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10 Things to Know About UNO During the College World Series

As the College World Series heats up in Omaha, here are 10 ways UNO is stepping up to the plate on the field, in the community, and behind the scenes.

  • published: 2025/06/05
  • contact: Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu

Every June, Omaha transforms into the epicenter of college baseball, drawing tens of thousands of fans from across the country to Charles Schwab Field and the surrounding Baseball Village.

This summer marks UNO’s debut as an official co-host, coinciding with the CWS’s 75th anniversary in Omaha, a city where the “greatest show on dirt” has become a defining tradition.


1. UNO is Omaha’s University

Omaha is our campus. UNO is Nebraska’s only public urban-metropolitan university and a member of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), meaning we’re built for the city we serve. As part of the University of Nebraska System, we combine big-time academics with big-city opportunities. About 15,000 students are enrolled at the university, and half of our 125,000 living alumni live and work right here in Omaha. In fact, 81% of Maverick graduates stay after graduating.


2. UNO Students Intern and Work for the College World Series, Plus Fortune 500 Giants

UNO’s role as co-host is more than symbolic—it’s hands-on. Mavericks are everywhere during the CWS: in the press box, on the field, behind the scenes, and in the stands.

  • Broadcasting: Since 2017, student journalists from UNO’s MavRadio have covered the College World Series in full, delivering play-by-play coverage, interviews, and features—often winning awards for their outstanding work.
  • Athletic Training: UNO students in the Athletic Training program assist professionals during the tournament, providing support to players and gaining critical on-the-ground experience.
  • Mud Crew: UNO students, including several softball players, have even joined the CWS “mud crew,” prepping hundreds of baseballs before each game with special mud to improve grip—an iconic, behind-the-scenes tradition.

Berkshire Hathaway. Union Pacific. Mutual of Omaha. Kiewit Corporation. All four have headquarters in Omaha, and UNO students regularly land paid internships (and full-time gigs) with these industry leaders.

Mav Radio's Benjamin Helwig takes photos from the upper deck in right field as he captures the scene of the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park


3. Even Before Becoming a Co-Host, UNO was Making Waves at the CWS

It’s not just the players and press crews representing UNO during the College World Series—the stands are filled with Maverick pride, too.

In 2016, a young UNO fan made national headlines when he locked eyes with an ESPN camera and held the stare with stone-cold intensity, all while proudly rocking his Maverick gear. The moment went viral and quickly became a fan-favorite clip during the tournament, proving that Maverick spirit starts young and runs deep.

"The Road to Omaha" sculpture was designed by former UNO student John Labja, who used 13 UNO students as models for the statue, which now stands outside TD Ameritrade Park as a tribute to the College World Series


4. UNO is an Academic and Research Powerhouse

With consecutive years of record-breaking research, innovation is in our DNA. Some of our unique programs include:

🎯️ Counterterrorism: UNO is home to NCITE, the Department of Homeland Security's Center of Excellence for terrorism prevention and counterterrorism research. NCITE is the nation's leading academic center for the study of emerging and novel terrorism threats.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence: UNO is one the only universities to offer a bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence in the Midwest.

🦾 Biomechanics: The Biomechanics Research Building – home to the Pitching Lab, the Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics, and more – calls our campus home. It’s the only building like it in the entire world.

✈️ Aviation: Students have a direct pipeline to careers in aviation thanks to the Aviation Institute. With state-of-the-art flight simulation technology and partnerships with United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and more, careers take flight at UNO.

UNO researcher Jorge M. Zuniga, Ph.D, left, works with 9-year-old Rue Gillespie.


5. UNO Excellence Goes Beyond Academics

Omaha Athletics fields 16 men’s and women’s sports teams. While 15 sports compete in the Summit League, men’s ice hockey competes in the powerhouse National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). In addition to the men’s basketball team’s 2025 Summit League championship, the following teams have clinched conference titles since 2019:

⚽️ Men’s Soccer: 2020, 2023

⚽️ Women’s Soccer: 2022

🏀 Men’s Basketball: 2025

⚾️ Baseball: 2019

🥎 Softball: 2022, 2023

🏐 Volleyball: 2023

University of Nebraska at Omaha fans cheer on the UNO men’s basketball team as they load the bus as they make their way to the NCAA basketball tournament


6. Warren Buffett Taught at UNO —Yes, That Warren Buffett

Before becoming the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett taught investment courses from 1952 to 1962 at UNO’s College of Business Administration (CBA). Today, the CBA offers the Genius of Warren Buffett course, where students take a deep dive into his legendary investing strategies.

Warren Buffett teaching at Omaha University, now the University of Nebraska at Omaha.


7. Do You Recognize These Famous Mavericks?

Once a Maverick, always a Maverick! Here are just a handful of Mavericks who attended classes at UNO or are degree-holding UNO alumni that have gone on to do big things:

🇺🇸 Chuck Hagel: Former U.S. Senator representing Nebraska and Secretary of Defense (pictured below).

🎬 Peter Fonda: Award-winning actor from films that include “Easy Rider,” “3:10 to Yuma,” and “Ulee’s Gold”

🥎 Connie Claussen: Women’s sports pioneer and legendary softball coach.

🎵 Conor Oberst: Indie music icon and Bright Eyes frontman.

🏒 Jake Guentzel: Omaha native and 2017 Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

🏈 Marlin Briscoe: The first Black starting quarterback in professional football and 2016 College Football Hall of Fame inductee.

🏈 Shaq Barrett: Super Bowl-winning linebacker.

🏈 Greg Zeurlein: NFL kicker with a big leg and a bigger nickname, “Legatron.”

🏈 Zach Miller: Record-breaking Mavericks quarterback and NFL tight end-turned country music artist.

UNO graduates received their degrees during the December Commencement at Baxter Arena for the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska.


8. We Wrote the (Virtual) Textbook on Online Learning

UNO has been a pioneer in online education for more than 25 years, with online programs regularly ranking among the best in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. The 2025 rankings were no different:

#4: Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans

#6: Overall Rank for Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs

#29: Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans

#41: Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs

#57: Overall Rank for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs

Mary Odette Palafox, a UNO biology major, and her younger sister, Mary Jemarice Palafox, a UNO computer science major, study on Dodge Campus on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.


9. UNO is the Nation’s Best Public University for Military Veterans

Military Times ranked UNO the top public university in the nation for veterans in 2024. The Office of Military and Veterans Services helps veterans and military-connected individuals, prepare for civilian careers, build connections with employers, access Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits, navigate the university admissions and financial aid processes

University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Office of Military and Veterans Services hosts the kickoff of the annual “The Things They Carry” Ruck March at Baxter Arena


10. What’s Not to “Like” About UNO?

According to Rival IQ’s 2024 Higher Education Social Media Engagement Report, UNO has one of the highest engagement rates in all of higher education. Stay connected with UNO (@UNOmaha) through the CWS and beyond on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn!

University of Nebraska at Omaha Social Media Ambassadors Miracle Olawuyi, left, and Lana Huetson have their pictures taken during the College World Series

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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