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1975 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
File:Nebraska Cornhuskers logo.svg
Big 8 Co-Champions
Fiesta Bowl vs. #7 Arizona State, L 14-17
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 9
1975 record10-2-0 (6-1-0 Big 8)
Head coachTom Osborne (3rd season)
Offensive coordinatorTom Osborne (7th season)
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorMonte Kiffin (3rd season)
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1974
1976 →
1975 Big 8 football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#1 Oklahoma 6 1 0     11 1 0
#9 Nebraska 6 1 0     10 2 0
#16 Colorado 5 2 0     9 3 0
Kansas 4 3 0     7 5 0
Oklahoma State 3 4 0     7 4 0
Missouri 3 4 0     6 5 0
Iowa State 1 6 0     4 7 0
Kansas State 0 7 0     3 8 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1975 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1975 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 13* LSU #6 Memorial StadiumLincoln, Nebraska W 10-7   76,259
September 20* Indiana #6 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 45-0   76,022
September 27* TCU #4 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 56-14   75,931
October 4* Miami #4 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 31-16   76,231
November 11† Kansas #4 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 16-0   76,285
October 18 at Oklahoma State #4 Lewis FieldStillwater, Oklahoma W 28-20   48,500
October 25 Colorado #4 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 63-21   76,509
November 1 at #12 Missouri #3 Faurot FieldColumbia, Missouri ABC W 30-7   68,195
November 8 at Kansas State #3 KSU StadiumManhattan, Kansas W 12-0   41,300
November 15 Iowa State #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 52-0   76,131
November 22 at #7 Oklahoma #2 Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, Oklahoma L 10-35   71,952
December 26* at #7 Arizona State #6 Sun Devil StadiumTempe, Arizona (Fiesta Bowl) L 14-17   51,396
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Roster[]

[2][3]

Andrews, George #96 (So.) DE
Anthony, Monte #49 (So.) IB
Avery, Scott #57 (Jr.) DT
Belka, Jim #47 (Jr.) LB
Block, King #55 (So.) LB
Bonness, Bob (So.) DE
Bonness, Rik #54 (Sr.) C
Borg, Tim #19 (So.) DB
Brock, Dan #94 (Jr.) DT
Brown, Kenny (So.) WB
Burns, Ed #17 (Jr.) QB
Burrow, Jim #2 (Sr.) DB
Butterfield, Dave #34 (Jr.) DB
Cabell, Jake #24 (Jr.) DB
Carpenter, Jeff #37 (So.) LB
Clark, Kelvin #73 (So.) OT
Clark, Mike (So.) OT
Coccia, Tom #90 (Sr.) DE
Cooley, Lawrence (So.) OG
Costanzo, Rich #77 (Sr.) OT
Coyle, Mike #42 (Sr.) PK
Craig, Curtis #33 (So.) WB
Davis, Tom #52 (So.) C
Davis, Tony #25 (Sr.) FB
Dervin, Joe (So.) LB
Donnell, Dodie #45 (So.) FB
Eichelberger, Percy #44 (Jr.) LB
Eveland, Al #43 (Jr.) PK
Everett, Earl #9 (Jr.) WB
Ferragamo, Vince #15 (Jr.) QB
Fischer, Tim #10 (So.) DB
Folsom, Bob (Jr.) FB
Fultz, Mike #72 (Jr.) DT
Gade, Steve #56 (So.) C
Galano, Bobby #59 (So.) OG
Garcia, Randy #18 (So.) QB
Gast, Reg #82 (So.) DE
Gillespie, Dave #28 (Jr.) IB

 

Gissler, Dean #97 (Sr.) DT
Glenn, Steve #71 (So.) OT
Hansen, Jeff #48 (So.) LB
Harvey, Ted #31 (So.) DB
Hayes, Bob #76 (So.) OT
Heiser, Tom #27 (Sr.) WB
Higgs, Gary (Jr.) FB
Hunter, Ken #78 (Jr.) OT
Jenkins, Brad #92 (Sr.) TE
Jones, Chuck #35 (Sr.) DB
Jorgensen, Greg #63 (So.) OG
Justice, Jason #38 (So.) FB
Kane, John (Unk) LB
Kraft, Bill #83 (So.) SE
Kroneberger, Jon #64 (So.) OT
Lee, John #69 (Sr.) MG
Lehigh, Pat #6 (So.) DB
Lessman, Randy #39 (Jr.) P
Lindquist, Steve #68 (So.) OG
Lingenfelter, Bob #70 (Jr.) OT
Loken, Rocke #16 (So.) SE
Luck, Terry #11 (Sr.) QB
Malito, Chuck #89 (Jr.) SE
Markley, Paul (So.) DB
Markus, Steve (So.) LB
Martin, Bob #87 (Sr.) DE
Miller, Dan #58 (So.) OG
Mills, George #75 (Sr.) DT
Monds, Wonder #26 (Sr.) DB
Mushinskie, Larry #88 (Sr.) TE
Nitzel, Ron #85 (Jr.) SE
Ohrt, Tom #74 (So.) OT
O'Leary, John #14 (Sr.) IB
Panneton, Rick #95 (Sr.) TE
Payne, Dennis #13 (So.) DB
Phillips, Ray #80 (Jr.) DE
Pillen, Clete #61 (Jr.) LB
Pittman, Randy #1 (So.) WB

