It was the fans’ turn to take the field on Saturday, Aug. 8.

Fan Day 2009 gave way to thousands of Big Red fans with posters, programs, jerseys, helmets and T-shirts, trying to get autographs from Husker players and coaches. The fans were from all over Nebraska and beyond. The lines were already meandering well into the university’s campus an hour before the event started. Once the gates opened and the fans got inside the stadium, they plotted out which lines to wait in and which to pass. It was crowded, and they had to hurry to get the most out the afternoon.

One common reaction, from both the young kids playing catch with the footballs they just got signed and the adults who have been coming to fan day year after year, was to take a knee and rub their hand back on forth on field turf, leaving a brief impression of their hand on the turf that owns the state’s attention during football season.

Here's the first of Fan Day Dispatches...we'll run them throughout the next week!

Karen and Greg Doffin woke up at 5:30 on Saturday morning to make the drive from Stanton to Memorial Stadium with their sons.

Karen said she’s been impressed with the way the Nebraska players spend time with the younger fans that look up to them.

Her nephew, Seth Lange of Fullerton, was diagnosed with transverse myelitis last year and spent months paralyzed from the waist down. When he was at his worst, she said, players such as Nate Swift befriended him on Facebook, gave him his game gloves and went to a fundraiser for Lange’s behalf. He's walking fine without crutches now.

“I’m very impressed with the guys giving their time to the community and the fans,” Karen said.

Zachary Doffin, 14, had a football for the Huskers to sign and was hoping to “talk a little bit about football” with some players. Trevor Doffin, 10, said he wanted to congratulate Roy Helu Jr., on being named a contender for the Doak Walker award.

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