Under the tenure of John Cook‘s tenure, the Huskers have risen to unforeseen heights, and fans have never failed to rally behind the team. In 2023, the match between Nebraska and Omaha saw a record-setting turnaround of 92,003 fans in the Memorial Stadium. With such statistics, it’s no breaking news that volleyball is a sport that’s beloved in Cornhusker State. Maybe it’s that sort of popularity that makes even the Super Bowl look like a laughable affair to the Nebraska volleyball fans.

The Super Bowl LIX beckoned football fans from all over the country to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. While the action that played out on the gridiron between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs was undoubtedly spectacular, Nebraska volleyball fans believe the year’s biggest NFL game didn’t have anything on it!

Nebraska volleyball fans flex their muscle in the face of the Super Bowl

A post by Volleyball State Podcast on X from February 9 threw shade at the meager attendance at the 59th Super Bowl. As per sources like Statista and RadioTimes, the Superdome had an attendance of 65,719, despite having a capacity to seat 73,208 people. Naturally, the Nebraska volleyball community could hardly hold back a sneer, and the social media update reflected that sentiment further. “Raise your hand if you’ve ever been to a volleyball match that had more fans than this Super Bowl,” the post jibed at the weak turn-up to watch the nation’s top two football squads locking horns.

3x Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes fired blanks as the Eagles won the game 40-22. Yet, Nebraska volleyball fans seemed to be more intrigued by how the attendance was barely a reflection of the sport’s country-wide popularity. Volleyball, on the flip side, is still a more niche sport. But just look at how huge crowds showing up at volleyball games has become a common sight!

For obvious reasons, the social media post attracted throngs of Nebraska volleyball loyalists who couldn’t suppress their glee about how one of the country’s biggest sports events fell short of touching the towering feat achieved by the women athletes in the state.

Nebraska has its reasons to boast

One fan claimed that it was actually the half-time show that helped the Super Bowl to see as many attendees as it did this year. “In fact a WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL game! Superbowl at least reached, only 65k bcz of Kendrick Lamar,” joked the fan in the comment section, underscoring that the Super Bowl might have been an even paler affair had it not been for the rap icon performing.

While outdoor attendance record in women’s volleyball is proudly boasted by Nebraska volleyball fans, it’s not like they fare any worse when it comes to indoor situations. Last year, Hurrdat Sports took to social media to highlight how Omaha, both as hosts and participants, has been involved in all of the top five highest-attended games in professional volleyball. Perhaps, with all that in mind, another fan posited that Nebraska volleyball’s fandom might lead to some heartbreaks over at the NFL camp. “someone of them are crying after reading this,” reads the fan’s jeering comment.

“Volleyball won against NFL! Insanely amazing,” another fan announced triumphantly, noting that haters will have to deal with it even if they want to. Witnessing such vehement support for the sport, it’s no wonder to understand why Nebraska volleyball’s former coach also urged the fans to rally behind the team to help them win the 2024 NCAA Championship. While the Huskers didn’t manage to win the national trophy, the fans surely did their part in cheering for the team up till the regional finals.

It’s probably for this very reason that Cook also wanted the Huskers to continue playing at the Bob Devaney Arena. Sound advice, won’t you agree? So what other top-tier sport would you want to see next to fall to Nebraska volleyball’s success?