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1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
File:University of Nebraska Logo 1992-2003.PNG
Consensus National Champions
Orange Bowl Champions
Big 8 Champions
Orange Bowl vs. #3 Miami, W 24–17
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
1994 record13–0–0 (7–0–0 Big 8)
Head coachTom Osborne (22nd season)
Offensive coordinatorTom Osborne (25th season)
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorCharlie McBride (14th season)
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
(Capacity: 72,700)
Seasons
← 1993
1995 →
1994 Big 8 football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#1 Nebraska 7 0 0     13 0 0
#3 Colorado 6 1 0     11 1 0
#19 Kansas State 5 2 0     9 3 0
Oklahoma 4 3 0     6 6 0
Kansas 3 4 0     6 5 0
Missouri 2 5 0     3 8 1
Oklahoma State 0 6 1     3 7 1
Iowa State 0 6 1     0 10 1
† – Conference champion
  • ‡ – Bowl Coalition at-large representative
    Rankings from AP Poll

The 1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Cornhuskers offense scored 459 points while the defense allowed 162 points.

Before the season[]

There was much anticipation for the 1994 season. 1993 saw the Cornhuskers fall just short of their first National Title under Tom Osborne with a controversial loss to the Florida State Seminoles 18–16. The 1994 offseason was dubbed "Unfinished Business" by the Huskers, in their quest to secure a national championship for the coming season.

Junior Tommie Frazier returned as the signal caller under Tom Osborne's vaunted triple option offense. Also returning were several key starters on defense that would prove to be a vaunted unit during the 1994 season.

Schedule[]

[1]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
August 28* 1:00 PM vs. #24 West Virginia #4 Giants StadiumEast Rutherford, NJ (Kickoff Classic) ABC W 31–0   58,233
September 8* 7:00 PM at Texas Tech #1 Clifford B. and Audrey Jones StadiumLubbock, TX ESPN W 42–16   32,768
September 17* 2:30 PM #13 UCLA #2 Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE ABC W 49–21   75,687
September 24* 1:00 PM Pacific #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE W 70–21   75,273
October 1* 2:30 PM Wyoming #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE PPV W 42–32   75,333
October 8 1:00 PM Oklahoma State #2 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE W 32–3   75,434
October 15 2:30 PM at #16 Kansas State #2 KSU StadiumManhattan, KS ABC W 17–6   42,817
October 22 1:00 PM at Missouri #3 Faurot FieldColumbia, MO (Rivalry) W 42–7   50,537
October 29† 2:30 PM #2 Colorado #3 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE (Rivalry) ABC W 24–7   76,131
November 5 1:00 PM Kansas #1 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE W 45–17   75,543
November 12 1:00 PM at Iowa State #1 Cyclone StadiumAmes, IA W 28–12   45,186
November 25 2:30 PM at Oklahoma #1 Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK (Rivalry) ABC W 13–3   70,216
January 1* 7:00 PM vs. #3 Miami #1 Miami Orange BowlMiami, FL (Orange Bowl) NBC W 24–17   81,753
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Roster and coaching staff[]

