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Tunnel Walk Question

Pennsyhuskers

Pennsyhuskers

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Jun 3, 2022
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I have been to many different college football stadiums for games in the past 10-15 years. And every single one of them has a version of the tunnel walk. Why then is our tunnel walk still promoted as something unique? We were one of the first schools to have video screens put up (1993?) and the tunnel walk was indeed new and unique then. But it isn’t anymore. I cringe therefore whenever I hear Husker fans talking about our tunnel walk as this special thing.

I bring all of this up not to be critical but to make a suggestion. Maybe it is time to consider updating our tunnel walk and adding some new wrinkles to it. Especially now that the big video screen will be improved. I don’t know what the new wrinkles might be but perhaps some on here have some ideas.
 
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goldencohusker

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Sep 7, 2018
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I agree its dated and could use some kind of refresh. But until the product on the field is substantially better, changing it up just seem like more lipstick. In the early years, the tunnel walk used to be a great way to pump up for watching a powerhouse football program . Too often over the past decade, the tunnel walk has been the highlight of the game - we look like Tarzan coming out of the tunnel and but play like Jane. Hopefully, major steps are taken forward on the field this year, and maybe then maybe a refresh of the tunnel walk would have more meaning as part of a we-are-back type of branding effort. My 2 cents and first post on the new board.
 
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RealTucoSalamanca

RealTucoSalamanca

Heisman
Aug 18, 2016
16,626
10,902
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Update it how? Should Clemson update the running down "The HIll" and touching Howard's Rock, or Tennessee running through the T? I think Nebraska's tunnel walk is different enough in that fans line the underbelly of the stadium, and it isn't just running out of a tunnel following a Buffalo or a Schooner or an American Indian on a horse?
 
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Husker.Wed._rivals

Husker.Wed._rivals

All-Conference
Feb 13, 2004
17,648
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How about something like the first Creed/Rocky fight? Let the fans on the field to line the route and bring the players in in floats throwing money.
 
Pennsyhuskers

Pennsyhuskers

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2022
600
1,791
93
RealTucoSalamanca said:
Update it how? Should Clemson update the running down "The HIll" and touching Howard's Rock, or Tennessee running through the T? I think Nebraska's tunnel walk is different enough in that fans line the underbelly of the stadium, and it isn't just running out of a tunnel following a Buffalo or a Schooner or an American Indian on a horse?
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I get your point. But fans lining the path as the players pass by does not strike me as all that different. And the examples you mention — Buffalo, Sooner Schooner, etc. — are unique to those schools because those things are their iconic mascots. You could add the USC Trojans and their horse to that as well as Florida State’s. Our “mascot” has changed so many times over the years I am not sure I even know what it is anymore. I just don’t see how our tunnel walk is all that different from what everyone else is doing these days.
 
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4.6.3

4.6.3

Senior
Jun 4, 2022
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Pennsyhuskers said:
I get your point. But fans lining the path as the players pass by does not strike me as all that different. And the examples you mention — Buffalo, Sooner Schooner, etc. — are unique to those schools because those things are their iconic mascots. You could add the USC Trojans and their horse to that as well as Florida State’s. Our “mascot” has changed so many times over the years I am not sure I even know what it is anymore. I just don’t see how our tunnel walk is all that different from what everyone else is doing these days.
Click to expand...
It was “refreshed” 2 years ago….
 
RealTucoSalamanca

RealTucoSalamanca

Heisman
Aug 18, 2016
16,626
10,902
113
Pennsyhuskers said:
I get your point. But fans lining the path as the players pass by does not strike me as all that different. And the examples you mention — Buffalo, Sooner Schooner, etc. — are unique to those schools because those things are their iconic mascots. You could add the USC Trojans and their horse to that as well as Florida State’s. Our “mascot” has changed so many times over the years I am not sure I even know what it is anymore. I just don’t see how our tunnel walk is all that different from what everyone else is doing these days.
Click to expand...
OK so again I ask, what would you change?
 
Pennsyhuskers

Pennsyhuskers

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4.6.3 said:
It was “refreshed” 2 years ago….
Click to expand...
How so?
RealTucoSalamanca said:
OK so again I ask, what would you change?
Click to expand...
As I said in my OP, I really don’t know. Which is why I asked if others had any ideas. My larger point is that we need to stop promoting it as this “uniquely Husker” game day thing when there is little about it that is unique anymore.
Maybe have the video begin in the locker room with Rhule and certain players addressing the crowd directly before coming out getting the crowd pumped up. A friend of mine suggested that and I think it would be cool. That is one idea. Another friend of mine suggested having fans submit their names and then one fan or two are selected each week at random to lead the team out.
Maybe those ideas are stupid and unworkable, but I think it would add a unique element.
 
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4.6.3

4.6.3

Senior
Jun 4, 2022
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Pennsyhuskers said:
How so?

