NU Running (sca)RED?

NU drops reference to Texas
By Leslie Reed and Thad Livingston/WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN — Nebraska has decided to remove the words “Beat Texas” from a website and video that eventually will be part of an athletic department fan site.

The site, www.redoutaroundtheworld.com, which doesn’t go live until mid-August, has attracted national attention with a promotional “splash page” that features a video highlighting the buildup to the Oct. 16 home football game against the Texas Longhorns — with the slogan “Wear red. Be loud. Beat Texas.”



The Omaha World-Herald is partnering with the NU athletic department on the new fan site, which has recorded more than 103,000 visits since July 8 and more than 130,000 hits on YouTube. It has also been the subject of commentary from espn.com and sportingnews.com.

“It’s a risky move, tacitly declaring that the first five games of the year are mere prelude,” espn.com’s Pat Forde wrote in a column that appeared Tuesday. “But Nebraska, much more accustomed to being the hunted than the hunter and having other programs circle its name on the schedule, clearly is ready to assume the risk.”

NU decided Wednesday to remove the words “Beat Texas” from the splash page and video.

Marc Boehm, NU executive associate athletic director, said Wednesday morning on Lincoln radio station KLIN that each year NU highlights a game to rally the alumni base. In 2009, that game was Oklahoma. In 2010, that game will be Texas, hence the “Wear red. Be loud. Beat Texas” message on the splash page video.

“If you look back (at the planning process that started in February), maybe we should have left out ‘Beat Texas,’ to be very honest,” Boehm said on KLIN’s Jack and John morning show.

“It’s simply a logo and a call to gather all of our alumni around the world. We thought it would be kind of fun, unique and different. Our alumni office is really behind it, and the athletic department and several other folks.”

Michael Stephens, NU’s assistant athletic director for marketing, licensing and concessions downplayed the site’s focus on the Texas game.

“I think it’s important to note that it is not a ‘Beat Texas’ site, but rather a website that will celebrate, thank and connect Husker fans across the world,” he said. “In doing this, we do hope to create some energy to help our team beat Texas, but that certainly is not the sole focus.”

Well this is the exact opposite of what I wanted to see happen. Sure, the NU Athletic Department could be telling the truth - that this game is part of an annual tradition of encouraging alumni to return to Lincoln (as if they'd need an extra help to sell this one out) but I'm thinking this looks a lot more like backtracking. If Texas does take this as a slam as uses it as a motivating factor then the damage is already done. Why try and change your story now? I think its a much better move to show Texas that your team isn't intimidated and is looking forward to whipping some ass on the field. But what do I know? I'm just a small time blogger. I wonder what Chip Brown thinks of all this. At least he's a good blogger.