Randy York's N-Sider Blog — Husker Heroes Stand Up & Cheer New Jester

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Husker Heroes Stand Up & Cheer New Jester

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Ron Kellogg III, Homecoming Jester Cassie Irwin and Johnny Rodgers

By Randy York

Nebraska’s fifth Homecoming Jester did something Friday night the previous four did not do – added another descriptor for a motivator who took Big Red football spirit where it had never been.  Meet 5-foot-3½ Cassie Irwin, a sophomore Business Administration major from Kearney, Neb. She was voted Homecoming Jester for, drum roll, please, being a master rapper who moved the judges so dramatically that all three gave her a standing ovation, along with nearly 1,000 students who gathered at UNL’s City Union Plaza by the fountain.

The spontaneous crowning ended any huddled up judges pretending they have a secret and will only let you in on it when they compare notes and create more drama.  With all due respect to Yogi Berra, this competition was over before it was over, even though Irwin insisted on reaching her punch line after the time limit had essentially expired.

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Ron Kellogg, Johnny Rodgers Liked the Energy

Let the record show that Ron Kellogg III, the stingiest judge all night, wrote down a 10 on his white board and leaped to his feet to lead the standing O for Irwin a split-second before Johnny Rodgers and yours truly followed suit.  Kellogg is the only quarterback in Nebraska’s 125-year football history to complete a game-winning Hail Mary pass.  Rodgers was the first of three Husker Heisman Trophy winners.  Both know when you need to huddle and when you don’t.  Even Irwin knew she was standing triumphantly in the winning end zone.  We’re all football fans, so here are the winning words from a savvy rapper who was wearing a Husker jersey with Rex Burkhead’s 22:

Hello my Huskers, your attention Imma steal it.

I just have one question: Can you feel it?

Grab some tissue for Illinois to wipe away their tears,

Cause we’ve been out here grindin’ for 125 years.

Again, my name is C-Irwin and I hope that you see me.

Shout out to the man upstairs, my boy Bo Pelini.

And don’t be afraid to love one another.

We all bleed the same color: it’s red motha Huska.

As the Jester winner, Irwin will be introduced at Memorial Stadium about 48 minutes before Saturday night’s kickoff against Illinois.  She will be recognized in the southeast corner of the field near the student section.  The Homecoming Royalty Court, along with winners of various competitions, will be announced after the band performs at halftime. 

Jester Started Rapping in Seventh Grade

Yes, Irwin had the support of her Gamma Phi sorority sisters who talked her into competing for the honor a second time.  “I thought I’d give it another try,” Irwin said, acknowledging that she started rapping in seventh-grade.  “I’ve always loved music and always loved poetry when I was growing up.  I decided I wanted to develop my own style and love expressing my emotions that way.”

Credit her parents for encouraging her to complement her love for dancing with something else.  “I just picked up rap on my own,” she said.  “I wanted to be really good at something, and I just found that something was rap.  Sometimes, after a long day, I’ll stay up extra late just to write one verse.  For me, it’s a way to relax when I’ve been going strong all day.”

Her parents were high school sweethearts, and they should be particularly proud to know that their daughter was at the top of her game, even though she had four tests during the week – in economics, accounting, computer application and business calculus.  She also worked diligently and contributed major time to help the Homecoming Parade go smoothly before Friday night’s Jester competition.

Kellogg Career Moving Full Speed Ahead

Rodgers and Kellogg know high energy when they see it, and both have been working extra hours themselves.  Kellogg is now a wealth accumulation specialist with Northwest Mutual in Lincoln.  He’s a Lincoln Firefighters Pee Wee football coach for seventh and eighth-graders, plus gives private quarterback lessons.  He also contributes to ESPN radio on Mondays and Froggy 98 radio on Fridays. 

In my opinion, Johnny Rodgers does more Heisman poses with fans than any other trophy winner in America.  That’s why I asked “The Jet” do one more combination pose Friday night with a creative rapper and the judge who led her standing ovation.  “She deserved it,” Johnny R said.  “She took the ball all the way home and tore us loose from our shoes.”

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