EUGENE, Ore. – When Nebraska takes the field against Oregon, there will be a special guest in attendance.
Nebraska head coach Mike Riley will leave three tickets at will-call at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, for Brenda Tracy and her two sons, Darius, 24, and Devante, 23. In 1998, when Riley was the head coach at Oregon State, Tracy was gang raped by four men, including two of Riley’s players.
Tracy said it was a last-minute thing being able to even go to the game. According to The Oregonian, Tracy’s eldest son, Darius, will not attend.
“Devante, her youngest son will make the trip with her. But her oldest, Darius, informed her on Friday night that he isn't ready to forget the role Riley played. He isn't planning to make the trip to Eugene. His seat will sit empty, but Tracy said she's proud of both sons for expressing their wishes.”
Tracy and Riley have had a complicated relationship. For years, she hated the head coach for the role he played in her assault, and the one-game suspension he handed his players because of it. But last year, Tracy was invited to meet with Riley and speak with the Nebraska team. She also attended the Huskers’ spring game last year.
Tracy told The Oregonian she won’t be wearing red Saturday or rooting for either team, but she’ll be pulling for Riley, whom she now calls a friend.
Nebraska will kick off against Oregon at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Derek is a newbie on the Hail Varsity staff covering Husker athletics. In college, he was best known as ‘that guy from Twitter.’ He has covered a Sugar Bowl, a tennis national championship and almost everything in between (except an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game… *tears*). In his spare time, he can be found arguing with literally anyone about sports.
