NU and OU Heisman Legends Gather in Hastings

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Updated: 10:05 PM Nov 5, 2009 NU and OU Heisman Legends Gather in Hastings Hastings A special tour of six Heisman trophy winners made its first stop in Hastings Thursday night. Posted: 9:46 PM Nov 5, 2009 Reporter: Megan Johnson Email Address: Megan.Johnson@1011Now.com

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A special tour of six Heisman trophy winners made its first stop in Hastings Thursday night.

Nebraska Heisman winners Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, and Eric Crouch along with Oklahoma winners Steve Owens, Billy Sims, and Jason White were at Allen's Superstore as part of the Extreme Heisman Legends Tour. The former players were autographing Husker/Sooner Heisman Extreme Legends Footballs. The balls have both team logos and the Heisman logo on them. The tour and autographed footballs are to commemorate the Husker/Sooner rivalry.

"We have such a unique tradition between Oklahoma and Nebraska," Johnny Rodgers said. "We don't have a hate-type of rivalry, we have more of a respect-type of rivalry."

Rodgers brought his Heisman trophy that he won in 1972 to Hastings. Eric Crouch, the 2001 winner, also brought his.

The Heisman Trophy Trust has never given anyone permission to use the trophy logo in conjunction with a university logo, making this a first-time, one-time event according to Rodgers. One thousand footballs are being produced.

"I just hope that Husker fans chew them up before Sooner fans get a chance to do it," Rodgers joked.

That seemed to be the case as a long line of Husker fans waited to get their commemorative footballs and other items signed by the Heisman legends.

Rodgers helped coordinate the tour after last year's 1971 Game of the Century reunion in Norman, Oklahoma. The Husker/Sooner Heisman Extreme Legends tour continues this weekend. The six men will be signing more footballs at the Pavilion east of Memorial Stadium on Saturday before the Husker/Sooner shootout. They will also be at the Westroads Shopping Center in Omaha on Sunday from 11 am until 2 pm.

Rodgers said it is great to be a part of Husker nation and the winning tradition at Nebraska.

"Bob Devaney told me early on in our career that winning wasn't everything, but in Nebraska we rate it right up there with oxygen. It's pretty darn important."

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Husker4eva Location: Husker Nation on Nov 8, 2009 at 06:02 PM

Lou, You are correct. I meant to say BCS Bowl, as in Bowl Championship Series. I think you are wrong. OUR Huskers may surprise us all, and if they surprise us, why can't they surprise the BCS Bowl folks? WOO HOO!! You wait. OUR Huskers beat a Top 25 team. That should rank them in the top 15 AT LEAST! And from there, the sky is the limit - that's what our balloon release at Memorial Stadium represents. Regarding Iowa State, OUR Huskers win big, and OUR Huskers lose big. But it's ALWAYS Big. As in BIG RED!

Posted by: Lou Location: Lincoln on Nov 7, 2009 at 03:41 PM

Well, Husker4eva, I'm not exactly sure what a 'BSC' bowl is, but I'm sure the Huskers won't get to one. Two words...Iowa State.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 6, 2009 at 12:51 PM

Where was SAM?

Posted by: Husker4eva Location: Husker Nation on Nov 5, 2009 at 10:17 PM

You know what's best about this story... Husker Nation is only getting better. GET YOUR HANDS UP. After this weekend against OK (a team that's NOT OK in my book), OUR HUSKERS will definitely be on the path to glory of yesteryear. We'll follow the yellow brick road to a BSC Bowl. WOO HOO!!

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