1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Encyclopedia
The 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
in the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium
in Lincoln, Nebraska
. This team is considered to be among the very best college football teams of all time.
and Brook Berringer led the team to Tom Osborne's first national championship, the 1995 version improved in every facet. With the powerful rushing offense and a dominating defense, Nebraska captured its second consecutive national title. The 1995-1996 season set up a record-breaking three championships in four years, as the 1994 and 1995 seasons were followed by Tom Osborne's third title in 1997.
.
, who was in his first season at East Lansing.
found wide receiver Keith Poole for three touchdown passes. For the game, Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier completed 7 of 10 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 35 yards and two more scores. Childs ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game in the second quarter with a sprained knee. Back-up Husker I-back Ahman Green ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Nebraska pulled in the reigns on its offense in the second half but managed to get a defensive touchdown when linebacker Terrell Farley returned an interception 21 yards. The game was a source of a minor controversy as ASU coach Bruce Snyder
accused Nebraska coach Tom Osborne of running up the score after third-string Husker quarterback Matt Turman threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide-open reserve receiver Lance Brown in the game's final moments.
had a breakout game, tallying four tackles for loss to lead the Blackshirt defense.
, Husker return man Mike Fullman took a punt back 79 yards in the first quarter to open the scoring. Nebraska also scored in the first half on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Jon Vedral and on an interception return by backup defensive lineman Luther Hardin, as well as on two touchdown passes by quarterback Tommie Frazier. Frazier threw two more touchdowns in the second half, including a 32-yarder to a wide open Vedral in the third quarter as the Huskers took a 42-6 lead. After three quarters, Nebraska's defense had held Kansas State to minus-4-yards rushing and 128 total. Nebraska began substituting reserve players shortly thereafter, however, and the Wildcats rallied to put 19 fourth quarter points on the board and pull within 42-25. Nebraska's starters re-emerged and drove for another touchdown to account for the game's final margin. Despite the rally, the Wildcats finished with just 256 total yards, minus-19 rushing yards, and the Nebraska defense recorded eight sacks and two interceptions. Frazier went 10 of 16 through the air for 148 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Ahman Green ran for 109 yards on 22 carries and had two touchdown receptions. Ultimately, Kansas State went on to finish second nationally in scoring defense; more than a third of the 145 points that the Wildcats allowed during the regular season were scored by the Huskers.
, Nebraska
was thought of by some to be an underdog (including Sports Illustrated
in their 12/26/1995 issue), even though it came into the game riding a long streak as the #1 team in the country. Their opponent, the 12-0 University of Florida
Gators, were considered to possess a defense with overwhelming speed. Many favored the Florida defensive speed in contrast to the traditional run-first, power-option offense of Nebraska, even though oddsmakers had made Nebraska a 3.5-point favorite. http://www.goldsheet.com/historic/95cfblog.html#44 On January 2, 1996, Nebraska defeated Florida 62-24, marking the largest margin of victory and highest score in a national championship game in history. Included among several NCAA bowl records the Huskers set were a team rushing total of 524 yards (out of a total offensive output of 629 yards). I-back Lawrence Phillips carried 25 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns, and he also caught a 16-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback Tommie Frazier finished the game with 199 yards on 16 carries. The game also included one of the most famous plays in Nebraska history: a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter by Frazier in which he broke an estimated eight tackles. Florida had entered the contest by having won every game of its regular season by no fewer than 11 points, and the Gator offense had averaged more than 44 points per game, 360 passing yards per game, and 534 yards of total offense per game. The Nebraska defense limited the Gators to 269 yards of total offense and -28 rushing yards while registering a safety, seven quarterback sacks, and three interceptions, including one returned 42 yards for a touchdown by Michael Booker. The Huskers' 29 points in the second quarter set a Fiesta bowl record.
and the 2004 USC Trojans. Such comparisons, as noted by the experts themselves, are nearly impossible to make, as rankings vary from evaluation to evaluation. The 1994 and 1995 Nebraska teams, which went a combined 25-0, remain the only undefeated and untied - as well as the only consensus - back-to-back national champions since Oklahoma in 1955 and 1956. The 1995 Cornhuskers were also recently named by Playboy Magazine as the greatest college football team of the Playboy era (since 1957).
