Jayhawks have different view of Nebraska fans

You know what to expect. You'll see them all over town today.

Droves of bulky, red-clad people will be among us, corn-fed football fans blocking the way to breakfast at your favorite spot, or slipping ahead of you into a Mass. Street parking spot.

But this year, for Jayhawk faithful, the aggravation might well be worth it.

A strong KU defense and weak Nebraska offense have Jayhawk fans feeling hopeful of victory; the first one in almost 40 years.

"I've got money on this," Bruce Williamson said Friday while cutting hair at Downtown Barber Shop. "Don't tell my wife this, but I've got one of her kids on this."

For most of the past 37 years, the Nebraska football team has been the corn-fed Charles Atlas of the Big 8/Big 12. This year, though, the 'Huskers more closely resemble a 97-pound weakling.

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Nebraska fans

And their fans -- disappointed by three losses in the past four games -- know it.

"This year -- and even last year -- there is some nervousness about the KU game," said John Sevenker, the proprietor of HuskerFaithful.com. He still expects his team to win, though.

The bookies favor Nebraska by one point, but that's even good news for Jayhawks.

"This has to be the smallest point spread we've had in years," said Jon Amyx, also of Downtown Barber Shop. "We really have a shot."

After 37 years of fruitless hoping, though, Jock's Nitch assistant manager Joe Purcell said KU fans weren't ready to be cocky.

"People might be too scared," he said, "to be optimistic."