 

Plucknett, John #50 (Jr.) MG
Poeschl, Randy (So.) DT
Porter, G.M. (Budge) (So.) DB
Pruitt, Ron #91 (Sr.) DT
Pullen, Jeff #36 (Jr.) MG
Redding, Dave #84 (Sr.) DE
Rick, Randy #22 (Jr.) DE
Ridder, Tom (So.) DE
Samuel, Tony #98 (So.) DE
Schmidt, Dan #51 (Jr.) OG
Schroeder, John (So.) OG
Shamblin, Dave #81 (Jr.) SE
Smith, Kent #23 (So.) DB
Sorley, Tom #12 (So.) QB
Spaeth, Ken #86 (So.) TE
Stacey, Kurt #3 (So.) DB
Stewart, Byron #30 (So.) IB
Stovall, Rod #5 (So.) DB
Talley, Chester #32 (Jr.) DE
Thomas, Bobby #8 (Jr.) SE
Thomas, Tom #53 (Sr.) C
Thompson, Mike (So.) SE
Thornton, Willie #65 (Sr.) MG
Valasek, Larry #4 (So.) DB
Vanous, Russ (So.) P
Varner, Rich #67 (Jr.) OG
Vernon, Kirby (So.) DB
Waldemore, Stan #62 (So.) OG
Walton, Darrell #7 (So.) WB
Webb, Mitchell #99 (So.) MG
Wied, Jerry #93 (Sr.) DT
Wightman, Jim #46 (So.) LB
Wilkins, Roger (So.) OT
Williquette, Jim #41 (So.) DB
Young, Larry #40 (So.) LB
Zabrocki, Dale #21 (So.) IB
Zanetich, Nick #66 (Jr.) 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
Milt Tenopir Offensive Line 1974 1974–2002 Sterling

Game notes[]

LSU[]

LSU at #6 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
LSU 0 0 7 0 7
#6 Nebraska 0 7 3 0 10

For the first time ever, the Cornhuskers were not able to suit up all players due to a new NCAA rule limiting the number of suited players to 60. Also, four players were ruled ineligible by the NCAA, further limiting the resources available to Nebraska. Still, the Tigers were unable to score until after the half, and their only touchdown was not sufficient to overcome the 10 Cornhusker points already on the board, and Nebraska started the season with a win.

Indiana[]

Indiana at #6 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Indiana 0 0 0 0 0
#6 Nebraska 10 14 14 7 45

Nebraska intercepted an Indiana pass on the first play to set the tone as the Cornhuskers rolled with ease over the Hoosiers in Lincoln. A total of twelve Nebraska runners added ground yards to their career totals in this game as the team collected 300 yards rushing, while the Blackshirts obtained a shutout.

TCU[]

TCU at #4 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
TCU 0 7 0 7 14
#4 Nebraska 14 14 14 14 56

After Nebraska punched in two 1st quarter touchdowns, TCU never got closer to the lead again, scoring only 14 of their own the entire game while the Cornhuskers put 14 more in each quarter. Another dominating performance was turned in by the Blackshirts, who allowed only one touchdown and held the Horned Frogs to just 16 yards on the ground.

Miami[]

Miami at #4 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Miami 6 3 0 7 16
#4 Nebraska 0 7 10 14 31

Someone forget to tell Miami to give up before the game started, and the Hurricanes came out intending to make it a game as they jump started the scoring with two field goals to lead 6-0 and another to lead 9-7 at the half, and Nebraska first 7 points were set up by a turnover instead of any serious offensive production. Halftime adjustments and superior conditioning took over for the rest of the game, however, as Nebraska ran off 24 unanswered points, making Miami's final touchdown with just over two minutes remaining too little, too late.

Kansas[]

Kansas at #4 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas 0 0 0 0 0
#4 Nebraska 3 3 3 7 16

Nebraska prevented a 1st half Kansas field goal on their way to posting a second shutout, closing their long five-game opening home stand with a 5-0 record. Although the Cornhuskers did not score big nor often, it made no difference as the scoreless Jayhawks watched the game slip farther from their reach as time ticked away. Kansas completed only 2 of 10 passes, and obtained only 7 first downs, while the Cornhuskers had double the Jayhawks yards by both ground and air.

