The heartwarmers … and the heartbreakers in Nebraska football history
Five heartwarmers, five heartbreakers. We look at the 10 games that Husker fans won't soon forget, for one reason or another.
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31 (Nov. 25, 1971)
Close your eyes and imagine Jeff Kinney, his jersey in tatters, powering across the goal line for the winning touchdown — and his fourth of the game — in the final moments. Close your eyes and imagine Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers racing 72 yards to a touchdown on a punt return for the opening points of the game. Close your eyes and imagine Husker middle guard Rich Glover recording 22 tackles on a gray and chilly day. Husker fans of a certain age saw it all. The Game of the Century was indeed incredible theater. By the way, who remembers that Nebraska two weeks later defeated Hawaii 45-3 on the island?
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 14 (Nov. 11, 1978)
OK, let's close our eyes again. Imagine jubilant Husker fans tearing down goalposts in Memorial Stadium's south end zone and carting the heavy steel to O Street. What a scene. The victory ended the Sooners' six-game winning streak against the Huskers. NU won it on Billy Todd’s 24-yard field goal 3:08 into the fourth quarter. Get this: Oklahoma had outscored Nebraska 80-0 in the final 15 minutes during the six-year drought.
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 20, Oklahoma 10 | Oct. 27, 2001, Lincoln:
The roar was incredible as Eric Crouch sprinted toward the end zone with 6:17 to play. We do mean sprint. The Husker quarterback turned on his jets after hauling in a 63-yard touchdown pass. The play, called "Black 41 Flash Reverse," sent the crowd into a tizzy and highlighted third-ranked Nebraska's triumph against second-ranked Oklahoma. It marked NU's best win of Frank Solich's six-year tenure.
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 24, Colorado 7 | Oct. 29, 1994, Lincoln
Colorado's Chris Hudson (left), Jon Knutson (back), Matt Russell (16) and Ted Johnson (right) converge to bring down NU's Brook Berringer after an 11-yard run on Oct. 29, 1994.
Heartwarmer: Nebraska 52, Colorado 7 | Oct. 31, 1992, Lincoln
OK, let's be clear: Some Nebraska fans will argue this was the game that rocked Memorial Stadium harder than it's ever been rocked. The roar began immediately, as outside linebacker Travis Hill intercepted Colorado quarterback Koy Detmer's deflected pass, starting a Halloween rout that was cathartic for the Husker faithful. NU hadn't beaten CU since 1988. But this marked the first of nine straight wins against the Buffaloes.
Heartbreaker: Nebraska 45, Missouri 38, OT | Nov. 8, 1997, Columbia, Missouri
Did you really think we'd forget "The Flea Kicker?" Nebraska didn't play all that well in this game. Its defense was on its heels much of the afternoon until a late fourth-quarter stop set up the dramatic tying touchdown drive led by quarterback Scott Frost. His final pass of regulation, intended for Shevin Wiggins, was kicked into the air by Wiggins. Somehow, Matt Davison snagged it before it hit the turf. Mizzou fans were in utter disbelief. The atmosphere was incredible. Davison's catch, remarkable.
Heartbreaker: Miami 31, Nebraska 30 | Jan. 2, 1984, Orange Bowl
Nebraska's Dean Steinkuhler scores on the "Fumblerooski" in the 1984 Orange Bowl.
Heartbreaker: Florida State 18, Nebraska 16 | Jan. 1, 1994, Orange Bowl
Again, you know the deal. Byron Bennett, whose 27-yard field goal with 1:16 to play had given Nebraska the lead, hooked his game-winning try wide left with one second remaining. That allowed Florida State to make a claim for its first national championship. “I guess it was our time,” then-FSU head coach Bobby Bowden said, "because Nebraska played as good or better than we did. Nebraska is a lot better than I thought. A lot better.” History tells us Bowden was on to something with those comments.
Heartbreaker: Missouri 35, Nebraska 31 | Nov. 18, 1978, Lincoln
Richard Berns had a banner day against the Colorado Buffaloes just days after appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Heartbreaker: Texas 13, Nebraska 12 | Dec. 5, 2009, Big 12 Championship Game
Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh (93), sets his sights on Texas' Colt McCoy (12), in second-quarter action Dec. 5, 2009.
Steven M. Sipple
Husker sports columnist
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