1994 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
TE 88 Alford, EricEric Alford Sr
WB 31 Allen, JacquesJacques Allen Jr
OT 70 Anderson, EricEric Anderson Fr
SE Baul, ReggieReggie Baul Jr
IB 21 Benning, DamonDamon Benning So
QB 18 Berringer, BrookBrook Berringer Jr
WB    Brown, LanceLance Brown Fr
OL 62 Butler, TedTed Butler Fr
TE 90 Carpenter, TimTim Carpenter Fr
OT 61 Caskey, BradyBrady Caskey Sr
SE 16 Cheatham, KennyKenny Cheatham Fr
IB 26 Childs, ClintonClinton Childs Jr
QB    Christo, MonteMonte Christo Fr
FB    Cobb, JoshJosh Cobb Fr
IB 17 Davenport, ScottScott Davenport Sr
SE 83 Davis, AaronAaron Davis So
OT 75 Dishman, ChrisChris Dishman So
OL 63 Dumitrescu, ConstantineConstantine Dumitrescu Fr
FB    Ford, GregGreg Ford Fr
QB 15 Frazier, TommieTommie Frazier Jr
OL    Gessford, BenBen Gessford Fr
TE 87 Gilman, MarkMark Gilman Jr
C 54 Graham, AaronAaron Graham Jr
SE    Haafke, BillyBilly Haafke Fr
SE    Held, RyanRyan Held Fr
C    Heskew, JoshJosh Heskew Fr
TE 89 Hohl, ErichErich Hohl Sr
SE Holbein, BrendanBrendan Holbein So
TE    Horst, JoeJoe Horst Fr
OG    Hoskinson, MattMatt Hoskinson Fr
C 51 Humphrey, BillBill Humphrey Sr
TE 84 Jackson, SheldonSheldon Jackson Fr
FB    Jackson, VershanVershan Jackson Fr
WB 33 Johnson, ClesterClester Johnson Jr
FB 24 Knuckles, BrianBrian Knuckles Jr
SE    Lake, Jeff (Robert)Jeff (Robert) Lake Fr
OG    Lesser, MikeMike Lesser Fr
SE 81 Livingston, JohnJohn Livingston Jr
OL    Luhr, JasonJason Luhr Fr
FB 22 Makovicka, JeffJeff Makovicka Jr
FB    Makovicka, JoelJoel Makovicka Fr
TE    McGrane, JoshJosh McGrane Fr
OT    Mikos, KoryKory Mikos So
SE    Miller, AndyAndy Miller Fr
WB 27 Muhammad, AbdulAbdul Muhammad Sr
FB 38 Norris, ChrisChris Norris Jr
OT    Nunns, BrianBrian Nunns Jr
OG 69 Ott, SteveSteve Ott Jr
IB Phillips, LawrenceLawrence Phillips So
OT 73 Pollack, FredFred Pollack Fr
SE 80 Popplewell, BrettBrett Popplewell Jr
OG 65 Pruitt, BryanBryan Pruitt Jr
WB 34 Reddick, DavidDavid Reddick Fr
TE 86 Roy, DorrickDorrick Roy Fr
FB 40 Schlesinger, CoryCory Schlesinger Sr
OL    Schmode, AnthonyAnthony Schmode Fr
FB 28 Schuster, BrianBrian Schuster So
OL    Shadrick, JeremyJeremy Shadrick Fr
TE 85 Shaw, MattMatt Shaw Sr
IB 47 Sims, MarvinMarvin Sims So
SE    Smith, LarryLarry Smith Fr
FB    Smith, MikeMike Smith So
QB    Staehr, JayJay Staehr Fr
OG 66 Stai, BrendenBrenden Stai Sr
FB    Stanley, ChadChad Stanley Jr
OG    Stramel, DaveDave Stramel Fr
OG 67 Taylor, AaronAaron Taylor Fr
OL    Tessendorf, RossRoss Tessendorf Fr
OT 77 Treu, AdamAdam Treu So
OL    Tully, KyleKyle Tully Fr
QB 77 Turman, MattMatt Turman So
IB 23 Uhlir, ToddTodd Uhlir Fr
OG 59 Van Cleave, MikeMike Van Cleave Fr
WB 25 Vedral, JonJon Vedral So
OG 68 Volin, SteveSteve Volin Jr
C 53 Vrzal, MattMatt Vrzal So
OG 74 Wade, BrandtBrandt Wade Fr
SE Washington, RileyRiley Washington So
OT 72 Wiegert, ZachZach Wiegert Sr
WB    Wieting, SeanSean Wieting Fr
OG 76 Wilks, JoelJoel Wilks Sr
OG 64 Zatechka, JonJon Zatechka Fr
OT 56 Zatechka, RobRob Zatechka Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
ROV 11 Aden, MattMatt Aden Fr
ROV    Alderman, DaveDave Alderman So
MLB 36 Alexander, LeonardLeonard Alexander Sr
OLB 23 Arnold, LarryLarry Arnold So
FS    Bailey, DennisDennis Bailey So
LCB    Blahak, ChadChad Blahak So
DB Booker, MichaelMichael Booker So
FS    Brouse, ChadChad Brouse So
SLB 45 Brown, ClintClint Brown Sr
LB    Brummond, DarrenDarren Brummond Fr
FS 17 Collins, SedricSedric Collins Sr
MLB 46 Colman, DougDoug Colman Jr
DT 99 Connealy, TerryTerry Connealy Sr
DB Crayton, TrayTray Crayton Fr
