Memorial Stadium: The Sixth Decade, 1973-82

Nebraska soccer’s sixth decade in Memorial Stadium started with the passing of the teaching baton from a legend to a relative unknown. And a heavy baton it was.

Bob Devaney’s two nationwide championships had raised expectations to new ranges. Many followers had been unaware Tom Osborne was the architect of these title groups’ offenses. So far as they knew, he had been in command of the offensive ends and little extra.

Would this low-key 35-year-old be as much as the duty?

Most fan bases would say sure when a coach racks up the nation’s fourth-highest win complete over his first 10 years, as Osborne did from 1973 by way of 1982. A few of these had been epic and unforgettable victories that had the stadium rocking. However losses when it appeared to matter most* — usually by the hands of Oklahoma — left Nebraska followers craving for extra. 

*Defeats within the ultimate recreation of the common season knocked the Huskers out of nationwide championship rivalry in 1975, ’78, ’79 and ’80. Together with the bowls, solely twice did Nebraska finish a season with consecutive wins.

The frustration almost had Osborne packing his baggage for Colorado after six seasons. However he stayed, and he remodeled his I-formation offense. At quarterback, passers within the mould of Dave Humm and Vince Ferragamo gave technique to the likes of triple-option grasp Turner Gill. A potent floor recreation now had Nebraska at or close to the highest of the NCAA dashing charts. With a No. 3 end within the 1982 polls, the Huskers had been on the upswing on the shut of this 10-year stretch. 

By all of it, Osborne was bringing aboard assistant coaches who would serve by way of the length of his tenure. George Darlington (1973), Milt Tenopir (1974), Charlie McBride (1977) and Frank Solich (1979) turned the bedrock of a steady and dependable teaching workers. On the sphere, the walk-on custom was choosing up steam because of the success tales of I.M. Hipp, Derrie Nelson, Jimmy Williams and others.

For a sampling of video games from Memorial Stadium’s sixth decade, scroll previous the details field. 

Dazzling debut

1973: Nebraska 40, UCLA 13. The Tom Osborne period bought off to a rollicking begin on this season-opening battle of top-10 groups. The Huskers began quick and avenged a 1972 loss to the Bruins with massive performances from sophomore I-back Tony Davis and senior quarterback Steve Runty, who each earned AP Nationwide Again of the Week honors. This was one among 4 wins over ranked opponents in Memorial Stadium for the 1973 Huskers, whose missteps throughout a 9-2-1 season all occurred on the highway. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Protection delivers

1974: Nebraska 7, Oklahoma State 3. When issues had been wanting dire, cornerback Ardell Johnson saved Nebraska’s bacon. The Cowboys had been on the Nebraska 5-yard line, threatening to take the lead with just a little over three minutes remaining. As OSU quarterback Charlie Weatherbie ran a wishbone keeper over OSU’s proper facet, monster again Marvel Monds laid a shoulder into him. The ball got here free, and there to pounce on it on the 1-yard line was Johnson. 

Husker followers might exhale, however solely briefly. After a Nebraska punt from the tip zone, OSU took over on the NU 38 with 1:16 to work with. The Cowboys instantly threw deep, and as soon as once more it was Johnson developing massive, tipping the ball away from the attain of an OSU receiver contained in the NU 10. Not till cornerback Jimmy Burrow picked off Weatherbie’s fourth-down heave on the 15 was this one actually over. It was an uncommon method for a Tom Osborne crew to win: Only one different time (1988 vs. Colorado) would his Huskers emerge triumphant at Memorial Stadium whereas scoring within the single digits. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Bombarding the Buffs

1975: Nebraska 63, Colorado 21. The Tenth-ranked Buffaloes shocked the No. 4 Huskers with a 74-yard landing run on the third play of the sport. After that, although, it it was all Nebraska — with substantial assist from an astonishing string of Colorado turnovers, a number of of them unforced. The Buffs misplaced six fumbles, threw two interceptions and misplaced the ball on a muffed kickoff. “The factor simply snowballed. … We simply saved getting the ball contained in the 30,” coach Tom Osborne mentioned afterward. 4 weeks later in Norman, the shoe was on the opposite foot when Husker turnovers arrange Oklahoma landing drives of 13, 10 and 23 yards within the fourth quarter of a 35-10 loss — a defeat that relegated Nebraska to the lower-tier Fiesta Bowl. | HuskerMax recreation web page

