1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Team
Encyclopedia
The 1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...

 football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...

] in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season
1983 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the University of Miami winning their first national championship over perennial power Nebraska in the Orange Bowl....

. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln
Memorial Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. It is the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team....

 in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

. Nicknamed "The Scoring Explosion," the team was noted for its prolific offense, which is still widely considered one of the greatest in college football history. The team and some of its individual players set several NCAA statistical records, some of which still stand.

Schedule

Roster


Armstrong, Rob #49 (So.) LB

Baulisch, Tom (So.) DE

Behning, Mark #73 (Jr.) OT

Biggers, Kevin #13 (Jr.) MON

Blankenship, Brian #70 (So.) OG

Borer, Pat #41 (So.) FB

Bourn, Don #92 (Jr.) TE

Bourne, David (So.) DE

Bowen, Bob (So.) TE

Brungardt, Mike (So.) DE

Brungardt, Tim #32 (Sr.) FB

Bunger, Jon #97 (So.) DE

Burke, Dave #33 (Jr.) CB

Carl, Mike (So.) CB

Carlson, Dan (So.) OG

Cartwright, Charlie #31 (So.) CB

Casterline, Dan #24 (So.) MON

Clark, Bret
Bret Clark
Bret Clark is a former professional American football player who played safety for three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons....

#10 (Jr.) S

Cooper, Mark (So.) C

Daffer, Chad #46 (So.) LB

Daum, Mark #51 (Jr.) LB

Demmel, Tom (So.) P

Dietz, Dave #98 (So.) TE

Dittmer, Jim #59 (Jr.) OG

Divis, Greg #45 (So.) IB

DuBose, Doug #22 (So.) IB

Engebritson, Monte #83 (Sr.) TE

Fisher, Todd #6 (So.) CB

Frain, Todd
Todd Frain
Todd Leslie Frain is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Nebraska....

#80 (So.) TE

Fryar, Irving
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...

#27 (Sr.) WB

Gatson, Pernell (So.) WB

Gill, Turner
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...

#12 (Sr.) QB

Graeber, Ken #52 (Jr.) MG

Greene, Ricky #5 (Jr.) CB

Grimminger, Harry #58 (Jr.) OG

Hagerman, Mark #9 (Sr.) PK

Harris, Neil #11 (Jr.) CB

Herrmann, Doug #63 (Sr.) DT

Hiemer, Brian #94 (Jr.) TE
 
Hoefler, Mike (So.) C

Holloway, Tony #43 (So.) DE

Jeffries, Jack (So.) TE

Kaelin, Ken (So.) FB

Keeler, Mike #61 (Sr.) DT

Kimball, Scott #88 (Jr.) SE

Klein, Dale (So.) PK

Knox, Mike #44 (Jr.) LB

Kreikemeier, Keith (So.) OG

Lambert, Andre (So.) SE

Lewis, Bill
Bill Lewis (American football)
William Glenn "Bill" Lewis is a former professional American football center in the National Football League. He played for the Los Angeles Raiders , the Phoenix Cardinals , and the New England Patriots ....

#68 (So.) C

Lindstrom, Roger #23 (So.) WB

Livingston, Scott #48 (Jr.) P/PK

Maggard, Rob (So.) OT

Marfisi, Gerald #35 (So.) MON

Mason, Nate #8 (Sr.) QB

McCashland, Mike #2 (Jr.) MON

McCormick, Kevin #69 (So.) OG

McCoy, Dan #40 (So.) LB

Miles, Paul #21 (So.) IB

Mlinar, Jerry (So.) QB

Morrow, Tom #77 (So.) OT

Muehling, Brad #54 (Sr.) C

Mullins, Marty (So.) SE

Napodano, Joe #3 (So.) S

Nelson, Ray (So.) IB

Noel, Jack (So.) C

Orton, Greg #67 (Jr.) OG

Paige, Woody #9 (So.) CB

Parker, Stan #74 (So.) OT

Parsons, Kevin #35 (Fr.) LB

Pokorny, Brian #18 (So.) CB

Porter, Scott #36 (Jr.) FB

Praeuner, Wade #85 (Sr.) MON

Proffitt, Todd #34 (So.) LB

Raridon, Scott #72 (Sr.) OT

Rathman, Tom
Tom Rathman
Thomas Dean Rathman is a former American football fullback who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders . He is currently the running backs coach for the 49ers.-High school:...

