Hundreds of fans greet Huskers at airport

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska fans packed the Lincoln Airport on Sunday to welcome home the Cornhuskers following the team’s historic NCAA Tournament wins.

The Big Red returned after not only winning their first game in NCAA Tournament history, but also advancing to the Sweet 16.

Last year’s postseason success came in the College Basketball Crown. This time, Nebraska is making noise in the NCAA Tournament — and the excitement level among fans is even higher.

“Within those last five minutes I think we were really just all praying that they were going to pull through,” Husker fan Melanie McMillan said. “It was so emotional and amazing when they ended up pulling through in the end.”

Family, friends and supporters filled the terminal, eager to greet the team as it arrived back in Lincoln.

Typically, players return quietly from road trips, getting dropped off near their vehicles before heading home.

“We’ve been planning this since yesterday,” Lincoln Airport Director of Marketing and Air Service Rachel Barth said. “We deplaned the guys really close to the terminal so they could just walk in. And then we just put it out on socials and invited fans to come and make signs and see the guys.”

But this homecoming was anything but typical. Barth said the airport celebration was planned regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s second-round game.

But now the season isn’t over. Fans hope they’ll make a return trip to an airport celebration.

“And then for the entire tournament, go big red,” Husker fan Nick McMillan said. “That’s all I got to say.”

The Huskers will play again on Thursday in Houston.