MANDY RASMUSSEN

As we have learned throughout these bios, many of the former UNL Men’s club players went on to coach the UNL Women’s team over the years, and in a few cases, help the club begin.  We would be remiss if we did not share at least one bio from former UNL Women’s Rugby, and one time UNL band member (trombone), Mandy Rasmussen. 

We can all but guarantee there are no other male or female UNL rugby alumni with such a combo!

Mandy Rasmussen joined the UNL Women’s Rugby team in the fall of 1999 following a dare. It took her awhile to get to know the team, mostly because she also played the trombone in the University of Nebraska Marching Band and couldn’t make any of the Saturday rugby games, only weekday practices. 

She was able to take advantage of this unknown status by pulling off a very convincing Halloween costume as the SNL character Pat – neither the men nor women at the party knew which team Mandy played for! After losing the Pat wig on R Street, Mandy switched to another SNL character the next night dressing up as Chris Farley.

By the Spring 2000 season, with Marching Band duties complete, Mandy fully committed to rugby and didn’t look back playing through 2003 with UNL, and later with the Kansas City Jazz, Boulder Babes, Glendale Raptors, Manawatu Kia Toa, and the u23 and Women’s sides of the West All-Star Teams.

In 2003, Mandy and UNL teammate Julia Sueper, made the u23 West team and played in the week long u23 National Tournament in Davis, California. During an early stretching session, Julia suggested the nickname “Farley” to the rest of our u23 West team, and without hesitation the name stuck for the remainder of Mandy’s 10 year rugby career, and beyond. 

“I owe so much to teammates Heidi, Stacey Adam, Teri, Michaella, and coaches Nate, Judd, Adam and all of UNL Rugby for not only teaching me the fundamentals of such a great game, setting me up for many years of playing rugby, but more importantly for supporting me and being a second family to me after my Dad died by suicide in February 2000. 

My Dad, Harold Rasmussen was from South Sioux City, NE and graduated from UNL in 1970. Being able to stay in Lincoln during that very difficult time right after my dad died was comforting; and thanks to UNL rugby, I’m able to look back on those years fondly with gratitude, laughter, and love. All my best, and with you, Mandy!”