LCB Dennis, LeslieLeslie Dennis Fr
SLB Dumas, TroyTroy Dumas Sr
MLB 41 Ellis, PhilPhil Ellis Jr
SLB 24 Fisher, JasonJason Fisher Sr
DB Foreman, JayJay Foreman Fr
OLB    Gard, SeanSean Gard Fr
OLB 58 Hardin, LutherLuther Hardin Jr
OLB 86 Harris, DwayneDwayne Harris Sr
DB    Herron, ChrisChris Herron Fr
MLB 44 Hesse, JonJon Hesse So
OLB 92 Higman, JeradJerad Higman Sr
DT    Hoffman, MichaelMichael Hoffman Fr
LB    Hogrefe, QuintQuint Hogrefe Fr
WLB    Hunting, MattMatt Hunting Fr
DB    Jackson, JaiJai Jackson Fr
DT 96 Jenkins, JasonJason Jenkins Jr
ROV    Jensen, JeremyJeremy Jensen Jr
OLB 84 Jones, DontaDonta Jones Sr
LB    Leece, CharlieCharlie Leece Fr
LB    Macken, CaseyCasey Macken Fr
OLB 49 Martin, JohnJohn Martin Sr
DB 12 McFarlin, OctaviousOctavious McFarlin Fr
LCB 14 Miles, BarronBarron Miles Sr
OLB    Miller, BryceBryce Miller So
ROV 10 Minter, MikeMike Minter So
WLB    Mitchell, IanIan Mitchell So
OLB 42 Morrow, EdEd Morrow So
ROV 29 Moss, KareemKareem Moss Sr
DL 80 Nelson, ErikErik Nelson Fr
SLB 43 Noster, SeanSean Noster Fr
DT 97 Ogard, JeffJeff Ogard So
OLB 98 Olsen, JeffJeff Olsen So
WLB 52 Penland, AaronAaron Penland Jr
DT 57 Pesterfield, JasonJason Pesterfield Sr
DT 55 Peter, ChristianChristian Peter Jr
DT 95 Peter, JasonJason Peter Fr
ROV 39 Roberts, MikeMike Roberts So
LB 82 Rucker, MikeMike Rucker Fr
MLB 35 Sakalosky, JeffJeff Sakalosky Fr
DT 74 Saltsman, ScottScott Saltsman So
RCB 37 Schmadeke, DarrenDarren Schmadeke Jr
MLB    Skoda, AdamAdam Skoda Fr
MLB 31 Stephens, JustinJustin Stephens Fr
WLB 32 Stewart, EdEd Stewart Sr
RCB 16 Stokes, EricEric Stokes So
WLB 91 Terwilliger, RyanRyan Terwilliger So
DB    Thompson, AndyAndy Thompson Fr
LB 83 Toline, TravisTravis Toline Fr
DT 93 Tomich, JaredJared Tomich Jr
DT 94 Townsend, LarryLarry Townsend So
FS Veland, TonyTony Veland Jr
DB    Walther, EricEric Walther Fr
ROV 28 Williams, JamelJamel Williams So
RCB Williams, TyroneTyrone Williams Jr
DT 68 Wiltz, JasonJason Wiltz Fr
OLB    Winder, ShalisShalis Winder Fr
OLB 85 Wistrom, GrantGrant Wistrom Fr
RCB 22 Wrice, TrampisTrampis Wrice So
FS    Young, ChadChad Young Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P/PK Erstad, DarinDarin Erstad So
P 19 Kosch, JesseJesse Kosch Fr
P/PK    Lafleur, BillBill Lafleur Fr
P/PK    Morro, BrianBrian Morro Fr
PK 13 Retzlaff, TedTed Retzlaff Fr
PK 12 Sieler, TomTom Sieler Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Charlie McBride
       14th season as DC/LB coach
       18th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Colorado
  • Turner Gill
       3rd season as QB coach
       3rd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • Kevin Steele
       6th season as LB coach
       6th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Tennessee
  • Ron Brown
       8th season as WR/TE coach
       8th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Brown
  • Dan Young
       12th season as OL/K coach
       12th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Reed
  • Milt Tenopir
       21st season as OL coach
       21st year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Sterling
  • Tony Samuel
       9th season as OLB coach
       9th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • George Darlington
       DB coach
       22nd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Rutgers
  • Frank Solich
       12th season as RB coach
       16th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • Boyd Epley
       26th season as S&C coach
       26th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: January 17, 2011

