Nebraska's first hot dog cannon couldn't outthrow the vendor

Nebraska had a vendor who could throw hot dogs farther than its first hot dog launcher could shoot them. Flatwater Free Press reports that P. Stephen Potter could reach spectators 40 rows up by hand. I love that somebody brought machinery into this and still had to catch up with the guy selling lunch.

Marc Roode acquired a launcher after seeing Philadelphia’s mascot use one in 1996. Nebraska refused an ATV, so he hauled it on a two-wheel commercial dolly. I’m trying to picture that proposal getting approved with one revision concerning the transportation. Yes to the meat cannon; we’re drawing the line at the vehicle.

The name took some public participation, too. A radio contest drew more than 1,000 submissions, then the crowd chose among four finalists. Rod Leber supplied the winner, Der Viener Schlinger. I’d have wanted to hear the other three announced before casting my vote.

Reporter J. J. Harder got to fire it himself, and his first shot landed near him. His guide reloaded the same hot dog. That detail gets me, because now I’m following the progress of one particular hot dog through its second attempt at reaching a spectator.

Harder’s next shot reached the East Stadium upper deck. I’d have kept watching to see who caught it.