Plans to host the largest player and coach reunion in the history of Cornhusker football are in full motion, Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson said Monday in a press conference.

In addition, Pederson, the football coaches, staff and players will make several stops in a midsummer kickoff tour. The Husker Nation Celebration will take place on Aug. 30, when the Cornhuskers open the 2003 football season with Oklahoma State.

The Husker Nation Tour is slated for Thursday, June 26, when five different groups will visit with fans and boosters in 15 different Nebraska cities.

"We need to thank the people who got us here," Pederson said. "The Husker Nation Celebration is designed to simply get players and coaches back on campus and for us to have the opportunity to say thanks for all they have done for this great University."

At the Husker Nation kickoff press conference, four former Husker players joined Pederson to announce the plans for the Celebration. In attendance was Don Fricke, a center, fullback and linebacker from 1958 to 1960; Tom Ruud, a linebacker from 1972 to 1974 and father of current and future Huskers Barrett and Bo; I-back Keith Jones, who twice earned all-conference honors playing from 1984 to 1987 and Tommie Frazier, who led the Huskers to back-to-back national championships in 1994 and 1995, starting as a true freshman at quarterback in 1992.

Assisting the athletic department in the Celebration plans are the players themselves. Approximately 30 former Huskers are serving as team captains calling their teammates and spreading the word about the reunion. The night before the game, the players will have an informal gathering, where they will get instructions for Saturday. The players will wear their official game jerseys, march down Stadium Drive following the Cornhusker marching band, and be on field level during pregame ceremonies for the conference opener with the Cowboys.

Husker football lettermen who have not received a notification regarding the Celebration in the mail, should give the Sports Information Office a call to update their address (402-472-2263).

The Husker Nation Tour, consists of five groups of coaches, staff and players. Each group will visit three cities and towns across Nebraska with all phases of the tour taking place on Thursday, June 26.

"We wanted to blanket the state," Pederson said. "We are grateful for the assistance provided to us by the Tour chairpersons in each city and also for the assistance of our Pinnacle Network stations in each city. We felt this was an excellent way to introduce the state to the newest members of our coaching staff, and to renew old acquaintances."

Cities hosting the Tour include 15 different sites across the state. The chairperson, time and site of the event is listed obelow. To obtain tickets or more information on the event in your area, please call the chairperson at the number listed below.

Valentine -- Peppermill 7:30 a.m. Dick Jeffers 402-376-3390

North Platte -- Quality Inn & Suites Noon Peggy Oltmans 308-535-3363

Scottsbluff -- Reinhardt’s 6 p.m. Trish Green 308-635-7136

Grand Island -- Cent. NE Regional Airport 7:30 a.m. Orv Qualsett 308-382-4000

Norfolk -- Eldorado Hills Golf Course Noon Mike Siemsglusz 402-371-2662

Columbus -- Elks Country Club 6 p.m. Roger Brown 402-564-5254

South Sioux City -- Marina Inn 7:30 a.m. Pat Anderson 402-494-1626

Blair -- Dana College Noon Mick Mines 402-426-6224, Rita Wilkens 402-426-6382

Fremont -- Holiday Lodge 6 p.m. Tony Niday 402-721-2233

Hastings -- Garden Cafe (Holiday Inn) 7:30 a.m. Lou Kully 402-463-5678

Lexington -- Holiday Inn Express Noon Eric Brown 308-324-2371

Kearney -- Holiday Inn 6 p.m. Wayne Garrelts 308-234-3705

Fairbury -- Fairbury Country Club 7:30 a.m. Tom Roode 402-729-2253

Beatrice -- Holiday Inn Express Noon Paul/Marline Garnett 402-228-3413

Nebraska City -- Steinhart Lodge 6 p.m. Mary Gerdes 402-873-3388, Scott Porter 402-778-5104