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1974 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
File:Nebraska Cornhuskers logo.svg
Sugar Bowl Champions
Sugar Bowl vs. #18 Florida, W 13-10
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 9
1974 record9-3-0 (5-2-0 Big 8)
Head coachTom Osborne (2nd season)
Offensive coordinatorTom Osborne (6th season)
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorMonte Kiffin (2nd season)
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 Big 8 football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#1 Oklahoma 7 0 0     11 0 0
#9 Nebraska 5 2 0     9 3 0
Missouri 5 2 0     7 4 0
Oklahoma State 4 3 0     7 5 0
Colorado 3 4 0     5 6 0
Iowa State 2 5 0     4 7 0
Kansas 1 6 0     4 7 0
Kansas State 1 6 0     4 7 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1974 college football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Schedule[]

[1]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 14* Oregon #7 Memorial StadiumLincoln, Nebraska W 61-7   76,053
September 21* at Wisconsin #4 Camp Randall StadiumMadison, Wisconsin ABC L 20-21   73,381
September 28* Northwestern #10 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 49-7   76,101
October 5* Minnesota #6 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 54-0   76,408
October 12 Missouri #5 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska L 10-21   76,526
October 19 at #13 Kansas #12 Memorial StadiumLawrence, Kansas W 56-0   50,523
October 26† Oklahoma State #9 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 7-3   76,426
November 2 at Colorado #9 Folsom FieldBoulder, Colorado ABC W 31-15   52,949
November 9 at Iowa State #9 Clyde Williams FieldAmes, Iowa W 23-13   34,341
November 16 Kansas State #6 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 35-7   76,188
November 23 #1 Oklahoma #6 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska L 14-28   76,636
December 31* vs. #18 Florida #8 Tulane StadiumNew Orleans, Louisiana (Sugar Bowl) W 13-10   67,850
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Roster[]

[2][3]

Alward, Tom #63 (Sr.) G
Anthony, Monte #49 (So.) IB
Bahe, Ritch #24 (Sr.) WB
Belka, Jim #47 (So.) FB
Block, King (So.) LB
Bonness, Rik #54 (Jr.) C
Borg, Tim #19 (So.) DB
Brock, Dan #94 (So.) DT
Bunkers, Bill (So.) DB
Burns, Burton #49 (So.) FB
Burns, Ed #17 (So.) QB
Burrow, Jim #2 (Jr.) DB
Butterfield, Dave #34 (So.) DB
Cabell, Jake #13 (Jr.) DB
Carpenter, Jeff #37 (So.) LB
Clark, Dennis (So.) DT
Clark, Mike (So.) OT
Coccia, Tom #90 (Jr.) DE
Collura, Joe #7 (So.) MG
Costanzo, Rich #77 (Jr.) OT
Coyle, Mike #42 (Jr.) PK
Crenshaw, Marvin #73 (Sr.) OT
Davis, Tom #52 (So.) C
Davis, Tony #25 (Jr.) FB
Dervin, Joe (So.) LB
Doak, Mark #71 (Sr.) OT
Duda, Rich #50 (Sr.) C
Eichelberger, Percy #44 (So.) LB
Eveland, Al #43 (So.) PK
Everett, Earl #9 (So.) QB
Folsom, Bob (So.) WB
Fultz, Mike #72 (So.) DT
Garcia, Randy #15 (So.) QB
Gast, Reg (So.) DE
Gillespie, Dave #28 (So.) IB
Gissler, Dean #97 (Jr.) DT
Hanchera, Gary #5 (So.) PK
Hayes, Bob #76 (So.) OT
Hegener, Stan #64 (Sr.) G
Heiser, Tom #27 (Jr.) WB

 

Hertenstein, Scott #98 (So.) DT
Heydorff, Mark #22 (Sr.) DB
Higgs, Gary #46 (So.) FB
Hoins, Steve #78 (So.) OT
Homola, Ken (So.) TE
Houser, Mike (So.) PK
Humm, Dave #12 (Sr.) QB
Hunter, Ken #78 (Jr.) MG
Jenkins, Brad #92 (So.) TE
Johnson, Ardell #29 (Sr.) DB
Jones, Chuck #35 (Jr.) DB
Jorgensen, Greg (So.) OG
Justice, Jason #38 (So.) FB
Kucera, Lindsay #41 (So.) FB
Kyros, George #18 (Sr.) DB
Lackovic, Tim #80 (Sr.) SE
Lee, John #69 (Jr.) MG
Leonardi, Chad #61 (Sr.) OG
Lessman, Randy #39 (So.) DE
Lingenfelter, Bob #70 (So.) OT
Lloyd, Jerry (So.) DT
Luck, Terry #11 (Jr.) QB
Malito, Chuck #89 (So.) SE
Markley, Paul (So.) DB
Markus, Steve #36 (So.) OG
Martin, Bob #87 (Jr.) DE
Mazon, Frank #31 (Jr.) DB
McGuire, Tim #55 (Jr.) OG
McWhorter, Mike (So.) WB
Miller, Dan #58 (So.) OG
Mills, George #75 (Jr.) DT
Monds, Wonder #26 (Jr.) DB
Moran, Jeff #30 (Sr.) IB
Mushinskie, Larry #88 (Jr.) TE
Nelson, Bob #57 (Sr.) LB
Nitzel, Ron #81 (Jr.) SE
Offner, Mike #95 (Jr.) DE
O'Leary, John #14 (Jr.) IB
Panneton, Rick (Jr.) TE
Pate, Tom #68 (Sr.) DE
Pavelka, Dennis #74 (Sr.) OT