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 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance and was a relatively calm year compared to the early 1990s.Tom Osborne led Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over Florida in the Fiesta 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....
. This team is considered to be among the very best college football teams of all time.
Before the season
Following the success of the 1994 season, in which Tommie FrazierTommie Frazier
Tommie James Frazier, Jr. is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He played quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers....
and Brook Berringer led the team to Tom Osborne's first national championship, the 1995 version improved in every facet. With the powerful rushing offense and a dominating defense, Nebraska captured its second consecutive national title. The 1995-1996 season set up a record-breaking three championships in four years, as the 1994 and 1995 seasons were followed by Tom Osborne's third title in 1997.
Schedule
1 Final Big 8 Conference football game. The Big 8 absorbed four teams from the dissolving Southwest Conference after the 1995 season and became the Big 12 ConferenceBig 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
.
Roster and coaching staff
Oklahoma State
No. 2 Nebraska started the year with a 64-21 win at Oklahoma State in the season and conference opener for both schools. The Cornhuskers piled up 671 total yards and 513 rushing yards while allowing 282 total yards to the Cowboys. After fumbling on its first possession, Nebraska scored on its next eight straight possessions. An explosive second quarter saw Nebraska take a 16-0 lead following a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown by reserve weakside linebacker Terrell Farley, a JUCO transfer who went on to become Big 8 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Oklahoma State, which netted -15 yards on its first three drives, responded by taking advantage of one of the young Husker defense's early mistakes, as a draw play by running back David Thompson on third and 10 went 79 yards to the Husker 2-yard line. After a 2-yard touchdown run by Oklahoma State running back Andre Richardson, Nebraska scored on the very next play after the kickoff, as Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips cut inside, dodged several defenders and raced for an 80-yard touchdown. Phillips later scored on a 27-yard run in the second quarter as the Huskers took a 36-7 halftime lead. Phillips finished the game with 153 yards on 12 carries. Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier, making his first regular-season start since the previous September, played sharply, carrying 10 times for 64 yards and a touchdown while also completing 6 of 10 passes for 120 yards and another score. Early in the third quarter, Frazier hit wide receiver Reggie Baul down the sideline for a 76-yard touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, touted Husker freshman running back Ahman Green scored his first career touchdown on a 14-yard run. Nebraska had seven players who rushed for at least 30 yards, including five who rushed for at least 50. The game marked twenty-two straight wins for the Huskers over the Cowboys.Michigan State
No. 2 Nebraska lost quarterback Tommie Frazier early in the second quarter with a bruised thigh but still dominated Michigan State in a 50-10 rout at East Lansing. The Cornhuskers outrushed the Spartans 552 to 45 and piled up 666 total yards to the Spartans' 335. Lawrence Phillips led all rushers with 206 yards and four touchdowns (three 1-yard scores and one 50-yard score off a direct snap play) on 22 carries. The Huskers also received strong rushing performances from Clinton Childs (eight carries, 83 yards) and Ahman Green (4 carries for 74 yards, including one 57-yard touchdown), as well as Jay Sims, who had one carry for an 80-yard touchdown late in the game. Backup quarterback Brook Berringer, stepping in place of Frazier, threw for 106 yards on 6 of 11 passing, including a 51-yard bomb to a diving Reggie Baul. The Nebraska defense recorded three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception. The game marked MSU's worst margin of defeat since a 42-0 loss against Michigan in 1983. It remains the most one-sided defeat in the coaching career of Nick SabanNick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
, who was in his first season at East Lansing.
Arizona State
Nebraska set a modern school record with 63 points in the first half en route to a 77-28 victory over Arizona State. Back-up I-back Clinton Childs, starting in place of the suspended Lawrence Phillips, ran 65 yards for a touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage. The Huskers gained 508 yards in the first half and finished with 686 for the game - 394 rushing and 292 passing. Arizona State added to the first half offensive fireworks as quarterback Jake PlummerJake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
found wide receiver Keith Poole for three touchdown passes. For the game, Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier completed 7 of 10 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 35 yards and two more scores. Childs ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game in the second quarter with a sprained knee. Back-up Husker I-back Ahman Green ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Nebraska pulled in the reigns on its offense in the second half but managed to get a defensive touchdown when linebacker Terrell Farley returned an interception 21 yards. The game was a source of a minor controversy as ASU coach Bruce Snyder
Bruce Snyder
Bruce Snyder was an American football player and coach. After playing for Oregon in the early 1960s as a fullback, Snyder embarked on a coaching career...
accused Nebraska coach Tom Osborne of running up the score after third-string Husker quarterback Matt Turman threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide-open reserve receiver Lance Brown in the game's final moments.