98-yard dagger

1976: Missouri 34, Nebraska 24. Shortly after taking a 24-23 lead early within the fourth quarter, Nebraska had the Tigers simply the place it wished them — third-and-14 at their very own 2. It didn’t, nonetheless, prove properly. Mizzou quarterback Pete Woods faked handoffs to each working backs, stepped again and threw over the center to fit receiver Joe Stewart, who was open across the Nebraska 35. Stewart took it the remainder of the way in which for a Huge Eight-record 98-yard landing reception that propelled the Tigers to one among their trademark upsets. 

The loss knocked the third-ranked Huskers out of the nationwide title hunt and helped ship Nebraska to a fourth-place tie within the ultimate Huge Eight standings — the worst convention displaying in Tom Osborne’s 25 years on the helm. Together with an in depth loss ensuing from some last-minute Sooner magic, it was a disappointing 9-3-1 season for a crew ranked No. 1 within the AP preseason ballot. Osborne has mentioned he may need been fired if not for a slender win within the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Rising over the Tide

1977: Nebraska 31, Alabama 24. Every week after dropping to Washington State within the season opener, the Huskers had been unranked for first time since 1969. With the nation’s No. 4 crew on the town, Memorial Stadium was rocking as Nebraska pulled out all of the stops on offense and picked off 5 Jeff Rutledge passes on protection to register the upset. 

I-back Rick Berns rushed for 128 yards, and there have been electrifying performs from I.M. Hipp, Curtis Craig and others as Nebraska’s offense saved tempo with the Crimson Tide’s potent weapons, which included Corridor of Fame receiver Ozzie Newsome (eight catches for 132 yards). Tom Osborne now had his first win over a top-five crew. For ’Bama and legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, it was the season’s solely blemish — one which finally saved them one rung wanting the 1977 nationwide championship. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Sooners stymied

1978: Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 14. The delirium and decibel ranges had been off the charts in Memorial Stadium, and for good motive: The No. 4 Huskers knocked off the No. 1 Sooners, a crew that coach Barry Switzer has mentioned may need been his greatest at Oklahoma. Longtime followers will let you know this was the hardest-hitting recreation they’ve ever seen. The hit that saved the sport was delivered with a minute and a half remaining by security Jeff Hansen, who jarred the ball free from OU’s Billy Sims on the Nebraska 3.

The Sooners’ six-game successful streak within the collection was now over, and it appeared the Oklahoma monkey was off Tom Osborne’s again. A bowl recreation for the nationwide championship now appeared all however sure, however Missouri’s upset of Nebraska the next week resulted in an NU-OU rematch as an alternative — and a 31-24 loss. Osborne gave severe thought to leaping ship to Colorado earlier than deciding to stay at Nebraska. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Roaring again vs. Lions

1979: Nebraska 42, Penn State 17. Twelve minutes into the sport, quarterback Tim Hager had simply thrown a pick-six and Nebraska was down 14-0. That turned out to be a mere pace bump because the sixth-ranked Huskers dominated the ultimate 48 minutes for a lopsided win over coach Joe Paterno’s No. 18 Nittany Lions. Hager threw for 200-plus yards, together with landing passes of 70 and 11 yards to tight finish Junior Miller. Switch I-back Jarvis Redwine rushed for 124 yards, his first triple-digit efficiency as a Husker.

All of it added as much as 530 yards of offense for Nebraska, simply 4 yards shy of breaking the Penn State opponent document. The Blackshirts, in the meantime, allowed solely 183 yards and had been now on their technique to stringing collectively 20 consecutive quarters with out giving up a landing. The victory vaulted unbeaten Nebraska into the AP high 5, the place the Huskers would stay till a 17-14 defeat at Oklahoma, adopted by one other 17-14 loss to Houston within the Cotton Bowl. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Heartbreak, then applause

1980: Florida State 18, Nebraska 14. This loss was about as irritating as they arrive. But Husker followers gave Florida State a spontaneous ovation because the Seminoles left the sphere. FSU coach Bobby Bowden was amazed, and a signature custom of sportsmanship at Memorial Stadium was born.