Game notes[]

West Virginia[]

Nebraska vs West Virginia [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Nebraska 3 21 0 7 31
West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0

The 1994 season started for the No. 4 Cornhuskers with a 31–0 win over No. 24 West Virginia in the Kickoff Classic. The game pitted two teams that had posted undefeated regular-season records in 1993. Quarterback Tommie Frazier was the game's MVP, rushing for 130 yards on 12 carries, including touchdown runs of 25, 27, and 42 yards. He also completed 8 of 16 passes for 100 yards and another touchdown. I-back Lawrence Phillips also ran 126 yards on 24 carries. In all, Nebraska gained 368 rushing yards and 468 total. The Nebraska defense dominated the Mountaineers, registering eight quarterback sacks and holding Western Virginia to 8 yards rushing and 89 total yards. Todd Sauerbrun set a record for West Virginia with a 90-yard punt and averaged 60.1 yards on nine punts. The victory marked Nebraska's first shutout victory in two years. It was also Nebraska's first shutout victory against a ranked non-conference opponent since a 20–0 win over No. 19 Baylor in Lincoln 1939, and the first ever such win in a game played outside of Lincoln. The win vaulted Nebraska to No. 1 in the polls.

Texas Tech[]

Nebraska at Texas Tech [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Nebraska 7 7 14 14 42
Texas Tech 0 3 6 7 16

Next up was a road victory that saw the Huskers cruise past the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 42–16, which remarkably saw the Huskers drop to #2 in the polls. Unfortunately, this victory came at a cost, as safety Mike Minter suffered a season-ending knee injury.

UCLA[]

UCLA at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
UCLA 0 7 7 7 21
Nebraska 12 16 7 14 49


Pacific[]

Pacific at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Pacific 0 0 14 7 21
Nebraska 28 21 14 7 70

The next two weeks first saw a tough match-up, where the Huskers would dominate #13-ranked UCLA in Memorial Stadium, followed by a blowout against Pacific. Shortly after this victory, the 1994 season got a lot more interesting when Nebraska's field general Tommie Frazier was sidelined by a blood clot in his right knee.

Wyoming[]

Wyoming at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Wyoming 14 7 3 8 32
Nebraska 0 14 21 7 42


Oklahoma State[]

Oklahoma State at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Oklahoma State 3 0 0 0 3
Nebraska 0 9 16 7 32


Kansas State[]

Nebraska at Kansas State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Nebraska 7 0 0 10 17
Kansas State 0 6 0 0 6

With Frazier sidelined, junior Brook Berringer answered the call to run Osborne's offense. Berringer, a pro-style QB from Goodland, KS, came off the bench and performed at his best in two straight victories against Wyoming and Oklahoma State, even at times with a partially collapsed lung. When it became too much for Berringer, walk-on QB Matt Turman stepped up to lead the Cornhuskers against Okie State and in a tough road game that pitched the Huskers against conference foe and neighbor Kansas State. This game proved to be a defensive battle, which saw the Huskers walk away with a 17–6 victory against the #16 Wildcats.

Missouri[]

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


Colorado[]

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

Nebraska's homecoming game and 200th consecutive home sell out.

Kansas[]

Kansas at Nebraska [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas 3 7 0 7 17
Nebraska 24 14 7 0 45


Iowa State[]

Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Nebraska 7 7 0 14 28
Iowa State 0 6 6 0 12


Oklahoma[]

Nebraska at Oklahoma [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Nebraska 0 3 3 7 13
Oklahoma 0 3 0 0 3

The final five regular season games saw Nebraska beat #2 Colorado, where the defense shut down eventual Heisman winner Rashaan Salaam. Only Oklahoma provided any resistance for the Huskers, who escaped with a 13–3 victory in Norman, and another Big Eight Conference Championship.