Pacific
Nebraska totaled 731 yards, the fifth-highest total in school history, on its way to a 49-7 win over Pacific. Meanwhile, the Husker defense held the Tigers to 197 total yards and forced 11 punts. I-back Damon Benning, starting in place of the injured Clinton Childs, rushed for 173 and three touchdowns on 10 carries before leaving in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. I-back Ahman Green added 112 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. In all, seven Huskers rushed for at least 29 yards. Nebraska began substituting in the second quarter and eventually used 102 players. The Huskers had three drives stall inside the Pacific 30-yard line, including one that ended with Kris Brown missing a 30-yard field goal.Washington State
Nebraska overcame an early deficit - in what ultimately proved to be the only time the Huskers would trail during the entire regular season - to beat Washington State 35-21. The Huskers took the opening drive inside the Cougar 10-yard line but fumbled away the scoring threat. Moments later, Cougar tailback Frank Madu ran past a Husker blitz for an 87-yard touchdown. Nebraska fumbled on its next drive as well but took a 20-7 halftime lead with two Tommie Frazier touchdown runs and two Kris Brown field goals. A 35-yard touchdown pass from Tommie Frazier to Mark Gilman extended the Husker lead to 35-14 before Washington State quarterback Chad Davis accounted for the final margin with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Tims. Nebraska played sloppy at times, losing three fumbles on the day, and the Huskers ended the game by allowing the clock to run out while possessing the ball at the Washington State 1-yard line. Despite the early long touchdown run by Madu, Nebraska went on to outrush the Cougars 428-72. Washington State had entered the game with the nation's fourth-ranked rush defense, having allowed just 69.7 rushing yards per game through its first three games. Tommie Frazier, in leading his team to 527 total yards, personally rushed for 70 yards and threw for 99. Reserve Husker I-back Ahman Green finished the game with 176 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Husker sophomore defensive end Grant WistromGrant Wistrom
Grant Alden Wistrom, , is a former American Football defensive end who played for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks during his 9 year career...
had a breakout game, tallying four tackles for loss to lead the Blackshirt defense.
Missouri
Nebraska's Blackshirt defense forced five fumbles and recovered two of them, intercepted two passes, held Missouri to 122 total yards, and notched the Huskers' first shutout of the season in a 57-0 win over the Tigers. Missouri managed 39 rushing yards on 39 carries. Husker linebacker Terrell Farley blocked a punt that led to a Husker safety. Meanwhile, the Husker offense tallied 475 total yards, with quarterback Tommie Frazier accounting for 71 yards rushing (and three rushing touchdowns) and 133 passing (and two touchdown passes). Husker I-back Ahman Green, making his first start, rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.Kansas State
Using a combination of stifling defense, surprising passing, and strong special teams, No. 2 Nebraska jumped out to a 35-6 halftime lead over No. 8 Kansas State en route to a 49-25 victory. Sprung by a block by freshman defensive end Mike RuckerMike Rucker
Michael Dean Rucker is a former American football defensive end who played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.-Early years:...
, Husker return man Mike Fullman took a punt back 79 yards in the first quarter to open the scoring. Nebraska also scored in the first half on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Jon Vedral and on an interception return by backup defensive lineman Luther Hardin, as well as on two touchdown passes by quarterback Tommie Frazier. Frazier threw two more touchdowns in the second half, including a 32-yarder to a wide open Vedral in the third quarter as the Huskers took a 42-6 lead. After three quarters, Nebraska's defense had held Kansas State to minus-4-yards rushing and 128 total. Nebraska began substituting reserve players shortly thereafter, however, and the Wildcats rallied to put 19 fourth quarter points on the board and pull within 42-25. Nebraska's starters re-emerged and drove for another touchdown to account for the game's final margin. Despite the rally, the Wildcats finished with just 256 total yards, minus-19 rushing yards, and the Nebraska defense recorded eight sacks and two interceptions. Frazier went 10 of 16 through the air for 148 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Ahman Green ran for 109 yards on 22 carries and had two touchdown receptions. Ultimately, Kansas State went on to finish second nationally in scoring defense; more than a third of the 145 points that the Wildcats allowed during the regular season were scored by the Huskers.
