OMAHA, Neb. -- Nebraska football fans are taking their team loyalty to the grave. The state crazy about the Cornhuskers has purchased more caskets featuring the team's logo than supporters of any other college team in the nation. Nineteen of the Cornhusker caskets, made by Collegiate Memorials of Macon, Ga., have been sold to funeral homes in Nebraska and at least three have been used since their introduction at the end of May. "Our first sale in Nebraska was a 93-year-old lady who was big supporter of the Huskers," said Scott Walston, who founded Collegiate Memorials after six years at a funeral supplies business. Nebraska has led the specialized caskets sales since their kickoff five month ago, followed by North Carolina's 13 caskets and Georgia's nine. Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida are not far behind. The company offers caskets featuring the insignia and optional exterior colors of 46 schools. The caskets cost about $200 more than comparable caskets and come in school-color steel and natural wood models. All of the universities are paid licensing fees by Collegiate Memorials for the use of their logos. In the Cornhusker caskets, an 8-inch block red "N" with the word "Huskers" written across it in black script is embroidered in the fabric that lines the top of its interior. "I had no idea they would that big of hit in Nebraska, but it does speak for the loyalty they have in that state," Walston said. Omaha's Westlawn Hillcrest Funeral Home, Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney and Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow have used the caskets. A customer at Forch Funeral Chapel in Benkleman also has arranged to be buried in one of the caskets. The families who bought the caskets declined to be interviewed. No one has complained about the caskets being in poor taste, the funeral homes said. "We've had a lot of people that liked it," Govier Brothers' Doug Gaston said. Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul -- 97 miles northwest of Lincoln -- still has the first casket it ordered, but Todd Peters said overall business has been slow. He said funeral homes like to personalize their services and Husker caskets help. "It will definitely be something for people to talk about after the service," he said. He doesn't doubt the Howard County town that produced recent Husker football standouts Jeff Ogard and Loran Kaiser will produce a Big Red casket buyer. "If we become national champions, I guarantee it will," Peters said. If caskets don't meet a family's needs, Collegiate Memorials also offers other funeral items featuring popular school logos, including monuments, registry books and urns. ESPN EXTRA Contest: Buddy Lee's Overtime Take on Buddy Lee for a chance to win a trip to ESPN's 2 Minute Drill. ESPN.com:Help | Advertiser Info | Contact Us | Tools | Site Map | Jobs at ESPN.com Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com. Make it Your Home MSN Home | Hotmail | Search | Shopping | Money |