#26 (So.) FB

Reeves, Gregg #93 (So.) DE

Reinhardt, John #62 (Sr.) MG
 
Reynolds, Rod #95 (So.) DT

Ridder, Dave #86 (Sr.) DE

Roth, Tim #65 (So.) OT

Rozier, Guy #4 (So.) MON

Rozier, Mike
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

#30 (Sr.) IB

Schellen, Mark #25 (Sr.) FB

Schneider, Dave #1 (So.) PK

Schneider, Gary (So.) CB

Schnitzler, Robb (So.) WB

Schoettger, Scott #42 (Jr.) SE

Shead, Ken #99 (So.) MG

Sherlock, John #66 (Sr.) OT

Siebler, Bryan #19 (So.) CB

Simmons, Ricky #7 (Sr.) SE

Skow, Jim
Jim Skow
Jim Skow is a former American football defensive end who played seven seasons in the National Football League. He finished his career with 24 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. His best season was in 1988, recording 9.5 sacks and helping the Bengals reach Super Bowl XXIII, where he recorded several...

#96 (So.) DT

Smith, Brad #81 (So.) DE

Smith, Jeff
Jeff Smith (running back)
Jeff Smith is a former professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League. His most productive season was 1986 with the Chiefs when he gained 1270 all-purpose yards, 557 of which came...

#28 (Jr.) IB

Spachman, Chris #76 (So.) DT

Stacy, Dave #16 (So.) CB

Steinkuhler, Dean
Dean Steinkuhler
-College career:Steinkuhler attended the University of Nebraska, where he won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top offensive lineman, in 1983. This marked the third consecutive time a Cornhusker had won the award as Dave Rimington had won back to back Outland Trophies in 1981 and 1982...

#71 (Sr.) OG

Strasburger, Matt (So.) S

Strasburger, Scott #90 (Jr.) DE

Stuckey, Rob #75 (Jr.) DT

Sundberg, Craig #15 (Jr.) QB

Swanson, Shane #17 (Jr.) WB

Thayer, Dan #29 (So.) S

Thomas, Anthony #53 (Jr.) OG

Thompson, Jim #39 (Jr.) WB

Tramner, Mike #64 (Sr.) MG

Traynowicz, Mark #57 (Jr.) C

Tucker, Scott #89 (So.) DE

Turner, Travis #14 (So.) QB

Wade, Stanley #55 (So.) LB

Weber, Bill #87 (Jr.) DE

White, John (So.) LB

Wingard, Dan #47 (So.) P

Yates, Rod #91 (Jr.) SE

Zierke, Mike #78 (Jr.) DT
     

Coaching staff

Name Title First year
in this position
Years at Nebraska Alma Mater
Tom Osborne |Head Coach
Offensive Coordinator
1973 1964-1997 Hastings College
Hastings College
Hastings College is a private, undergraduate, four-year, residential liberal arts college in Hastings, Nebraska, USA.- History :The college was founded in 1882 by a group of men and women seeking to establish a Presbyterian college dedicated to high academic and cultural standards...

Charlie McBride |Defensive Coordinator 1981 1977-1999 Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...

Cletus Fischer |Offensive Line 1960-1985 Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...

John Melton |Tight Ends
Wingbacks
1973 1962-1988 Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...

Boyd Epley |Head Strength Coach 1969 1969-2003 Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...

George Darlington |Defensive Backs 1973-2002 Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...

Milt Tenopir |Offensive Line 1974 1974-2002 Sterling
Sterling College (Kansas)
Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts college located in Sterling, Kansas with a mission "to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith." The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and...

Gene Huey |Receivers 1977 1977-1986 Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...

Frank Solich
Frank Solich
Frank Solich is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Ohio University, a position he has held since the 2005 season...

|Running Backs 1983 1979-2003 Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...

Jack Pierce | 1979-1991
Bob Thornton |Secondary 1981 1981-1985 Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...

