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How white supremacy changed Herbie Husker, who's no longer signaling 'a-OK'

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A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Editor's Pick Topical Alert Top Story

How white supremacy changed Herbie Husker, who's no longer signaling 'a-OK'

Herbie photo 1 COPYRIGHT RESTRICTED

New Herbie Husker (top) and old Herbie Husker (bottom) logos appear alongside each other on T-shirts at Husker Hounds at 84th and Center in Omaha.

Jordan Pascale, Flatwater Free Press

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Jordan Pascale Flatwater Free Press

For nearly 50 years, fans have loved the burly Husker mascot who wears blue overalls, sports a big red cowboy hat and keeps an ear of corn in his pocket. The depiction of the blond-haired, blue-eyed farmer with a barrel chest and chiseled chin is, for many Nebraskans, a representation of the state itself.

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Lonna Henrichs

Courtesy photo

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Lawrence Chatters

Courtesy photo

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A page from the 1974 media guide describes Herbie Husker's origin story. He's described as a "burly, rugged and confident fellow who is proud of both the football and agricultural tradition of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers."

Jordan Pascale, Flatwater Free Press

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Herbie Husker's first official appearance as a Husker mascot was on the cover of the 1974 football media guide.

Jordan Pascale, Flatwater Free Press

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Cartoonist Dirk West poses with some of his creations, including the original Herbie Husker logo (bottom right).

Courtesy photo, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University

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For the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 150th anniversary, the athletic department created a montage of Husker mascots over the years. It goes back as far as 1940 with some farmer images, corn mascots, "Harry Husker" or "Red Man" and different versions of Herbie Husker.

Courtesy image, Husker Athletics

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Photos: The adventures of Lil' Red through the years

Lil' Red and Jack Stark

Husker team psychologist Jack Stark helps Lil' Red deal with the football team's loss to Oklahoma in 2000.

JOURNAL STAR PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

UMass-Lowell vs. Nebraska, 11.27.13

Nebraska mascot Lil' Red entertains the crowd during the first half against UMass-Lowell on Nov. 27, 2013, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Nebraska vs. Indiana, 2.9

Lil' Red sports a pink hat before a Husker game against Indiana on Feb. 9 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska vs. Illinois volleyball, 10.22.11

Lil' Red crowd-surfs the student section during the Nebraska-Illinois volleyball match at the NU Coliseum on Oct. 22, 2011.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Illinois at Nebraska, 11/10/18

Cary Winkler anchors an inflatable Lil' Red to a pole near her tailgate prior to the Illinois-Nebraska game in 2018 at Memorial Stadium. 

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Tom Green and Lil' Red

MTV star Tom Green gets into the Lil' Red suit in 1999.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Ohio State vs. Nebraska, 2.14.13

Lil' Red works the crowd for a Valentine's Day kiss on Feb. 14, 2013, at the Devaney Sports Center.

Lincoln Journal Star file photo

Nebraska vs. Wisconsin women's basketball, 1.9

Lil' Red and Husker cheerleaders perform during a timeout Jan. 9 during a game against Wisconsin at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo

NU women's basketball, 12.22

Lil' Red does a headstand during a Husker women's basketball game against Manhattan in December at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo

Nebraska volleyball vs. Missouri, 12.7

Lil' Red mimics Nebraska’s Madi Kubik (10) as she's introduced Dec. 7 during the second round of the NCAA volleyball tournament at the Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska was playing former Big 12 foe Missouri.

EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo

SIU-Edwardsville vs. Nebraska, 11.17

Lil' Red tries to distract Southern Illinois-Edwardsville during a free-throw attempt against Nebraska on Nov. 17 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo

SIU-Edwardsville vs. Nebraska, 11.17

Lil' Red walks down the court Nov. 17 before a Husker game against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

EMILY HANEY, Journal Star file photo

Stanford vs. Nebraska, 12.15

Sporting a Santa hat, Lil' Red dances as the band plays during a pep rally in December 2018 at Marriott City Center in Minneapolis.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Red-White Spring Game, 4/15

Lil' Red poses for pictures before the spring game outside Memorial Stadium on April 15, 2017.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red

Lil' Red interacts with a young fan.