As I said in my OP, I really don’t know. Which is why I asked if others had any ideas. My larger point is that we need to stop promoting it as this “uniquely Husker” game day thing when there is little about it that is unique anymore.
Maybe have the video begin in the locker room with Rhule and certain players addressing the crowd directly before coming out getting the crowd pumped up. A friend of mine suggested that and I think it would be cool. That is one idea. Another friend of mine suggested having fans submit their names and then one fan or two are selected each week at random to lead the team out.
Maybe those ideas are stupid and unworkable, but I think it would add a unique element.
Click to expand...
100% different tunnel from new facility. I don’t really care for it, even though I had a part in building it and wiring the new lights in the stadium. I just thought they could have done more…. But maybe they will change things eventually? The powers that be down there are always tight lipped and uppity about plans
 
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RealTucoSalamanca

RealTucoSalamanca

Heisman
Aug 18, 2016
16,626
10,902
113
Huskers+123 said:
Id get rid of Sirius, It's old and overused. Get something that is unique for Nebraska.
Similar to how VT has made "Enter Sandman" theirs.
Click to expand...
I guess I don't see this as that big of a deal or something that needs to be overhauled. They have tweaked it over the years and continue to make changes to the overall fan experience like the Thunderstuck light show before the 4th qtr.
 
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Pennsyhuskers

Pennsyhuskers

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Jun 3, 2022
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RealTucoSalamanca said:
I guess I don't see this as that big of a deal or something that needs to be overhauled. They have tweaked it over the years and continue to make changes to the overall fan experience like the Thunderstuck light show before the 4th qtr.
Click to expand...
I agree. It is not a big deal. Sure it is not original to us but we did repurpose it and it is now a signature feature of the tunnel walk. I like it. Plus, I am not certain that we would come up with anything better
 
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Nuts McClanahan

Nuts McClanahan

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2022
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Pennsyhuskers said:
Maybe it is time to consider updating our tunnel walk and adding some new wrinkles to it. Especially now that the big video screen will be improved. I don’t know what the new wrinkles might be but perhaps some on here have some ideas.
Click to expand...
If it were up to me, I would cut down some of that video stuff before the tunnel walk and just get on with it. Stick with the legendary highlights made by the great teams of the past, and then alternate the highlights that are shown from week to week. I believe they've got a full time staff that needs to be kept busy and each video editor reports to eight different bosses from NU's luxury administrative office complex.
 
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big red23

All-Conference
Dec 15, 2003
10,114
1,479
113
Pennsyhuskers said:
I have been to many different college football stadiums for games in the past 10-15 years. And every single one of them has a version of the tunnel walk. Why then is our tunnel walk still promoted as something unique? We were one of the first schools to have video screens put up (1993?) and the tunnel walk was indeed new and unique then. But it isn’t anymore. I cringe therefore whenever I hear Husker fans talking about our tunnel walk as this special thing.

I bring all of this up not to be critical but to make a suggestion. Maybe it is time to consider updating our tunnel walk and adding some new wrinkles to it. Especially now that the big video screen will be improved. I don’t know what the new wrinkles might be but perhaps some on here have some ideas.
Click to expand...
I understand what you are saying, but there is something to be said about being the first. I think of our football stadium like a Wrigley field. The nostalgia is what makes it great for some people. That doesn't mean you have to like it too, but I hope you can at least acknowledge Nebraska creating it is special in itself.

I think of it more like the Beatles in music. Are they the best band ever? Absolutely not, but what they did for music makes some people think they are... Same goes for Nirvana and what they did for grunge. Maybe the music reference is not familiar enough. Think of it like the original iPhone is not the best phone on the market, but what it did for Cell Phones makes it special.
 
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G

GeorgeFlippin

Heisman
May 29, 2001
38,548
35,531
113
Hey, they can try having the players come out of the stands and down to the sideline, that worked great for Colorado back in 1995. Oh wait, it didn't. Gawd that was funny, Nu-weasel thought that could help win the game. ;)

The Tunnel Walk is just a part of game day, it's been around 31 years now but still is a decent spectacle to get the crowd fired up.
 
Nuts McClanahan

Nuts McClanahan

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Redscarlet said:
I do too, by the Killigans.
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The thing about that is that they need to go ALL IN with the free stuff during that song. Triple the number of Gatling guns and fire up as many hot dogs into the stands as you can. Pick a section each game and then flood it with free stuff. Make it fun.

As it is now, we've got a football program with $130 million dollars in revenue that gives out fewer free t-shirts than the Wisner tractor pull.
 
N

NEHuskerJack95

Redshirt
Jul 14, 2025
24
20
3
Since our QB is Patrick Mahomes' "Lil cuzzo," why not copy some of the Chiefs pregame ritual?

Set a huge drum on the 50 yard line and bring in a celebrity, an All-American or one of the Blackshirts to pound the drum and get the crowd fired up.

Remember the publicity the program got when Rush Limbaugh attended the Notre Dame game in 2001?
 
bigboxes

bigboxes

All-American
Sep 4, 2004
46,211
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Pennsyhuskers said:
I have been to many different college football stadiums for games in the past 10-15 years. And every single one of them has a version of the tunnel walk. Why then is our tunnel walk still promoted as something unique? We were one of the first schools to have video screens put up (1993?) and the tunnel walk was indeed new and unique then. But it isn’t anymore. I cringe therefore whenever I hear Husker fans talking about our tunnel walk as this special thing.