Dan Young |Offensive Line
Kicking
1983 1983-2002 Reed College
Reed College
Reed College is a private, independent, liberal arts college located in southeast Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1908, Reed is a residential college with a campus located in Portland's Eastmoreland neighborhood, featuring architecture based on the Tudor-Gothic style, and a forested canyon wilderness...


Penn State

Nebraska overcame nine fumbles (one lost) to avenge their only loss from the previous year, destroying the defending national championship Penn State team 44-6 in the first ever Kickoff Classic
Kickoff Classic
The Kickoff Classic was a season-opening college football game played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey from 1983 to 2002.-History:...

. The Nittany Lions narrowly avoided their first shutout since 1972 when they scored a touchdown against Nebraska reserves with 20 seconds left to play. The margin of defeat tied the worst loss ever by a Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...

 Penn State team to date.

Wyoming

It was a record-setting day as Nebraska IB Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

 became Nebraska's all-time rushing leader, breaking the previous record set by IB I. M. Hipp four years prior, while Nebraska QB Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...

 extended his interception-free pass completions streak to a record 99, surpassing QB Jerry Tagge
Jerry Tagge
Jerry Lee Tagge is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the NFL, WFL, and CFL from 1972-79. He is best known as the quarterback of the Nebraska Cornhusker teams which won national championships in 1970 and 1971....

's record of 88 set in 1969. Nebraska rolled despite Wyoming owning over 37 minutes of the time of possession.

Minnesota

Another record outing for the Cornhuskers on the road in Minneapolis, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers were absolutely smashed in their worst-ever defeat, as Nebraska scored their most points since a 100-0 smearing of in 1917, and their most points ever against a Division 1-A team. Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...

 set a new wingback reception record of 138 yards on two catches, both tosses the longest of his and QB Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...

's careers, and the entire 60-man Cornhusker travel squad had obtained playing time before the start of the 4th quarter.

UCLA

UCLA put a brief fear into Nebraska in Lincoln, coming in with no wins and jumping out to a 10-0 lead. UCLA QB Rick Neuheisel
Rick Neuheisel
Richard Gerald "Rick" Neuheisel, Jr. , is an American football coach, former player, and attorney. He was most recently the head football coach at University of California, Los Angeles, a position he held from 2008 to 2011...

 was sacked in the 2nd half, forcing a fumble which Nebraska recovered, and the momentum then stayed with the Cornhuskers as UCLA was shut down while Nebraska rolled off 42 straight points. This victory was the 100th of Coach Osborne's career. The game was also notable for one of the most famous plays in Nebraska history, a 2-yard touchdown run in which Rozier started left, reversed his field, ran backward to about the 17-yard line while sweeping to the right, and then avoided several more defenders before entering the end zone.

Syracuse

Nebraska QB Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...

 was 17 interception-free pass completions from the Big 8 all-time record when his streak of 125 was broken by Syracuse S Rob Hobby. No other setbacks could stand in the way of a relatively easy 63-7 Cornhusker domination of the Orangemen.

Oklahoma State

Nebraska was struggling to pull away from Oklahoma State, holding on to a tenuous 4 point lead, and watched three drives into Cowboy territory come up empty due to turnovers. Nebraska S Bret Clark
Bret Clark
Bret Clark is a former professional American football player who played safety for three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons....

 made an end zone interception on the last play of the game to preserve the Cornhusker victory, and Nebraska left Stillwater and the scare behind them as Oklahoma State's decades-long futility against Nebraska continued.

Missouri

Emboldened by the near-success of Oklahoma State the week prior, Missouri was firing on all cylinders and twice held the lead, trailed Nebraska by just a touchdown at halftime, and prevented Nebraska from pulling away through to the beginning of the 4th quarter. The Blackshirts
Blackshirts (football)
The Blackshirts are the first-string defensive unit players for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.-History:The term originally dates back to the early 1960s and refers to the black practice jerseys that Nebraska's first-string defenders began to wear during practice...

 held strong to prevent any 2nd half scoring by the Tigers, who themselves contributed to the effort by offering up a key fumble turnover, and the Cornhuskers came out of Columbia with the win.

