MILE MARKER 1, HIGHWAY 97 — There is a feeling you get, here, just a few miles north of North Platte when you make the left turn onto Highway 97 that’s pretty easy to miss.
The Mirror made that turn yesterday. On our way to Mullen and Blue Hill in the Eight-Man 2 State semifinals.
From there to our destination was 60 miles of sand and ranch land and cattle and hard work. Just one town — TRYON: Unincorporated — some signs to the driveway of a ranch, a few world class golf courses that led to a town that has all you need to survive, whether it’s 1977, 1997 or 2017.
It’s a drive that, quite frankly, makes you think about who you are as a people, dependent on where you live. There is an honor and sense of pride to those folks in Mullen. Much like there was in the football team they fielded that lost to Blue Hill 42-30 on the most beautiful, sunny afternoon you could have drawn up for November 13th.
The Broncos have won 8-man state football championships in 1990, 1998 and 2003. Lost one in 2004. Most of the time — like yesterday — all the same way: with five big lineman, an I-formation with a talented dot, and about six or seven plays. Iso, counter, dive, trap, pitch, a play-action pass if they need it. The all black uniforms and plain gold helmets haven’t changed either.
“If we should win let it be by the code. If we should lose let us stand on the side of the road and cheer as the winners go by.”
The Mirror remembers a time when this was the standard for our big state team. The kids who lived in Mullen loved them just as much as the folks in the big city.
But then, unlike Mullen, the big team lost their way. Didn’t use those simple plays. They moved somewhere else, to a big city with all the tricks and gadgets (and message boards and recruiting services) that said you couldn’t do it Nebraska’s way anymore.
They might still be right, but our guess is that the good folks in Mullen might have a better answer for them. Work hard. Have a philosophy of never giving up. And, then stick to it no matter what the “real world” says.
In Mullen’s world most of the time that philosophy means the playoffs. Sometimes it’s a few wins in the playoffs and on rare occasion, it’s that special group: a semifinal or finals appearance, a championship, maybe.
That’s how it was in Lincoln before the train drove off the tracks — almost literally, as PJ Fleck and beat up Minnesota dismantled the Huskers 54-21 (54-21!!!!!) —on Saturday. But this locomotive has been going the wrong way for a long time. This isn’t about Saturday’s anymore.
The people who really love it, who have been here to watch how it hummed, how it was a machine, they know that the tracks can be laid straight again. They are much like the folks from Mullen who know exactly how their boys will line up and play football each fall.
See, the young folks who have never witnessed a Nebraska fall like 1983 or 1994 or 1997 they aren’t sure what to think of the proceedings in Lincoln right now.
They never had the chance to watch a perfectionist coach, to watch a Sand Hills tough man like Terry Connealy make a big sack on a hot, humid Miami night. To watch a quarterback from Wood River lead a championship drive or two. We watched some of our own, mixed with an ultra-talented player from Florida, or New Jersey, or California come together to represent us.
We knew, you see, that we couldn’t do it all alone but with some help we could do it together. And those boys who came to work with us, most of them fell in love and never left.
They could learn a lesson or two in Lincoln about understanding who you are and recognizing what made you better than most. Not all, but most. They could learn by hopping in a car and driving five hours to Mullen.
A hard-working town that says “Welcome” and “Please” and “Thank you for coming.” Even after they lost a big game. A town and a school that knows who they are and come together when the going is tough.
Mullen lost on Monday, but the Mirror is not so sure about that. Remember.
“If we should win let it be by the code. If we should lose let us stand on the side of the road and cheer as the winners go by.”
After the game, see, both teams got together in the middle of the field and there was Mullen’s Lane Edis. Son of Wade, leading rusher on the 1990 state title team. His family shares a road and a mailbox with the famous Sand Hills Golf Club we learned about an hour before kickoff off Highway 97.
He just lost but he knew it was to the better man. He led both teams in prayer after running 30 times for 193 yards. He scored three touchdowns and played almost every snap of this one. See, that’s just how they do things in Mullen.
That’s what the Mirror remembers about Nebraska football, too. That it wasn’t about championships, but about representing the people that cheered them on. It was about looking on that field and seeing a little bit of your own town’s pride and hard work stare right back at you.
It’s what we learned again on a sunny afternoon in the Sand Hills. We can’t wait to get back.
The Sports Island 
Great take on sports in general and Mullen and the Huskers in particular.
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I entered Nebraska via population 69 -Ong. Told my husband, “I’ll give you ONE year in this deserted crappy town!”. After a year he would have needed wild horses to get me out. I was in love with the solitude to reflect, and the mystery of Nebraska Football.
No state team to it’s name, but Nebraska doesn’t need one. People were high on Nebraska Huskers. I remember going to my first game. I didn’t own any red, so I figured pink would be good enough. Wrong! My first vision of the field was utter amazement! Such a sea of red surrounded it. No one referred to my pink, but I invested in my Husker gear the next day.
Husker gear. The state is obsessed with it! Clothes, bags, yard ornaments, shower curtains … you name it — there’s a “Husker” version of it somewhere. I had never seen a state go so crazy over football. You just can’t grasp it until you’ve lived it.
My husband passed 8 years ago, and me in my infinite wisdom decided I had to leave Nebraska. I’ve not been happy since. I need to go home. Granted, the little town isn’t in the cards anymore, but Lincoln is: ya know — land of the Huskers.
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great article!
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Absolutely amazing article, gave me chills!!!!
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I was at that game cheering for Blue Hill and I have to say that the Mullen team never gave up. They fought hard and stayed tough for the entire game. They DO have the spirit of the game and yes this is what Nebraska football is and has always been about. Two excellent teams leaving it all on the field.
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Wow! Excellent article! Thanks so much for sharing that — the secret of the Sand Hills and Mullen, plus their neighboring towns! 😉
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The Sandhills, with Mullen, in the center is a wonderful place to raise your family !!!! I have lived here eighty one years and raised five great kids who learned how to work hard and have made something out of their lives. I thank God every day for putting me here.
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Excellent piece.
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I was at the local watering hole after the game, a hand full of Blue Hill people came in for refreshments to go. There were several of us who wished them Good Luck at State. Never thought anything about it, it’s just what you do. I moved here almost 30 years ago, raised two boys who played on that field. They learned from other parents, coaches and teachers “Sand Hills” values. I commute to my job in North Platte (70 miles south, one way), 5 days a week and have for almost 18 years now. I do it because, there’s no better place than Mullen! Go Broncos and Go Big Red!
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Great article. My father was born and raised in Mullen. The Hwy 97 drive and Hwy 2 are some of the best driving in this state.
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These people, this town and this family have had a profound impact on my life. I am humbled and grateful to know them. Wonderful tribute! Thanks
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Great article! I grew up in Mullen until graduating from high school there in 1961. You captured the special character of the people living in the sand hills area.
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My husband Tony Kosch managed the Napa parts store from 1978 to 1987 in Mullen Ne, and raised his family there. He speaks fondly of the hardworking,honest people, and the Sandhills beauty in the spring. Glad to see this article reflect an attitude that so many should respect. A handshake, not be a poor loser, and appreciate good ethics and values. Great article!
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