Colorado
Nebraska scored on a 57-yard run by I-back Ahman Green on its first play from scrimmage, committed no turnovers or penalties, and never trailed during a 44-21 win at No. 7 Colorado. Quarterback Tommie Frazier threw for a career-high 241 yards on 14 of 23 passing with two touchdowns (a 52-yarder to Clester Johnson in the first quarter and a 7-yarder to Jon Vedral in the second) and ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Colorado quarterback John Hessler was 21 of 43 for 276 yards on the day but threw two interceptions that led to 10 Husker points, and the Buffaloes were flagged 12 times for 92 yards in penalties. After Nebraska took a 31-14 halftime lead, Colorado scored on a 49-yard pass from Hessler to James Kidd on 4th and 2 to pull within 31-21 in the third quarter. But the Buffaloes came no closer, as two field goals by Kris Brown and Frazier's touchdown run put the game away. Green finished the game with 97 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. One of the game's most memorable plays came when Colorado defensive end Greg Jones hit Tommie Frazier in the backfield. Frazier, who was not sacked during the entire 1995 season, managed to absorb the blow and get off a 35-yard pass down the sideline to Ahman Green on a drive that ended in a Husker field goal. On the day, Nebraska outyarded the Buffaloes 467 to 382 and outrushed them 226 to 106.Iowa State
New No. 1 Nebraska scored on its first ten possessions and posted 624 rushing yards (second-most in school history) and 776 total yards (fifth-most in school history) en route to a 73-14 win over the Cyclones. Freshman I-back Ahman Green led the way with 176 rushing yards and three touchdowns on twelve carries and added a touchdown reception. A 64-yard touchdown run by Green in the third quarter marked the team's sixth one-play drive of the season. The game marked the return of Lawrence Phillips, who gained 68 yards on 12 carries. Tommie Frazier, who rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns on 8 carries, threw for 118 yards and two more touchdowns on 10 of 15 passing. Nebraska's Blackshirt defense limited Iowa State to 254 total yards, which included 121 yards on 28 carries by Heisman Trophy candidate Troy Davis. The Blackshirts also recorded two interceptions and forced two fumbles with one fumble recovery. The 73 points were the most ever scored by Nebraska against Iowa State (the 1997 Cornhuskers broke that mark by scoring 77 against the Cyclones).Kansas
The 10th-rated Jayhawks were 8-1 entering the game against No. 1 Nebraska. Kansas, unbeaten at home on the season and featuring its best team since its last victory over the Cornhuskers in 1968, outplayed Nebraska for much of the first half as the Cornhuskers had their sloppiest performance of the season. By the end of the first half, Kansas had outgained Nebraska 199-110 in yards, had 10 more first downs and had run 23 more plays. Nonetheless, Nebraska still led 14-3 at intermission after recovering a fumbled punt in the end zone for a score and getting another touchdown after a short drive following another fumble recovery at the Kansas 30-yard line. Kansas repeatedly drove deep into Nebraska territory but suffered from five turnovers on the day. The Jayhawks' only points came on a field goal after an 86-yard drive stalled at the Nebraska 2-yard line. Nebraska took over in the second half, and an 86-yard interception return by reserve defensive back Mike Fullman closed the scoring at 41-3. Tommie Frazier led all rushers with 99 yards on 10 carries; Kansas as a team ran for 72 yards on 32 total rushing attempts. The Nebraska offense had three uncharacteristic turnovers of its own on the day, the first of which - a fumble by backup quarterback Brook Berringer - snapped a streak of 18 straight quarters without a turnover. The game marked Nebraska's third win over a top ten team in less than a month, with an average victory margin of 45-16. With the win, Nebraska clinched the final Big 8 football championship, its fifth in a row.Oklahoma
Nebraska entered the contest favored by more than 30 points, one of the largest point-spreads in the history of the series. But the Sooners played tough defensively, as Nebraska failed to score a first-half offensive touchdown for the first time all season. The Huskers nonetheless led 13-0 at halftime, thanks to a pair of field goals by Kris Brown and a 36-yard interception return for a score by linebacker Jamel Williams. A 57-yard fumble return by free safety Tony Veland pushed the score to 20-0 early in the third quarter. Frazier eventually threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jon Vedral. Frazier went 12 of 25 for 136 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception; the unspectacular performance eventually factored heavily into his finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting. Late in the game, backup quarterback Brook Berringer scrambled to convert a 4th and 16 situation. Later during the same drive, reserve fullback Joel Mackovicka scored the game's final touchdown, giving the Huskers 37 points and therefore a 52.4-point-per-game scoring average, breaking the 1983 school record of 52. In all the Husker offense tallied 271 rushing yards and 407 total. The Husker defense, meanwhile, limited the Sooners to 241 total yards and forced three turnovers. The game marked the first shutout of Oklahoma by Nebraska since 1942. At the time, the game was also the second-largest victory ever by the Huskers over the Sooners (44-6, 1928). The game stretched the Huskers' unbeaten streak in the conference to 23 games, marked three straight undefeated seasons in the Big 8, and also completed three straight undefeated regular seasons.Florida
