KEARNEY, Neb. — This line snaking around the entire expo building at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds sends a clear message. Never underestimate Husker fans.

“We are Husker fans. I’m not going to say crazy, just Husker fans,” Mary George of Kearney said.

Never mind that the line was for a spring exhibition match against Denver University. Never mind that it was 33 degrees with a 25 mph north wind. Of course, this wasn’t in Lincoln, either… it was in Kearney, two hours away from the Huskers’ home base.

Nothing stops Nebraskans from seeing their team. Just ask Dan Pinkerton.

“I promised my daughter I was going to be here first," Pinkerton said. "No matter what, I’m getting her and I a ticket, so I was here at 1:30.”

Tickets didn’t go on sale until 10:00 a.m., but he wasn’t the only early riser.

“We got here at about midnight and we were able to sleep in the car for about an hour," UNK student Grace Desmond said. "We saw the first guy get in line at 1:30. We were like, ‘is it already time to hop in line?’ We ended up getting in line at about 4:00.”

“It’s really cold," UNK student Laney Badgley said. "If it wasn’t windy, it would be fine!”

“I had a sleeping bag earlier," Sara Fecht of Kearney said. "I got rid of that for awhile. (Bringing a) lawn chair is the only way to do this and hot hands. Never forget hot hands.”

“I was here 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 and then 12:00 I finally parked,” Fecht said.

“I’ve been here since 6:30,” Brenda Medina of Kearney said.

“We should be able to get the lower seats we’re hoping.”

Some were motivated by seeing their favorite team in their hometown. Others were motivated by family.

“My granddaughter just had her 13th birthday," Dana of Kearney said. "She plays volleyball, so Nana’s taking one for the team and getting her tickets.”

A cheerful outlook helped fans brave the long, cold wait.

“Well, I have all these new friends," Dana said. "We have two nurses, so if any of us go down, we’re good.”

And it will all be worth it come May 4th at UNK’s Health and Sports Center.

“Yes, it was worth the wait," Medina said. "We had lots of fun.”

Just over 1,000 tickets were allotted to the hosts Kearney Public Schools, UNK and the Kearney Visitor’s Bureau. The roughly 4,000 remaining tickets sold out in 45 minutes to fans hopeful the spring match will be the first step in a historic season.

“We’re psyched because we’re going to win the national championship this year.”