Becoming Lil' Red and Herbie Husker wasn’t part of the plan for Ben Hastreiter or Brady Moylan. What began as a curiosity and a lucky connection for Hastreiter and an unexpected opportunity for Moylan turned into a transformative journey filled with heart, hustle and unforgettable moments.
From the sidelines to the center of the action, these two seniors represented Husker pride, with Moylan performing as Herbie and Hastreiter as Lil' Red. Both graduate May 17 from the College of Business and reflected on what it meant to represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and the legacy they leave behind in the Herbie and Lil’ Red uniforms.
Talk a bit about how you got started as Herbie and Lil’ Red. What was the process like, and what prompted you to try out for this opportunity?
Hastreiter: I was asking around my freshman year if anyone knew anything about how to become Lil’ Red. I got several odd looks when asking such a peculiar question, until one day I came across my lucky lightning strike — I learned that Herbie Husker was in my a capella group on campus.
Moylan: One of the male cheerleaders, Jake Seip, approached me when I saw him at the stadium about becoming Herbie. We swapped numbers, and he told me when the audition was happening.
I'm not somebody who has ever done any performing or acting in my past. I played football, so I never really had any experience with it. Being a mascot wasn’t something that was in my wheelhouse, but I was excited to give it a try, and it was the best “yes!” I've ever said in my life.
What does it mean to you to represent the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Hastreiter: It truly has meant everything to me. I used to have season tickets for football games with my dad growing up and as a kid, I’d always dreamed of going to the university one day. Never would I have expected to be a part of the family that brings the spirit of Nebraska to life, and entertain and spread that love to Husker Nation for three years.
Moylan It means representing the sweetest fans in the world. It means making sure that everybody knows Herbie is super excited to see them and making sure that everyone's hand gets shaken. The University represents the hospitality of the Midwest, and it falls on Herbie's shoulders to maintain that and make sure everybody feels like a celebrity when Herbie is around.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time as Lil’ Red and/or Herbie?
Hastreiter: My favorite memory as a mascot was definitely working from August to January with my team to take Lil’ Red to the UCA Mascot Nationals. Lil' Red was the first ever inflatable, as well as the first Husker mascot, to be represented on that stage.
Moylan: My favorite memory is always being stopped by fans in Memorial Stadium on game day. Everybody is so excited to see him, and everybody always wants a photo. The love shown by the fans and even traveling opposing fan bases for Herbie is overwhelming, and I couldn't be more grateful to be on the receiving end of it.
Walk us through the process of getting into game mode. How were you able to embody the individual personalities of the mascots?
Hastreiter: There is definitely a flip that switches in my brain before performing. Herbie and Lil’ Red are such amplified and larger-than-life characters that in order to embody those personalities, you have to turn up the enthusiasm and athleticism to 100% for those 30 to 90 minutes at a time. Nothing is more fulfilling, though.
Moylan: Prepping is listening to exciting music like “Joker” and “The Thief” in the back room with Ben and trying to get as hyped up as possible. When that head goes on, you're Herbie. By the end of my time, putting on the head was like flipping a switch. Herbie just came out.
Revealed
Brady Moylan and Ben Hastreiter built up fan and campus enthusiasm by suiting up as Herbie Husker and Lil' Red. They're receiving their degrees May 17. On left, Moylan and Hastreiter hold a photo of themselves on game day wearing the suits. On right, they pose for a photo inside Memorial Stadium. Photos by Kristen Labadie/University Communication and Marketing
What's something that people might not realize about the work that goes into being a mascot?
Hastreiter: What people might not realize is how much work goes on behind the scenes of a game presentation for our program. We carry our heads high and take pride in the impact we can make on others. We make sure to do everything we can to consistently raise the bar for our performances when representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Moylan: It is so physically hard; the suit is hot and heavy, and it takes a toll in a short amount of time. But every little interaction is worth it, and so you barely even notice how tiring it is when you have little Husker fans running up for hugs and high-fives.
Now that you're graduating, what will you miss most about being the face of Husker spirit?
Hastreiter: What I will miss most is being a huge magnet of love and passion for Husker fans as well as the hours of bonding with my coaches, fellow teammates, the Scarlets and our cheerleaders.
Moylan: I'll miss the fans. Everybody was always so lovely to Herbie and showed so much love. I couldn't be more grateful to be on the receiving end of it. That being said, I think I'll miss my teammates the most. Cheer and Dance became family to me, and I look up to every single one of them. I couldn't be prouder to say that they are my friends.
