Magical Moments, Fan Enhancements and Rohr?s Roar

Brown: Sam Foltz Will Be Watching Huskers from Above

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Nebraska football fans who have attended home games for decades at Memorial Stadium will notice two major changes Saturday night when the Huskers host Fresno State in the season opener.

The first front-and-center alteration will be expanded, cleaner and more instantaneous scores, stats and graphics on the video boards. The second recognizable revision will be the Huskers’ new public address announcer – Nate Rohr, a Beatrice, Neb., native who has been a passionate Nebraska football fan since the Huskers won the 1994 national championship shortly before he celebrated his 10th birthday.

We will get to the enhancements and the Roar of Rohr in this pregame N-Sider, but begin with the magical moments that fans will experience because they bought tickets to watch the game live instead of staying home and not knowing what they would miss.

10 Anticipated Magical Moments for Huskers Attending the Season Opener

1) The Sam Foltz scholarship recipient will be recognized 20 minutes before the game on the northwest 20-yard line.

2) A moment of silence in honor of Foltz prior to the Cornhusker Marching Band’s performance of the National Anthem.

3) A heartfelt gesture acknowledging Alonzo Moore and Sam Hahn as honorary game captains reflecting Foltz’s spirit and legacy.

4) The Huskers’ first punt of the game and how it will impact the shared respect from Big Red fans glued to their seats.

5) Nebraska’s fabled Tunnel Walk, still unparalleled in college football.

6) Recognizing Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union during the first break in the first quarter.

7) Unveiling the new number of Nebraska’s nation-leading Academic All-Americans while recognizing five former Academic All-Americans who will be introduced in the East balcony between the first and second quarters. They include Terry Connealy, Joel Makovicka and Rob Zatechka (football), Nancy Metcalf (volleyball) and Mattie Fowler (softball).

8) Recognizing 285 band members, who will be seated in the east apron on Alumni Band Day.

9) Recognizing U.S. Marine Corp Captain Chris McGleneinnaiss, who served our country for more than 10 years in various roles.

10) Watching the continued excellence of Nebraska’s marching band, spirit squad, Scarlets dance team and, of course, Herbie Husker.

HuskerVision Installs New Software to Enhance Huskers' Game Day Experience

Nebraska football fans will benefit from new technology that will enhance the game day experience. HuskerVision has replaced outdated software with new installments that will enable fans to see cleaner, broader and more instantaneous views of scores, stats and signage. Team and individual statistics will be combined with graphics and promote sponsors.

The technology allows HuskerVision to feature full screens that  deliver almost immediate action highlights with simultaneous interactive graphics. The software offers quicker updates and accommodates creative tools that showcase action and facts faster and better than ever.

Nebraska's iconic Tunnel Walk also gets a technological boost, using new software and lighting to enable live views on the power screens from inside the tunnel for the first time ever. The HuskerVision team is elevating high-definition video and editing it faster. New era possibilities include full screens that feature double replays.

Nate Rohr Excited to Make His Debut as Huskers' Public Address Announcer

Big Red football fans are eager to hear Nate Rohr (pictured above) as Nebraska's new public address announcer, but no one is more excited than Rohr, who earned the opportunity last May. The longtime P.A. voice of Nebraska softball got a ringing endorsement from Husker Coach Rhonda Revelle, Nebraska's longest tenured head coach and winningest head coach.

"Rhonda really helped me out," Rohr said Friday. "I think she put a bug in someone's ear. The blood's flowing pretty good right now. I'm calling two high school football games Friday for Time Warner to warm up. I'll be nervous all day Saturday, but I'll be ready. It's exciting. I can't believe my voice is going to be coming out of Memorial Stadium's speakers on Saturday, and I'll be right in the middle of it all. It's becoming more real every minute.

"I've studied and practiced and worked on Fresno State names and numbers," Rohr said. "When 90,000 people are counting on you, it comes down to trusting your eyes, trusting your spotters and trusting the preparation you've had."

When Rohr watched Nebraska beat Miami in the 1995 Orange Bowl, he was less than a month from turning 10 years old. "I followed the next two national championship teams and got swept up into it all," he said. "I've been at every Nebraska Fan Day since 1996 and I owe this opportunity to getting into sports information and working for IMG as the traffic manager for Husker Sports Nightly.

"Growing up, I went to every football game I could, but that's not easy when we've sold out every game since before my dad was even born. Every game I attended was Christmas and my birthday rolled into one. For me, the world stops when the Huskers play, and I can't wait to do this Saturday night."

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