Nebraska’s One-of-a-Kind Inflatable Mascot:
Cornhusker Pride in a Balloon
Lincoln, NE · Various Sports
★Mascot Hall of Fame — Class of 2007
| Team / Organization | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
|---|---|
| Location | Lincoln, NE |
| League / Division | NCAA (Big Ten) |
| First Debuted | 1993 |
| Species / Type | Inflatable boy (fully air-inflated costume; one of the only inflatable mascots in college sports) |
| Best Known For | Unique inflatable design unlike any other mascot; wild energy at Husker football games; sidekick to Herbie Husker |
| Year Inducted | 2007 |
Profile
Lil’ Red holds a unique distinction in the mascot universe: he’s inflatable. Not partially — he’s a fully air-inflated costume worn by a performer, giving him a balloon-like wobble that has made him simultaneously beloved and deeply unsettling to small children. He’s the sidekick to Nebraska’s more traditional mascot Herbie Husker, and while Herbie is the official face of the Cornhuskers, Lil’ Red is the one fans talk about.
Fun Facts
- Lil’ Red is one of only a handful of inflatable mascots in all of college or professional sports — his air-filled costume gives him a unique movement style that no other mascot can replicate.
- He was created in 1993 specifically to complement (and contrast with) Nebraska’s primary mascot Herbie Husker, and the pairing has worked: both are now Mascot Hall of Famers.
- Lil’ Red was inducted in the 2007 class alongside Brutus Buckeye, Mr. Met, Big Red, and The Coyote — strong company for a mascot that is, at its core, a balloon.
