The scarlet and cream of the University of Nebraska were some of the first colors senior baseball pitcher and Finance major Paul Smith was introduced to as a child.

Growing up in Rochester, Minnesota, Smith had a grandfather who attended Nebraska as well as two parents who were both raised as Nebraska fans. It was only a matter of time before Smith became a fan himself.

Smith now lives and breathes Nebraska Cornhusker football.

“I’ve always had so many Nebraska shirts, I’ve always had a Nebraska hat, and I never had a choice of whether I was going to be a Nebraska fan or not,” Smith said. “But I probably would have chosen it anyway.”

Nebraska is known for its talented football teams, but that is not the only part of the university’s athletics program that attracts Smith. Smith loves the traditions, and he says that his favorite thing about Nebraska football is the Tunnel Walk the team and fans participate in before each game. As players make their make their way to the field entrance in Memorial Stadium, fans line up on a red FieldTurf carpet to cheer on their team.

At age six, Smith and his family moved to Round Rock, Texas, where he has lived ever since. Coming from the North and being a fan of a Big 12 team outside of Texas has not always been easy for Smith.

“It’s annoying because everyone wants to talk about Texas, Oklahoma or A&M,” Smith said. “Nebraska never gets any credit. But now they are moving to the Big 10 so hopefully it will get a little better.”

Although Nebraska is moving to the Big 10 starting this upcoming season, Smith does not think the team will have any problems playing its new opponents.

“I think it’s a little different style [of] football, but they are good enough to play there too,” Smith said.

Nebraska football is extremely popular within Nebraska — there are no inner-state rivalries to divide the fans. In addition, the Cornhuskers currently hold the NCAA record for most consecutive sold-out crowds at 306 games. The streak began over 40 years ago during their 1962 season.

“Nebraska is known for their loyal fan base,” Smith said. “It’s pretty much all they have going on up there during the fall, and I love that about it.”

Throughout his lifetime as a Cornhusker fan, Smith considers the 2001 season as his most memorable moment as a Nebraska fan.

“[During the 2001 season] my favorite player, Eric Crouch, won the Heisman Trophy and led the team to the national championship game,” Smith said.  “They lost pretty badly to Miami, but it was a fun year to watch.”

Although Nebraska will not be traveling to Texas for conference games anymore, you can guarantee that as the 2011 college football season approaches, Smith will be rooting for the Cornhuskers as he proudly sports his scarlet and cream gear around campus in a city dominated by burnt orange.