Huskers Are Comeback Kids
5 comments so far
September 27, 2007 by
While the past few weeks has been spent by many Husker fans pointing out how bad things are, one overlooked fact has been the resiliency this team has shown. In all four games thus far this season, the opponent took a lead in the first half and in all four games the Huskers responded by scoring to take a lead of their own. That’s not something you see from every team.
One of the most fondly remembered teams by Cleveland Brown fans are the “Kardiac Kids”, the 1980 squad that went 11-5 with a lot of nail-biting finishes. But they earned that nickname on the basis of just seven games only four of which they won: A 46-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left against the Packers on third and twenty; a back-and-forth contest with the Steelers won on a TD pass to Ozzie Newsome with 5:35 remaining; a 56-yard touchdown run against the Chicago Bears to win by 6; a heartbreaking loss to the Steelers on a Lynn Swann touchdown with 11 seconds remaining; a loss to the Vikings on a Hail Mary pass caught by Ahmad Rashad; a game-winning field goal over the Bengals with 1:25 remaining to secure the division in the last week of the season; and a last-second interception from the Raiders’ 13-yard line with less than a minute remaining.
In only four games, we’ve already seen the Huskers make a fourth quarter comeback over Wake Forest holding off the Demon Deacons final drive at midfield with 1:11 remaining and another fourth-quarter comeback from a 37-28 deficit to take the lead at 41-40 with 3:13 remaining and surviving a 55-yard field goal attempt with 12 seconds remaining against Ball State. The nine-point comeback was one of the five biggest comebacks in Husker history, believe it or not.
Cleveland fans fondly remember 1980 in part because they hadn’t made the playoffs since 1972 and because of Brian Sipe’s MVP performance at quarterback. While Sam Keller looks very much like the second-coming of Sipe, Husker fans aren’t nearly as willing to embrace a team that’s winning games late and in dramatic fashion.
Nebraskans have been understandably spoiled by more than four decades of success. But it’s not like the Browns are without history either. Between 1946 and 1965 they played in thirteen championship games (winning eight). That was the whole enchilada back then since there was no Super Bowl. Yet after only seven years without playoffs, they were ready to embrace a playoff team. It’s been six years now since the Huskers played in a BCS bowl, yet Husker fans still seem unwilling to enjoy some exciting football even when their team is still very much alive for a BCS bid. Husker fans can take a lesson from Browns fans, whose loyalty was ultimately the reason their team returned home after it was taken away. Good things can happen for fans that support their team.
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ze Sep 27 07
Actually, I don't mind 'cardiac' games as long as NE wins most of them. Seems like this is what we're in store for the rest of the season so we might as well get used to it.
With a certain level of detatchment, they are more exciting to watch. However, a good old fashioned blowout would be welcome in the mix.
Tyler Sep 27 07
Amen brothaman! i want to see a comeback win against worthy opponents, not in 3 out of 4 of our entire non-conference schedule!
doombob Sep 27 07
If we're comeback kids, why is the line still favoring us 21 point on the Iowa State Game? I'm starting to think - does Vegas know something that us regular folks don't? After last week's game, you would think they would play it conservatively. You're going to have a lot of people probably thinking that ISU will beat the spread.
ze Sep 27 07
That's a 'reputation' spread....
Scott Sep 27 07
What's done is done.....we're 3-1 through 4 games which is where a lot of people, including myself, expected us to be.
I know it's been said a hundred times before but there are a lot of teams that would love to be 3-1 right now....ask Charlie Weis.