Opinion By J1 Reporter Ella Visty

Each Saturday in fall, everyone in Nebraska will know where to find me. Our season tickets to Nebraska football games are used every single week. My life is made complete when I get to stand in the stadium, see the fans, be a part of something bigger than myself. The day is perfect, I am only missing one thing.  Balloons. 

My entire childhood has been filled with memories of football games, with wins always ending in a cascade of red. Balloons fell down on our heads and made the end that much better. Games just are not the same without them, I can’t feel the same joy without it there. 

The tradition of fans releasing balloons after a Nebraska Football touchdown officially began in the 1960s, but some records state that fans would sneak balloons into Memorial Stadium as early as the 1940s. Over the decades, it became more than a simple gesture celebrating a play, it became a symbol of unity and team spirit. 

In 2022, Trev Alberts, Nebraska Athletic Director, announced a halt in the tradition due to the global helium shortage. The ruling disappointed many. Fans had grown deeply attached to the fun ritual. The balloons weren’t just a remarkable spectacle, they helped foster a sense of community within Memorial Stadium that couldn’t have been created without it. 

By 2023, environmental concerns were added to the conversation. Students voiced their concerns to the university, and despite the balloons being biodegradable, the university chose to uphold the ban for environmental responsibility.

2024 was a monumental year for Nebraska Football. It marked the 30th anniversary of the team’s undefeated 1994 season and national championship win over Miami. To honor the milestone, the university brought the balloons back for the Sept. 7 game against longtime rivals, the Colorado Buffaloes.

The stadium had a brand new air. With the return of the balloons and the intensity of a rivalry game, Memorial Stadium buzzed with excitement. Fans were louder, more passionate, and united, just like the old days. Nebraska defeated Colorado 28–10, and players credited the balloon-filled atmosphere for lifting their spirits and energizing the team.

Even today, some fans continue to sneak balloons into games, refusing to let go of the tradition. But they shouldn’t have to. With the helium shortage no longer an issue and biodegradable balloons posing no threat to the environment, it’s time for the university to officially support the return of this tradition.

The sight of red balloons soaring into the sky is more than beautiful, it’s symbolic. It represents unity, school pride, and the magic of game day in Lincoln. My grandfather got to release balloons in the 1960s and my dad did in the 1990s. Why can’t I? Let the balloons fly.