Welcome Herbie and the rest of the Bugeaters to the Big Ten
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Welcome Herbie and the rest
of the Bugeaters to the Big Ten
Big Ten fans, say hello to our newest friend — Herbie Husker.
Though Herbie, the 2006 National Mascot of the Year, is new to the Big Ten, he isn't new to the limelight of the landscape of college football.
You see, Herbie is the mascot of the newest member of the Big Ten - the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Herbie brings a little country to the Big Ten. He wears a big
red cowboy hat with the letter N nestled in the middle front of the hat; scuffed brown boots; a leather belt; a red shirt; ripped blue jeans; and a
huge grin that can be seen for miles.
Let's make Herbie feel comfortable when he and his Cornhuskers arrive in 2011.
Pull up a chair and get to know more about the first team to enter the Big Ten since Penn State was accepted in 1990 (although they didn't play
their first game in the conference until 1993).
Nebraska are the winners of five National Championships, with their most recent title coming in 1997, sharing it with soon-to-be conference comrade
Michigan.
It's good to know those two teams already have a history, seeing as they are co-holders of the 1997 National Championship. The Cornhuskers' other
championships came in 1970, '71, '94 and '95.
In the '90s alone, Nebraska lost just three home games. But not knowing much about corn, husking corn or even the state of
Nebraska, I decided to look a little deeper into the program full of football tradition.
First, when Nebraska started its football program, they were known not as the Cornhuskers, but as the Old Gold Knights (1890-91). After that, they
were called the Tree-Planters, Antelopes, Rattlesnake Boys, and starting in 1900, the Bugeaters. The Bugeaters' name came from a bull bat which hovered
over the plains and ate insects. (I can't make this stuff up!) In the early 1900s, they were even described as the "Mankilling Mastadons."
Nebraska had its first losing season in 1899, and the school, which already wore scarlet and cream as the Bugeaters, became the Cornhuskers as they were named by sports editor Charles S. (Cy) Sherman. (He helped originate The Associated Press Poll.)
(Fun fact: Before Iowa officially became the Hawkeyes, they were known as the Cornhuskers.)
But we can't welcome Herbie without welcoming his buddy and fellow Nebraska mascot Lil' Red, who, along with Brutus the Buckeye, was inducted
into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007. Lil' Red was born in 1993 to appeal to younger Nebraska fans. He wears bibs and a backward cap.
Bringing in Herbie and his buddy Lil' Red is a great decision for the Big Ten to get the Cornhuskers in a conference they belong in. The Big XII only cares about Texas and Oklahoma. Bottom line.
In bowl games, Nebraska has faced the Big Ten on four occasions and won three times.
They beat Northwestern ('00), Michigan St. ('03) and Michigan ('05) in the Alamo Bowl. Their lone bowl loss to a soon-to-be Big Ten rival came in
1986 to Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl (27-23).
The Cornhuskers have played in two Rose Bowls but never against a team from the Big Ten. They are 0-2 with losses to Stanford (1941) and
Miami ('02).
Since 1962, Nebraska has played the Big Ten 42 times, including 14 times against Minnesota.
That history alone makes Nebraska a great addition to the Big Ten. One of the things I am looking forward to is games with Ohio State and Nebraska on a chilly October day. Not a fan of either team, but the thought of seeing two teams who are going to have a place in the AP Top 25 for years to come gets me excited. So does the thought of hearing Brent Musberger saying, "Welcome to Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions of Penn State are set to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the Big Ten title in the final week of the season in all of college football, with the winner of the game going to the BCS National Championship game." (A guy can dream,
can't he?)
Seriously, it's June 2010, and I already have goosebumps as I await the moment the Big Ten improves and gives itself a chance at glory once again.
Bo Pelini, Nebraska's current head football coach, is from Youngstown and played college football for Ohio State, at free safety, under Earle Bruce and John Cooper. He was a co-captain his senior year. Pelini is 20-8 as a head coach, all with Nebraska.
Last season, Nebraska finished 14th in the AP Poll and was No. 1 in the NCAA in scoring and pass efficiency defense.
With all of that said, bring on the tradition of Tom Osborne, Tommie Frazier, Johnny Rodgers, Herbie the Husker, the five national titles, three
Heisman Trophies, undefeated seasons, and Memorial Stadium.
Welcome, Cornhuskers.
Joe Pa, the sweater vest and Rich Rod (OK, he probably won't be around in 2011) are waiting for ya!
