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1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

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1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
75px
Fiesta Bowl vs. #3 Florida State, L 28-31
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 6
1987 record10-2-0 (6-1-0 Big 8)
Head coachTom Osborne (15th season)
Offensive coordinatorTom Osborne (18th season)
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorCharlie McBride (7th season)
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1986
1988 →
1987 Big 8 football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#3 Oklahoma 7 – 0 – 0     11 – 1 – 0
#6 Nebraska 6 – 1 – 0     10 – 2 – 0
#11 Oklahoma State 5 – 2 – 0     10 – 2 – 0
Colorado 4 – 3 – 0     7 – 4 – 0
Missouri 3 – 4 – 0     5 – 6 – 0
Iowa State 2 – 5 – 0     3 – 8 – 0
Kansas 0 – 6 – 1     1 – 9 – 1
Kansas State 0 – 6 – 1     0 – 10 – 1
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A 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 5* Utah State #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 56-12   75,910
September 12* #3 UCLA #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 42-33   76,313
September 26* at #12 Arizona State #2 Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, Arizona W 35-28   71,264
October 3* South Carolina #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 30-21   76,061
October 10 Kansas #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 54-2   76,053
October 17 at #12 Oklahoma State #2 Lewis Field • Stillwater, Oklahoma W 35-0   50,440
October 24† Kansas State #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 56-3   76,106
October 31 at Missouri #2 Faurot Field • Columbia, Missouri W 42-7   55,594
November 7 Iowa State #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska W 42-3   76,001
November 21 #2 Oklahoma #1 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska L 7-17   76,663
November 28 at Colorado #5 Folsom Field • Boulder, Colorado W 24-7   52,026
January 1* vs. #3 Florida State #5 Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, Arizona (Fiesta Bowl) L 28-31   72,112
*Non-Conference Game. †Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Roster and coaching staff

