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1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

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1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Big Eight co-champion
Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 40–6 vs. Notre Dame
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 9
APNo. 4
Record9–2–1 (5–1–1 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTom Osborne (4th season)
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorMonte Kiffin (4th season)
Base defense5–2
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Oklahoma $ 6 – 1 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 4 Nebraska $ 5 – 1 – 1 9 – 2 – 1
No. 16 Colorado 4 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Oklahoma State 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Missouri 3 – 4 – 0 6 – 6 – 0
Iowa State 2 – 4 – 1 5 – 6 – 1
Kansas 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Kansas State 1 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • The Big 8 Conference mandated Oklahoma forfeits in three conference games, giving Nebraska the title. Oklahoma reverted this record at a later date; hence, both Oklahoma[1] and Nebraska[2] claim this title.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney, in his eleventh and final season with the Huskers, and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Nebraska, national champions in 1970 and 1971, entered the season top-ranked in the polls, with a 23-game winning streak and a 32-game unbeaten streak.

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 910:05 pmat UCLA*No. 1
L 17–2067,702
September 161:30 pmTexas A&M*No. 10
W 37–776,042
September 2312:50 pmat Army*No. 9
ABCW 77–742,239
September 301:30 pmMinnesota*No. 7
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
W 49–076,217
October 141:30 pmMissouriNo. 6
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
W 62–076,511
October 211:30 pmat KansasNo. 5
W 56–050,523
October 281:30 pmOklahoma StatedaggerNo. 3
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
W 34–076,432
November 41:20 pmat No. 15 ColoradoNo. 3
ABCW 33–1052,128
November 111:30 pmat No. 17 Iowa StateNo. 3
T 23–2336,690
November 181:30 pmKansas StateNo. 5
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
W 59–775,079
November 231:20 pmNo. 4 OklahomaNo. 5
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
ABCL 14–1776,587
January 1, 19737:00 pmvs. No. 12 Notre Dame*No. 9
NBCW 40–680,010
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[3]

Roster

[edit]

Alward, Tom #63 (So.) LG
Anderson, Bill #97 (So.) MG
Anderson, Dan #67 (Jr.) RG
Anderson, Frosty #89 (Jr.) SE
Austin, Al #78 (Jr.) RT
Bahe, Ritch #24 (So.) WB
Bell, John #66 (Jr.) MG
Beran, Mike #62 (Sr.) RG
Blahak, Joe #27 (Sr.) LCB
Borg, Randy #19 (Jr.) RCB
Branch, Jim #51 (Sr.) LB
Butts, Randy #36 (Jr.) IB
Carstens, Jim #47 (Sr.) FB
Coleman, Ron #9 (So.) TE
Costanzo, Rich #77 (So.) RT
Crenshaw, Marvin #70 (So.) RT
Damkroger, Maury #46 (Jr.) FB
Davis, Tony #26 (So.) IB
DeNell, Jake #6 (So.) RCB
Dixon, Gary #22 (Sr.) IB
Doak, Mark #71 (So.) LT
Drinkwalter, Bob #92 (So.) RG
Duda, Rich #50 (So.) C
Dumler, Doug #54 (Sr.) C
Dutton, John #90 (Jr.) DT
Fischer, Pat #33 (Jr.) LCB
Fuller, Bruce #5 (So.) LCB
Garson, Glen #39 (Jr.) WB
Glover, Rich #79 (Sr.) MG
Goeller, Dave #28 (Jr.) IB
Harper, Willie #81 (Sr.) DE
Hegener, Stan #64 (So.) RG
Henrichs, Dennis #75 (So.) LT

 

Heydorff, Mark #2 (Jr.) S
Hill, Jeff #8 (So.) SE
Humm, Dave #12 (So.) QB
Humm, Tom #32 (So.) WB
Hunter, Ken #78 (So.) MG
Hyland, John #58 (Sr.) DE
Janssen, Bill #55 (Sr.) DT
Jenkins, Brad #87 (So.) SE
Johnson, Ardell #29 (So.) RCB
Johnson, Monte #37 (Sr.) DT
Jones, Chuck #35 (So.) LCB
Kinsel, John #53 (Sr.) C
Knudsen, Tom #73 (Jr.) MG
Kyros, George #18 (So.) S
Lackovic, Tim #80 (So.) SE
Leonardi, Chad #61 (So.) LG
List, Jerry #85 (Sr.) TE
Loewenstein, Ron #4 (So.) MON
Longwell, Brent #86 (Jr.) TE
Luck, Terry #11 (So.) QB
Lynch, Dan #96 (So.) DT
Manstedt, Steve #82 (Jr.) DE
Mason, Dave #25 (Sr.) MON
Mazon, Frank #31 (So.) RCB
McGuire, Tim #93 (So.) LG
McKinley, Kim #65 (So.) DT
Meyer, Bob #98 (So.) DE
Mills, George #69 (So.) DT
Moran, Jeff #30 (So.) WB
Mushinskie, Larry #88 (So.) TE
Nelson, Bob #57 (So.) LB
Norrie, Rod #94 (So.) DT
O'Connell, John #34 (Jr.) S
Offner, Mike #95 (So.) DE