 

Peterson, Matt #82 (Jr.) TE
Phillips, Ray #96 (Jr.) DE
Pillen, Clete #33 (So.) LB
Plucknett, John (So.) DT
Pruitt, Ron #91 (Jr.) DT
Pullen, Jeff #67 (So.) MG
Ray, Glen #10 (So.) QB
Redding, Dave #84 (Jr.) DE
Reilly, Tim #56 (Jr.) OG
Rogers, Terry #40 (Sr.) DB
Ruud, Tom #45 (Sr.) LB
Samuel, Tony #99 (So.) DE
Schmidt, Dan #51 (So.) OG
Schneider, Jeff #1 (Jr.) DB
Seeton, Jim #16 (Jr.) DB
Senkbeil, Rocky (So.) DB
Shamblin, Dave #85 (Jr.) SE
Smith, Kent #23 (So.) DB
Spaeth, Ken #86 (So.) TE
Stacey, Kurt #3 (So.) DB
Starkebaum, John #48 (Sr.) LB
Stovall, Rod (So.) DB
Stuberg, Wayne #59 (So.) C
Talley, Chester #32 (So.) IB
Tangeman, Steve (So.) TE
Thomas, Bobby #8 (So.) WB
Thomas, Tom #53 (Jr.) C
Thornton, Willie #65 (Jr.) MG
Valasek, Larry #4 (So.) DB
Varner, Rich #6 (So.) C
Waldemore, Stan #62 (So.) DT
Westbrook, Don #21 (Sr.) WB
Wied, Jerry #93 (Jr.) DT
Wieser, Steve #83 (Sr.) DE
Wightman, Jim (So.) DE
Yaralian, Zaven (Sr.) DB
Zabrocki, Dale (So.) WB
Zanetich, Nick #66 (So.) OG

     

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
Monte Kiffin Defensive Coordinator 1973 1967–1976 Nebraska
Cletus Fischer Offensive Line 1960–1985 Nebraska
Jim Ross 1962–1976
John Melton Tight Ends
Wingbacks
1973 1962–1988 Wyoming
Mike Corgan Running Backs 1962 1962–1982 Notre Dame
Warren Powers Defensive Backs 1969–1976 Nebraska
Boyd Epley Head Strength Coach 1969 1969–2003 Nebraska
Bill Myles Offensive Line 1972 1972–1976
Jerry Moore Wide Receivers 1973 1973–1978 Baylor
George Darlington 1973–2002 Rutgers
Rick Duval Linebackers
Recruiting Coordinator
1973 1973–1974 Worcester
Milt Tenopir Offensive Line 1974 1974–2002 Sterling

Game notes[]

Oregon[]

Oregon at #7 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Oregon 0 0 0 7 7
#7 Nebraska 23 10 14 14 61

Oregon's only score came in the 4th quarter against Nebraska reserves, as the Cornhuskers entirely demolished the Ducks in Lincoln to open the season 1-0.

Wisconsin[]

#4 Nebraska at Wisconsin [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#4 Nebraska 7 7 3 3 20
Wisconsin 0 7 0 14 21

Wisconsin's air attack provided the Badgers with a 242-47 passing margin, while Nebraska's ground attack rolled up a 258-77 yard advantage on the ground, and the Cornhuskers led Wisconsin for all but six minutes of the game and were still in front by 6 when the Badgers pulled out a 77-yard touchdown pass and successful PAT with 3:29 in the 4th to pull ahead by 1 point, sending the Cornhuskers home with an early-season loss.

Northwestern[]

Northwestern at #10 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Northwestern 0 0 0 7 7
#10 Nebraska 14 21 7 7 49

Nebraska RB Monte Anthony set a new freshman record with his 111 yards on 14 carries as Nebraska rolled up 563 total offensive yards on the way to exacting some revenge on the Big 10 conference following the previous week's loss to Wisconsin.

Minnesota[]

Minnesota at #6 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Minnesota 0 0 0 0 0
#6 Nebraska 6 20 15 13 54

Nebraska's wrath toward the Big 10 was not completed yet, as the Cornhuskers steamrolled Minnesota 54-0 in a dominating defeat of the Golden Gophers.

Missouri[]

Missouri at #5 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Missouri 0 0 0 21 21
#5 Nebraska 0 3 0 7 10

Missouri, while unable to come up with any points of their own early on, still managed to hold Nebraska to a 10-0 lead well into the 4th quarter before suddenly coming to life and putting up 21 unanswered points in a stunning upset that left Nebraska winless at the outset of their conference schedule.

