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daily nebraskan
friday, October 12, 1979
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Big Red spirit doesn't stop at the Missouri River. In a small
cafe in Council Bluffs, Iowa, George Pappas said "There's
nothing like a good old football game."
Pappas, owner of "George's" for 21 years, was in the res
taurant business "as a boy." His father owned the Coney
Island restaurant in Lincoln which Pappas said was the "big
time.' The restaurant was going strong when soliders came
back from the war.
"We had M.P.'s sergeants, corporals, you name it, they
were there," Pappas said.
Pappas said he began as a carhop at the restaurant and
never went to college, "even though Dad wanted me to,"
because he said he liked what he was doing and wanted to
stay in it.
He said he bought "George's" as an investment and is
ready to sell, but if he can't get enough money he will tear
it down and leave the land to his little granddaughter.
Pictures of his two children on the wall get equal play
with Big Red plaques and statutes.
"And of course this is me, because I'm boss," he
said as he picked up a dimestore statute of a little pot
bellied man.
"Now, what do you think of this?" he said cradling a clock
shaped Big Red football.
Big Red fever brimmed over in the small cafe as Pappas
explained how he obtained tickets to the games.
He said he waits until right before the game and
approaches ticket scalpers just as a police officer walks by.
"And then I get 'em for the regular price."
Pappas said he likes the campus and especially the city
because it is a clean town with a family atmosphere.
He also said he liked the police control.
You can drive around on any street and see a cruiser
out . They're always on the job ."
When the game's ended, Pappas returns to the small cafe
and carries his memories of Lincoln and Big Red with him.
Pappas said he doesn't have much problem with his Iowa
friends when he and his wife walk down the street in their
Big Red attire.
"At least, they better not bother me."
Big Red
on Broadw
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Photos by Mark Billingsley
Story by Jill Denning