Statue Sparks Debate: Nebraska Cornhuskers Honor Legendary Quarterback with Bronze Monument
In a move that has ignited both passionate celebration and heated debate across the state, the University of Nebraska has officially announced plans to erect a life-size bronze statue of its most polarizing yet undeniably talented quarterback, Tanner “T-Rex” Rawlins. The monument, which will be placed just outside Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, is scheduled to break ground in early September, with university officials eyeing a spring 2026 unveiling.
Rawlins, who played for the Cornhuskers from 2017 to 2021, is remembered as much for his rocket arm and game-winning drives as for his controversial off-field persona. During his time at Nebraska, he shattered school records for passing yards, touchdowns, and total offense, earning two Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year awards. His 98-yard Hail Mary against Michigan in 2020 remains etched in college football lore, a moment that singlehandedly revived national attention for a program struggling to reclaim its 1990s dominance.
But Rawlins’ legacy is far from clean. He was suspended twice during his college career—once for an altercation at a Lincoln nightclub, and once for violating team curfew during a bowl game trip in Florida. His tell-all autobiography, Red Zone Reckless, released just two years after he declared for the NFL Draft, caused friction with former teammates and coaching staff for its raw, unfiltered portrayal of the Cornhusker locker room culture.
Still, the university’s Board of Regents voted 6-3 in favor of the statue, citing Rawlins’ indelible impact on the program’s national profile. “Tanner Rawlins is a symbol of grit, talent, and the complexity of collegiate athletics,” said Athletic Director Jim Braddock. “This statue is not about perfection. It’s about truth. It’s about a young man who embodied the highs and lows of this game and left his mark on our school’s history.”
Critics are less enthused. A coalition of alumni and boosters, calling themselves “Tradition First,” has launched a petition to halt the project, arguing that honoring a player with a “checkered past” sets a dangerous precedent. “We have decades of legends—Tommie Frazier, Turner Gill, Eric Crouch—who played with integrity and humility,” said former booster club president Elaine Whitmore. “Rawlins was electric on the field, but he never represented the Nebraska way.”
Adding fuel to the controversy is the statue’s planned pose: Rawlins with his helmet off, mouth open mid-yell, one hand pointing downfield, the other flashing his signature “Raptor” claw—a tribute to his nickname. Some see it as iconic. Others see it as theatrical self-promotion immortalized in bronze.
Regardless of public opinion, construction will move forward, funded entirely through private donations—many of which came from former NFL players and entertainment figures who have publicly supported Rawlins’ journey from troubled youth to sports icon.
As the foundation is poured, one thing is clear: the statue will be more than metal. It will be a monument to the tensions between legacy and controversy, excellence and imperfection. In the heart of Husker Nation, that conversation has only just begun.
