Huskerextra.com | Posted: Thursday, September 27, 2007 7:00 pm
In its long and storied history, Nebraska football has been a staple in the college bowl season, playing in 42 bowl games. The Huskers' 35-year streak of bowl trips ended this year, but the memories of the trips will linger for years. Here's a look back at the greatest moments in NU's many postseason games:
1. FRAZIER BREAKS LOOSE (1996 Fiesta Bowl): After falling behind No. 2 Florida 10-6 in the first quarter, the top-ranked Huskers exploded for 29 points in the second quarter to take control of the game, but it was Tommie Frazier?s amazing 75-yard run late in the third quarter that stuck a dagger in the hearts of Steve Spurrier?s Gators en route to a 62-24 win and NU?s fourth national championship. Frazier broke through the line on an option and was hit right away, but he kept moving and bounced off at least six Florida tacklers before sprinting away for a TD that ranks as one of the great runs in college football history.
2. GOING FOR THE WIN (1984 Orange Bowl): All throughout this national title game, the top-ranked Huskers were playing catch-up against No. 3 Miami. But backup I-back Jeff Smith brought the Huskers back, running for 99 yards in the second half after Heisman winner Mike Rozier went down with an injury. Smith?s 24-yard TD run with 48 seconds left cut the Hurricanes? lead to 31-30. Instead of kicking the extra point for a tie and a certain national championship, Coach Tom Osborne elected to go for two points and an outright title. But Turner Gill?s pass was tipped and ricocheted off of Smith?s shoulder and fell incomplete. Miami recovered the onsides kick, ran out the clock and won the championship.
3. SNEAKING AWAY WITH A TITLE (1971 Orange Bowl): With Texas losing the Cotton Bowl earlier that New Year?s Day, the Huskers entered their game with LSU with a shot at the school?s first national football title. LSU scored a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter to take a 12-10 lead. But quarterback Jerry Tagge rallied Nebraska, driving the Huskers 67 yards in a little more than six minutes, capping the drive with a 1-yard sneak on which he thrust the ball over the goal line to give NU the lead. The Blackshirts shut down the Tigers? offense the rest of the way, sealing the national title with a 17-12 victory.
4. TRAPPING THE CANES (1995 Orange Bowl): The Huskers entered the game having lost five straight bowls against Florida schools and three straight years in the Orange Bowl. Again, NU would face Miami on its home field. Trailing 17-9 in the fourth quarter and with Miami?s weary defense looking for Tommie Frazier or Lawrence Phillips to carry the ball, fullback Cory Schlesinger took the handoff on a trap play and bolted 15 yards for a TD that helped NU tie the game. After the Miami offense went three-and-out on offense, the Huskers marched 58 yards on six plays, clinching Tom Osborne?s first national title with another Schlesinger TD run on the same trap play, this time from 14 yards for a 24-17 win.
5. HAPPY RETURNS, AGAIN (1972 Orange Bowl): A little more than a month after his punt return against Oklahoma kick-started Nebraska?s win in the Game of the Century, Johnny Rodgers took the air out of Alabama?s sails with another stunning TD return. His 77-yard bolt to the end zone gave Nebraska a 14-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter and the Crimson Tide never recovered, as the Huskers marched to a 38-6 win and their second national championship.
6. CAGEY QB SNAGS TIGERS (1964 Orange Bowl): Before most of the fans in Miami could get settled into their seats, Husker quarterback Dennis Claridge took control of the game on the second play from scrimmage. Keeping the ball on an option play to the right side, Claridge found plenty of running room in the Auburn defense and rolled 68 yards for a score, setting an Orange Bowl record for the longest play from scrimmage. The Huskers never lost control of the game en route to their first major bowl win, 13-7.
7. PICKING OFF FIRST BOWL WIN (1962 Gotham Bowl): Nebraska?s first bowl victory wasn?t a glamorous one. Playing in a nearly empty Yankee Stadium, the Huskers took a 36-27 lead over Miami early in the third quarter. Quarterback George Mira kept the Hurricanes marching on the NU defense, leading them to a score that cut the margin to 36-34 and spearheading a late drive that looked destined to score. But Husker defensive tackle Bob Brown thwarted Miami?s comeback with an interception in the final minute of the game for NU?s first bowl win.
8. TRIPLE THREAT (1973 Orange Bowl): Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers further cemented his place in Husker history by putting on perhaps the greatest individual performance in college bowl history. Known for catching passes and returning kicks, Rodgers started at I-back and accounted for five of Nebraska?s six TDs in a 40-6 rout of Notre Dame. Rodgers ran for three scores, threw a 52-yard TD pass to Frosty Anderson and turned a short pass from Dave Humm into a 50-yard score.
9. FROSTY THE SHOWMAN (1998 Orange Bowl): In Tom Osborne?s final game on the Husker sidelines, QB Scott Frost took charge. He masterfully ran the NU option game, dishing the ball to Ahman Green (who gained an Orange Bowl-record 203 yards) and running for two TDs of his own in the 42-17 rout. Frost made a case on the field in for NU to win a share of the national title, then campaigned for votes after the game. The strategy worked, as the coaches voted the Huskers as national champs, the third national championship for Osborne and the fifth in school history.
10. A ROSY BEGINNING (1941 Rose Bowl): Great traditions have to start somewhere, and the Huskers? bowl history began in the ?Granddaddy of Them All.? After a season-opening loss to Minnesota, the Huskers rallied to go 8-1 and rose to seventh in the AP poll. Facing No. 2-ranked Stanford in the Rose Bowl, the Huskers served notice early on that they belonged. Vike Francis gave NU a 7-0 lead just six plays into the game on a 2-yard TD run. After Stanford scored to tie the game, Herm Rohrig connected with Allen Zikmund on a 33-yard TD pass that gave the Huskers a 13-7 lead. But QB Frankie Albert rallied Stanford and Pete Kmetovic?s punt return TD sealed Nebraska?s 21-13 loss.