September 10, 2021 · 2 min read

BTN honors Nebraska’s 9/11 Tunnel Walk tribute

Band members and singers stand on the Memorial Stadium turf as fans lift red, white and blue cards to spell out "USA" during Sept. 20, 2001 pregame activities.

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The university's Sept. 20, 2001 tribute to those who died on 9/11 and the dedication of first responders is being heralded in a new documentary airing on Big Ten Network.

Nine days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the nation’s weary eyes turned briefly toward Nebraska.

Hosting the first major college football game following the attacks, the University of Nebraska organized a stirring pregame that featured a tribute to the nation’s first responders. And, the Cornhuskers celebrated the heroes of 9/11 in the most Nebraska way possible — through the fabled Tunnel Walk.

The story of that day and the tribute are featured a Big Ten Network documentary, “The B1G Story: Tunnel Walk Tribute.” The 30-minute program includes the events that led up to the Sept. 20 game with Rice and how the tribute was created. The production features Nebraska football players, coaches and the first responders who participated, all discussing the day, it’s impacts and what the experience meant to them.

The documentary was directed by Garrett Wright, a Nebraskan who, in 2001, was a sophomore in high school and attended the game. Wright is also a University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumnus, having earned his degree in 2009.

“The B1G Story: Tunnel Walk Tribute” is airing multiple times on the Big Ten Network. Show times this weekend (Sept. 10-12) are:

• Sept. 10 — 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.
• Sept. 11 — 7 and 9:30 a.m.
• Sept. 12 — 1:30 a.m., and 3 and 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the program and other upcoming broadcasts, visit the Big Ten Network online.