At the University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium, a unique tradition involves launching Fairbury brand hot dogs into the crowd using a device called 'Der Viener Schlinger.' First introduced during the 1997 season, the launcher was born from an observation by Marc Roode, then marketing director for Fairbury Brand Meats. After seeing the Philadelphia Phillies mascot fire items into the stands via a vehicle-mounted contraption in 1996, Roode sought to replicate the promotion in Nebraska. Because stadium rules prohibited motorized vehicles on the field, the team retrofitted a two-wheel commercial dolly to transport the CO2 supply tank and the launcher.
The mechanism behind the launch relies on compressed gas rather than mechanical spring tension. While early iterations were less precise due to aerodynamic drag—hot dogs originally wrapped in Ziploc bags would often flutter unpredictably—the design evolved through collaboration with university engineering students. These improvements included increasing the diameter of the CO2 tube and shortening its length to improve flight paths. The current version of the launcher is approximately six feet long and weighs 20 pounds, capable of firing a 2.67-ounce hot dog at speeds of up to 90 mph. This velocity allows the meat to clear the stadium's high skyboxes and reach fans across different sections of the oval seating area.
The image depicts the specific CO2-powered launcher described as the 'Der Viener Schlinger' used at Memorial Stadium.
Despite its status as a cherished institution, 'Der Viener Schlinger' remains a niche piece of sports Americana compared to other regional launchers. For instance, some teams have utilized Gatling gun versions that can fire sausages at a rate of 24 per 10 seconds, or larger nitrogen-fueled cannons mounted on utility vehicles. In Lincoln, however, the tradition is maintained by dedicated operators who wear trademark butcher’s frocks to remain visible to the crowd. To date, more than 20,000 hot dogs have been launched from the device during home games alone, making it one of the most prolific examples of food-based fan engagement in college athletics.