After a area objective had boosted the Seminoles’ result in 4 factors with 2:37 remaining, Nebraska answered by driving 77 yards to the FSU 3. The frenzied crowd bought set to have a good time a basic come-from-behind victory. However on a second-down rollout, quarterback Jeff Quinn was hit and fumbled earlier than he might get a go away. A Seminole pounced on the pigskin with simply 10 seconds left, and Sixteenth-ranked FSU had knocked off No. 3 Nebraska regardless of being outyarded 386 to 166. The Huskers had squandered that yardage benefit with three third-quarter turnovers that led to 12 FSU factors. Nebraska’s solely different loss in a 10-2 season additionally was determined within the ultimate minute when Oklahoma edged Nebraska in Lincoln for the Huge Eight title. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Extra splash than flash

1981: Nebraska 17, Auburn 3. It was sloppy, however it was a win — a pivotal one which saved the Huskers from a 1-3 begin to the season. Each offenses struggled mightily as pouring rain made the ball slippery and the substitute turf much more so. After tying issues up at 3-3 with a third-quarter area objective, the Huskers put the sport away with landing “drives” of 4 and 9 yards following Auburn turnovers. 

The Blackshirts had been stellar, holding the Tigers’ wishbone offense to 150 yards, recovering 5 fumbles and choosing off two passes. Husker senior Mark Mauer break up time at quarterback with sophomore Turner Gill, who accomplished simply one among six passes and had a scant 29 yards of complete offense. Nonetheless, Gill earned his first begin the next week in opposition to Colorado, and the 59-0 romp bought Nebraska rolling on an inconceivable march to a possible nationwide title in January. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Grinding one out

1982: Nebraska 23, Missouri 19. With Nebraska trailing by 4 factors within the fourth quarter, a hobbled Husker offense scored two touchdowns within the ultimate 5 minutes to drag away from the Tigers. Senior Bruce Mathison was getting his first significant motion at quarterback as a result of Turner Gill had suffered a concussion on a questionable hit within the first half. Junior I-back Mike Rozier was nursing a painful hip pointer and wasn’t anticipated to play, however he got here off the bench and rushed for 139 yards, together with runs of 17 and 27 on the go-ahead drive. “I believed our gamers actually confirmed numerous braveness as we speak,” coach Tom Osborne mentioned afterward. 

The win saved Nebraska on observe for its second consecutive Huge Eight title, and solely a controversial loss at Penn State earlier within the season saved the 12-win Huskers out of the hunt for the nationwide championship in January. | HuskerMax recreation web page

Postscript: Bag of tips

Tom Osborne was turning into recognized throughout this time for his trick performs, however essentially the most notable ones appeared to occur away from Memorial Stadium: the Bummeroosky pretend punt for a pivotal rating by John O’Leary at Missouri and the Fumbleroosky landing carry by guard Randy Schleusener at Oklahoma. Followers in Memorial Stadium lastly bought one to recollect when the Sooners visited in 1982. This time it was the Bounceroosky — a backward go off the AstroTurf from Turner Gill to Irving Fryar, adopted by a deep throw downfield from Fryar to tight finish Mitch Krenk. The 37-yard acquire arrange Nebraska’s second landing in a 28-24 win.

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Two former Nebraska assistants proved nettlesome for Osborne throughout his first decade on the helm. Carl Selmer gained simply 5 video games in his two seasons as head coach at Miami, however extremely ranked Husker groups wanted second-half comebacks to beat Selmer’s Hurricanes once they visited Lincoln in 1975 and ’76. A far larger thorn in Osborne’s facet was Warren Powers, who registered an upset win in 1977 with Washington State and adopted that up with a devastating repeat in 1978 with Missouri. From 1979 into the ’80s, Nebraska sweated out extra shut calls in opposition to Powers’ Tigers.