Top Ten Most Memorable Husker Bowl Games
10 comments so far
December 28, 2007 by
Since the Huskers are taking this bowl season off I thought it would be fun to reminisce about some of the most memorable bowl games in Nebraska history. Luckily, Nebraskans have many vivid memories to choose from: The Second Game of the Century, the missed 2-point conversion, the kick that went wide left, The Run. Here is my (admittedly subjective) list of the most memorable bowl games in Husker history.
#10 - 1972 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 38, Alabama 6
The Huskers enter the Orange Bowl ranked No. 1, having just defeated Oklahoma in "The Game of the Century." Devaney's teams suffered back-to-back losses to Paul "Bear" Bryant's Alabama teams in 1966 and 1967 and the media labels this rematch "The Second Game of the Century."
Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers sets the tone for the game with his 77 yard punt return in the first quarter. On the very next play, Alabama fumbles the kick return and gives the Huskers the ball on the 27 yard line. Quarterback Jerry Tagge scores on a one yard plunge to make it 21-0 with 2:17 gone in the second quarter. Demoralized, Alabama never mounts a counter attack and the Huskers win the game easily.
The game doesn't live up to the pre-game hype, but the Huskers clinch their second straight title and celebrate one of their most convincing victories in program history.
#9 - 1983 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 21, LSU 20
The Huskers enter the game with the nation's best offense, but the Blackshirts control the game, holding the Tigers to a NU bowl record 38 yards rushing. After a string of turnovers the Huskers come from behind to defeat LSU and finish #3 in the nation.
More: Omaha World Herald
#8 - 1973 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 40, Notre Dame 6
In Bob Devaney's last game as head coach, he moves Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers from Wingback to I-Back. Rodgers scores four touchdowns, throws for a fifth and racks up 560 yards of total offense. The Huskers finish 4th in the AP poll.
#7 - 2005 Alamo Bowl - Nebraska 32, Michigan 28
In a game that is tied at halftime, Zac Taylor hits Terrence Nunn on a 13 yard touchdown pass to give the Huskers the lead with 4:29 left in the game. After trading punts, Michigan takes over deep in their own territory with seven seconds left in the game.
Michigan runs a multi-lateral play that includes eight different Wolverines touching the ball with eight laterals and a fumble recovery. In one of the most bizarre endings in Nebraska history, the last play covers 51 yards before Titus Brothers makes the tackle at the Nebraska 13-yard line as players and coaches from both teams are running onto the field.
More: Huskers.com, Omaha World Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, MSNBC, Michigan Daily
#6 - 1998 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 42, Tennessee 17
The second-ranked Huskers manhandle the third-ranked Volunteers and finish the season 13-0. The Blackshirts hold Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning to 134 yards on 31 attempts.
In a post game interview on the field, NU quarterback Scott Frost pleads the Huskers' case for splitting the National Championship with Michigan.
"If you can look yourself in the mirror and say if your job depended on playing either Michigan or Nebraska, who would you rather play?"
The coaches agree and vote the Huskers #1, giving them a share of the national title, their third in four years.
More: Omaha World Herald, Sports Illustrated
#5 - 1996 Fiesta Bowl - Nebraska 62, Florida 24
The #1 Huskers have beaten three top ten teams by an average score of 45-16. Yet most analysts pick the Gators to win. Tommie Frazier carries the ball 16 times for a career high 199 yards and two touchdowns. On one carry Frazier runs 75 yards, breaks seven tackles and scores a touchdown. Many Nebraskans now refer to that play as The Run.
The Blackshirts hold the Florida "Fun 'N Gun" offense to minus 28 yards rushing and 269 total yards. Florida entered the game averaging double that amount. They sack Florida QB Danny Wuerffel seven times and pick off three passes. Wuerffel had only thrown 10 interceptions in the previous 11 games.
Nebraska's 62 points is the most points ever scored in a bowl by a Husker team, and it could have been more. On the last play of the game, third-string quarterback Matt Turman took a knee on the Florida one yard line.
