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1976 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Nebraska Cornhuskers logo.svg
Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Champions
Bluebonnet Bowl vs. #9 Texas Tech, W 27-24
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 9
1976 record9-3-1 (4-3-0 Big 8)
Head coachTom Osborne (4th season)
Offensive coordinatorTom Osborne (8th season)
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorMonte Kiffin (4th season)
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Big 8 football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#5 Oklahoma 5 2 0     9 2 1
#14 Oklahoma State 5 2 0     9 3 0
#16 Colorado 5 2 0     8 4 0
#9 Nebraska 4 3 0     9 3 1
#19 Iowa State 4 3 0     8 3 0
Missouri 3 4 0     6 5 0
Kansas 2 5 0     6 5 0
Kansas State 0 7 0     1 10 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1976 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 11* at LSU #1 Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana T 6-6   70,746
September 18* at Indiana #8 Memorial StadiumBloomington, Indiana W 45-13   41,289
September 25* TCU #6 Memorial StadiumLincoln, Nebraska W 64-10   74,981
October 2* Miami #5 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 17-9   76,155
October 9 at Colorado #6 Folsom FieldBoulder, Colorado W 24-12   53,538
October 16† Kansas State #3 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 51-0   76,150
October 23 #17 Missouri #3 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska L 24-34   76,051
October 30 at Kansas #9 Memorial StadiumLawrence, Kansas W 31-3   47,327
November 6 #13 Oklahoma State #9 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 14-10   76,272
November 13 at Iowa State #9 Cyclone StadiumAmes, Iowa L 28-37   51,500
November 26 #8 Oklahoma #10 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska L 17-20   74,284
December 4 at Hawaii #13 Aloha StadiumHonolulu, Hawaii W 68-3   33,737
December 31 at #9 Texas Tech #13 The AstrodomeHouston, Texas (Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl) W 27-24   48,618
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Roster[]

[2][3]

Altman, Dick (So.) WB
Anderson, Rene #2 (Jr.) RCB
Andrews, George #96 (So.) DE
Anthony, Monte #49 (Jr.) IB
Avery, Scott #93 (Sr.) DT
Barnett, Bill #97 (So.) DT
Belka, Jim #47 (Sr.) LB
Berns, Richard #35 (So.) IB
Bishop, Keith #53 (So.) C
Bloom, Jeff (So.) C
Brannon, Mike (So.) DT
Brock, Dan #94 (Sr.) DT
Brown, Kenny #22 (So.) WB
Bryant, Bill #95 (So.) DT
Burns, Ed #17 (Sr.) QB
Burton, Mike (So.) DB
Butterfield, Dave #34 (Sr.) LCB
Cabell, Jake #24 (Sr.) LCB
Carpenter, Jeff #37 (Jr.) LB
Cass, Dan (So.) LCB
Clark, Kelvin #73 (So.) OT
Cole, Lawrence #92 (So.) DE
Cooley, Lawrence #67 (So.) OG
Cotton, Barney #54 (So.) C
Craig, Curtis #33 (Jr.) WB
Davis, Tom #52 (Jr.) C
Donnell, Dodie #45 (Jr.) FB
Dufresne, Mark #88 (Jr.) TE
Eichelberger, Percy #44 (Sr.) SLB
Eveland, Al #43 (Sr.) PK
Everett, Earl #9 (Sr.) WB
Ewing, Ben #26 (So.) WLB
Ferragamo, Vince #15 (Sr.) QB
Fischer, Tim #16 (Jr.) LCB
Fultz, Mike #72 (Sr.) DT
Galano, Bobby (So.) OG
Garcia, Randy #18 (Jr.) QB
Gast, Reg #82 (Jr.) DE
Gillespie, Dave #28 (Sr.) IB

 

