Family and football

Our family has quite a history, one might say, with the real U.S. national pastime: football. Buller Time has touched on this before, for example, with memories of the NU–OU game of the century in 1971 (here) or Super Bowl IV between the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings (here).

This week our family will form another football memory, when the Nebraska Cornhuskers host the Fresno State Bulldogs. What makes this particular game special? One of our family will be playing in the game.

Michael Martens (see here), the youngest son of Randy and Shelly Martens, is a wide receiver for Fresno State, number 87, if you are fortunate enough to attend or watch the game. Randy Martens is, of course, the oldest son of Wayne and Alma Buller Martens (brother Calvin is three years younger). For those who have trouble keeping it all straight, Michael is Grandpa Chris and Grandma Malinda’s great-grandson.

If I understand correctly, Michael’s parents Randy and Shelly, grandparents Wayne and Alma, and Uncle Calvin and Aunt Robin will be in attendance at the game (along with my older brother Steve and perhaps several others). In addition, I hear that there will be a weekend reunion of some sort hosted by Mary Jane. If anyone takes photos, please email them to me by using the Click Here to Contact Me button just above the search field. That button gives you my preferred email address, which is far more likely to be seen than my Gmail address.

I am told that, when Wayne Martens asked Dad whom he would be cheering, the latter responded, “Frintschoft,” which is apparently the Low German word for “relations” (see further here). Since I do not know Low German, I will simply wish Michael lots of playing time and a stellar game—but hope for a Cornhuskers victory nonetheless.

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Thanks to Calvin Martens, we have photographs from the pregame get-together! How many family members can you identify?