Join Herbie and Lil? Red and Help Nebraska Become the Greenest School

Saturday's not just another Game Day at Nebraska. It's a chance for Husker Nation to compete against 86 other universities in a Game Day Challenge, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

So get ready to join Herbie Husker and Lil' Red and help Nebraska lead the nation in ... recycling!

"Nebraska Athletics is proud to be participating in the national recycling competition and Game Day Challenge," said Maggi Thorne, Nebraska's assistant director for Capital Planning and Construction and the Athletic Department's coordinator for ideas that include recycling, conserving water and energy and finding other ways to be environmentally green.  

"We hope to heighten awareness of our existing ongoing game day recycling efforts because we've already recycled 12,820 pounds this season," Thorne said. "Our expectation is to win this national competition."

Thorne said Nebraska appreciates fans that help Big Red "Go Green" by placing their plastic bottles in recycling bins during and after the game.

A former hurdler on Nebraska's track team, Thorne also appreciates the EPA making recycling a competition that includes six Big 12 Conference schools, including Missouri, Saturday's opponent.

According to Thorne, each participating school had the opportunity to select any home game in October to showcase its efforts to go green.

Michael Stephens said Nebraska's marketing campaign on recycling - in partnership with sponsors Pepsi and Recyling Enterprises - is built on friendly competition between the school's two mascots - Herbie Husker and Lil' Red.

"We've watched those two on the big screens playfully compete against and with each other to find that last recyclable bottle and make sure it ends up in a recycling container," said Stephens, Nebraska's Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, Licensing and Concessions.

"Thanks to Recycling Enterprises and Pepsi, those containers are all over Memorial Stadium," Stephens pointed out. "All we're asking our fans to do is take a few extra seconds and dispose those plastic bottles in those containers."

Game Day Challenge 2010 is designed to lower the amount of waste generated at college football games and to heighten awareness for local waste reduction programs.

Nebraska needs 75 volunteers to work on the Game Day Challenge recycling effort after the game. To sign up, volunteers are encouraged to email ercgdaychallenge@hotmail.com. Volunteers will meet after Saturday's game at Gate 15.

Results of the competition will be publicized on the EPA's official website. Pepsi also will have a booth at Husker Nation Pavilion Saturday to promote the event.