Rebuilding a Dynasty Part Four: 1993 – Restoring the Faith
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April 27, 2006 by
This is the fourth and final part of the four-part series on Nebraska’s climb to the top of college football in the early 1990’s.
The 1993 season was one to be anticipated. Plenty of fans and media folk still were in wait-and-see mode as to whether Nebraska could truly be a national power, but Nebraska clearly appeared to be the class of the conference in 1992 and brought back talent on both sides of the ball. Playmakers Tommie Frazier, Calvin Jones, and Corey Dixon returned on offense and Butkus candidate Trev Alberts lead an aggressive attacking defense. “Refuse to Lose” was the motto that would define the season.
Nebraska opened with big wins over North Texas and Texas Tech in Lincoln before managing to escape from Pasadena with a 14-13 win over UCLA (who would go on to win the Pac-10 conference that year). After another easy win over Colorado State at home, Nebraska survived a Thursday night slugfest against Oklahoma State in Stillwater. The game was tied going into the fourth quarter before Barron Miles broke through to block a punt and recover it for the go-ahead touchdown and Calvin Jones broke free for a 44-yard touchdown to ice the game 27-13 in his first full game of the season.
Next up was Kansas State, where the teams combined for over 1100 yards in the 45-28 NU win in Lincoln. The Huskers cruised to a 49-7 triumph over Missouri a week later setting up a showdown with the Buffaloes in Boulder for conference supremacy. Nebraska got off to a quick start with a big punt return from Corey Dixon setting up a 4-yard Calvin Jones touchdown run early in the first quarter. Eight minutes later Jones scored again on a ten-yard run. Before the quarter ended Dixon hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from Frazier to give NU the 21-3 lead. Jones would leave the game with leg and stomach cramps and NU’s defense would hold the lead as the NU offense would struggle the rest of the way. Trev Alberts and company put the heat on Kordell Stewart with 3 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries and picked off 3 passes to hold off the Buffs for a 21-17 win.
With the conference seemingly in hand, the Huskers survived a scare in Lawrence when a failed 2-point conversion attempt by Kansas with less than a minute remaining let Nebraska escape with a 21-20 win behind 195 rushing yards from Calvin Jones. Nebraska reminded Iowa State of their respective positions on the food chain with a 49-17 whipping behind a 209 yard Jones rushing effort. The win would also send Nebraska to a third straight Orange Bowl. In the final regular season game, Nebraska managed a 21-7 win over Oklahoma to remain perfect on the year but sustained a big injury to Trev Alberts who dislocated his elbow in the game.
Most NU fans know the story of the Orange Bowl that followed the 1993 season. Despite being a 17 ½ point underdog to the Seminoles, Nebraska came a missed field goal (and a few misses from the officiating crew) from winning the national championship. Nebraska finished the year at #3 in the country, it’s highest combined ranking in a decade. While the goal of winning a national title eluded the Huskers, it was clearly now within reach and no one doubted that the Huskers were once again a national power. The next four seasons would define the new dynasty, but the foundation for those teams was built in the years before through hard work and striving to be better. Forgotten heroes like Keithen McCant, Calvin Jones, and Corey Dixon paved the way.
Fast forward to 2006 where Nebraska again appears to be building something, new heroes are in the fold like Adam Carriker, Zac Taylor and Corey McKeon. Maybe they won’t be around to reach the mountaintop, but they may well be the ones to lead the way there.
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Lothar Jun 14 06
Great analysis of these pivotal four years Steve! I was surprised however, that it seemed like you downplayed the significance of McBride's switch in defensive philosophy to the 4-3 from the traditional 5-2. You mention it in reference to the '92 Colorado game but it seemed only a passing reference. But, I'm nit-picking what otherwise is a great read.
Steve Jun 14 06
Good point. I'm a big believer that schemes are less important than talent, but clearly the extra linebacker added to the overall speed of the defense. I also didn't have much to add about the 4-3. The switch is pretty well-known among Husker fans but in terms of exactly when and how it paid off (other than the defense being faster) I had little to add.