Entering the 1996 Fiesta Bowl1996 Fiesta Bowl
The 1996 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game in which the Nebraska Cornhuskers won the national championship for the 1995 college football season by defeating the Florida Gators, 62-24. Played on January 2, 1996, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, the game...
, Nebraska
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...
was thought of by some to be an underdog (including Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in their 12/26/1995 issue), even though it came into the game riding a long streak as the #1 team in the country. Their opponent, the 12-0 University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Gators, were considered to possess a defense with overwhelming speed. Many favored the Florida defensive speed in contrast to the traditional run-first, power-option offense of Nebraska, even though oddsmakers had made Nebraska a 3.5-point favorite. http://www.goldsheet.com/historic/95cfblog.html#44 On January 2, 1996, Nebraska defeated Florida 62-24, marking the largest margin of victory and highest score in a national championship game in history. Included among several NCAA bowl records the Huskers set were a team rushing total of 524 yards (out of a total offensive output of 629 yards). I-back Lawrence Phillips carried 25 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns, and he also caught a 16-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback Tommie Frazier finished the game with 199 yards on 16 carries. The game also included one of the most famous plays in Nebraska history: a 75-yard touchdown run in the third quarter by Frazier in which he broke an estimated eight tackles. Florida had entered the contest by having won every game of its regular season by no fewer than 11 points, and the Gator offense had averaged more than 44 points per game, 360 passing yards per game, and 534 yards of total offense per game. The Nebraska defense limited the Gators to 269 yards of total offense and -28 rushing yards while registering a safety, seven quarterback sacks, and three interceptions, including one returned 42 yards for a touchdown by Michael Booker. The Huskers' 29 points in the second quarter set a Fiesta bowl record.
Rankings
| 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 | Wk 15 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Coaches | 1 |
After the season
Due to their performance against Florida as well as beating 4 teams that finished in the top 10 by an average score of 49-18, their consistent dominance (smallest margin of victory was 14 points, trailed only once all season, averaging 400 yards rushing per game while allowing only 78, scoring 51 rushing touchdowns while allowing only 6), their record setting offensive performance, and their statistically impressive defense throughout the season, the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers are widely considered the greatest team in college football history. The team set Division 1-A records by averaging 7.0 yards per rushing attempt and also by allowing zero quarterback sacks on the season. Noted for its strong special teams play, the team also connected on 13 of 16 field goal attempts, and it also tied an NCAA record by allowing only five punt returns (for a total of 12 yards) all season. The 1995 Huskers also averaged a victory margin of more than 38 points, the largest of any Division 1-A team since World War II, despite regularly resting their starters in the second halves of games. Averaging more than 53 points per game (including the bowl win), the team averaged 29.8 points per first half - a higher number than the per-game scoring average of many national champions, even including such modern champions as the 2006 Florida Gators, the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes, and the 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide. Analysts often make comparisons to other recent highly-regarded champions, such as the 2001 Miami Hurricanes2001 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 2001 Miami Hurricanes football team was the national champion of the 2001 college football season and is considered by many to be the greatest team in college football history.-Pre-season motivation:...
and the 2004 USC Trojans. Such comparisons, as noted by the experts themselves, are nearly impossible to make, as rankings vary from evaluation to evaluation. The 1994 and 1995 Nebraska teams, which went a combined 25-0, remain the only undefeated and untied - as well as the only consensus - back-to-back national champions since Oklahoma in 1955 and 1956. The 1995 Cornhuskers were also recently named by Playboy Magazine as the greatest college football team of the Playboy era (since 1957).
