The 2003 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Frank Solich and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. After the Colorado game, Solich was fired as head coach. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini served as interim head coach for the Alamo Bowl. By firing Frank Solich, Nebraska became the first Division I-A football team to fire a Head Coach immediately following a 9-3 season or better, without a recruiting scandal, or an NCAA investigation, or a sex scandal, or an academic cheating scandal, or some other equivalent scandal.
Schedule
Roster and coaching staff
Depth chart
Game summaries Oklahoma State
Utah State
Penn State
Southern Miss
Troy State
Missouri
Texas A&M
Iowa State
Texas
Kansas
Kansas State
Colorado
Michigan State
Rankings
After the season Nebraska finished in 2nd place in the Big 12 North Division and tied for 4th conference-wide, with a final record of 10–3 (5–3). Prior to the season, Head Coach Frank Solich was feeling pressure to perform after a 7–7 (3–5) record the previous year (the first non-winning season since 1961), and had significantly revamped his coaching staff for 2003.
Despite the sweeping changes and the improvements they brought, which helped Nebraska to another 9-win season, Solich was fired at the conclusion of the regular season. Defensive Coordinator Bo Pelini was named Interim Head Coach and led the Huskers to a 17–3 Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State. When new Head Coach Bill Callahan was announced in later weeks, most of the existing assistants (including Pelini) were also fired.
Pelini would later return as Callahan's replacement in 2008.
Awards
Award Name(s) All-America 1st team Josh Bullocks, Kyle Larson All-America honorable mention Richie Incognito, Demorrio Williams All-Big 12 1st team Josh Bullocks, Matt Herian, Richie Incognito, Kyle Larson, Demorrio Williams All-Big 12 2nd team Ryon Bingham, Barrett Ruud All-Big 12 3rd team Fabian Washington All-Big 12 honorable mention Daniel Bullocks, Josh Davis, Mike Erickson, Isaiah Fluellen, T. J. Hollowell, Trevor Johnson, Jammal Lord, Josh Sewell, Dan Vili Waldrop
NFL and pro players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 2003 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents. Name Team Titus Adams New York Jets Ryon Bingham San Diego Chargers Stewart Bradley Philadelphia Eagles Daniel Bullocks Detroit Lions Josh Bullocks New Orleans Saints Adam Carriker St. Louis Rams Josh Davis New York Jets Aaron Golliday Scottish Claymores T. J. Hollowell New York Giants Richie Incognito St. Louis Rams Trevor Johnson New York Jets Patrick Kabongo Detroit Lions Sam Koch Baltimore Ravens Kyle Larson Cincinnati Bengals Jammal Lord Houston Texans Jay Moore San Francisco 49ers Chris Patrick New York Giants Jerrell Pippens Chicago Bears Andy Poulosky Sioux City Bandits Cory Ross Baltimore Ravens Barrett Ruud Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bo Ruud New England Patriots Le Kevin Smith New England Patriots Fabian Washington Oakland Raiders Demorrio Williams Atlanta Falcons
References