1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Logo of the Nebraska athletic teams 1982-1991
Fiesta Bowl vs. #3 Florida State, L 28-31
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
AP	No. 6
1987 record	10-2-0 (6-1-0 Big 8)
Head coach	Tom Osborne (15th season)
Offensive coordinator	Tom Osborne (18th season)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Charlie McBride (7th season)
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons

1987 Big 8 football standings
	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

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 3.0 !So C 53 Antonietti, MarkMark Antonietti 5.0 !Jr OG 58 Arneson, R.G.R.G. Arneson 3.0 !So SE 81 Bahe, ChipChip Bahe 3.0 !So TE 87 Banderas, TomTom Banderas 7.0 !Sr WB 18 Behrens, VanceVance Behrens 7.0 !Sr WB 21 Bell, RichardRichard Bell 3.0 !So QB 12 Blakeman, CleteClete Blakeman 7.0 !Sr OT 69 Bobbora, BillBill Bobbora 3.0 !So WB 33 Brinson, DanaDana Brinson 5.0 !Jr FB 29 Carpenter, BryanBryan Carpenter 5.0 !Jr IB 32 Clark, KenKen Clark 3.0 !So IB 1  Coleman, RayRay Coleman 5.0 !Jr FB 45 Dalton, DougDoug Dalton 7.0 !Sr QB 14 Dunlap, JerryJerry Dunlap 3.0 !So OT 77 Ernest, JimJim Ernest 5.0 !Jr QB 4  Gdowski, GerryGerry Gdowski 3.0 !So OT 67 Glaser, DougDoug Glaser 3.0 !So OT 73 Green, DerrickDerrick Green 7.0 !Sr SE 19 Gregory, MorganMorgan Gregory 3.0 !So OG 74 Griffin, MikeMike Griffin 3.0 !So WB 82 Hawkins, HendleyHendley Hawkins 7.0 !Sr FB 48 Heibel, MicahMicah Heibel 7.0 !Sr WB 27 Holscher, JimJim Holscher 7.0 !Sr OT 70 Hudson, Corey BillCorey Bill Hudson 7.0 !Sr IB 6  Jones, KeithKeith Jones 7.0 !Sr OG 65 Keeler, AndyAndy Keeler 5.0 !Jr IB 40 Kelley, JonJon Kelley 7.0 !Sr FB 34 Knox, TyreeseTyreese Knox 5.0 !Jr TE 85 Kratzenstein, MonteMonte Kratzenstein 3.0 !So OT 57 Lightner, KevenKeven Lightner 7.0 !Sr OG 61 McCormick, JohnJohn McCormick 7.0 !Sr SE 83 McCoy, TimTim McCoy 3.0 !So TE 43 Millikan, ToddTodd Millikan 5.0 !Jr OG 76 Nelson, JohnJohn Nelson 5.0 !Jr TE 86 Neubert, KeithKeith Neubert 7.0 !Sr C 63 Nichols, JohnJohn Nichols 7.0 !Sr C 54 O'Gara, ChrisChris O'Gara 3.0 !So IB 20 Rodgers, TerryTerry Rodgers 3.0 !So OG 64 Roschal, JohnJohn Roschal 3.0 !So OT 72 Rother, BradBrad Rother 3.0 !So FB 25 Schmidt, SamSam Schmidt 3.0 !So WB 2  Sheppard, VonVon Sheppard 7.0 !Sr OT 62 Sledge, BobBob Sledge 5.0 !Jr SE 88 Smith, RodRod Smith 7.0 !Sr OG    Strasheim, JohnJohn Strasheim QB 9  Taylor, SteveSteve Taylor 5.0 !Jr WB 31 Worden, JamieJamie Worden 5.0 !Jr C 68 Young, JakeJake Young 3.0 !So	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 23 Blazek, MarkMark Blazek 5.0 !Jr OLB 81 Broer, KurtKurt Broer 5.0 !Jr DT 95 Brungardt, PaulPaul Brungardt 1.0 !Fr LB 49 Caliendo, ChrisChris Caliendo 3.0 !So CB 7  Clayton, McCathornMcCathorn Clayton 7.0 !Sr SS 17 Cooper, ReggieReggie Cooper 1.0 !Fr CB 17 Crippen, JonJon Crippen 1.0 !Fr OLB 88 Croel, MikeMike Croel 1.0 !Fr CB 28 Custard, JohnJohn Custard 5.0 !Jr LB 47 Etienne, LeRoyLeRoy Etienne 5.0 !Jr LB 51 Ferguson, BradBrad Ferguson 3.0 !So LB 38 Forch, SteveSteve Forch 7.0 !Sr CB 10 Fryar, CharlesCharles Fryar 5.0 !Jr DT 84 Griffin, WillieWillie Griffin 5.0 !Jr LB 36 Hansen, BobBob Hansen 3.0 !So CB 8  Hicks, LorenzoLorenzo Hicks 5.0 !Jr CB 4  Jackson, TimTim Jackson 5.0 !Jr DE 80 Jamrog, JeffJeff Jamrog 7.0 !Sr LB 55 Jobman, RandallRandall Jobman 3.0 !So DT 98 Jones, LeeLee Jones 7.0 !Sr CB 5  Lewis, TahaunTahaun Lewis 1.0 !Fr DT 94 Long, JeffJeff Long 3.0 !So DE 93 Marco, JonJon Marco 5.0 !Jr S 2  McArdle, DanDan McArdle 3.0 !So CB 3  McCallum, KurtKurt McCallum 3.0 !So DE 