Awards
| Award | Name(s) |
|---|---|
| Sporting News Player of the Year | Tommie Frazier Tommie Frazier Tommie James Frazier, Jr. is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He played quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.... |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually in the United States to the nation's outstanding senior quarterback in college football. It was established in 1987 by a foundation named for Johnny Unitas , the Hall of Fame quarterback who played his college career at the University of... |
Tommie Frazier |
| UPI Player-of-the-Year | Tommie Frazier |
| 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... |
Tommie Frazier |
| All-America 1st team | Tommie Frazier, Aaron Graham Aaron Graham Aaron Geddes Graham is a former professional American football center in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Arizona Cardinals , the Oakland Raiders , and the Tennessee Titans .... , Jared Tomich Jared Tomich Jared James Tomich is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Tomich went to high school at Lake Central High School where he led his team to the 1993 state championship game. Lake Central recently retired his number. Tomich played college football for the... |
| All-America 2nd team | Terrell Farley |
| All-America 3rd team | Grant Wistrom Grant Wistrom Grant Alden Wistrom, , is a former American Football defensive end who played for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks during his 9 year career... , Aaron Taylor |
| All-America honorable mention | Chris Dishman Chris Dishman Christopher Michael Dishman and grew up in Cozad, Nebraska where he played on the 1991 Class B state champion team. He is a former offensive lineman in the NFL. He played 8 seasons in the NFL, including 7 for the Arizona Cardinals and 1 for the St. Louis Rams. He played college ball at Nebraska.... , Tommie Frazier, Ahman Green, Christian Peter Christian Peter Christian Peter is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. Peter's younger brother, Jason, also played in the NFL.... |
| Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year | Tommie Frazier |
| Big 8 Defensive Newcomer of the Year | Terrell Farley |
| Big 8 Freshman of the Year | Ahman Green |
| Big 8 Offensive Newcomer of the Year | Ahman Green |
| All-Big 8 1st team | Eric Anderson, Chris Dishman, Terrell Farley, Tommie Frazier, Aaron Graham, Ahman Green, Christian Peter, Aaron Taylor, Jared Tomich, Tyrone Williams, Grant Wistrom |
| All-Big 8 2nd team | Reggie Baul, Mike Minter Mike Minter Michael Christopher Minter is a retired American football safety who played his entire professional career with the NFL's Carolina Panthers.-High school and college:... , Tony Veland Tony Veland Tony Veland is the current Defensive Coordinator of the Omaha Beef of the United Indoor Football league. He is a former American football Defensive Back for the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.Veland was a member of the 1994 and 1995 Nebraska National... |
| All-Big 8 honorable mention | Kris Brown Kris Brown Kristopher "Kris" Clayton Brown is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent.He was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first six years of his NFL career, he has converted 132 of 173 field goals and scored 573 points... , Phil Ellis, Brendan Holbein, Clester Johnson, Jeff Makovicka, Jason Peter Jason Peter Jason Michael Peter is a retired American football player. Peter was an All-American defensive tackle his senior year at the University of Nebraska and was taken in the first round by the Carolina Panthers in the 1998 NFL Draft. His career was shortened by a recurring and chronic neck stinger... |
NFL and Pro Players
The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1995 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.| Name | Team |
|---|---|
| Eric Anderson | Amsterdam Admirals Amsterdam Admirals The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe... |
| Michael Booker | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Kris Brown Kris Brown Kristopher "Kris" Clayton Brown is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent.He was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first six years of his NFL career, he has converted 132 of 173 field goals and scored 573 points... |
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... |
| Doug Colman Doug Colman Douglass Clayton Colman is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He last served as defensive assistant/linebackers coach in NFL Europa for the Amsterdam Admirals.-Playing career:... |
New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Chris Dishman Chris Dishman Christopher Michael Dishman and grew up in Cozad, Nebraska where he played on the 1991 Class B state champion team. He is a former offensive lineman in the NFL. He played 8 seasons in the NFL, including 7 for the Arizona Cardinals and 1 for the St. Louis Rams. He played college ball at Nebraska.... |
Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Jay Foreman Jay Foreman (American football) Jamal A. Foreman is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills, the Houston Texans, and the New York Giants... |
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... |
| Tommie Frazier Tommie Frazier Tommie James Frazier, Jr. is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He played quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.... |
Montreal Alouettes Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions... |