Colorado

Colorado's game plan allowed them to keep up with Nebraska for the 1st half, but halftime adjustments resulted in the Cornhuskers exploding for a Big 8 record 48 points in the 3rd quarter alone, which was also just 1 point short of the NCAA record for points in a quarter. Buffalo CB Victor Scott later stated "It was like someone dropped the atom bomb on us", in regards to the three touchdowns Nebraska put up in the first 2:24 of the 2nd half. During one stretch of the third quarter, the Huskers set an NCAA record by scoring 41 points in 2:41 time of possession.

Kansas State

This game was closer than the score suggests. Despite trailing 38-5 at the beginning of the 4th quarter, Kansas State scored on the next play, recovered an onside kick and promptly scored again, and then recovered a Nebraska fumble and were marching again, trailing 25-38 with 8:57 to play. Although the Cornhuskers were outscored 13-20 in the 4th quarter, their two touchdowns were more than enough to preserve the win, as Nebraska IB Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

 moved into 2nd place on the Big 8 career rushing chart.

Iowa State

Nebraska IB Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

 set a new Big 8 season touchdown record of 24, supplanting the mark set by Oklahoma's Heisman
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

-winning QB Steve Owens, and also set a new Nebraska career touchdown record of 47, unseating Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Steven Rodgers is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.-College career:...

 - also a Heisman winner - from his 1972 record. Unsurprisingly at this point, Rozier would go on to win his own Heisman at the end of this season. Nebraska's 72 points were the highest ever scored against a Big 8 team, the most ever scored against any team at Memorial Stadium, and the combined 101 points also the most scored in any game at Memorial Stadium.

Kansas

Nebraska IB Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

 again made history for the second week in a row, increasing his season touchdown record to 28, breaking the NCAA record of 26 held by Lydell Mitchell
Lydell Mitchell
Lydell Douglas Mitchell , is a former professional American football player. He played running back in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams spanning 1972-1980....

 of Penn State since 1971. In addition, Rozier set new Big 8 and Nebraska records for single season rushing yards, also knocking off the single-season 2,011 all-purpose yardage record set by Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Steven Rodgers is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.-College career:...

 in 1972, by rolling up a total of 2,219. Rozier set a Nebraska record by rushing for 285 yards, including 230 in the first half (the school individual record for rushings yards in a game was broken by Calvin Jones
Calvin Jones (halfback)
Calvin Jones is a former American football running back. He played for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders and the Green Bay Packers. He collegiately played for Nebraska Cornhuskers in the NCAA....

, who rushed for 294 yards against Kansas in 1991).

Oklahoma

After the Cornhuskers came from behind twice, the Blackshirts
Blackshirts (football)
The Blackshirts are the first-string defensive unit players for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.-History:The term originally dates back to the early 1960s and refers to the black practice jerseys that Nebraska's first-string defenders began to wear during practice...

 made an epic stand at the end of the game, taking advantage of a motion penalty that moved Oklahoma back from Nebraska's 1 yard line before sacking Sooner QB Danny Bradley
Danny Bradley
Danny Louis Bradley is a former American professional football wide receiver in the National Football League.College career -...

 and then knocking down two of his subsequent pass attempts with just 32 seconds left to play, which preserved the Cornhusker 7 point lead, the victory, and gave Nebraska its third straight Big 8 Title.

Miami

Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne decided to forgo an almost-certain national title from settling for a tie game, and boldly went for a 2 point conversion in the final minute in order to get the win. The attempt failed, Miami won the National Championship, and Coach Osborne's legendary decision was forever embedded in Nebraska lore. The Cornhuskers had battled back from a 17-31 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter without Heisman
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

 winning IB Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

 who left due to injury. And despite the loss, Coach Osborne's was selected National Coach of the Year, and his decision came to define his career and the Nebraska program as championship-caliber competitors for years to come.

Rankings

Ranking Movement
Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Final
AP 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2
Coaches 2

After the season

Nebraska's high-octane offense was often unstoppable, averaging 52 points and over 400 rushing yards per game. Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

 finished with a national best 2,486 total yards with 2,148 of those coming on the ground and twenty-nine touchdowns scored. Against Kansas, Rozier rushed for a staggering 230 yards in the first half and finished with 285 rushing yards total, at that time a school record. Rozier went over 200 yards in each of his last four regular season games of the 1983 season. His magical senior season was capped when he was awarded the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

, given to the best individual player in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

.