1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
C 59 Anderson, JeffJeff Anderson So
C 53 Antonietti, MarkMark Antonietti Jr
OG 58 Arneson, R.G.R.G. Arneson So
SE 81 Bahe, ChipChip Bahe So
TE 87 Banderas, TomTom Banderas Sr
WB 18 Behrens, VanceVance Behrens Sr
WB 21 Bell, RichardRichard Bell So
QB 12 Blakeman, CleteClete Blakeman Sr
OT 69 Bobbora, BillBill Bobbora So
WB 33 Brinson, DanaDana Brinson Jr
FB 29 Carpenter, BryanBryan Carpenter Jr
IB 32 Clark, KenKen Clark So
IB 1  Coleman, RayRay Coleman Jr
FB 45 Dalton, DougDoug Dalton Sr
QB 14 Dunlap, JerryJerry Dunlap So
OT 77 Ernest, JimJim Ernest Jr
QB 4  Gdowski, GerryGerry Gdowski So
OT 67 Glaser, DougDoug Glaser So
OT 73 Green, DerrickDerrick Green Sr
SE 19 Gregory, MorganMorgan Gregory So
OG 74 Griffin, MikeMike Griffin So
WB 82 Hawkins, HendleyHendley Hawkins Sr
FB 48 Heibel, MicahMicah Heibel Sr
WB 27 Holscher, JimJim Holscher Sr
OT 70 Hudson, Corey BillCorey Bill Hudson Sr
IB 6  Jones, KeithKeith Jones Sr
OG 65 Keeler, AndyAndy Keeler Jr
IB 40 Kelley, JonJon Kelley Sr
FB 34 Knox, TyreeseTyreese Knox Jr
TE 85 Kratzenstein, MonteMonte Kratzenstein So
OT 57 Lightner, KevenKeven Lightner Sr
OG 61 McCormick, JohnJohn McCormick Sr
SE 83 McCoy, TimTim McCoy So
TE 43 Millikan, ToddTodd Millikan Jr
OG 76 Nelson, JohnJohn Nelson Jr
TE 86 Neubert, KeithKeith Neubert Sr
C 63 Nichols, JohnJohn Nichols Sr
C 54 O'Gara, ChrisChris O'Gara So
IB 20 Rodgers, TerryTerry Rodgers So
OG 64 Roschal, JohnJohn Roschal So
OT 72 Rother, BradBrad Rother So
FB 25 Schmidt, SamSam Schmidt So
WB 2  Sheppard, VonVon Sheppard Sr
OT 62 Sledge, BobBob Sledge Jr
SE 88 Smith, RodRod Smith Sr
OG    Strasheim, JohnJohn Strasheim
QB 9  Taylor, SteveSteve Taylor Jr
WB 31 Worden, JamieJamie Worden Jr
C 68 Young, JakeJake Young So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 23 Blazek, MarkMark Blazek Jr
OLB 81 Broer, KurtKurt Broer Jr
DT 95 Brungardt, PaulPaul Brungardt Fr
LB 49 Caliendo, ChrisChris Caliendo So
CB 7  Clayton, McCathornMcCathorn Clayton Sr
SS 17 Cooper, ReggieReggie Cooper Fr
CB 17 Crippen, JonJon Crippen Fr
OLB 88 Croel, MikeMike Croel Fr
CB 28 Custard, JohnJohn Custard Jr
LB 47 Etienne, LeRoyLeRoy Etienne Jr
LB 51 Ferguson, BradBrad Ferguson So
LB 38 Forch, SteveSteve Forch Sr
CB 10 Fryar, CharlesCharles Fryar Jr
DT 84 Griffin, WillieWillie Griffin Jr
LB 36 Hansen, BobBob Hansen So
CB 8  Hicks, LorenzoLorenzo Hicks Jr
CB 4  Jackson, TimTim Jackson Jr
DE 80 Jamrog, JeffJeff Jamrog Sr
LB 55 Jobman, RandallRandall Jobman So
DT 98 Jones, LeeLee Jones Sr
CB 5  Lewis, TahaunTahaun Lewis Fr
DT 94 Long, JeffJeff Long So
DE 93 Marco, JonJon Marco Jr
S 2  McArdle, DanDan McArdle So
CB 3  McCallum, KurtKurt McCallum So
DE 42 Mills, JeffJeff Mills So
MG 74 Murray, MikeMike Murray So
DE 90 Opie, HarlanHarlan Opie Sr
DT 97 Palmer, TonyTony Palmer Sr
MG 96 Pete, LawrenceLawrence Pete Jr
MG 92 Putnam, SeanSean Putnam Jr
S 18 Richman, JohnJohn Richman So
DT 78 Rother, TimTim Rother Sr
S 26 Sanders, MarvinMarvin Sanders So
DT 66 Skradis, KurtKurt Skradis Jr
DT 99 Smith, NeilNeil Smith Sr
DE 56 Stanard, SteveSteve Stanard Jr
DE 89 Thomas, BroderickBroderick Thomas Jr
S 11 Tomjack, JeffJeff Tomjack Sr
DT 75 Valladao, RayRay Valladao So
S 41 Vampola, ScottScott Vampola So
CB 27 Walker, CartierCartier Walker Jr
DE 83 Walker, KennyKenny Walker So
S 5  Washington, BrianBrian Washington Sr
MG 91 Wells, KentKent Wells So
LB 37 Welniak, DougDoug Welniak Sr
S 1  Wendland, RickRick Wendland So
LB 24 Wiley, DanteDante Wiley Jr
S 15 Wooten, WendellWendell Wooten Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 44 Barrios, GreggGregg Barrios So
PK 39 Cheloha, DaveDave Cheloha Jr
PK 16 Drennan, ChrisChris Drennan So
P 46 Kroeker, JohnJohn Kroeker Jr
P/PK 13 Schnitzler, CraigCraig Schnitzler Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Charlie McBride
       7th season as DC/LB coach
       11th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Colorado
  • Ron Brown
       1st season as WR/TE coach
       1st year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Brown
  • Dan Young
       5th season as OL/K coach
       5th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Reed
  • Milt Tenopir
       14th season as OL coach
       14th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Sterling
  • Tony Samuel
       2nd season as OLB coach
       2nd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • George Darlington
       DB coach
       15th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Rutgers
  • Frank Solich
       5th season as RB coach
       9th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • Boyd Epley
       19th season as S&C coach
       19th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • Jack Pierce
       9th year at Nebraska
  • John Melton
       15th season as TE/WB coach
       26th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Wyoming
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2011-01-17

Game notes

Utah State

Utah State at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Utah State 0 3 3 6 12
• Nebraska 7 21 21 7 56

Nebraska QB Steve Taylor rushed for 157 yards, breaking a 35-year-old Cornhusker quarterback record, and Nebraska returned two punts for touchdowns, tying its own Big 8 record. Nebraska rolled over Utah State with 515 rushing yards while holding the Aggies to -1 yard.

UCLA

UCLA at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
UCLA 7 3 7 16 33
• Nebraska 0 14 14 14 42

Memorial Stadium recorded its 150th consecutive sellout as #2 Nebraska defeated #3 UCLA. This was the first time two teams from the Top 3 had played in Lincoln. Nebraska QB Steve Taylor's five TD passes tied a Big 8 record set in 1938.

Arizona State

Nebraska at Arizona State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Nebraska 0 14 7 14 35
Arizona State 0 6 15 7 28

Following a late ASU game-tying score resulting from a fumble by Nebraska QB Steve Taylor, Nebraska IB Keith Jones tore off a 62-yard run with 3:37 remaining to set up the winning series as Nebraska triumphed over the #12 Sun Devils.

