By Brandon Cavanaugh
Jordy Stuenkel’s like any other Nebraska fan – one in a sea of millions. However, like several of the Big Red faithful, she has something that makes her stick out as a diehard. Some own loads of memorabilia or wear their devotion on their sleeve. Stuenkel wears hers on her torso.
After learning of her Husker ink, we got in contact with her to get the story behind her unusual tattoo.
BC: Tell us a little about yourself and how you became a Husker fan
JS: I'm 21 and a Sports Management major at Wichita State University. My dad’s family is from Nebraska, and although raised in Kansas, the Husker pride runs deep. I can remember growing up, my dad yelling at the TV, and that is something that he has passed down to me (especially the last few years. 2009 for sure). Every year, I go to as many games as possible, including spring games and Women’s Day 101.
BC: When people decide to get Husker tattoos, you see Herbie, the Blackshirts logo, pretty iconic and common things associated with Nebraska. What prompted you to get the inscription from the southwest stadium done?
JS: It was something I had never seen done before, and I like the black and white with just the red N and especially the fact that the first letter of the inscription is the Nebraska "N."
BC: As anyone who’s gotten a tattoo knows, unless you’ve got a hookup, one the size of yours can cost a pretty penny. How much did you end up spending on it and where did you get it done?
JS: The guy that did it was working at a shop in downtown Wichita, but now he owns a place in Derby called Victory Tattoo. His name is Juan and he did my first tattoo. It was only roughly $120.
BC: Did you get it done in stages or was it done in one fell swoop and how long did it take to finish?
JS: I got it done all at once. It took probably an hour and a half.
BC: I’m pretty sure that you get this question every time you talk about your ink, but did it hurt much?
JS: Yes, the script was done first and he told me the red in the N wouldn’t hurt as bad. They say you get “numb” to a point. That was not the case and the red hurt so badly. I had asked him that same question before hand, “how bad will this hurt?” and he told me he had guys cry or even pass out, but he had never had a girl do any of those things. I was determined to not be the first.
BC: How often do you get asked about the tattoo and/or show it off?
JS: I show it off all the time. People don’t see girls as football fans or at least serious ones. They see them as just bandwagon fans for a hot quarterback or other player, or as the state they live in or their boyfriends/husbands. I think my tattoo proves that I am dedicated to my team and not going to jump on a bandwagon. I actually understand football and it’s going to be part of my career.
BC: Do you ever get grief from anyone about it or were there any major dissenters once they heard you were getting it done/after you got it done?
JS: Oh of course, especially Big 12 fans. I deal with a lot of upset K-State fans on daily basis it seems, especially my guy college friends. Most guys think it’s impressive that I actually care about football in such a passionate way and understand the sport, but there will always be haters especially ones because of the break-up of the Big 12.
BC: Do you have any other ink, Husker-centric or otherwise?
JS: Yes, I have the saying “Live Love Laugh” in Chinese symbols (got it when I turned 18) on my right hip, same as the Nebraska and my newest is a Hawaiian flower on my left hip.
BC: Do you have any plans to continue your Husker tattoo collection?
JS: I don’t have any plans to get any more tattoos, but I have said that after every one.
BC: For readers thinking about getting a tattoo whether it’s their first or fifth, do you have any advice on how to make sure you get exactly what you want in a quality tattoo?
JS: Think about it for a long time, and ask to see previous work (artists) have done to make sure you like the way they do things.
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