Can Huskers Become the World Champs of Weber Grills?

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Last week, while standing on our deck grilling four prime-cut steaks, I had a flashback that jump-started an unexpected but semi-insightful moment. Suddenly, in the comfort of cooking, I realized I’ve never been without a Weber grill in my entire adult life.

That’s relevant because this summer, Huskers.com has been promoting the first-ever University of Nebraska Edition of a Weber® Q® 1200™ grill that combines portability with performance.

As I was searing my own steaks, I had a vision that directly relates to Nebraska’s prominence in college football. I’m serious. With 347 consecutive home game sellouts dating back to 1962, Nebraska is already in a league of its own. That means we’ve had 347 tailgating opportunities to showcase our brand with the best in the land.

Imagine what it would be like to walk around the adjacent tailgates that lead everyone to the ultimate magnate – Memorial Stadium, the home of Husker football and the pioneer of the best Tunnel Walk in America. Halfway through the grilling process, a question popped immediately into my mind: Can the Huskers become the world champs of Weber grills?

It's a challenge that resonates, simply because Weber listed six formidable football forces in alphabetical order – Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin. Who doesn't want to win that battle royale in on-campus and off-campus grilling?

Weber Vice President of Americas Marketing: Nebraska Known for Tailgating Tradition

“Nebraska is known for its great tailgating tradition, so it was a natural fit to include them in the series as so many universities have great tailgating and grilling traditions. We’ll leave it up to Husker fans to show us they have what it takes,” said Melissa Enos, vice president, Americas marketing, Weber-Stephen Products LLC.

I agree with Melissa. If Husker pride is built on unity, why can’t fans buy a Weber® Q® 1200™ and use its large capacity porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates packed full of ribs, chicken, steaks, burgers, brats and dogs before entering the stadium?

I learned about the versatility this grill has, including a built-in lid thermometer, a stainless steel burner and an infinite control burner valve that allows consistent heat across the grates to “grill practically anything with perfect results every time.”

Supporting a product that supports Nebraska Athletics makes me smile, especially when I think about a current Husker player whose last name is Weber. I have no idea what kind of grill Chris Weber, a junior Blackshirt linebacker from Elkhorn, Neb., favors.

What About Bill Weber, Wayne Weber and Jerry Weber? Do They Grill Out?

The same applies to Wayne Weber, a 1965-66 letterman quarterback and to Bill Weber, a four-year letterwinner and three-time Academic All-America defensive end in '81-82-83-84. And what about Jerry Weber, Nebraska’s head athletic trainer and associate director of athletic medicine? He’s a year shy of his 40th anniversary on the Husker staff, so he’s been around.

My motive in this rare promotional burst is simple. Nebraska fans have an opportunity to distinguish themselves in a compelling way. I know countless fans already have bigger and much more expensive grills. But the more I think about it, that should not undermine adding the inaugural University of Nebraska Edition to whatever tailgate they attend.

There is, after all, no place like Nebraska, so please ponder this: If six families throw 50 bucks apiece into a group investment, the Weber® Q® 1200™ portable grill becomes a unifying force for Big Red fans, an interesting conversation piece for those walking by and a visual billboard that just might make the Huskers the world champs of Weber grills.

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