During his senior season, Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...

 called the signals for one of the most prolific offenses in college football history. Gill finished fourth in the voting for the 1983 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

 which was won by teammate Mike Rozier. The Huskers came within a whisker of a national championship, falling just one point short following a failed two-point conversion attempt in the 1984 Orange Bowl
1984 Orange Bowl
The 1984 Orange Bowl was the 50th annual Orange Bowl Classic, played on January 2, 1984, between the unbeaten Nebraska Cornhuskers and the once-beaten Miami Hurricanes, for the national championship. After leading 31-17 in the fourth quarter, Miami held on for a 31-30 victory...

.

Overall, Gill finished with a 28-2 record in his three years as a starter, winning three consecutive outright Big Eight championships with a perfect 20-0 mark in conference play. Despite this, he was unable to lead the Huskers to a national title, falling agonizingly short in each of his three seasons.

Awards


Award Name(s)
Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...

Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...

Mike Rozier
Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...

Dean Steinkuhler
Dean Steinkuhler
-College career:Steinkuhler attended the University of Nebraska, where he won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top offensive lineman, in 1983. This marked the third consecutive time a Cornhusker had won the award as Dave Rimington had won back to back Outland Trophies in 1981 and 1982...

Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...

Dean Steinkuhler
National Coach of the Year Tom Osborne
National Player of the Year Mike Rozier
National Defensive Lineman of the Year Dean Steinkuhler
Big 8 Player of the Year Mike Rozier
All-America 1st team Mike Rozier, Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...

, Dean Steinkuhler
All-America 2nd team Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...

All-America 3rd team Scott Raridon
All-America honorable mention Bret Clark
Bret Clark
Bret Clark is a former professional American football player who played safety for three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons....

, Mike Knox
All-Big 8 1st team Irving Fryar, Turner Gill, Scott Raridon, Mike Rozier, Dean Steinkuhler, Mark Traynowicz
All-Big 8 2nd team Rob Stuckey

NFL and Pro Players

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1983 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.
Name Team
Mark Behning Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...

Bret Clark
Bret Clark
Bret Clark is a former professional American football player who played safety for three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons....

Tampa Bay Bandits
Tampa Bay Bandits
The Tampa Bay Bandits were a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. They were members of the United States Football League . They were a charter member of the USFL and folded along with the league after the 1985 season....

Doug DuBose San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

Todd Frain
Todd Frain
Todd Leslie Frain is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Nebraska....

Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...

Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...

New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...

Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...

Montreal Concordes
Mike Knox Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

Bill Lewis
Bill Lewis (American football)
William Glenn "Bill" Lewis is a former professional American football center in the National Football League. He played for the Los Angeles Raiders , the Phoenix Cardinals , and the New England Patriots ....

Los Angeles Raiders
Scott Livingston Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...

Paul Miles Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...

Greg Orton Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...

Tom Rathman
Tom Rathman
Thomas Dean Rathman is a former American football fullback who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders . He is currently the running backs coach for the 49ers.-High school:...

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...

Pittsburgh Maulers
Pittsburgh Maulers
The Pittsburgh Maulers competed in the 1984 season of the United States Football League. Their most prominent player was first pick overall in the 1984 USFL draft, running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy, collegiate football's most prestigious individual award.They were...

Mark Schellen New Orleans Breakers
Ricky Simmons Washington Federals
Jim Skow
Jim Skow
Jim Skow is a former American football defensive end who played seven seasons in the National Football League. He finished his career with 24 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. His best season was in 1988, recording 9.5 sacks and helping the Bengals reach Super Bowl XXIII, where he recorded several...

Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...

Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith (running back)
Jeff Smith is a former professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League. His most productive season was 1986 with the Chiefs when he gained 1270 all-purpose yards, 557 of which came...

Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...

Dean Steinkuhler
Dean Steinkuhler
-College career:Steinkuhler attended the University of Nebraska, where he won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation's top offensive lineman, in 1983. This marked the third consecutive time a Cornhusker had won the award as Dave Rimington had won back to back Outland Trophies in 1981 and 1982...

Houston Oilers
Shane Swanson Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

Mark Traynowicz Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...


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