It’s no secret that Husker football has followers around the world.
Sometimes they gather by the hundred in Chicago or Dallas or Washington, D.C., taking over local restaurants with chants of “Go Big Red.”
Sometimes they show up alone at bars in foreign lands in the middle of the night, hoping satellite signals will give them a taste of Dear Ol’ Nebraska U.
Monday morning, Nebraska Athletics launched “Red Out Around the World,” a website designed to connect those hungry souls and make them feel a little closer to Memorial Stadium.
“Last year, we did a celebration of the 300th consecutive sellout that really focused on fans that came to Lincoln and to Memorial Stadium,” said Michael Stephens, NU assistant athletic director.
“Well, we understand there’s a million other fans across the world that aren’t fortunate enough to be here every week. We wanted to recognize them and give them a way to connect with each other.”
What fans will find at redoutaroundtheworld.com is a social networking paradise, complete with links to Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.
They’ll find a world map, where they can plot their location. They’ll be able to sign up for daily prizes, including autographed memorabilia and — the grand prize — two tickets to the Texas game with a two-night stay at the Holiday Inn Lincoln Downtown.
What fans won’t find at Red Out Around the World is controversy.
In July, a video promoting the site generated a national media hubbub. Its slogan: “Wear Red. Be Loud. Beat Texas.”
National columnists cited the video as evidence of the Huskers’ intense desire to topple their football nemesis. A few days later, Nebraska dropped “Beat Texas” from the campaign.
Now the site, which wasn’t yet operational when the original slogan went public, focuses less on Texas, more on the entire 2010 season.
Nebraska is still calling all fans to wear red and be loud on Oct. 16, but beating Texas will be Bo Pelini’s job.
“The last two words of that marketing message obviously overshadowed the first four,” Stephens said.
“So we decided quickly to change that, because those last two words caused some misperception about the site. We want to move past that, and I think it’s a better campaign now without ‘Beat Texas.’”
Huskers.com remains the No. 1 Internet platform for the athletic department, but it doesn’t actively promote social media. Red Out Around the World, Stephens said, offers a “one-stop shop for fans to go to for their social media needs.”
In that sense, it’s new territory for Nebraska fans.
Athletic Director Tom Osborne said in a statement: “The goal of Red Out Around the World is to connect, celebrate and salute Husker fans across the globe for their unparalleled support.
“We want to showcase the depth and breadth of support from Nebraska football fans and give them a way to connect with each other and the athletic department.”
University Communications, The World-Herald and the Nebraska Alumni Association collaborated with the athletic department on the promotional campaign, which will continue through the season.
Stephens doesn’t have a target number in mind for site visitors.
“We just hope it’s something fans enjoy and come back to and tell all their other Husker fans about,” he said.
Contact the writer:
649-1461, dirk.chatelain@owh.com
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