Kansas[]

#12 Nebraska at #13 Kansas [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#12 Nebraska 0 14 14 28 56
#13 Kansas 0 0 0 0 0

For the second time this season, #12 Nebraska came off of a loss with a vengeance, smashing #13 Kansas in a 56-0 shutout smackdown in Lawrence. Nebraska QB Dave Humm set a new Nebraska and Big 8 completion percentage record, a new team and conference season touchdowns record, and a new team/conference/national record of 15 consecutive pass completions, going 23 of 27 with no interceptions for the day, an especially remarkable event considering that the Cornhusker offense was known for its land-based attack.

Oklahoma State[]

Oklahoma State at #9 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Oklahoma State 0 0 0 3 3
#9 Nebraska 0 0 7 0 7

Oklahoma State outrushed Nebraska 204-167 but was able to produce only a 4th quarter field goal, as Nebraska was also stymied offensively yet was able to survive the game by riding a single 3rd quarter touchdown for the win. The Blackshirts saved the day, recovering a Cowboy fumble, reeling in an interception, and blocking a field goal attempt to help preserve the win.

Colorado[]

#9 Nebraska at Colorado [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#9 Nebraska 6 11 14 0 31
Colorado 0 0 0 15 15

Looking at the statistics might suggest this game was close, but Nebraska was comfortably leading 31-0 in the 4th when Cornhusker reserves took over and allowed Colorado to put up some numbers of their own to make it not look so bad. Despite nearly matched final offensive yardage and first down totals, the Buffaloes were unable to overcome a painful 1-5 turnover deficit.

Iowa State[]

#9 Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#9 Nebraska 7 3 13 0 23
Iowa State 0 0 0 13 13
  • Date: 1974-11-09
  • Location: Clyde Williams Field, Ames, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 37,000

The story of the previous game repeated itself, as Nebraska was out in front with an adequate lead when Cornhusker reserves entered the game to mop things up, which allowed Iowa State to put up 13 points for their game total, merely tying Nebraska's 3rd quarter output.

Kansas State[]

Kansas State at #6 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas State 0 0 0 7 7
#6 Nebraska 7 7 14 7 35

For the 8th straight game, the Blackshirts held their opponent scoreless for 3 of 4 quarters in a game, as Nebraska easily defeated Kansas State in Lincoln.

Oklahoma[]

#1 Oklahoma at #6 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#1 Oklahoma 0 7 7 14 28
#6 Nebraska 0 7 7 0 14

Nebraska had a chance to run with the momentum, after breaking a 7-7 halftime tie open a few minutes into the 3rd quarter and then recovering Oklahoma's fumble on the following kickoff, but the opportunity was wasted when the Cornhuskers could not convert the gift into points, and the game belonged to the Sooners from there on out as Oklahoma put up 21 unanswered points to take back the lead and win.

Florida[]

#18 Florida vs #8 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#18 Florida 7 3 0 0 10
#8 Nebraska 0 0 0 13 13

Florida drew first blood, scoring a relatively early touchdown, and followed it up with a 2nd quarter field goal to send Nebraska into the locker room at haltime down 0-10. As the third quarter drew to a close, Nebraska successfully held off the Gators in a goal line stand and then marched 99 yards to close the gap with Florida 7-10 at the start of the 4th, and was able to follow those points with two more field goals to pull ahead by 3, while Florida was unable to respond in kind to the comeback, giving up the game to Nebraska.

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 Final
AP 7 7 4 10 6 5 12 9 9 9 6 6 9 8 9
Coaches 8

Awards[]

[4]

Award Name(s)
All-America 1st team Rik Bonness, Marvin Crewnshaw, Dave Humm
All-America 3rd team Tom Alward
All-America honorable mention Bob Martin, Ron Pruitt
All-Big 8 1st team Rik Bonness, Marvin Crewnshaw, Dave Humm, Bob Martin, Tom Ruud
All-Big 8 2nd team Tom Alward, Wonder Monds, Bob Nelson, Don Westbrook
Big 8 Freshman Player of the Year Monte Anthony
Big 8 Defensive Sophomore of the Year Mike Fultz

NFL and Pro Players[]

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1974 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[5]

Name Team
Tom Alward Birmingham Vulcans
Monte Anthony Baltimore Colts
Rik Bonness Oakland Raiders
Ed Burns New Orleans Saints
Jim Burrow Green Bay Packers
Tom Davis Toronto Argonauts
Tony Davis Cincinnati Bengals
Mark Doak Birmingham Vulcans
Mike Fultz New Orleans Saints
Dave Humm Oakland Raiders
John Lee San Diego Chargers
Bob Lingenfelter Cleveland Browns
Terry Luck Cleveland Browns
Bob Martin New York Jets
Wonder Monds Ottawa Rough Riders
Bob Nelson Buffalo Bills
John O'Leary Montreal Alouettes
Tom Pate Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Ray Phillips Cincinnati Bengals
Tom Ruud Buffalo Bills
Stan Waldemore New York Jets
Don Westbrook New England Patriots

References[]

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