to play Nebraska in a game scheduled in Omaha, and instead forfeited," Babcock wrote.

In his 145-page Vault book, a treasure chest of historical photos, crisp writing and creative surprises on almost every spread, Babcock calls Flippin "Nebraska's first football star" and explains how he was the son of a freed slave who brought his family west from Ohio before eventually settling in Nebraska. Both of Flippin's parents were physicians, and he would follow in their footsteps by earning a medical degree at the University of Illinois' College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago.

Babcock wrote that Flippin owned land, served on the town's board of education, sold sporting goods, raised and showed Plymouth Rock chickens, and even represented himself in court, claiming a café in nearby York had violatedhis civil rights by refusing service.

Moore uses Babcock as the historical source for many of the "gems" he includes in his athletic tours, but he felt Mouden deserved some on-the-spot recognition. So when the visitor from Vegas regaled his fellow tour-mates, Moore took off his "tour guide" lanyard, put it around Mouden's neck and said: "That was great - one of the best stories I've ever heard. Why don't you just lead the rest of the tour?"

Anthony Blue a Part of The Flippin Project

Sadly, Barry Moore doesn't just wonder whether Nebraska fans know about George Flippin. He wonders whether Husker players - past, present or future - will recognize his name or understand what a trailblazer he was.

Fortunately, we know of at least one player who is well