Nebraska Cornhuskers | |
---|---|
University | University of Nebraska |
Conference | Big Ten |
NCAA | Division I/FBS |
Athletic director | Shawn Eichorst |
Location | Lincoln, Nebraska |
Varsity teams | 22 |
Football stadium | Memorial Stadium |
Basketball arena | Pinnacle Bank Arena |
Ice hockey arena | John Breslow Ice Center |
Baseball stadium | Haymarket Park |
Softball stadium | Bowlin Stadium |
Soccer stadium | Barbara Hibner Stadium |
Lacrosse stadium | Cook Pavilion Vine Outdoor Complex |
Other arenas |
Bob Devaney Sports Center Nebraska Coliseum Ed Weir Stadium |
Mascot |
Herbie Husker Lil' Red |
Nickname | Official: Cornhuskers Unofficial: Big Red, Blackshirts |
Fight song | Hail Varsity |
Colors | Scarlet and Cream |
Website | www |
The Nebraska Cornhuskers (often abbreviated to Huskers) is the name given to the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference and the Cornhuskers compete in NCAA Division I, fielding 22 varsity teams in 15 sports.
Early nicknames for the university's athletic teams included the "Hawkeyes" (which is now associated with the University of Iowa), the "Antelopes" (which the University of Nebraska at Kearney later adopted), the "Old Gold Knights", the "Bugeaters" and the "Mankilling Mastodons". The name Cornhuskers first appeared in the school newspaper as "We Have Met The Cornhuskers And They Are Ours" referring to a 20–18 upset victory over Iowa in 1893. The term "Cornhuskers" was referring to Iowa in that instance. The name would be used again, this time to refer to Nebraska by Cy Sherman in The Nebraska State Journal during the 1899 season and would replace all other names by 1900.
After its first losing season in a decade, it must have seemed only fitting that Nebraska move in a new direction, and Lincoln sportswriter Charles S. (Cy) Sherman, who was to gain national renown as the sports editor of the Lincoln Star and help originate The Associated Press Poll, provided the nickname that has gained fame for a century. Sherman tired of referring to the Nebraska teams with such an unglamorous term as Bugeaters. Iowa had, from time to time, been called the Cornhuskers, and the name appealed to Sherman. (NU Athletic Communications)
The Cornhuskers have two official mascots, Herbie Husker and Lil' Red.
The Cornhuskers participate in 21 sports sponsored by the Big Ten Conference. In addition the Huskers field varsity teams in two sports not sponsored by the Big Ten, namely rifle and bowling. The rifle team is a member of the single-sport Great America Rifle Conference, while the bowling team competes as an independent.