Quotes on the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame Men’s Track and Field Inductee Charlie Greene:
“It is a very important honor for both me and my family. To be inducted into the first University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame class is significant because I served as a lightning rod here at Nebraska, and I am proof that you can be successful if you stay the course. I am proud to be a part of the outstanding culture here at the University of Nebraska where student-athletes are able to achieve success by going to class every day, staying out of trouble and earning their degree. My personal mantra was ‘good enough isn’t good enough, you’ve got to be better than good’ and the University of Nebraska is a wonderful place to be where doors are continually opened.”

Hall of Fame Inductee and Nebraska Men’s Gymnastics Assistant Coach Jim Hartung:
“Thank you so much for this honor. Being a part of the Nebraska gymnastics program has been a lifetime dream for me since I was a kid. I’ve had the opportunity to compete here and now I have the great opportunity to assist the program by coaching these outstanding student-athletes. All I’ve ever dreamed has come true. I’m looking forward to helping this program grow, and my goal is to let our current student-athletes experience what we did when I was here at Nebraska. I’ve had the opportunity to be inducted into a few other halls of fame and I knew there wasn’t a Nebraska Hall of Fame, but deep down being inducted into this hall was always one of my goals, so this really means a lot to me.”

Nebraska Track and Field Head Coach Gary Pepin, NU’s Longest Serving Active Head Coach:
“We’ve talked for years about starting a Hall of Fame to honor our greatest student-athletes and all the tradition they’ve created, and I’m pleased that we will soon have a fitting tribute to all of our outstanding student-athletes. Merlene Ottey has competed in seven different Olympics. She’s won nine Olympic medals and 14 individual national titles. She still holds the world indoor record for 200 meters and is probably Nebraska’s greatest female athlete of all time. Charlie Greene was the first Husker to win an Olympic gold medal and was once the fastest man in the world at 100 meters. Merlene and Charlie aren’t just great athletes – they’re great ambassadors. When their names go up near the Ed Weir track, it will help recruiting for everyone. We have a world-class standard here.”

Hall of Fame Inductee and Nebraska Softball Associate Coach Lori Sippel:
“This is huge for me. This is a great honor. I love Nebraska, it has become my home. What brought me here was the opportunity to strive for excellence at a place where female student-athletes could rise up. I had the chance to play here, to win championships here and to stay on and coach and give that same opportunity to other young ladies. To be a part of the first Hall of Fame class at a place that gives student-athletes that opportunity is great.”

Hall of Fame Volleyball Inductee Allison Weston:
“This is quite an honor, it is a wonderful honor. I am very thrilled to be inducted into the first class among such amazing student-athletes, through all the years, not just for volleyball, but for all sports at the University of Nebraska. There is a very high caliber of amazing performances both on the court and in the classroom. I was fortunate to have enjoyed success during my time at Nebraska and to be a part of the team that won the first volleyball national championship. Looking back, my years at Nebraska were the greatest years of competition that I have been a part of as we competed at such a high level. I feel fortunate to have played for such great coaches and with such wonderful teammates.”

Hall of Fame Baseball Inductee Alex Gordon:
“It’s such a great honor to join these fellow inductees. It was a privilege to put on a Husker jersey and represent the University in every game that I played. To be a part of the University’s great  story is something I will be forever be grateful for.“

Hall of Fame Women's Basketball Inductee Karen Jennings:
"Just being a participant and wearing the Big Red N was a dream come true for me. It was just such a blessing to play at Nebraska. To receive an honor like this...I just never, ever thought about something like this. I wouldn't have envisioned this happening to me in a million years.  All I really wanted to do was play college basketball. I just love the game. I love Nebraska with all my heart, and I am humbled by this, truly humbled."