Foundation Set for Husker Athletics

Lincoln - Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson unveiled Monday a set of three values -"Tradition, Teamwork and Integrity"-that will guide the Nebraska Athletic Department into the future and serve as values for all coaches, staff and student-athletes.

"Tradition, Teamwork and Integrity" have been the foundation for the historic success of Nebraska," Pederson said. "These values, which will drive our every action at Nebraska as coaches, staff and student-athletes, were established in discussions with head coaches and athletic staff members."

In addition to announcing the values that will serve as a foundation for the Nebraska athletic department, Pederson outlined a series of improvements and additions at Memorial Stadium designed to keep the 80-year old facility as the best venue in all of college football. Pederson also announced several other issues and upcoming events planned in conjunction with the start of the football season.

"Nebraska fans are the best fans in college football and they are deserving of the best game-day experience in the country," Pederson said. "Since January, I have received a couple thousand letters from Husker fans with great suggestions for improvements and additions to game day. Many of the improvements are a direct result of suggestions I received from Nebraska fans."

Among the changes Husker fans will see when they arrive for the Aug. 30 season opener with Oklahoma State are plastic caps on seating in both end zones, improved restroom facilities, better access to trophies honoring Nebraska's great football tradition and improved signage outside the stadium.

Fan Improvements to Memorial Stadium

• All seats in the north and south end zones have been covered with plastic capping to improve the comfort and safety for Husker fans. This summer the plastic caps have been added to about 40,000 seats in the two end zones. Following the addition of the plastic caps to the end zone seating this summer, all bench seating in the stadium except the 3,758 seats in the East balcony are covered with plastic. Plastic caps will be added to the seating in the East balcony after the completion of waterproofing in that area.
• Also in response to input from Husker fans, Pederson addressed a common complaint by updating 20 fixtures in restrooms throughout Memorial Stadium. Most of the improvements have been made in women's restrooms where modern fixtures have replaced outdated toilets.
• The West Stadium will be open to the public on game days, allowing Husker fans an opportunity to view trophies and awards from the 113-year history of Nebraska football. Nebraska's three Sears Trophies, other national championship trophies, three Heisman trophies, eight Outland Trophies, conference championship trophies and memorabilia from the Huskers' 41 bowl appearances are all housed inside the West Stadium. The trophy area inside West Stadium will be open four hours before kickoff on game days.
• Earlier this summer, the front of the South Stadium received a facelift. Signage was added to the South Stadium offices making the location more identifiable for Husker fans and improving the first impression of the athletic facilities.
• Additionally, new gate signs will be added to all entrances of Memorial Stadium before the season opener (Gates 19, 20, 21 already completed). The new signage better reflects the traditional architectural design of the stadium and enables fans to see the gate indicators from greater distances.

Nebraska fans are honored for their continued contributions to the success of the Husker program with a new sign above Gate 20 on Memorial Stadium's east side. Bronze lettering above the door of the entrance reads, "Through These Gates Pass the Greatest Fans in College Football."  On hand to unveil the new signage were a pair of long-time Nebraska supporters, Paula Varner, the wife of former Nebraska President D.B. "Woody" Varner and Art Friesen, Sr., a 101-year-old season ticket holder from Jansen, Neb.

Additions to Game-Day Experience Help Make 2003 "Year of the Fan"
In addition to a number of physical improvements at Memorial Stadium, Pederson announced several other new additions that will allow Husker fans across the country a better opportunity to enjoy all aspects of Nebraska athletics.

• Nebraska fans across the country will have an opportunity to be a part of the Husker Nation Celebration on Aug. 30. The Husker athletic department has purchased satellite time so that Nebraska booster groups around the United States can enjoy the day's pregame festivities and events in Husker Nation Celebration watch parties.
•  In 2003, all Husker season-ticket holders have been mailed an official fan guide to Memorial Stadium. The booklet provides all Husker fans with details on game-day policies and procedures, in addition to driving directions to the stadium, parking information and maps, features to look for at Memorial Stadium, and a rundown on the traditions of game day at Nebraska.
• The Husker Nation Pavilion will debut as the official Husker pre-game gathering place in 2003. The pavilion will be located at Ed Weir Track behind the northeast corner of Memorial Stadium and will be free to all Nebraska fans, whether or not they have a game ticket. The Husker Nation Pavilion will open three hours before kickoff and will include a live band, food vendors, games and fun for Nebraska fans of all ages. A jumbo television will also be available for fans to watch other college games from around the country and for Husker fans without tickets to watch the HuskerVision feed of the day's game. Private corporate tents are also available inside the Husker Nation Pavilion.
•  Husker fans will have their first opportunity to look ahead to the 2003 Nebraska football season on Thursday, Aug. 21, as the NU Athletic Department will sponsor a Big Red Football Preview Party at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Devaney Center opens at 6 p.m. with the program scheduled to start 7:30 p.m. Featured speakers at the event will include Pederson, Head Coach Frank Solich, Offensive Coordinator Barney Cotton and Defensive Coordinator Bo Pelini.
• Husker fans can more easily follow all 23 Nebraska sports on the "new look" Huskers.com. The re-designed site made its debut in mid-July and has user-friendly menus and simplified page looks. New features are continually added to Huskers.com, as well as the premium portion of the web site-HuskersNSide.
• Pederson announced that 1,400 Husker fans have been awarded single-game tickets for the 2003 season by signing up for the Huskers.com on-line wait list which was implemented in February.
• Beginning on July 1, Huskers Authentic, the official team merchandise store for Nebraska athletics, went under new management. CMS, Collegiate Marketing Services, was awarded the contract by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents at its June meeting. The store was closed for the first two weeks of July, but has re-opened and will include several new features this fall, most notably a new line of Husker Nation apparel, which includes t-shirts, hats, letter jackets and much more
• For fan convenience, a new Huskers Authentic outlet store will be located inside Memorial Stadium on the west concourse and open throughout the game. The new store will give Nebraska fans an opportunity to enjoy a wide selection of merchandise right inside Memorial Stadium on game day.
•  Included in the new Husker Nation apparel line is a t-shirt designed specifically for UNL students, available at Huskers Authentic, University Bookstore and Nebraska Bookstore. The student T-Shirt was developed in partnership with the ASUN and its president Kyle Argenbright. A portion of the proceeds ($5 per shirt) from the sale of the student t-shirts, which cost $20 for non-students and $15 for UNL students, will be sent directly to the student funded NU on Wheels Program that began in 1999 and provides students a safe ride home.