When players from the 1962 Husker team that started the sellout streak were introduced to the crowd before the game Saturday, they entered the field to their own 1962-style tunnel walk.

Video screens showed a 1960s-era Husker team breaking through a paper banner and charging onto the field. Rather than the traditional tunnel music “Sirius,'' the old gridders entered to the 1962 hit “Green Onions,'' by Booker T and the MGs.

The group Saturday was dubbed, “The ones who started it all.”

After they took the field, the two dozen 1962 players then helped form a tunnel for the 2009 version of the Huskers to make their entrance. Many of the old players had big smiles on their faces as they took part in this modern-day Husker tradition, raising their 1962 replica helmets over their heads as the Huskers ran by.

Doug Tucker, a backup quarterback on the 1962 Huskers, said leading the Huskers out onto the field was “an awesome experience.''

“This whole week has been one of the highlights of my life,'' said Tucker, an Iowa native now retired and living in Texas. “I'm sure no one here remembers Doug Tucker, but I sure remember Nebraska. What an honor to be here.'' — Henry J. Cordes and Nick Rubek

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While members of the 1962 team shared memories of their old coach, several said they see a little Bob Devaney in current Husker coach Bo Pelini. Passion, work ethic and concern for the welfare of his players were shared traits commonly mentioned.

“He seems like a great teacher and a players' coach,'' said Dennis Claridge, quarterback of the ‘62 team. “And that's what Bob was.'' — Henry J. Cordes

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As the white doors slide open, it feels like you're entering a simulator in a major theme park.

“Enjoy your ride,'' said NU staffer Bob Posvar as he greeted the next group to go in.

Welcome to “the Nebraska Football Experience,'' a new video tribute to Nebraska's three Heisman Trophy winners that debuted Saturday. It was open to fans on the main floor of the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex, on the north side of Memorial Stadium.

About 20 to 25 people can enter at a time. Once the doors close, they are treated to a seven-minute video presentation on the exploits of Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier and Eric Crouch. It plays on a contoured screen with digital sound, and replicas of their trophies pop out of the wall.

The visual display replaces a former Heisman room that was located in west stadium. And the reaction of the 500 or so people who went through it Saturday seemed to be very positive.

“Really amazing,'' said Tonya Mauldin of Norfolk after emerging from her experience. “They really spiffed it up.'' — Henry J. Cordes

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Seniors Beth Butler of Lincoln and Robert Tualaulelei of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, were crowned queen and king Saturday at 2009 Nebraska homecoming festivities.

Butler, the daughter of Carol Butler and the late Richard Butler, is an elementary education major. Tualaulelei, son of Ropati and Shaula Tualaulelei, majors in broadcasting. Both were elected in a vote of the UNL student body. — Henry J. Cordes

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The number 300 was everywhere Saturday, painted 25 feet tall on the field and appearing in various sizes on people's faces, on shirts, on balloons and all over the scoreboards. The Cornhusker Marching Band even formed the three digits during its halftime show.

The band gave a retro performance, each song in its halftime show dating to 1962. Among the old standards: “The Wanderer,'' “Green Onions,'' “Let's Twist Again,'' and “I Can't Stop Loving You.''

The show ended with some 80,000 people joining in, singing a rendition of Bruce Channel's 1962 hit “Hey, Baby.'' — Henry J. Cordes

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It was all about remembering that first sellout.

Game tickets, programs and posters for Saturday all were designed to look like those printed in the early 1960s.

A commemorative poster being sold for $5 each — free to season ticketholders — features each of the 300 sellout ticket stubs donated to the athletic department by Willis and Fran Regier of Bellevue. — Henry J. Cordes

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A pair of jets did the pregame flyover, getting a rousing ovation from the crowd. A helicopter for still photos hovered over the northwest corner for much of the first quarter. — Nick Rubek

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Our House

Probably the most moving video tribute of the night produced by the HuskerVision crew was one interspersing current and vintage video in and around Memorial Stadium to the Crosby, Stills and Nash tune “Our House.'' — Henry J. Cordes