The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
Schedule
Roster Nebraska 1973 Roster Adkins, Ken #5 SE Alward, Tom #63 G Anderson, Dan #67 G Anderson, Frosty #89 SE Austin, Al #78 OT Bahe, Ritch #24 WB Belka, Jim #47 FB Bell, John #66 MG Benish, Randy #4 DB Bonness, Rik #54 C Borg, Randy #19 DB Brock, Dan #00 DT Burns, Burton #49 FB Burrow, Jim #2 DB Butterfield, Dave #34 DB Coccia, Tom #98 DE Costanzo, Rich #77 OT Coyle, Mike PK Crenshaw, Marvin #70 OT Damkroger, Maury #46 FB Davis, Tony #25 IB Doak, Mark #71 OT Duda, Rich #50 C Dutton, John #90 DT Eichelberger, Percy #44 LB Everett, Earl #9 QB Fischer, Pat #33 DB Gissler, Dean #97 DT Goeller, Dave #28 IB Hegener, Stan #64 G Heiser, Tom #27 WB Henrichs, Dennis #75 OT Heydorff, Mark #22 DB Hill, Jeff #36 SE Hoins, Steve #52 OT Humm, Dave #12 QB Hunter, Ken #78 MG Iverson, Dave #42 LB Johnson, Ardell #29 DB Johnson, Doug #92 DT Jones, Chuck #35 DB Kyros, George #18 DB Lackovic, Tim #80 SE Lee, John #69 MG Lemmerond, Rick #8 QB Leonardi, Chad #61 G Lessman, Randy #6 DE Lingenfelter, Bob #73 OT Lloyd, Jerry #99 MG Longwell, Brent #86 TE Luck, Terry #11 QB Manstedt, Steve #82 DE Martin, Bob #87 DB Mazon, Frank #31 DB Mills, George DT Monds, Wonder #26 DB Moran, Jeff #30 IB Mushinskie, Larry #88 TE Nelson, Bob #57 LB Nelson, Chris #37 TE Norrie, Rod #94 DT Offner, Mike #95 DE O'Holleran, Mike #38 FB O'Leary, John #14 IB Panneton, Rick #81 TE Pate, Tom #68 DE Pavelka, Dennis #74 OT Peterson, Matt #39 TE Pillen, Clete #7 LB Powell, Ralph #41 FB Pruitt, Ron #91 DT Pumphrey, Jeff #3 SE Ray, Glen #10 QB Redding, Dave #96 DE Revelle, Bob #84 SE Rogers, Terry #40 DB Runty, Steve #13 QB Rutan, Bob #55 DE Ruud, Tom #45 LB Sanger, Rich #43 P/PK Schmidt, Dan #51 G Schmit, Bob #23 LB Schneider, Jeff #1 DB Seeton, Jim #16 DB Shamblin, Dave #85 SE Sledge, Jim #58 OT Starkebaum, John #48 DB Stuberg, Wayne #59 C Talley, Chester #32 IB Thomas, Tom #53 C Thornton, Bob #17 DB Thornton, Willie #65 MG Varner, Rich #56 C Westbrook, Don #21 WB White, Daryl #72 OT Wied, Jerry #93 DT Wieser, Steve #83 DE Wolfe, Bob #76 OG Yaralian, Zaven #15 DB Zanetich, Nick #62 G
Coaching staff Name Title First yearin this position Years atNebraska Alma materTom OsborneHead CoachOffensive coordinator19731964–97HastingsMonte KiffinDefensive coordinator19731967–76NebraskaCletus FischerOffensive line 1960–85NebraskaJim Ross 1962–76John MeltonTight ends, wingbacks19731962–88WyomingMike CorganRunning backs19621962–82Notre DameWarren PowersDefensive backs 19691969–76NebraskaBoyd EpleyHead strength coach19691969–2003NebraskaBill MylesOffensive line19721972–76Drake UniversityJerry MooreWide receivers19731973–78BaylorGeorge Darlington 19731973–2002RutgersRick DuvalLinebackersRecruiting coordinator19731973–74Worcester
Game summaries
UCLA
The Tom Osborne era at Nebraska began in style, as the Cornhuskers exacted revenge for last year's loss to UCLA by beating the #10 Bruins in Lincoln 40–13. Nebraska jumped out to a 14–0 lead in less than 10 minutes, and though UCLA scored to come within 7, that was as close as they'd get for the rest of the game as the Blackshirts shut out the Bruins entirely in the 2nd half.
NC State
It was touch and go for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers fought to stay even with NC State until blowing the game wide open in the 4th quarter with three straight unanswered touchdowns.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin fought Nebraska to a 7–7 tie entering the 4th quarter before pulling ahead by 3 on a field goal with 8 minutes to go. The Cornhuskers replied with a touchdown, which was promptly answered by a 96-yard Badger kickoff return to put Nebraska behind again. Nebraska again responded, marching 83 yards in just seven plays to score again for the win.
Minnesota
Minnesota QB Tony Dungy managed to get a 1st-quarter touchdown, and that would be the last time the Golden Gophers saw the scoreboard, as the first Minnesota sellout since 1960 (with help from the numerous traveling Cornhusker fans) watched Nebraska dismantle the Gophers 48–7.
Missouri
Missouri handed coach Tom Osborne his first career defeat as Nebraska's 2-point conversion for the win with 1:00 remaining was intercepted, marking the first time Coach Osborne decided to forgo the tie and take a shot at the win, an approach later repeated to much attention in the 1984 Orange Bowl.