Oklahoma State[]

#4 Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#4 Nebraska 14 7 7 0 28
Oklahoma State 0 7 13 0 20

Nebraska's first road game of 1975 was not an easy win, despite the strong 14-0 start. Oklahoma State pulled within 14 by the end of the half and within 7 in the 3rd quarter. After another set of touchdowns, the Cowboys were still down by just 8 in the 4th when they capitalized on a bad Cornhusker punt snap and took over inside the Nebraska 25. The Blackshirts made a stand when Oklahoma State got inside the Nebraska 5, and forced the Cowboys to go 3-and-out on three scoring attempts to preserve the win.

Colorado[]

Colorado at #4 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Colorado 7 0 14 0 21
#4 Nebraska 21 21 21 0 63

Statistically, the game was close save for Nebraska's 350-268 rushing edge and 2-0 interception margin, but the scoreboard told another story. Even though Colorado scored first at the start of the game, the Cornhuskers unleashed a scoring onslaught that put the Buffaloes behind 42-7 at the half, putting the game far out of reach long before Nebraska backups entered the game in the 4th quarter.

Missouri[]

#3 Nebraska at #12 Missouri [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#3 Nebraska 10 6 7 7 30
#12 Missouri 0 7 0 0 7

Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne notched his first career win against 12th-ranked Missouri, in Columbia, with style and a little help from well-executed trickery. The 'Bummeroosky" play worked flawlessly, even fooling the TV cameras, as Nebraska lined up in punt formation and snapped to FB Tony Davis, who immediately passed the ball back through the legs of IB John O'Leary and then faked a pass to a bait receiver. As the entire Cornhusker unit moved to simulate the punt fake play, the Tigers chomped on the bait and took off to the right in pursuit while O'Leary remained motionless with the ball hidden until no one remained before jaunting 40 yards untouched for the touchdown.

Kansas State[]

#3 Nebraska at Kansas State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#3 Nebraska 9 0 3 0 12
Kansas State 0 0 0 0 0

It was a battle of the defenses as the Blackshirts rang up their 3rd shutout on the season, while Kansas State managed to hold Nebraska to just 12 points.

Iowa State[]

Iowa State at #2 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Iowa State 0 0 0 0 0
#2 Nebraska 14 17 7 14 52

Iowa State probably knew they were going to have a bad day when they fumbled the opening kickoff, allowing Nebraska to convert that turnover into 7 points. Iowa State never saw the scoreboard as Nebraska put up yet another shutout for the season, their 4th, on the way to dismantling Iowa State 52-0.

Oklahoma[]

#2 Nebraska at #7 Oklahoma [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#2 Nebraska 3 0 7 0 10
#7 Oklahoma 0 7 7 21 35

Nebraska scored first on a field goal, but scoring production fizzled as Oklahoma led 7-3 at the half. The Cornhuskers took advantage of a Sooner fumble in the 3rd quarter to go up 10-7, but Nebraska soon committed its own turnover to help Oklahoma get back up front, and it didn't stop there. Two more subsequent, painful Cornhusker turnovers sealed the game as Oklahoma converted each for points and handed Nebraska their first loss of the year and forced them to share the Big 8 title.

Arizona State[]

#6 Nebraska at #7 Arizona State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Nebraska 0 7 7 0 14
#7 Arizona State 3 3 0 11 17

Nebraska led the Sun Devils through the entire game until the 4th quarter, when a fierce Arizona State Rally brought the score to a 14-14 tie and then 17-14 on a Sun Devil field goal with 4:50 remaining in the game. The Cornhuskers were driving again and progressed to the Arizona State 21 with 2 minutes to go when the Cornhuskers lost an ill-timed fumble to end their hopes for the win. As it turned out, Nebraska's only two losses for the season ended up being to the teams ranked #1 and #2 in the season's final polls.

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 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 7 6 9
Coaches 9

Awards[]

[5]

Award Name(s)
All-America 1st team Rik Bonness, Bob Martin, Wonder Monds
Big 8 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Vince Ferragamo
All-Big 8 1st team Rik Bonness, Dave Butterfield, Mike Fultz, Bob Martin, Wonder Monds
All-Big 8 2nd team Jimmy Burrow, Mike Coyle, Tony Davis, Steve Hoins, John Lee, Bob Lingenfelter, Clete Pillen, Dan Schmidt, Bobby Thomas

NFL and Pro Players[]

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1975 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[6]

Name Team
George Andrews Los Angeles Rams
Monte Anthony Baltimore Colts
Rik Bonness Oakland Raiders
Ed Burns New Orleans Saints
Jim Burrow Green Bay Packers
Kelvin Clark Denver Broncos
Tom Davis Toronto Argonauts
Tony Davis Cincinnati Bengals
Vince Ferragamo Los Angeles Rams
Mike Fultz New Orleans Saints
John Lee San Diego Chargers
Bob Lingenfelter Cleveland Browns
Terry Luck Cleveland Browns
Bob Martin New York Jets
Wonder Monds Ottawa Rough Riders
John O'Leary Montreal Alouettes
Ray Phillips Cincinnati Bengals
Stan Waldemore New York Jets

References[]

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