COURTESY PHOTO

Pittsburg State vs. Nebraska exhibition women's basketball

Hunter Horne, 10, of Lincoln, laughs as Lil' Red sits next to him courtside before the start of the Pittsburgh State-Nebraska women's basketball exhibition game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013.

Journal Star file photo

Huskers vs. Huskies at WCWS, 5.30.13

Lil' Red greets fans in the stands as Nebraska prepares to take on Washington in the first round of the Women's College World Series in 2013 in Oklahoma City.

GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo

Lil' Red

Lil' Red gives "high fives" during a pep rally in February 2013.

Journal Star file photo

Lil' Red

Rhett Milner, 12, shows his love for Lil' Red with a hug before the first Nebraska football game against Southern Mississippi at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 1, 2012.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red

Lil' Red gets a kiss from a lil' fan.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Nebraska Spring Football

Nebraska mascot Lil' Red bounces on his head prior to the annual Red-White Spring Game in 2010.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red with cheerleaders

Lil' Red performs with cheerleaders in the background at the Oklahoma State vs. Nebraska basketball game in 2002.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red at Big 12 title game

Rick Dubes (left) and Mike Kline of Omaha add Lil' Red to the fun as they settle in outside Cowboys Stadium in preparation for the Big 12 title game in Dallas in 2010.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red helmet

Members of Nebraska's cheer squad share a laugh as Nebraska mascot Lil' Red tries to put Jay Royal's autographed signed football helmet on his head in the Hawks Championship Center on Oct. 30, 2011.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

'The Legend of Lil' Red'

In 2008, Husker Books published "The Legend of Lil' Red," written by Paul W. Rea and illustrated by Nathan Voss.

COURTESY

Prom Lil' Red

Cassie Erks shoos off the back of her duct tape dress next to her date, Zak King, dressed as Lil' Red, before the start of Adams High School's prom at Crooked Creek Golf Club in 2006. The couple created the costumes over 2½ months, using 29 rolls of duct tape.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red at Texas Tech game

 Lil' Red gets pumped up during football game day against Texas Tech in 2001.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red doll

A Lil' Red doll.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil Red with girl

Five year-old Kennedy Barry of San Diego meets Nebraska's Lil' Red at the Battle of the Bands on Dec. 29, 2009, at the San Diego Convention.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Valera family and Lil' Red

The Varela family is visited by Lil' Red during a Husker basketball game in 2009 at the Devaney Sports Center.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Boy waves to Lil' Red

Ellie Volk, 3, waves to Lil' Red and Herbie Husker from the O Street skywalk during the 24th annual Star City Holiday Parade in December 2008.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red volleyball

Redshirting while recovering from shoulder surgery, 2005 national player of the year Christina Houghtelling (right) joins teammates Tracy Stalls (left), Amanda Gates, Brooke Bartek and Lil' Red in cheering on the Husker volleyball team during its three-game sweep of Missouri in October 2006.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Red berm fans

Lil' Red entertains the fans on the berm during the Huskers' baseball Super Regional victory against Richmond in 2002.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO

Lil' Red 2012

Midland University student Trevor Sedlacek gets his picture taken with Nebraska mascot Lil' Red during a basketball game at the Devaney Sports Center in 2012.

Fremont Tribune

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

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Herbie photo 1 COPYRIGHT RESTRICTED

New Herbie Husker (top) and old Herbie Husker (bottom) logos appear alongside each other on T-shirts at Husker Hounds at 84th and Center in Omaha.

Cartoonist Dirk West poses with some of his creations, including the original Herbie Husker logo (bottom right).

Herbie Husker's first official appearance as a Husker mascot was on the cover of the 1974 football media guide.

A page from the 1974 media guide describes Herbie Husker's origin story. He's described as a "burly, rugged and confident fellow who is proud of both the football and agricultural tradition of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers."

For the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s 150th anniversary, the athletic department created a montage of Husker mascots over the years. It goes back as far as 1940 with some farmer images, corn mascots, "Harry Husker" or "Red Man" and different versions of Herbie Husker.

Lonna Henrichs

Lawrence Chatters

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