Kansas
Kansas avoided the 1st half shutout on a recovered Nebraska fumble converted into a field goal. The Jayhawks then came out from halftime and continued to hold off Nebraska while putting in their own touchdown late in the 3rd to pull ahead, though the PAT was blocked. Less than five minutes later, Nebraska responded with a field goal to pull ahead by 1 point, where a tie would have existed had the previous Kansas PAT attempt been good. From there on out, the Blackshirts held on for the rest of the quarter to preserve the razor thin winning margin.
Oklahoma State
With 2:23 remaining in a fierce contest, no scoring since the previous quarter, and a 17–17 tie still on the board, Nebraska opted to forgo the easy field goal and instead attempted to go for it on 4th and goal inside the Cowboys' one yard line, but the attempt failed, and both teams were forced to settle for a tie.
Colorado
Source:
Colorado never really had a chance in this game, as Nebraska rolled out to an early 28–3 lead by the half. The final Cornhusker touchdown was a change of plans, after a field goal setup was moved towards the end zone due to a Colorado penalty, and Nebraska instead decided to run one in. The 4th quarter Buffalo touchdown was made on a trick play against Nebraska reserves who had entered the game to mop up.
Iowa State
Once again, Nebraska ran out to a substantial early lead and coasted in for the win, as the game was essentially decided when the Cornhuskers put in a 67-yard pass touchdown just before the half. Nebraska reserves entered the game in the 4th and put in a touchdown to further pad the win.
Kansas State
Kansas State never was in this game, as the Cornhuskers blasted the Wildcats for a 23–0 1st half lead and never really slowed down, rolling up 612 yards of total offense along the way. The performances of Nebraska IB Tony Davis and IB John O'Leary on the day marked the first time two Cornhusker runners exceeded 100 yards in the same game.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma completely dismantled Nebraska in every way, as the Cornhuskers were shut out for the first time since 1968, an indignity that would not be repeated until Miami defeated Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl eighteen years later. The Cornhuskers were held to just 74 ground yards and 174 yards of total offense as the Nebraska offense never crossed mid-field.
Texas
SWC champion Texas put up the first points early in the 1st quarter with a field goal, but never saw the scoreboard again as Nebraska fought back to a 3–3 tie by the half, and then shut down the Longhorns' efforts afterwards by blocking a field goal and recovering a Texas fumble along the way to creating a comfortable lead by the end of the 3rd quarter. It was the Huskers fifth consecutive bowl victory.
Rankings
Awards 1973 Husker Honors Award Name(s) All-America1st team John Dutton, Daryl White All-Americahonorable mention Steve Manstedt All-Big Eight1st team Frosty Anderson, John Dutton,Steve Manstedt, Daryl White All-Big Eight2nd team Dan Anderson, John Bell,Randy Borg All-Big Eighthonorable mention Ritch Bahe, Tony Davis,Dave Humm, Bob Thornton
1973 team players in the NFL The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1974 NFL draft:Pro Football Reference.com – 1974 NFL Draft
John Dutton DE 1 5 Baltimore Colts Steve Manstedt LB 4 79 Houston Oilers Daryl White G 4 98 Cincinnati Bengals Bob Wolfe T 6 156 Miami Dolphins Maury Damkroger LB 7 178 New England Patriots Frosty Anderson WR 10 235 New Orleans Saints
The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1975 NFL draft:Pro Football Reference.com – 1975 NFL Draft
Tom Ruud LB 1 19 Buffalo Bills Bob Nelson LB 2 42 Buffalo Bills John Starkebaum DB 4 92 New Orleans Saints David Humm QB 5 128 Oakland Raiders Don Westbrook WR 6 131 Baltimore Colts Mark Doak T 6 147 Washington Redskins Ardell Johnson DB 11 277 Washington Redskins Ritch Bahe WR 14 358 St. Louis Cardinals Dennis Pavelka G 16 412 Washington Redskins Stan Hegener G 17 442 Pittsburgh Steelers
The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1976 NFL draft:Pro Football Reference.com – 1976 NFL Draft
Rik Bonness C 3 84 Oakland Raiders Tony Davis RB 4 106 Cincinnati Bengals Wonder Monds DB 4 112 Pittsburgh Steelers Bob Martin LB 6 163 New York Jets Jim Burrow DB 8 218 Green Bay Packers Dean Gissler DE 11 308 Washington Redskins John O'Leary RB 12 303 Chicago Bears Brad Jenkins TE 13 348 Tampa Bay Buccaneers John Lee DT 13 351 San Diego Chargers Larry Mushinskie TE 14 402 Dallas Cowboys Rick Costanzo T 16 458 Dallas Cowboys
NFL and pro players The following is a list of 1973 Nebraska playerswho joined a professional team as draftees or free agents. Name Team Tom Alward Birmingham Vulcans Rik Bonness Oakland Raiders Jim Burrow Green Bay Packers Tony Davis Cincinnati Bengals Mark Doak Birmingham Vulcans Maury Damkroger New England Patriots John Dutton Baltimore Colts Dave Humm Oakland Raiders John Lee San Diego Chargers Bob Lingenfelter Cleveland Browns Brent Longwell Memphis Southmen Terry Luck Cleveland Browns Steve Manstedt Birmingham Americans Bob Martin New York Jets Wonder Monds Ottawa Rough Riders Bob Nelson Buffalo Bills John O'Leary Montreal Alouettes Tom Pate Hamilton Tiger-Cats Tom Ruud Buffalo Bills Bob Schmit Portland Storm Don Westbrook New England Patriots Daryl White Detroit Lions Bob Wolfe Birmingham Americans Zaven Yaralian Philadelphia Bell
References