Today, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited-edition, officially licensed Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Rivalry Bobblehead ahead of Friday’s game between the two rivals in Iowa City, Iowa. The bobblehead features Nebraska’s mascot Herbie Husker and Iowa’s mascot Herky the Hawk with a replica Heroes Trophy. The bobblehead commemorates the rivalry, which is also known as the “Heroes Game.”
The special edition bobblehead, which is being released in conjunction with the 55th meeting between the Cornhuskers and Hawkeyes on Friday, November 29th at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, is available exclusively from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Iowa. The two teams will face off under the lights with kickoff scheduled for 6:30pm.
- The bobbleheads are now available in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store at this link.
- The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in May, are $50 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.
- Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to 2,024.
- The bobblehead is being released in conjunction with the 55th meeting between the teams on Friday, November 29th at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
- Standing side-by-side on a football field base that reads “CORNHUSKERS” in one end zone and “HAWKEYES” in the other end zone, Nebraska mascot Herbie Husker and Iowa mascot Herky the Hawk are wearing their respective uniforms while giving the No. 1 signal and holding a football adorned with their school logo. Positioned in between Herbie and Herky is a replica of the Heroes Trophy. The front of the base features the logos for each team.
- Primarily played on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the first matchup in the rivalry was held on Thanksgiving Day in 1891 in Omaha. Since 1903, matchup has never been contested anyplace besides Lincoln or Iowa City, and now alternates between the two respective campuses. The Cornhuskers lead the all-time series 30-21-3, but the Hawkeyes have won eight of the last nine meetings, including a 13-10 triumph last year in Lincoln. In 2017, it was announced by the Big Ten Conference that in 2020 and 2021, the game would not take place on the Friday after Thanksgiving. After significant opposition from fans, Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos made it a priority to restore the game to the Friday after Thanksgiving. It has been scheduled for that date through 2025.
- When Nebraska moved to the Big Ten Conference in 2011, the teams resumed their rivalry on an annual basis and played on the Friday following Thanksgiving. Starting that year, the game was referred to as the “Heroes Game” and the Heroes Trophy was awarded to the winner. Sponsored by Hy-Vee, the game recognizes individuals from both states for acts of heroism in their communities.
- “We’re excited to unveil this limited-edition Nebraska vs. Iowa Rivalry Bobblehead ahead of tomorrow’s game in Iowa City,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “This bobblehead will be the perfect way for Nebraska and Iowa fans, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to show off their school and state pride!”
- The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st. St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country.