Should They Build A Statue of Jordan Larson At Devaney?

It’s time to consider a Jordan Larson statue in front of Devaney Sports Center.

Larson has done about as much for Nebraska volleyball as anyone else has ever done for a sport at Nebraska. She’s won three Olympic medals; bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, silver at the 2012 London Olympics, and gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was a big part of the USA winning their first-ever gold medal in women’s volleyball.

She IS Nebraska. Born in Fremont. Played high school volleyball at Hooper, Nebraska, a town of less than 1,000 people.

She IS Husker. She was a three-time All-American. Nebraska went to three NCAA semifinal appearances during her time as a Husker, winning the national title in 2006. She has a very long list of accomplishments, including being named Big 12 player AND Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

She is America. There’s the Olympics, then there’s a 2014 World Championship and countless medals from the World Cup, World Grand Champions Cup, World Grand Prix, and FIVB Nations League, whatever those are. There are gobs of gold in those games.

If I had to list all of Larson’s accomplishments at Nebraska and beyond, I’d have to write a book.

We’re always talking about how this guy or that guy deserves a statue. Comments were made when Fred Hoiberg was hired that all it would take for him to get a statue was to win a NCAA tourney game. Honestly, the first time I talked to Hoiberg, I asked him if he came to Nebraska to get a statue. He answered he’d rather see one built for his grandfather.

I have no idea what a statue of Larson would look like. Perhaps she could be in mid-air with a volleyball high above her, ready to serve one of her 186 school-record aces.

Maybe you could include John Cook next to Larson, then have Terry Pettit a few feet away, walking towards them as if they’re all meeting for a picnic.

I am clearly not a statue designer guy. I’m sure someone who is would come up with great ideas.

We rarely, if at all, hear mention of statues for women at Nebraska, this despite the women’s volleyball team being the most consistent butt-kicking sport at Nebraska since it was born.

The only problem I see with giving Jordan Larson a statue is choosing her above all the other incredible volleyballers that have graced Nebraska with their presence.

Sarah Pavan, Mikaela Foecke, Alison Weston, the Rolfzen twins, Justine Wong-Orantes, Greichaly Cepero, Melissa Elmer - you get the idea. The list could go on.

Perhaps a sculpture garden would be in order. It would be a celebration of women’s sport at Nebraska because Husker women are incredible and it’s time we recognized that with more than just words.

Point is, if you’re talking about greatness, and we represent greatness in the form of a statue, then Jordan Larson deserves one before we erect another statue for any other sport at Nebraska.