I bring all of this up not to be critical but to make a suggestion. Maybe it is time to consider updating our tunnel walk and adding some new wrinkles to it. Especially now that the big video screen will be improved. I don’t know what the new wrinkles might be but perhaps some on here have some ideas.
Click to expand...
You need to stop cringing about OUR traditions.
 
Kakdawg

Kakdawg

Heisman
Sep 8, 2004
35,377
15,512
113
Pennsyhuskers said:
I have been to many different college football stadiums for games in the past 10-15 years. And every single one of them has a version of the tunnel walk. Why then is our tunnel walk still promoted as something unique? We were one of the first schools to have video screens put up (1993?) and the tunnel walk was indeed new and unique then. But it isn’t anymore. I cringe therefore whenever I hear Husker fans talking about our tunnel walk as this special thing.

I bring all of this up not to be critical but to make a suggestion. Maybe it is time to consider updating our tunnel walk and adding some new wrinkles to it. Especially now that the big video screen will be improved. I don’t know what the new wrinkles might be but perhaps some on here have some ideas.
Click to expand...

I'd change the music. Love the look of what happens for the guys headed to the field. Just think the music is sorta anticlimactic.



Holla
 
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HuskerHusaria

HuskerHusaria

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2017
7,406
2,206
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Pennsyhuskers said:
I have been to many different college football stadiums for games in the past 10-15 years. And every single one of them has a version of the tunnel walk. Why then is our tunnel walk still promoted as something unique? We were one of the first schools to have video screens put up (1993?) and the tunnel walk was indeed new and unique then. But it isn’t anymore. I cringe therefore whenever I hear Husker fans talking about our tunnel walk as this special thing.

I bring all of this up not to be critical but to make a suggestion. Maybe it is time to consider updating our tunnel walk and adding some new wrinkles to it. Especially now that the big video screen will be improved. I don’t know what the new wrinkles might be but perhaps some on here have some ideas.
Click to expand...
Hmm... Great questions my friend.

I remember being a 6 year old and running into the field with those screens and it was a huge deal, post '94 Championship

Things do need to be updated, but I'm not sure what that would look like. I still get goosebumps from Sirius.
 
VandalHuskerJulie

VandalHuskerJulie

Senior
Oct 13, 2001
4,411
475
83
Pennsyhuskers said:
I get your point. But fans lining the path as the players pass by does not strike me as all that different. And the examples you mention — Buffalo, Sooner Schooner, etc. — are unique to those schools because those things are their iconic mascots. You could add the USC Trojans and their horse to that as well as Florida State’s. Our “mascot” has changed so many times over the years I am not sure I even know what it is anymore. I just don’t see how our tunnel walk is all that different from what everyone else is doing these days.
Click to expand...
How about Herbie Husker riding a combine out onto the field, throwing corn, Runzas & Dorothy Lynch? :D Now that would be different and unique!
 
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Bigred2467

All-Conference
Jul 4, 2025
1,075
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113
Huskers+123 said:
Id get rid of Sirius, It's old and overused. Get something that is unique for Nebraska.
Similar to how VT has made "Enter Sandman" theirs.
Click to expand...
How about replacing it with the theme from "Green Acres?" Or "Thank God I'm a Country Boy?"
 
HuskerHusaria

HuskerHusaria

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Jun 4, 2017
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Pennsyhuskers said:
Have not really tried. I figure Pennsyhuskers is close enough! But how does one go about getting an original username back?
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Pretty darn close!

Well, ScarletRed and HBK are upset with the move, been fighting for the former for some time.

It's looking like we have no power to adjust, they sent me a response that they have no power to do so. I am responding to to take this up a level
 
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Redscarlet

Redscarlet

Heisman
Jun 17, 2001
32,837
10,778
113
Pennsyhuskers said:
Have not really tried. I figure Pennsyhuskers is close enough! But how does one go about getting an original username back?
Click to expand...
I doubt it’s going to happen. Rivals is gone and On3 owned it now and Sean Callahan isn’t going to worry about original screen names on a free message board.
 
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HuskerHusaria

HuskerHusaria

All-Conference
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Redscarlet said:
I doubt it’s going to happen. Rivals is gone and On3 owned it now and Sean Callahan isn’t going to worry about original screen names on a free message board.
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RedScarlet.... Really ScarletRed... I'm really sorry. I am a fighter for my friends. Id love to say hello to you and shake your hand at a game.

If you need a ticket .. I can make it happen my friend
 
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Redscarlet

Redscarlet

Heisman
Jun 17, 2001
32,837
10,778
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HuskerHusaria said:
RedScarlet.... Really ScarletRed... I'm really sorry. I am a fighter for my friends. Id love to say hello to you and shake your hand at a game.

If you need a ticket .. I can make it happen my friend
Click to expand...
Thanks, I share season tickets with family members and we pick a chose games during the season.
 
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