Husker Killers: Major Applewhite
5 comments so far
March 11, 2008 by
Looking back at Texas breaking Nebraska's 47-game home winning streak in 1998, some will say that it took eventual Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams to accomplish the feat. I think those people are wrong. It was a rosy-cheeked redshirt freshman quarterback named Major Applewhite who was the real Husker Killer that day. His clutch play beat NU that day, and would strike the Huskers again later. Worse, because of how he was treated by his own coach, I actually came to empathize with and like the guy. Worst of all, I think Husker fans have not seen the last of Applewhite's dangerous talent.
Applewhite scorched a solid NU defense for 269 yards and two touchdowns that day. Perhaps most importantly, the freshman didn't make any turnovers in front of a hostile crowd and made key throws in tough situations. Yes, other factors contributed to the Texas win. Williams rushed for 150 yards. But the nation's leading rusher was held well below his season average. Yes, Nebraska started walk on Monte Cristo (the player, not the literary character, and not the sandwich) against the Horns. But, a freshman named Eric Crouch relieved him after NU fell behind 10-0.
Frankly, 7th-ranked NU had enough personnel on both sides of the ball to beat the unranked Horns at home that day. The difference was Applewhite. He made a series of clutch throws on the decisive 85-yard march to win the game, including the winning score.
Applewhite would go on to hold the record for passing yards by a freshman at UT. And he would beat the Huskers again the next year, throwing for 213 yards and two scores in UT's 1999 win over NU in Austin. Thankfully, Applewhite's "Killer" status has a big blemish, in the form of the 1999 conference title game. That time, NU avenged their earlier loss and picked off Applewhite three times. That felt good.
Now, here is what really gets me about Applewhite. I actually kind of like the guy. Despite his excellent performances in the regular season and in bowl games, he lost his job to the talented and much ballyhooed Chris Simms in 2001. Maybe I thought he got a raw deal. Seeing Applewhite - the undersized favorite of Texas fans - sub for an injured Simms and rally the Longhorns in a furious comeback during the 2001 Big 12 title game actually made me root for him. UT lost that day, but my opinion was further cemented when Applewhite had a scorching good Holiday Bowl performance that year - again in place of Simms. I guess it was just nice to see Applewhite work his magic against teams other than dear old Nebraska U. Regardless, my grudging respect for the guy almost makes it worse in some ways. It sucks when you still like somebody who hurt you. You know?
Lacking the physical tools for the NFL, Applewhite is in coaching. He's an offensive wunderkind, it seems. And it is not just because he bares a striking resemblance to Tom Osborne. After serving as a graduate assistant at UT, he got a break as the quarterbacks coach for Syracuse under Greg Robinson. After just one year with Syracuse, he became the offensive coordinator at Rice. As the youngest coordinator in the country, he led Rice to a huge offensive resurgence and a bowl birth. He then became the youngest member of Nick Saban's staff at Alabama. He coordinated the Tide offense for just one year.
Now, the bad news for Husker fans. Major decided to return to Texas. He now occupies the job coaching quarterback's for the Longhorns. If his tutelage helps current UT quarterback Colt McCoy - who's often compared to Applewhite - improve for his junior and senior campaigns, it could make Applewhite's status as a Husker Killer grow even more.
Did you enjoy this article?
Get Husker news by email
Follow us on Twitter
Related Stories: Legends
Post a comment
HuskerWooWoo Mar 11 08
I couldn't agree more with everything you said. Chris Simms has been overhyped and overplayed since the second he left high school. If Applewhite had just been given the ball his whole time at UT playing them would have been even worse. I was attending UNL during the Applewhite years and it was a common topic of conversation around the dorms why UT just kept putting Simms in to start games only to need Applewhite to win games.
Gary Mar 14 08
Very good article. Major possessed the "it" factor when he played. Simms was a good QB, but other teams always prefered to play against Simms than the Major. The joke about Major was that he couldn't run, he couldn't throw, the only thing he really new how to do was win. In any event, I am a Horns fan, but I have always liked Nebraska and hope you have a good season.
Mat Mar 15 08
I have always believed that Husker fans were among the best in college football, and this blog is evidence of that. It's about their gameday courtesy and their respect for those who play the game.
The thing about Major was that he always seemed to overachieve as a player. Some might say Chris Simms underachieved, although it's a bit unfair because expectations for him were so high from Day 1 at UT. UT did have a QB controversy in those years, and maybe Mack Brown didn't handle it as well as he might have. However, UT needed Simms regardless because Major had two different knee injuries as I recall.
Today, we UT fans are looking forward to having Major back in Austin. I think the chemistry will be better for him than during his brief stop with Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa. Go Big Red (as long as they're not playing the Longhorns)!
Bob Mar 17 08
Thanks for the kind words about the Major and the Horns. I always like it when UT plays NU. Even last year when we stole one from you your fans in attendance were gracious in defeat. I had a blast sitting next to a large group of red...
One point - Applewhite is the "Running Backs Coach", not the QB coach. Yeah, right - I believe he won't have input with the QBs - not.
chitownhorn Mar 19 08
You got Major down to a tee in this piece. I am an ex-longhorn and couln't agree with you more about Simms. Pretty boy could not hold a candle to Major. In my opinion playing Simms ahead of Major was one of the worst coaching moves by MB.
I am also a big fan of coach Osborne's old "Big Red Machine". What an efficient group of football assasins his teams were! I wish he would un-retire and personally groom the new coach in the style and tenacity of the old "Big Red Machine"...They were a handful!