing around. Not doing anything,” he added, pointing to a sedentary rhinocerous. I asked Suh for a response. “We may not have a quarterback (for the bowl game),” he said.
After looking at the elephants, it brought to Mike McNeill’s mind how his grandmother gave him about ten elephants over the course of his life. McNeill clarified, saying they were miniature statues, alleviating concerns that McNeill’s family consisted of illegal ivory dealers.
Offensive lineman Keith Williams asked Ganz if he would sign his shirt, acting as one of Joe’s adoring fans. Ganz said he would under one condition: that Williams take his shirt off, go inside the monkey cage and torment the monkeys. Williams did not get his shirt signed.
Seeing these guys away from the football field is refreshing and frightening. If chemistry wins games, these guys should be alright on Thursday.
By the way, there were no Tigers at the Jacksonville Zoo. Nebraska will get a chance to see them up close on New Year’s Day.