South Carolina

South Carolina at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
South Carolina 0 7 14 0 21
• Nebraska 3 10 0 17 30

South Carolina was leading 21-13 in the 3rd as Nebraska QB Steve Taylor left the game with a shoulder injury. After that, Nebraska regained the momentum, holding the Gamecocks to just 9 yards total, recovering a fumble to set up a score, and adding a late interception and field goal to put up the win.

Kansas

Kansas at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas 0 0 0 2 2
• Nebraska 17 10 14 13 54

Nebraska cruised against a weak Kansas team, as Nebraska QB Clete Blakeman filled in for injured starting QB Steve Taylor.

Oklahoma State

Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Nebraska 7 14 7 7 35
Oklahoma State 0 0 0 0 0

Nebraska continued their 26-year winning streak against the Cowboys, putting a stop to #12 Oklahoma State's best start and best winning streak since 1945. Cowboys RB Thurman Thomas, at that time the NCAA rushing leader, was held to just 7 yards in 9 carries.

Kansas State

Kansas State at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas State 0 3 0 0 3
• Nebraska 21 14 14 7 56

Nebraska secured their 26th consecutive winning season, tying the NCAA record, and rolled up 459 rushing yards using 17 rushing players, while the Cornhusker defense prevented a touchdown for the third game in a row.

Missouri

Nebraska at Missouri [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Nebraska 7 21 7 7 42
Missouri 0 7 0 0 7

The NCAA touchdown pass record from 1938 was tied by Nebraska for the second time in this season as the Cornhusker offense scored in all four quarters for the 4th game in a row, though the defense finally allowed their first touchdown in 15 quarters.

Iowa State

Iowa State at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Iowa State 0 0 3 0 3
• Nebraska 14 14 7 7 42

The Cornhuskers locked up their 19th consecutive 9-win season while piling up 666 total yards of offense as they rocketed to a 28-0 halftime lead before coasting to another win.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Oklahoma 0 0 14 3 17
Nebraska 7 0 0 0 7

Billed as "Game of the Century II", this first-ever #1 vs. #2 matchup in Memorial Stadium brought a halt to the Cornhuskers' title hopes. Nebraska had taken away Oklahoma's #1 ranking before this game, and gave it back as the Cornhuskers struggled to move the ball after their first and only score. The Sooners went on to win their 4th straight Big 8 Championship.

Colorado

Nebraska at Colorado [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Nebraska 0 10 7 7 24
Colorado 0 0 7 0 7

Nebraska recovered from the Oklahoma loss and obtained their revenge for last year's loss to Colorado by taking out their frustrations on the Buffaloes in Boulder. Nebraska IB Keith Jones' 248 yards lifted him into a career 3rd place ranking among Cornhusker runners.

Florida State

Florida State vs Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Florida State 0 21 3 7 31
Nebraska 14 0 14 0 28

Nebraska gave up a heartbreaker, as the Cornhuskers failed to put the game away while leading by 4 midway through the 4th. A Seminole defender stripped the ball from Nebraska IB Tyreese Knox as he ran in from the FSU 2, which set up a 97-yard FSU march for the winning touchdown with 3:07 left to play.

Rankings

See also: 1987 NCAA Division I-A football 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 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 5 5 5 6
Coaches 6

Awards

[2]

Award Name(s)
All-America 1st team John McCormick, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas
All-Big 8 1st team LeRoy Etienne, Steve Forch, Keith Jones, Kevin Lightner, John McCormick, Tim Rother, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas
All-Big 8 2nd team Tom Banderas, Charles Fryar, Bob Sledge, Rod Smith, Jake Young
All-Big 8 honorable mention Mark Blazek, Lee Jones

NFL and Pro Players

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1987 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[3]

Name Team
Richard Bell Pittsburgh Steelers
Dana Brinson San Diego Chargers
Ken Clark Indianapolis Colts
Reggie Cooper Dallas Cowboys
Mike Croel Denver Broncos
LeRoy Etienne San Francisco 49ers
Tim Jackson Dallas Cowboys
Keith Jones Cleveland Browns
Jeff Mills San Diego Chargers
Keith Neubert New York Jets
Lawrence Pete Detroit Lions
Tim Rother Los Angeles Raiders
Neil Smith Kansas City Chiefs
Steve Taylor Edmonton Eskimos
Broderick Thomas Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenny Walker Denver Broncos
Brian Washington Cleveland Browns
Kent Wells New York Giants

References

  1. ↑ "Football - 1987 Schedule/Results". University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletics Department. http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=3&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&Q_SEASON=1987. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
  2. ↑ 1987 Husker Honors
  3. ↑ All Time NFL Huskers
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