Should the balloon tradition end?

Just for the record, I'd be indifferent either way on ending or not ending the balloon release tradition. I just know there are numerous far more pressing issues that are having and adverse effect on our environment. Jesus people. 40,000 balloons released a year is not gonna end the world.

 
Corn Nation put out an article saying the tradition of releasing a balloon after the first Husker score should end. Should it? And what, if anything, could replace it?

Quote:

The real problem is the rest of the world has taken to frowning on the random release of plastic into the air. Never mind whether the balloon is bio-degradable, it's a bad look these days, and the last thing Nebraska needs to do is to look outdated. Wait until the day a top recruit turns down Nebraska because the Cornhusker program is not "green" and everyone will be wondering who was responsible for such an outdated ritual.

http://www.cornnation.com/2014/9/24/6837527/corn-flakes-time-for-balloon-tradition-to-end
Since we won against Miami, the Corn Nation has nothing to complain about so they write this!

 
I say if it becomes a problem we just give the fans guns and they can shoot the balloons before they drift too far away.

Fail. Safe.

 
This petition was started by "some blogger" and endorse by this guy:

In a few years, the sky will be filled with drones anyway, and while you might not think it a big deal a balloon landing in your garden, a drone brought down by an errant balloon crashing onto your garden, your car, or your Husker tailgate is an entirely different matter altogether.

It's time for this tradition to end.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I have hated balloons ever since having one as a child only to have it taken by my sister, who then played the "let's see how high it gets before I can't catch it" game and as we all know there's only one end to that. I had a wretched childhood after that and it's obviously left me an embittered old man.)
A few(?) years back, the balloons were nixed because helium was getting too pricey. Now it's down again.

If there's sound scientific basis for concern I'd welcome the argument, but we're not seeing that here, are we?

 
For the folks that couldn't be bothered to take the time to RTFA, the Biodegradability of the balloons per the article StPaulHusker linked to is being called into question.

I don't have a problem with the tradition as long as there is enough helium and the balloons are truly biodegradable. But if one or the other is seriously in question, it's time to do the responsible, mature thing and find a new tradition.

And there's a thread about this on the Politics tab since some folks can't help but dip into the ole' echo chamber when a topic like the environment comes up.

 
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We should release these for night games:

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