45 Years Later, Victor Young Still Tied to Husker Football

Huskers Hiring 150-200 Fooball Event Staff Workers

Football Inspires Devout Couples in Husker Sports

This is the third in a series on Nebraska expanding its football event staff.

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

This is the story about a likeable, successful man who was recruited to play football at Nebraska in 1971.  Victor Young was living in Louisville, Mississippi, when three Husker assistant coaches – Monte Kiffin, Carl Selmer and Jim Walden – convinced him to accept a Nebraska football scholarship.

Young played center on Nebraska’s freshman team. As a sophomore, he played on the Huskers’ scout team and faced Outland Trophy winner Rich Glover and talented John Bell on a daily basis. When Young moved from center to offensive guard during his junior season, he got lost in an incredible talent shuffle and never lettered at Nebraska.

He did, however, earn a college degree in Criminal Justice at NU and played an instrumental role in launching the first Federal Express operation in Lincoln in 1983. Later, as a logistics manager, he worked with FedEx Corporation in ground-hub and air-ramp operations.

After Retirement, Young Lives Dream as Husker Football Gameday Fan Host

Two years ago, a retired Young tried something he’d always wanted to do – be a Nebraska football gameday fan host. He views this opportunity as a unique way to show appreciation for a university that still holds a special place in his heart and in his life.

“I needed no motivation,” he said. “It was a personal selection to be part of customer relations, so I could have contact and conversations with our fans and help with the financial support for my fraternity (Kappa Alpha Psi) on campus.”

Even though he’s one of the least experienced Nebraska Athletics workers, NU administrators view Young as the consummate pro who spent his professional life enhancing customer relations to provide consistent overall positive experiences.

Our Goal in Everything We Do is Taking Relationships to the Highest Level

“I’ve supported and enjoyed football, volleyball, baseball and basketball,” Young said. “I’ve helped in parking, security and concessions. Our goal in everything we do is to deliver overall fan experiences that take our relationships to the highest customer level, mentally and socially.”

Young commends Husker fans for their support, respect and dignity, which motivate him to ensure those qualities. Asked to describe a memorable moment that defines teamwork, Young mentioned a situation that reduced parking from seven to five workers. “We came together as a team,” said Young, the shift supervisor. “We handled input and output visitors with no issues.”

Primary customer service is the result of event staff workers who go above and beyond to make a difference. “We all know that there’s been a continuous passion with Nebraska football for half a century,” Young said, “but I’m more fascinated with the fan support I’ve experienced with volleyball and wrestling. Those two programs have unique and aggressive fan bases.”

To Victor Young, Graduation Numbers More Meaningful than Sellout Streaks

I ask Young about Nebraska’s nation-leading home football sellout streak. “I’d like to see it continue,” he said, “but I’m personally more interested in a different priority. My overall concern is our graduation numbers.”

The same thought process applies to volleyball’s NCAA consecutive sellout crowd record. “Again, graduation is the most important number,” Young said. “The sellout streak is the least concern. The student comes before the athlete at Nebraska and that’s why we continue to succeed. That’s also why our primary concern is to reach the highest level in overall public appreciation. We have our priorities straight, and the rest takes care of itself.”

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