Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes left Dylan Raiola’s Nebraska Cornhuskers’ season opener early. Check out his reasoning. Many first-week games that involve interconference games do not possess as much star power as Nebraska and Cincinnati. Yet, last night’s tilt seemed to draw in celebrities. What made it so special?
Parental Duties Made KC Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Leave Nebraska Game Early
Last night, Nebraska defeated Cincinnati in the season opener in front of a packed crowd at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. One of the attendees, Mahomes, elicited thunderous applause.
The three-time Super Bowl winner watched the Cornhuskers build a lead they didn’t relinquish on their way to a 20-17 victory. However, the perennial Pro Bowler did not stay for the entirety of the game, slipping out before the final gun. Mahomes took the opportunity to explain his choice on Instagram.
“Got to wake up with the kids in the morning my bad 😂😂,” he posted.
Anyone with small children will tell you that, whether you want to get out of bed early in the morning, chances are high that your children’s feet will be the first to hit the floor. Under those circumstances, you also need to wake up early to see what they are doing. Sports fan or not, parents from all walks of life can co-sign.
Mahomes did see Raiola, a quarterback who patterned his mannerisms and approach after the Chiefs’ All-Pro. From how he cuts his hair to his distinctive gait, Raiola’s attempts to emulate Mahomes became widely known against the Bearcats. The sophomore enjoyed a strong night, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns, completing 78.6% of his passes.
Raiola should’ve felt right at home among the famous in attendance. In Nebraska circles, the Raiola name carries weight. His father, Dominic, was an All-American center for the Huskers, playing 14 seasons for the Detroit Lions. Also, his uncle, Donovan, who coaches the offensive line, enjoyed a solid career at the University of Wisconsin.
As mentioned, the crowd at Arrowhead featured celebrities. Outside of Mahomes, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, his fiancée, Taylor Swift, and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, all rolled up to the stadium. The Kelce brothers played their college ball at the University of Cincinnati and shared a particular rooting interest for the Bearcats.
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The Huskers will return home to Lincoln for the next four games. On September 6, they will battle the Akron Zips out of the Mid-American Conference. Then, they will wrap up the homestand with a matchup against the Houston Christian Huskies.
After that, they welcome Michigan and Michigan State. On the other hand, Cincinnati welcomes Bowling Green and Northwestern State before heading to Lawrence, Kan., to face the Jayhawks.