Glenn, Steve #71 (So.) OT
Goodspeed, Mark (So.) DT
Hager, Tim #10 (So.) QB
Hansen, Jeff #48 (So.) S
Harvey, Ted #31 (Jr.) RCB
Havekost, John (So.) OG
Hayes, Bob #76 (Jr.) OT
Higgs, Gary #46 (Sr.) FB
Hipp, I.M. #32 (So.) IB
Hoins, Steve #78 (Sr.) OT
Horn, Brian (So.) TE
Horn, Rod #55 (So.) MG
Humphrey, Lawrence (Unk) OT
Ingram, John #19 (So.) S
Jorgensen, Greg #63 (Jr.) OG
Kennedy, Mike #11 (So.) QB
Kroneberger, Jon #64 (So.) OT
Kujath, Kim #36 (Jr.) FB
Kunz, Lee #38 (So.) SLB
LaFever, Dan (Fr.) WLB
Lee, Oudious #65 (So.) MG
Lehigh, Pat #6 (So.) LCB
Lessman, Randy #39 (Sr.) P
Lindquist, Steve #68 (So.) OG
Lingenfelter, Bob #70 (Sr.) OT
Link, Rob (So.) TE
Loken, Rocke #87 (Jr.) SE
Long, Doug (So.) SLB
Malito, Chuck #89 (Sr.) SE
Markus, Steve #56 (Jr.) SLB
Nitzel, Ron #85 (Sr.) SE
Ohrt, Tom #74 (So.) OT
Payne, Dennis #13 (So.) S
Phillips, Ray #80 (Sr.) DE
Pillen, Clete #61 (Sr.) SLB
Pillen, Jim #29 (So.) MON
Plucknett, John #50 (Sr.) MG
Poeschl, Randy #75 (So.) DT
Potadle, Paul (So.) OT

 

Pruitt, Ron #91 (Sr.) DT
Pullen, Jeff #66 (Jr.) MG
Rick, Randy #90 (Jr.) DE
Ridder, Tom (So.) DE
Roehrs, Kelvin (So.) MG
Ruud, John (So.) WLB
Saalfeld, Kelly (So.) OT
Samuel, Tony #98 (Jr.) DE
Schmidt, Dan #51 (Sr.) OG
Selko, John #83 (So.) TE
Shamblin, Dave #81 (Sr.) SE
Smith, Kent #23 (Jr.) MON
Smith, Tim #84 (So.) SE
Sorley, Tom #12 (So.) QB
Spaeth, Ken #86 (Jr.) TE
Steiner, Dan #58 (So.) OG
Steward, Keith #40 (So.) FB
Stewart, Byron #30 (So.) IB
Stewart, Eric (So.) S
Stovall, Rod #5 (Jr.) RCB
Stroh, Mark (So.) DE
Sukup, Dean #3 (So.) PK
Theissen, Gordon (So.) DE
Thomas, Bobby #8 (Sr.) SE
Valasek, Larry #4 (Jr.) S
VanderMeer, Ron #1 (Sr.) PK
Vanous, Russ #25 (Jr.) P
Vering, Tom #57 (So.) WLB
Waldemore, Stan #62 (Jr.) OG
Walderzak, Paul #77 (So.) OT
Walton, Darrell #7 (So.) WB
Washington, Mike #42 (So.) FB
Webb, Mitchell #99 (So.) MG
Weinmaster, Kerry (So.) MG
Wightman, Jim #59 (Jr.) WLB
Williquette, Jim #41 (So.) RCB
Young, Larry #14 (So.) MON
Young, Willie (So.) C
Zabrocki, Dale #21 (Jr.) IB

     

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 Linebackers 1975 1972–1976
Jerry Moore Wide Receivers 1973 1973–1978 Baylor
George Darlington 1973–2002 Rutgers
Milt Tenopir Offensive Line 1974 1974–2002 Sterling
Guy Ingles Freshman Head Coach 1976 1976–1978 Nebraska

Game notes[]

LSU[]

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

Top-ranked Nebraska quickly found the scoreboard with a touchdown just four minutes into the game, but a failed extra point attempt was the first sign of trouble to come, as the Cornhuskers failed to score again against a fierce LSU defense. The Tigers also struggled to make headway against the tenacious Blackshirts, managing just one field goal in each of the final two quarters, which resulted in a less than stellar beginning of the season for Nebraska as they were forced to settle for a 6-6 tie.

Indiana[]

#8 Nebraska at Indiana [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#8 Nebraska 14 10 14 7 45
Indiana 0 0 7 6 13

Nebraska pushed Indiana around all day to make up for the previous week's disappointing tie game, running out ahead 38-0 before Indiana managed to score. Indiana had the slight edge in the air, but without enough points to back it up, the 248-89 Cornhusker domination on the ground told the story of the game.

