Posted: Friday, November 26, 2004 6:00 pm
Bob Brown had his Husker jersey No. 64 retired during halftime.
His number is the second no longer being used by Nebraska, joining Tom Novak's No. 60.
Brown was an All-America guard in 1963 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. He was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and is only the 10th player from a Big 12 Conference school to have earned membership in both halls.
"He was mine and (coach) Bob Devaney's first All-American," said Don Bryant, who began a 30-year stint as Nebraska's sports information director in 1963. "I think most of us thought he had a future in pro football. Pro scouts were in the locker room after the games those days.
"You knew he was going to get signed and I never doubted he'd have a pro career because he just had that ability and desire. But at that point you never think someone's going to be in the College and Pro Football halls of fame."
The Klatt option
Nebraska twice got burned in the third quarter on third-down option plays by a quarterback that hardly resembles Darian Hagan.
On a third-and-6 play, Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt picked up 9. On a third-and-8, he pitched to Lawrence Vickers for a 26-yard gain.
Klatt laughed about his option prowess after the game.
"I ran it a little bit in high school but nothing on this stage," Klatt said. "To be honest, I'm not a great runner of the football. I'm usually just looking for somewhere to get down."
CU head coach Gary Barnett said of Klatt: "We sort of made a special deal about the quarterbacks that have been able to win in Lincoln, and there aren't very many of them, but we were able to add one to the list today."
Kudos to the line
Bill Callahan's biggest concern entering the season turned into his biggest surprise.
When asked Friday to discuss areas in which he felt his team improved this season, Callahan didn't hesitate, as he began praising the offensive line.
"I came into the year, quite honestly, and looked at our offensive line as an area of real concern," Callahan said. "When we came out of the spring, I thought it was our weakest group, and it turned out to be one of our strongest points as the year moved on."
Nebraska entered the season needing to replace two starters on the offensive line, and then a third when Richie Incognito was indefinitely suspended from the team, and then left school.
Callahan praised the O-line for helping I-back Cory Ross gain more than 1,000 yards rushing, and for its efforts in protecting quarterback Joe Dailey and limiting sacks.
"Coach (Dennis) Wagner has done an excellent job with that group," Callahan said. "I was really proud to see their progress and development."
Quotable
"I didn't know what to expect, but the atmosphere was great and the competition was even greater," said CU freshman linebacker Jordon Dizon of his first game in Memorial Stadium. "This is one of my favorite places to play now."
Brian Christopherson
and Brian Rosenthal