| Scott Frost Scott Frost Scott Andrew Frost is an American football coach. He played collegiately for Nebraska as a quarterback. He was drafted in the third round by the New York Jets and played six years in the National Football League as a defensive back with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and... |
New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Aaron Graham Aaron Graham Aaron Geddes Graham is a former professional American football center in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Arizona Cardinals , the Oakland Raiders , and the Tennessee Titans .... |
Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Ahman Green Ahman Green Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football running back. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft... |
Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
| Jon Hesse Jon Hesse Jonathan Andrew "Jon" Hesse is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was the 7th round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1997 NFL Draft. He would play linebacker with the St. Louis Rams in 1998... |
Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
| Sheldon Jackson | 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... |
| Vershan Jackson | 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... |
| Chad Kelsay | 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... |
| Bill Lafleur Bill Lafleur William Lafleur is a former American football punter who played four pro seasons in the NFL. He spent two seasons playing in Europe for the Barcelona Dragons, and played another two for the San Francisco 49ers... |
Barcelona Dragons Barcelona Dragons The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it... |
| Joel Makovicka Joel Makovicka Joel Makovicka is a former American football fullback who played for the Arizona Cardinals .... |
Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Mike Minter Mike Minter Michael Christopher Minter is a retired American football safety who played his entire professional career with the NFL's Carolina Panthers.-High school and college:... |
Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
| Tony Ortiz | Scottish Claymores Scottish Claymores The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow... |
| Christian Peter Christian Peter Christian Peter is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. Peter's younger brother, Jason, also played in the NFL.... |
New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Jason Peter Jason Peter Jason Michael Peter is a retired American football player. Peter was an All-American defensive tackle his senior year at the University of Nebraska and was taken in the first round by the Carolina Panthers in the 1998 NFL Draft. His career was shortened by a recurring and chronic neck stinger... |
Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
| Lawrence Phillips Lawrence Phillips Lawrence Lamond Phillips is a former professional American football and Canadian football running back. Phillips's trouble with the law and inability to produce in the NFL have led many critics to label him as a bust.... |
St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
| Mike Rucker Mike Rucker Michael Dean Rucker is a former American football defensive end who played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.-Early years:... |
Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
| Eric Stokes | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
| Jared Tomich Jared Tomich Jared James Tomich is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Tomich went to high school at Lake Central High School where he led his team to the 1993 state championship game. Lake Central recently retired his number. Tomich played college football for the... |
New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
| Larry Townsend | Berlin Thunder Berlin Thunder The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive... |
| Adam Treu Adam Treu Adam Treu was a center in the NFL. He walked on to University of Nebraska-Lincoln after playing at Pius X High School in Lincoln. He won back-to-back National Championships with the Cornhuskers in 1994 and 1995 playing left tackle and performing all the long snapping duties... |
Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Tony Veland Tony Veland Tony Veland is the current Defensive Coordinator of the Omaha Beef of the United Indoor Football league. He is a former American football Defensive Back for the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.Veland was a member of the 1994 and 1995 Nebraska National... |
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... |
| Eric Warfield Eric Warfield Eric Andrew Warfield is a former professional football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft... |
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... |
| Jamel Williams Jamel Williams Jamel Ishmael Williams is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Nebraska and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL Draft.... |
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,... |
| Tyrone Williams | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
| Jason Wiltz | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
| Grant Wistrom Grant Wistrom Grant Alden Wistrom, , is a former American Football defensive end who played for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks during his 9 year career... |
St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
| Jon Zatechka | Berlin Thunder Berlin Thunder The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive... |