Nebraska Huskers Pull Controversial Pipeline Sponsorship

Less than five months into a sponsorship agreement, Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne today announced that the school will terminate a sponsorship agreement with Calgary energy company, TransCanada. IMG/Husker Sports Network negotiated a sponsorship deal that gave TransCanada's video advertisement exposure on the Memorial Stadium's HuskerVision screen, but increased controversy over the company's plans to build a pipeline through the state became too political and forced the school to cut the deal short.

TransCanada is seeking to put a pipeline that would carry Canadian oil over an aquifer that supplies drinking and irrigation water to the state.

"We want fans to be able to go to the games, and enjoy the games, and not be caught up in things that might be controversial in some way," Osborne said. "We normally will stay away from any political issues."

TransCanada spokesman Jeff Rauh said the company would now look for other "community investment opportunities" in the state.

No word about what, if any, monetary settlement will accompany the early contract termination.

Regarding sponsorship guidelines, Osborne told the Daily Nebraskan News that "[the school has] some guidelines, but no guidelines regarding pipelines or anything like that."