42 Mills, JeffJeff Mills 3.0 !So MG 74 Murray, MikeMike Murray 3.0 !So DE 90 Opie, HarlanHarlan Opie 7.0 !Sr DT 97 Palmer, TonyTony Palmer 7.0 !Sr MG 96 Pete, LawrenceLawrence Pete 5.0 !Jr MG 92 Putnam, SeanSean Putnam 5.0 !Jr S 18 Richman, JohnJohn Richman 3.0 !So DT 78 Rother, TimTim Rother 7.0 !Sr S 26 Sanders, MarvinMarvin Sanders 3.0 !So DT 66 Skradis, KurtKurt Skradis 5.0 !Jr DT 99 Smith, NeilNeil Smith 7.0 !Sr DE 56 Stanard, SteveSteve Stanard 5.0 !Jr DE 89 Thomas, BroderickBroderick Thomas 5.0 !Jr S 11 Tomjack, JeffJeff Tomjack 7.0 !Sr DT 75 Valladao, RayRay Valladao 3.0 !So S 41 Vampola, ScottScott Vampola 3.0 !So CB 27 Walker, CartierCartier Walker 5.0 !Jr DE 83 Walker, KennyKenny Walker 3.0 !So S 5  Washington, BrianBrian Washington 7.0 !Sr MG 91 Wells, KentKent Wells 3.0 !So LB 37 Welniak, DougDoug Welniak 7.0 !Sr S 1  Wendland, RickRick Wendland 3.0 !So LB 24 Wiley, DanteDante Wiley 5.0 !Jr S 15 Wooten, WendellWendell Wooten 5.0 !Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK 44 Barrios, GreggGregg Barrios 3.0 !So PK 39 Cheloha, DaveDave Cheloha 5.0 !Jr PK 16 Drennan, ChrisChris Drennan 3.0 !So P 46 Kroeker, JohnJohn Kroeker 5.0 !Jr P/PK 13 Schnitzler, CraigCraig Schnitzler 7.0 !Sr	Head coach Tom Osborne    15th season    24th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Nebraska 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 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 Date: 1987-09-05 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 75,910

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 Date: 1987-09-12 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,313

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 Date: 1987-09-26 Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona Game attendance: 71,264

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 Date: 1987-10-03 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,061

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 Date: 1987-10-10 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,053

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 Date: 1987-10-17 Location: Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma Game attendance: 54,440

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 Date: 1987-10-24 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,106

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 Date: 1987-10-31 Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri Game attendance: 55,594

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 Date: 1987-11-07 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,001

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 Date: 1987-11-21 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,663

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 Date: 1987-11-28 Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado Game attendance: 52,026 Scoring summary 2 13:54 NEB Steve Taylor 5 yard run (Chris Drennan kick) NEB 7-0 2 3:41 NEB Chris Drennan 50 yard field goal NEB 10-0 3 11:54 NEB Keith Jones 50 yard run (Chris Drennan kick) NEB 17-0 3 4:57 COL George Hemingway 4 yard pass from Mark Hatcher (David DeLine kick) NEB 17-7 4 9:34 NEB Keith Jones 44 yard run (Chris Drennan kick) NEB 24-7

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 Date: 1988-01-01 Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona Game attendance: 72,112

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

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.

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