A former tennis player at Nebraska, Schmahl worked 14 years as a television sportscaster for 10/11 before taking a job with the Nebraska athletic department in 1993.
From there, he quickly took a leadership role in HuskerVision, which made its debut on the big screens in Memorial Stadium in 1994.
What is an accepted part of live sporting events two decades later was groundbreaking back then, especially in collegiate circles.
On Tuesday, Byrne recalled the first season with HuskerVision, and the reaction from opponents. Bill Marolt, the former Colorado athletic director, had heard about the intensity of the Tunnel Walk and was concerned about the impact it would have on the CU players.
“The Buffaloes were all set to come out on the field,” Byrne said. “The screens went to black. The music started. Bill turned to the team and said, ‘Don’t look, don’t look.’ He said they were dead by the time they hit the 40-yard line. He said it was the most intimidating introduction he had ever seen.