TCU[]

TCU at #6 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
TCU 10 0 0 0 10
#6 Nebraska 14 24 19 7 64

TCU proposed to make it a game by scoring first, and was still in it with a slight 10-14 lag at the end of the 1st quarter, but the Horned Frogs proceeded to fall apart as the Cornhuskers quickly rolled off 50 unanswered points to steamroll their way to a 64-10 romp in the Lincoln home opener. Nebraska QB Vince Ferragamo tied the Nebraska record of four touchdowns in a game (by halftime), while ground responsibilities were widely shared as 5th-string IB Byron Stewart ended up with the day's rushing lead at 64 yards.

Miami[]

Miami at #5 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Miami 6 0 0 3 9
#5 Nebraska 0 0 7 10 17

A hard-hitting game saw several players leaving the field with injuries as Nebraska fought from behind for the second week in a row, after having to start the 2nd half down 0-6. The Cornhuskers eventually wore the Hurricanes down in the end, putting up 10 more points while Miami was only able to add a field goal in their failed attempt to hold the lead.

Colorado[]

#6 Nebraska at Colorado [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Nebraska 0 7 7 10 24
Colorado 3 9 0 0 12

Colorado never did find the end zone, but Buffalo PK Mark Zetterberg split the uprights four times to account for all of Colorado's scores to put Nebraska behind 7-12 at the half. Those 12 points were not nearly enough to overcome the Nebraska 2nd half effort which ran off an additional 17 unanswered points to pull away from Colorado for the win.

Kansas State[]

Kansas State at #3 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas State 0 0 0 0 0
#3 Nebraska 10 20 14 7 51

Nebraska smashed Kansas State to celebrate homecoming, holding the Wildcats to a painful -45 yards of negative progress on the ground, as the Cornhuskers did not even have to defend their side of the field until late in the 3rd quarter when Nebraska gave up an interception. Still missing several players from injuries sustained in the previous two games, the Cornhusker machine rolled on anyway, as Nebraska QB Vince Ferragamo tied the school single-game touchdown record for the second time this season while the Blackshirts put up their only shutout of 1976.

Missouri[]

#17 Missouri at #3 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#17 Missouri 7 16 0 11 34
#3 Nebraska 6 12 3 3 24

Missouri arrived in Lincoln on the way to owning an impressive upset thanks to a record-setting play. Nebraska was behind 18-23 at the half, but had obtained two field goals to pull ahead 24-23 at the start of the 4th quarter. The Tigers than scored on a spectacular 98-yard pass play and successful 2-point conversion to take the momentum back just two minutes later, and iced the win with 1:19 remaining on the game clock when they added 3 more on a field goal, handing the Cornhuskers their first loss of the season.

Kansas[]

#9 Nebraska at Kansas [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#9 Nebraska 7 14 7 3 31
Kansas 0 0 0 3 3

Kansas took the brunt of Nebraska's frustration following their loss to Missouri the week prior, as the Blackshirts only allowed the Jayhawks to cross midfield twice all day, while the Cornhusker offense accumulated 483 yards of total offense in the one-sided game. The lone Kansas score was a field goal against Nebraska reserves in the 4th quarter.

Oklahoma State[]

#13 Oklahoma State at #9 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#13 Oklahoma State 0 3 7 0 10
#9 Nebraska 0 0 7 7 14

Both teams struggled to make progress against each other at the start as both defenses protected their end zones, and by the half only Oklahoma State had managed to put any points up, with a field goal midway through the 2nd quarter. The defensive battle continued after haltfime, but the Cornhuskers were finally able to secure a 3rd quarter touchdown, only to have the Cowboys answer it four minutes later and retake the lead 10-7. Nebraska was uncharacteristically losing the ground war, as Oklahoma State piled up a 291-121 edge in yards, and so turned to the air and found results as they amassed a 235-34 passing yardage lead, which included the game-winning touchdown pass with almost 12 minutes still remaining in the 4th quarter. The Blackshirts held from there on out to secure the victory.