The victory gives the Cornhuskers their second national title in as many years.
More: Omaha World Herald, Rocky Mountain News
#4 - 1994 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 16, Florida State 18
Nebraska enters the game #1 in the Coaches Poll. Florida State is #1 in the AP Poll with Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward at quarterback.
In a low scoring affair, NU kicker Byron Bennett kicks what appears to be a game winning field goal with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. With Nebraska up 16-15, the Seminoles drive 60 yards and on second down with 21 seconds remaining, kick a field goal to go up 18-16. A celebration penalty gives the Huskers the ball near midfield with 14 seconds on the clock.
After an incomplete pass, Tommie Frazier completes a pass to Trumane Bell and calls timeout with 1 second remaining. However, the clock reads zero and Bobby Bowden gets a Gatorade bath while wearing a national championship hat. The officials put one second back on the clock and Bennett lines up for a 45 yard field goal, a kick that would give Tom Osborne his first National Championship... and he hooks it wide left.
More: Omaha World Herald, Sports Illustrated, Scout.com
#3 - 1971 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 17, LSU 12
Energized by the knowledge that No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Ohio State both lost their bowl games, the No. 3 Huskers run to an early 10-0 lead over the Tigers. By the fourth quarter, their lead evaporates and the Huskers find themselves trailing 12-10.
Nebraska quarterback Jerry Tagge engineers a 62 yard drive to the LSU five yard line. Tagge lunges for the goal line behind a block by running back Jeff Kinney, but falls a foot short. On the next play Tagge jumps over the pile, stretching his arms forward and breaks the plane of the goal line for the game winning touchdown.
The victory results in the first National Championship for the Cornhusker program.
More: Omaha World Herald
#2 - 1984 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 30, Miami 31
In a game featuring Outland and Lombardi winner Dean Steinkuhler carrying the ball on a Fumblerooski, the Huskers find themselves trailing #1 Miami 31-17 in the fourth quarter. The Huskers mount a furious comback and score a touchdown with 48 seconds to play in the game. Kicking the extra point would result in a tie, and most likely, a National Championship. Osborne elects to try the 2-point conversion, but Turner Gill's pass to Jeff Smith falls incomplete in the end zone.
More: Huskers.com, Omaha World Herald, CBS Sportsline
#1 - 1995 Orange Bowl - Nebraska 24, Miami 17
The Huskers trail Miami 10-0 into the second quarter. Starting quarterback Tommie Frazier was pulled after throwing a wobbly interception in the second drive of the game.
With NU trailing 17-9 in the fourth quarter and Miami facing fourth-and-three from their 43, the ball is snapped over the head of the Miami punter Dane Prewitt. As the ball rolls back to the 10 yard line, Prewitt kicks it through the back of the end zone. Instead of scoring a safety for Nebraska, the officials penalize Miami for an illegal kick and NU takes over at Miami's 4 yard line. On the next play, Brook Berringer throws an interception in the end zone.
The Blackshirts force Miami to punt. Tommie Frazier re-enters the game with fresh legs and scores a touchdown two plays later. A two-point conversion ties the game 17-17 with 7:38 to play.
The Blackshirts again hold Miami to three-and-out. Frazier breaks an option play for 25 yards on third down and another for six yards and a first down. Then fullback Corey Schlesinger bolts 14 yards up the middle for a touchdown and the Huskers lead 24-17 with 2:46 to play.
Roverback Kareem Moss intercepts Miami quarterback Frank Costa's pass with 1:01 to play, sealing the victory for the Huskers. After losing seven straight bowl games, six of those to Florida schools, Tom Osborne wins his first National Championship.
More: Omaha World Herald, Sports Illustrated
* Note the years listed in this table are for the season, not necessarily the year in which the bowl was played.
There are some memorable bowl games that didn't make this list, and the order is debatable. So, what do you say? What games should have made the list? Which would you put at #1?
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darren Dec 28 07
The choices for #2 and #1 are spot on. I've always felt there was a sort of bigger connection between those games. Winning that title on that field against that opponent sort of vanquished the hurt from a decade prior.
