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Aidan Kauth-Fisher and Connor Hadaway have spent their college years doing something only a select few get the opportunity to do.
For the past three years, Kauth-Fisher, a May 2026 nutrition, exercise and health science grad from Omaha, has performed in front of Husker Nation as Lil’ Red. He'll head to the University of Nebraska Medical Center to continue his education toward becoming a physician assistant.
Hadaway, an upcoming December 2026 human development and family science grad from Papillion, has spent two years playing Herbie Husker. He said he's grateful for the experience and proud to add to a legacy of ROTC members who've taken on the mascot role.
The two reflected on the process of joining the Spirit Squad and the creation of life-long memories. More memories were shared with the Big Red Blog.
Talk about the process of joining the Spirit Squad as a mascot.
Kauth-Fisher: To start out, I did, in fact, try out for the cheer team. At the time, there were only about four guys on the cheer team, and my brother was Herbie Husker when I was going into my freshman year. He told me that I should try out, so I gave it a try. I did, unfortunately, not make the team, which makes sense because I really had no experience in the sport. However, everything worked out perfectly.
After getting denied from the cheer team, I was a little hesitant on if I wanted to try again the next year, but I still had a feeling that I wanted to do something with the Nebraska Spirit Squad. Eventually, my brother, Brendan, and one of his best friends, Ben, convinced me to give the mascot thing a try. I fell in love with it instantly. My tryout process was nothing crazy. I got in my suit and was taught a couple of things, and then I was taken up to the third floor to interact with some people from the marketing department. I had an absolute blast. I was only trying out for Lil' Red because my brother didn't think I had the height or body composition to be Herbie. I love being Lil' Red because I basically act like him when I am out of the suit, so when I am playing as him, my actions just get amplified. He is definitely my favorite character to play because he is so fun and childish, it really does get the best reactions from fans.
There were a couple of times that I had the opportunity to be Herbie. I went to the men’s basketball tournament in Kansas when they won the whole thing, beating Kansas State in the championship game. And there have been a lot of other appearances that I have been able to do as either Herbie or Lil’ Red.
Hadaway: When I joined the team in 2024, the audition process looked very different from what it does now. At the time, you had to be personally recommended just to try out, and it wasn’t publicly advertised like it is today. Becoming the mascot was something I never imagined myself doing — I didn’t have any background in performance or entertainment. But when the opportunity came up, I knew I had to take a chance on it anyway. I also didn’t realize until later that there had been five-plus ROTC members before me in the role. Learning that made it even more meaningful, especially knowing that I was a part of a legacy.
What has been your favorite memory performing as a mascot? Is there anything you’ll miss most?
Kauth-Fisher: I truly could not tell you a specific favorite memory that I have because I have gotten to experience some of the most amazing things and people over the last three years. I will say that one of the greatest feelings in the world is running onto the field of Memorial Stadium during pregame, hearing the roar of the fans. The adrenaline that pumps through your system is like nothing I have experienced before, and it is something that I am going to miss a lot. But I think that I will miss the ability to interact with fans of all ages and being the one to bring the Husker spirit to life. It is truly amazing some of the reactions that the mascots get, and it is definitely one of the more heartwarming things I have gotten to do.
Hadaway: My favorite memory as Herbie has to be either traveling to the Las Vegas Bowl game or when we beat Michigan State in basketball this year. When the fans stormed the court, they pulled me right along with them, and getting to celebrate in that moment with everyone was something I’ll never forget. Experiences like that really show how much energy and passion the fanbase brings.
What I’ll miss the most is interacting with the fans, whether it’s at football games, basketball games or even appearances around the community. Those moments of making people laugh, taking pictures and just being part of their experience are what made the role so special. It’s the connections and memories with people that will stick with me the most.
Is there anything people may be surprised to know about being a mascot at Nebraska?
Kauth-Fisher: Something that I think people would be surprised about being a mascot is that, for me, when I am taking pictures with fans, I always smile. No matter how long I have been in suit or how tired I am, I always find a way to smile. It brings me so much joy to take pictures with fans, and it’s a reaction that really never goes away.
Hadaway: One thing people might not realize is how much dedication and effort goes into being Herbie. It’s not just showing up on game day — there are countless appearances, long hours and a lot of preparation behind the scenes. From planning and building props to thinking through different ways to entertain the crowd, there’s a lot that goes into creating a great fan experience.
It also takes a lot of time, energy and commitment to stay consistent at every event, whether it’s a big game or a smaller appearance in the community. People don’t always see the physical demands, the creativity or the teamwork involved, but all of that plays a huge role in bringing Herbie to life and making each interaction memorable.