Iowa State[]

#9 Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#9 Nebraska 7 6 0 15 28
Iowa State 17 3 0 17 37

Turnovers took a brutal toll on Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers fumbled eight times and gave up an interception in Ames. For the second week in a row, Nebraska was forced to go to the air for results as the Cyclones held them to just 77 rushing yards, but it was not enough, as Nebraska fell behind 0-10 early on and never recovered the lead in a heartbreaking road loss to an unranked team following their thrilling finish against #13 Oklahoma State the week before.

Oklahoma[]

#8 Oklahoma at #10 Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#8 Oklahoma 7 0 0 13 20
#10 Nebraska 0 3 14 0 17

Nebraska was outrushed on the day, lagging Oklahoma 185-357 on the ground and once again resorting to an air attack to stay in the game, yet the Cornhuskers were in the lead 17-13 when Oklahoma resorted to an unexpected air attack of their own to win. The Sooners had only thrown two passes in the last two games combined, but used two pass plays in the final minutes to pull out the surprise win. One pass, a 47-yarder from reserve Oklahoma HB Woodie Shepherd, was the first of his career, while the other was tossed by backup Oklahoma QB Dean Blevins 10 yards and then lateraled for an additional 22 yard gain. The Cornhuskers, felled by passes from a ground-based team they had not defeated since 1971, was knocked out of the Orange Bowl.

Hawaii[]

#13 Nebraska at Hawaii [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#13 Nebraska 27 6 21 14 68
Hawaii 0 0 3 0 3
  • Date: 1976-12-04
  • Location: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Game attendance: 33,737

In a lightly attended Honolulu game with more Cornhusker fans in attendance than locals, Nebraska punished Hawaii with a 47-0 lead before allowing the Rainbows to obtain their lone points of the day on a field goal near the end of the 3rd quarter, which was answered by an additional 21 straight Cornhusker points to close the game. Nebraska's 655 yards of total offense was a new all-time school record, as was the 211 single game yards accumulated by IB Rick Berns, which succeeded the mark of 204 set by Frank Solich in 1965. Nebraska SE Chuck Malito's 166 receiving yards also set a new single game school record, and Nebraska QB Vince Ferragamo broke David Humm's 1972 season touchdown record of 18 when he pushed his season total to 20.

Texas Tech[]

#13 Nebraska at #9 Texas Tech [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
#13 Nebraska 7 7 13 0 27
#9 Texas Tech 3 14 7 0 24

Nebraska was behind 17-14 at the half, and Texas Tech increased their lead shortly after the start of the 3rd when they posted another touchdown, and things were looking bleak for the Cornhuskers as the Red Raiders seemed to have an answer for everything Nebraska came up with. Then, two minutes later, Nebraska found the end zone to pull within 4 points, and after managing to force Texas Tech into a punt that was partially blocked, the Cornhuskers scored again two minutes later to take the lead, and held on for the win.

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 Final
AP 1 8 6 5 6 3 3 9 9 9 12 10 13 9
Coaches 7

Awards[]

[4]

Award Name(s)
All-America 1st team Dave Butterfield, Vince Ferragamo, Mike Fultz
All-America 2nd team Clete Pillen
All-America honorable mention Greg Jorgensen, Bob Lingenfelter, Ray Phillips, Ron Pruitt, Dan Schmidt
Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year Clete Pillen
All-Big 8 1st team Dave Butterfield, Vince Ferragamo, Mike Fultz, Bob Lingenfelter, Ray Phillips, Clete Pillen, Dan Schmidt
All-Big 8 2nd team Al Eveland, Steve Hoins, Chuck Malito, Ron Pruitt, Ken Spaeth
All-Big 8 honorable mention Tom Davis, Greg Jorgensen, Dave Shamblin, Bobby Thomas, Larry Valasek

NFL and Pro Players[]

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1976 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[5]

Name Team
George Andrews Los Angeles Rams
Bill Barnett Miami Dolphins
Rick Berns Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ed Burns New Orleans Saints
Kelvin Clark Denver Broncos
Barney Cotton Cincinnati Bengals
Tom Davis Toronto Argonauts
Vince Ferragamo Los Angeles Rams
Mike Fultz New Orleans Saints
Mark Goodspeed St. Louis Cardinals
Rod Horn Cincinnati Bengals
Lee Kunz Chicago Bears
Oudious Lee St. Louis Cardinals
Bob Lingenfelter Cleveland Browns
Ray Phillips Cincinnati Bengals
Stan Waldemore New York Jets

References[]

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