Hard to see the vaunted '95 teams victory listed at #5. Though, I can understand the logic.
This is a great post overall, but it is a painful reminder of NU's inability to go bowling this year. Sigh...
Jason Dec 28 07
Yeah, I struggled with where to put the '95 team's trouncing of Miami. They are the best team the Huskers have ever fielded, but the list is for the "most memorable."
I think it's fair to say that the first national championship in '71 should rate pretty high.
I could see moving the '94 loss to Florida St. down one. At the time it felt like just another loss to a Florida team. "Osborne can't win the big one, etc. etc." But now we know that Osborne got the monkey off his back the very next season.
I remember that wide left kick very vividly. But, this is a subjective list and could see why it might be farther down in someone else's list.
Dwayne Dec 28 07
This is a good post. I would move the 84 Orange Bowl to number 1. Don Criqui's play by play sticks in my head like it was yesterday. I thought he did a fabulous call, then and even still now when I listen to it. This game began the disdain I have even still today for the University of Miami. Going for 2 was the obvious thing to do, but looking at it now I would have rolled Turner a bit more to make Miami's defense respect his running ability but still give him an option to pass the ball.
Renny Dec 28 07
Love this post. Watching the videos and reading the stories gave me chills at times.
Of course, I wasn't old enough to remember some of these, but probably the most painful childhood memory for me was watching Byron Bennett's kick sail wide left. I remember breaking down in tears and my dad and I riding home from the watch party and him simply saying "Son, we'll do it next year." We did. And it was glorious!
bnahusker Dec 28 07
I remember Sports Illustrated opening their coverage of the Husker/Tide Orange Bowl by saying something like "The best two teams in the nation were in the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately for Alabama, Nebraska had both of them." I was just a lad at the time, and this is my earliest bowl memory. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Happy New Year to all!
Bob
Scott Thomsen Dec 28 07
A couple points.
First, the backup QB in the Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida was Matt Tuman (No r).
Also, on the last play against FSU, I do not believe there was a time out. I believe Nebraska had used all of its timeouts, but the clock stopped because of a first down. The team had to scramble onto the field to try the field goal, which makes it harder for a kicker than one who gets extra time from the other coach trying to "ice" him.
Still, a great post and list.
GBR!
Scott
kyle Dec 28 07
i know this isnt the most memorable game but i think the 2000 killing of northeastern was a big game cause if im not wrong it was the biggest margin win in college football bowl games and also people were talking about how the program was going downhill and they won that game big. That game always stuck out at me
bnahusker Dec 28 07
Sorry to be picky Scott, but Matt used an "R" in his last name, and Berringer was the 2nd string QB on the 1994 & 1995 teams. Matt was invaluable against Missouri and K-State that year. Also, the Huskers throttled Northwestern from the Big 10, not Northeastern from the Colonial Athletic Association in the Alamo Bowl.
http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=440&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=168
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
Bob
huskerranger Dec 28 07
i think the list is great. i have only seen the "greatest game of the century on espn classics, but it was a great game by arguably the 2 greatest college teams of all times. now the 96' and 97'games are my top two because i was there with my father in fla. i was 15 and 16 years old. it was the most exciting thing i had been to up to that point.(i was living in va by the way) i played football on the east coast and was recruited by many colleges there but not NU. seeing those games made me want to only play for NU. now if you are asking the greatest games then ya the list is great, but the 10 greatest teams.... i would have to say without a doubt the 95' team is for sure the best i have seen period.
a us army ranger thats a huge husker fan,
huskerranger
P.S. in the 95' or 96' season didnt philips come in the season late and play in the bowl game to crush any and all oppisition?
Scott Thomsen Dec 31 07
Bob (bnahusker),
Thanks for your post. I found where the difference was. It's not Matt Truman as the list describes. And I made the mistake of Tuman. It was Matt TURMAN. And he was a big part of that team. Walk-on that nobody expected to play but he picked us up when Frazier and Berringer got hurt.
GBR!
Scott