Miami[]

Nebraska vs Miami [box score]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
Nebraska 0 7 2 15 24
Miami 10 0 7 0 17

Nebraska was #1 in the nation, and found themselves pitted against #3 Miami in the Orange Bowl, a setting very familiar for Tom Osborne and his Husker players. Osborne had been in this very stadium on two separate occasions playing for a national championship, and came away emptied handed each time, losing the previous year against Bobby Bowden's Seminoles of Florida State, and to the Miami Hurricanes in legendary 1983 Orange Bowl by the score of 31–30.

But it would be much different this year. Frazier had returned from his injury, and Nebraska would not back down, even after trailing 10–7 at halftime and 17–7 with less than two minutes to go in the third quarter. It is important to note that during his halftime speech, Coach Osborne had predicted the eventual meltdown of Miami late in the game. He told his players that if they maintained their composure, that Miami would slip up and earn a costly penalty. Osborne's prediction rang true, and the physically dominant Huskers scored 15 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to earn Tom Osborne his first national title, by the score of 24–17.

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 Wk 15 Final
AP 4 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Coaches 1

After the season[]

The successful season saw Nebraska lead the nation in rushing, with talented but troubled sophomore Lawrence Phillips rushing for 1,722 yards and finishing 8th in Heisman voting. The offensive line, which was arguably the best in the country as well, was affectionately known as "The Pipeline" and included Outland Trophy winner and All-American Zach Wiegert at tackle, fellow All-American Brendan Stai at guard, along with Rob Zatechka, Joel Wilks, and Aaron Graham. The vaunted 4–3 defense, led by All-American linebacker Ed Stewart, limited conference opponents to a mere 55 points.

The Huskers were treated to a warm welcome, despite the freezing temperatures, when they returned to Lincoln as National Champions. An estimated 15,000 fans were on hand at the Lincoln Airport to welcome home their Big Red heroes.

Awards[]

[2]

Award Name(s)
Outland Trophy Zach Wiegert
UPI Lineman of the Year Zach Wiegert
All-America 1st team Terry Connealy, Donta Jones, Brenden Stai, Ed Stewart, Zach Wiegert, Rob Zatechka
All-America 2nd team Lawrence Phillips
All-America 3rd team Barron Miles
Big 8 Coach of the Year Tom Osborne
Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year Ed Stewart
Big 8 Defensive Newcomer of the Year Grant Wistrom
Big 8 Male Athlete of the Year Rob Zatechka
All-Big 8 1st team Troy Dumas, Aaron Graham, Donta Jones, Lawrence Phillips, Barron Miles, Brenden Stai, Ed Stewart, Zach Wiegert, Tyrone Williams
All-Big 8 2nd team Brook Berringer, Terry Connealy, Dwayne Harris, Kareem Moss, Christian Peter, Rob Zatechka
All-Big 8 honorable mention Eric Alford, Reggie Baul, Darin Erstad, Abdul Muhammad, Cory Schlesinger

NFL and Pro Players[]

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1994 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[3]

Name Team
Eric Anderson Amsterdam Admirals
Mike Anderson Amsterdam Admirals
Michael Booker Atlanta Falcons
Doug Colman New York Giants
Chris Dishman Arizona Cardinals
Troy Dumas Kansas City Chiefs
Jay Foreman Buffalo Bills
Tommie Frazier Montreal Alouettes
Aaron Graham Arizona Cardinals
Jon Hesse Green Bay Packers
Sheldon Jackson Buffalo Bills
Vershan Jackson Kansas City Chiefs
Donta Jones Pittsburgh Steelers
Bill Lafleur Barcelona Dragons
Joel Makovicka Arizona Cardinals
Barron Miles Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Minter Carolina Panthers
Kareem Moss BC Lions
Christian Peter New York Jets
Jason Peter Carolina Panthers
Lawrence Phillips St. Louis Rams
Mike Rucker Carolina Panthers
Cory Schlesinger Detroit Lions
Brenden Stai Pittsburgh Steelers
Eric Stokes Seattle Seahawks
Jared Tomich New Orleans Saints
Larry Townsend Berlin Thunder
Adam Treu Oakland Raiders
Tony Veland Denver Broncos
Zach Wiegert St. Louis Rams
Jamel Williams Washington Redskins
Tyrone Williams Green Bay Packers
Jason Wiltz New York Jets
Grant Wistrom St. Louis Rams
Jon Zatechka Berlin Thunder
Rob Zatechka New York Giants

References[]

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