Bill Davison is a die-hard Nebraska fan. After visiting Happy Valley last year to watch his beloved team play Penn State, he vowed never to return again.

It wasn't the fact the Cornhuskers were demolished 40-7 by the Nittany Lions, but it was the abusive treatment of the Penn State fans that caused Davison to rule out any plans for a return trip.

As the Penn State football team took out two losing seasons' worth of frustration on Nebraska last year, the Nittany Lions' fans also seemed to take out a reciprocal amount of frustration on the visiting Cornhusker fans in attendance at Beaver Stadium.

Now, Davison and the rest of the Nebraska football fan base have a chance to dish out some revenge tomorrow as the Nittany Lion faithful travel to Lincoln, Neb. for Penn State's first road game of 2003.

They probably won't though; it's not the mid-west Nebraska way.

"I do not have any ill will towards any Penn State fans but I was amazed by the total drunkenness outside the stadium last year," Davison said. "Everything was fine until we made it to the stadium."

Davison, who at 49 years of age has only missed three Cornhusker home games in the last 40 years, has also traveled extensively around the country to follow Nebraska on the road.

One of his most vivid memories of the trip to Happy Valley, however, involved a confrontation with a Penn State undergraduate student on his way into Beaver Stadium.

"I was walking outside the stadium carrying a six pack," Davison said. "As I was walking, a young Penn State fan walked up to me and said, 'F-Nebraska, can I buy a beer off of you?' I just had to laugh, but like I said, I was amazed at the drunkenness of some of the Penn State fans."

Davison's experience was not unique. Also making the trip with him was Dan Gelster, who said the poor treatment last year began as soon as some Nebraska fans hit campus.

"When we got into State College and we parked in a parking lot, that's kind of when it started," he said. "It wasn't good natured. It was more like 'get the crap out of here' but in stronger language."

Gelster agreed that the treatment from Penn State fans was harsh before and after the game, but that during the game, the atmosphere was memorable.

"Once we got in the stadium the atmosphere was phenomenal," Gelster said. "It was one of the most intense experiences. It was really neat; I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the stadium."

Despite the unfriendly welcome from some of the Penn State fans, both Davison and Gelster agreed those wearing blue and white will be treated as respected guests come tomorrow.

"It will be a hostile environment in regards to screaming and hollering," Gelster said. "It won't be a war type thing. When we're in the stadium, we'll all hopefully be cheering for Nebraska and Penn State will know they're the visitor."

Even some Penn State undergraduates were affected by rowdiness last season. A native of Nebraska and lifelong Cornhusker fan now enrolled at Penn State, Matthias Hickey (junior-political science) felt the heat from many of his fellow peers in the student section.

Why?

He was wearing the red and white.

"I'd say most of it was negative to anyone who was wearing red," Hickey said. "It wasn't the brightest idea to wear red. It's bound to happen when people have been drinking since noon. Tempers flair and tensions run high. I didn't feel it was that bad, but I've been in worse."

Hickey and Gelster both agreed that Nebraska is a close knit state, where college football is everything. The last thing Penn State fans should have to worry about is treatment from Cornhusker fans.

"From the adult Nebraska fans, I expect it to be pretty cordial," Hickey said. "Their big rivalry is Oklahoma, and when they play, they're all partying in the parking lot together. That's just the way Nebraska is. Everybody is friendly. It's not like walking down College Ave. and people look at you funny."

That isn't to say that everyone representing Penn State is getting away scott free from the sea of red. John Bronson, who commented earlier on in the week that he expects to see "bottles and sticks and stones" thrown at the Lions by the home Cornhusker fans, has already been targeted by some.

"I don't think the sentiment is going to be bad, but Bronson will get his share of remarks," Gelster said. "Throwing sticks and rocks, I don't think that's ever been an issue at any school. I think everybody in Nebraska respects Penn State and they all really like JoePa. What's not to like about him?"