Public Tour Date Set for Osborne Athletic Complex

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.”

When University of Nebraska Athletic Department staff, coaches and student-athletes enter the new Osborne Athletic Complex, they will be inspired by these words of William Jennings Bryan, Nebraska’s well-known statesman and politician.

William Jennings Bryan gave one of the most renowned speeches in American history on Feb. 22, 1899 in Washington, D.C. entitled, “America’s Mission.” While this speech primarily focused on substantive political issues of his day and time, he also spoke of purpose, destiny and challenge, stating, “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.”

These words are proudly displayed above the entrance to the Osborne Athletic Complex.  The line from Bryan’s speech is also printed on a plaque that hangs in the entry to the Complex, with commentary by Chris Eskridge, Ph.D., a University of Nebraska professor of Criminal Justice.  Eskridge wrote, “While the substance of his speech focused on issues that are not perhaps relevant today, the fundamental principles he outlined certainly ring true in any era; destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice, for a nation, for a state, for a team, for a person.”

“As Nebraskans, we are so proud of the history and traditions of our state,” Athletic Director Steve Pederson said.  “It seemed appropriate that our staff, student-athletes and fans should be reminded and inspired as we walk into this fabulous new building of the words of Nebraska’s most famous orator, William Jennings Bryan, because destiny truly is a matter of choice, not of chance.”

Championship Facilities Tours Set
Fans will have a unique opportunity to see the new additions to the athletic facilities on a Public Tour held on Friday, Sept. 1, between 6 and 9 p.m.

Tours will begin at the northwest corner of the Hawks Championship Center and will run continuously until the last tours begin at 9 p.m.  In order to accommodate as many fans as possible in a short time frame, fans will be guided by video monitors throughout the tour. 

This video guided walking tour will give fans a chance to walk through the new Osborne Athletic Complex lobby and view through windows of the Myers Performance Center, which houses the Strength Complex and Athletic Medicine.  The indoor field at the Hawks Championship Center and a view from the center of Memorial Stadium will also be featured on the tour.  The Memorial Stadium Expansion project added more than 6,400 seats for fans including new seating for the disabled, a new concourse that connects the east, north and west stadiums and many fan amenities. 

Because of pregame security issues, fans will only be allowed on a staffed area of the field and will not have access to the stands or concourse. 

The tour will conclude with group photos (taken by Party Pics) in the stadium with the new HuskerVision big screen in the background.  These photos will be available on-line on Huskers.com, soon after the event.

Fans are encouraged to park in the Stadium Drive Parking Garage, at Haymarket Park, in downtown parking garages and in other public parking lots near campus.

Husker Nation Championship Drive Donor Display
One of the highlights of the Public Tour will be the Husker Nation Championship Drive donor display.  This beautiful display,  located in the Osborne Athletic Complex lobby, honors the personal commitments of Husker fans to building Nebraska’s future successes by prominently displaying the name of each fan who made a donation ($100 and above) to the Husker Nation Championship Drive.  The display on Black Absolute granite acknowledges the names in random order with opportunities to add names at a later date.

After the Sept. 1 tours and beginning on Sept. 6, the Osborne Athletic Complex lobby will be open for fans to view the donor display between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.