Trev & Co. Continue 'Wow-ing' Ways

UNO hockey is on the brink of a historic weekend. 

The northen version of the Mavericks, Minnesota State, come to town this weekend in what will be Qwest Center Omaha's first taste of WCHA hockey.  And what better way to celebrate then inviting Dick Butkus in to drop the first puck.

Wait......huh?

From the department of 'strange, unrelated, but exciting' comes this latest 'wowzer' from Trev & Co.  UNO announced earlier today that NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus will be a "special guest" for Saturday night's 7:07 p.m. game against Minnesota State.  The 67-year old Butkus, who Sports Illustrated once once termed "The Most Feared Man in the Game", will drop the puck Saturday night and stick around in an attempt to promote the organization Play Clean, which is working to end steriod abuse among young athletes.

It seems that Alberts used his football connections to reel in this catch.  Steriods aren't exactly a big problem in hockey (anyone who has seen UNO's  Andrej Sustr knows this), but who cares.  This is another homerun and if you're scoring at home "Omaha's Team" is on a roll.
UNO is starting to understand marketing; Trev gets it.  Attach some bells and whistles to your product and your'e gonna get fans in the seats that normally wouldn't be there.  Look at what he's done with UNO football:  a new $1 million-plus video and scoreboard, pregame flybys and fireworks (now if Pat Behrns could only win).

People love to watch a winner and be entertained in the process. It's what Minor League baseball has been doing for years.  Half the battle with getting fans in the seats is promoting a product that is buzzing and tons of fun (think Creighton basketball).  This year's Mavs may just be the winner and people like Dick Butkus only add to the excitement.  Who cares if Butkus has nothing to do with anything hockey-related, he doesn't have to. 

The point is, UNO is making more and more news these days and it's thanks in large part to the vision of its leader.  For anyone who labeled UNO's hire of Alberts foolish, take notice.  He's brought in one of the biggest names in college hockey in Dean Blais, moved the Mavs to the best conference in the nation, brought in scores of donations from area bussinessmen and he's about to give the city a new hockey arena.
Alberts puts a pretty face to a school that has garnered little in the way of respect for decades. 

This 'aint your father's UNO. Let's just hope Lincoln doesn't come calling anytime soon.