You bunch of Bugeaters!
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.
Big Ten fans, say hello to our newest friend — Herbie Husker.
Though Herbie, the 2006 National Mascot of the Year, is new to the Big Ten, he isn't new to the limelight of the landscape of college football.
You see, Herbie is the mascot of the newest member of the Big Ten - the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Herbie brings a little country to the Big Ten. He wears a big
red cowboy hat with the letter N nestled in the middle front of the hat; scuffed brown boots; a leather belt; a red shirt; ripped blue jeans; and a huge grin that can be seen for miles.
Let's make Herbie feel comfortable when he and his Cornhuskers arrive in 2011.
Pull up a chair and get to know more about the first team to enter the Big Ten since Penn State was accepted in 1990 (although they didn't play their first game in the conference until 1993).
Nebraska are the winners of five National Championships, with their most recent title coming in 1997, sharing it with soon-to-be conference comrade Michigan.
It's good to know those two teams already have a history, seeing as they are co-holders of the 1997 National Championship. The Cornhuskers' other championships came in 1970, '71, '94 and '95.
In the '90s alone, Nebraska lost just three home games. But not knowing much about corn, husking corn or even the state of Nebraska, I decided to look a little deeper into the program full of football tradition.
First, when Nebraska started its football program, they were known not as the Cornhuskers, but as the Old Gold Knights (1890-91). After that, they were called the Tree-Planters, Antelopes, Rattlesnake Boys, and starting in 1900, the Bugeaters. The Bugeaters' name came from a bull bat which hovered over the plains and ate insects. (I can't make this stuff up!) In the early 1900s, they were even described as the "Mankilling Mastadons."
Nebraska had its first losing season in 1899, and the school, which already wore scarlet and cream as the Bugeaters, became the Cornhuskers as they were named by sports editor Charles S. (Cy) Sherman. (He helped originate The Associated Press Poll.)
(Fun fact: Before Iowa officially became the Hawkeyes, they were known as the Cornhuskers.)
But we can't welcome Herbie without welcoming his buddy and fellow Nebraska mascot Lil' Red, who, along with Brutus the Buckeye, was inducted
into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007. Lil' Red was born in 1993 to appeal to younger Nebraska fans. He wears bibs and a backward cap.
Bringing in Herbie and his buddy Lil' Red is a great decision for the Big Ten to get the Cornhuskers in a conference they belong in. The Big XII only cares about Texas and Oklahoma. Bottom line.
In bowl games, Nebraska has faced the Big Ten on four occasions and won three times.
They beat Northwestern ('00), Michigan St. ('03) and Michigan ('05) in the Alamo Bowl. Their lone bowl loss to a soon-to-be Big Ten rival came in 1986 to Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl (27-23).
The Cornhuskers have played in two Rose Bowls but never against a team from the Big Ten. They are 0-2 with losses to Stanford (1941) and Miami ('02).
Since 1962, Nebraska has played the Big Ten 42 times, including 14 times against Minnesota.
That history alone makes Nebraska a great addition to the Big Ten. One of the things I am looking forward to is games with Ohio State and Nebraska on a chilly October day. Not a fan of either team, but the thought of seeing two teams who are going to have a place in the AP Top 25 for years to come gets me excited. So does the thought of hearing Brent Musberger saying, "Welcome to Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions of Penn State are set to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the Big Ten title in the final week of the season in all of college football, with the winner of the game going to the BCS National Championship game." (A guy can dream, can't he?)
Seriously, it's June 2010, and I already have goosebumps as I await the moment the Big Ten improves and gives itself a chance at glory once again.
Bo Pelini, Nebraska's current head football coach, is from Youngstown and played college football for Ohio State, at free safety, under Earle Bruce and John Cooper. He was a co-captain his senior year. Pelini is 20-8 as a head coach, all with Nebraska.
Last season, Nebraska finished 14th in the AP Poll and was No. 1 in the NCAA in scoring and pass efficiency defense.
With all of that said, bring on the tradition of Tom Osborne, Tommie Frazier, Johnny Rodgers, Herbie the Husker, the five national titles, three Heisman trophies, undefeated seasons, and Memorial Stadium.
Welcome, Cornhuskers.
Joe Pa, the sweater vest and Rich Rod (OK, he probably won't be around in 2011) are waiting for ya!
You bunch of Bugeaters!
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.
[[In-content Ad]]