Nebraska football fans the world over will tell you that winning is important, but when it comes to the young men who make up the team, winning isn't the only thing. Making sure that these student athletes are living a life they can be proud of off the field is just as important. Husker fans pride themselves on the fan base and the team forming a kind of community and a kind of family. "Once a Husker, always a Husker" is a well known motto among those who cheer on the team.

That same Nebraska football fans should be proud of one group of players who greeted Nebraska track athlete Jace Anderson one night last year at a campus party.

Armstrong recently announced he was gay, but at the time, the athlete was still struggling with who he should tell and how. That's why he became a bit nervous when what he describes as three "gigantic human beings" asked him whether or not he played for "the other team."

The night Nebraska football shone bright

“There's been a lot of conversation that you swing for the other team,” Anderson said one of the player's asked him. He was well aware the player didn't mean a conference rival. Anderson says he answered "yes" and waited for the reaction. That reaction was one Anderson was so moved by that he told the tale on the video where he talked about coming out to his family and friends.

“We just want to let you know we think that's awesome and commend you for not denying it." Another player responded.

Yet another player told Anderson that they don't hear that much about Openly Gay athletes at Nebraska and that he thought it was "awesome" that Anderson was willing to be open and honest about his sexual orientation. Anderson said that all three of the Nebraska football players gave him a hug and then went about their business because they could tell he was still uncomfortable with the interaction.

Nebraska players expected to be the last people who would be so accepting

In the YouTube video Anderson posted, he makes it clear the entire incident still blows his mind. The track star, who competes in the triple jump and long jump for the Cornhuskers says that conversation started to make him realize that "nobody cared that I was gay other than myself." He credits the football players, who who didn't expect to be so accepting for helping to ease the stress and pressure he was feeling about coming out.

Anderson said his conversation with these three Nebraska football players made him understand that the biggest person who feared his being gay was himself.