The Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball programs announced Thursday that they will be wearing special jerseys in honor of Black History Month.The uniforms are part of adidas Honoring Black Excellence initiative, which celebrates “the achievements of Black individuals and Black culture as a whole.”According to adidas, “HBE pays homage and recognizes individuals who are positively impacting others’ lives within and around their communities.” “In the Black community, we often channel and celebrate the perseverance of our ancestors who have overcome adversities while also recognizing that some of them never received the flowers while they could still smell them. People like Ida B. Wells, Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr.” Dr. Lawrence Chatters, executive associate athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion for Nebraska Athletics, said in a statement. “These uniforms are symbolic of overcoming the struggle and represent hope and optimism for a better and brighter tomorrow.” The cream jerseys feature panels on the sides with multi-color pastels. According to NU, those “represent the tearing down of obstacles to create something beautiful.” The goldenrods on the lettering “show gratitude and appreciation for the contributions of Black individuals within the program over the years.” All of adidas’ power conference and HBCU schools will wear similar-themed jerseys for a game in February. The men’s uniform, which will be worn on Feb. 5 against Northwestern, will honor Wilbur Wood, one of the first Black players in program history. He played for Nebraska from 1908 to 1910. The women will wear their uniform against Indiana on Feb. 14. Nebraska will also honor Maurtice Ivy during the game. Ivy, who was inducted into the University of Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame last year, graduated from Omaha Central and led the Huskers to the 1988 Big Eight championship and the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance.
The Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball programs announced Thursday that they will be wearing special jerseys in honor of Black History Month.
The uniforms are part of adidas Honoring Black Excellence initiative, which celebrates “the achievements of Black individuals and Black culture as a whole.”
According to adidas, “HBE pays homage and recognizes individuals who are positively impacting others’ lives within and around their communities.”
“In the Black community, we often channel and celebrate the perseverance of our ancestors who have overcome adversities while also recognizing that some of them never received the flowers while they could still smell them. People like Ida B. Wells, Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr.” Dr. Lawrence Chatters, executive associate athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion for Nebraska Athletics, said in a statement. “These uniforms are symbolic of overcoming the struggle and represent hope and optimism for a better and brighter tomorrow.”
The cream jerseys feature panels on the sides with multi-color pastels. According to NU, those “represent the tearing down of obstacles to create something beautiful.” The goldenrods on the lettering “show gratitude and appreciation for the contributions of Black individuals within the program over the years.”
All of adidas’ power conference and HBCU schools will wear similar-themed jerseys for a game in February.
The men’s uniform, which will be worn on Feb. 5 against Northwestern, will honor Wilbur Wood, one of the first Black players in program history. He played for Nebraska from 1908 to 1910.
The women will wear their uniform against Indiana on Feb. 14. Nebraska will also honor Maurtice Ivy during the game. Ivy, who was inducted into the University of Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame last year, graduated from Omaha Central and led the Huskers to the 1988 Big Eight championship and the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance.