 

O'Holleran, Mike #38 (So.) FB
Olds, Bill #44 (Sr.) FB
Osborne, Mike #99 (So.) DT
Pate, Tom #68 (So.) DE
Peterson, Matt #7 (So.) SE
Pitts, John #56 (Sr.) LB
Potter, Dana #10 (So.) QB
Powell, Ralph #41 (Jr.) FB
Redding, Dave #91 (So.) DE
Revelle, Bob #84 (So.) SE
Righetti, Phil #74 (Sr.) LT
Rodgers, Johnny #20 (Sr.) WB
Rogers, Terry #40 (So.) MON
Runty, Steve #13 (Jr.) QB
Rutan, Bob #15 (So.) QB
Ruud, Tom #45 (So.) LB
Sanger, Rich #43 (Jr.) P/PK
Schmit, Bob #23 (Jr.) LB
Seeton, Jim #16 (So.) S
Sloey, Bill #42 (Sr.) LB
Starkebaum, John #48 (So.) MON
Stinner, John #3 (Jr.) LB
Strong, Jon #49 (Jr.) LB
Thornton, Bob #17 (Jr.) S
Westbrook, Don #21 (So.) IB
White, Daryl #72 (Jr.) LT
Wieser, Steve #83 (So.) DE
Wolfe, Bob #76 (Jr.) LG
Yaralian, Zaven #1 (Jr.) RCB
Young, Vic #52 (So.) C
Zanrosso, Dennis #59 (Jr.) C

     

[4][5][6]

Depth chart

[edit]

Coaching staff

[edit]
Name Title First year
in this position		 Years at Nebraska Alma mater
Bob Devaney Head Coach 1962 1962-72 Alma
Tom Osborne Offensive coordinator 1969 1964-97 Hastings
Cletus Fischer Offensive Line 1960 1960-85 Nebraska
Carl Selmer Offensive Line 1962 1962-72
Jim Ross 1962-76
John Melton Tight Ends, Wingbacks 1973 1962-88 Wyoming
Mike Corgan Running Backs 1962 1962-82 Notre Dame
Monte Kiffin Defensive Coordinator 1969 1967-76 Nebraska
Warren Powers Defensive Backs 1969 1969-76 Nebraska
Boyd Epley Head Strength Coach 1969 1969–2003 Nebraska
Jim Walden 1971 1971-72 Wyoming
Bill Myles Offensive Line 1972 1972-76

Game summaries

[edit]

UCLA

[edit]
#1 Nebraska at UCLA [box score]
1 234Total
#1 Nebraska 0 1007 17
• UCLA 3 773 20

Unranked UCLA, sporting their new wishbone offense led by junior college transfer Mark Harmon, handed #1 Nebraska its first loss in 33 games, and broke Nebraska's 23-game winning streak, both at that time active NCAA records. The Cornhuskers were upset in Los Angeles after suffering four fumbles and giving up two interceptions, though the game was not decided until UCLA's Efren Herrera kicked a field goal to break the tie with just 22 seconds remaining.[7][8][9] The upset loss dropped Nebraska from first to tenth in the AP Poll rankings.[10]

Texas A&M

[edit]
Texas A&M at #10 Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Texas A&M 0 007 7
• #10 Nebraska 14 779 37
Scoring summary
18:20NebraskaHumm 1-yard run (Sanger kick)Nebraska 7-0
1:13NebraskaHumm 1-yard run (Sanger kick)Nebraska 14-0
24:12NebraskaDamkrogger 1-yard run (Sanger kick)Nebraska 21-0
37:26NebraskaList 9-yard pass from Humm (Sanger kick)Nebraska 28-0
414:34NebraskaSanger 54-yard field goalNebraska 31-0
49:03NebraskaBahe 12-yard pass from Runty (kick failed)Nebraska 37-0
43:29Texas A&MMay 29-yard pass from Dean (McDermott kick)Nebraska 37-7

Due to a stadium expansion completed over the summer, Nebraska's home opener drew record attendance with slightly more than 76,000 spectators.[11] Nebraska recovered from the loss to UCLA with a dominant 37–7 victory over Texas A&M, whose sole touchdown came late in the 4th quarter against Cornhusker reserves.[12]

Army

[edit]
#9 Nebraska at Army [box score]
1 234Total
• #9 Nebraska 14 212814 77
Army 0 007 7

Nebraska entirely stomped Army, with the Cornhusker reserves taking over in the 3rd quarter behind a very comfortable lead, and the Black Knights' lone score to prevent the shutout came on a 10-yard pass reception with just 35 seconds left to play.

Minnesota

[edit]
Minnesota at #7 Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Minnesota 0 000 0
• #7 Nebraska 7 21147 49

For the third straight week, Nebraska dominated the game in every way, shutting out Minnesota while piling up 542 yards of offense.

Missouri

[edit]
Missouri at #6 Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Missouri 0 000 0
• #6 Nebraska 7 142714 62

Nebraska was not affected by the week off, and thoroughly pounded Missouri 62-0. Although the scoreboard and statistics might suggest Missouri was out of their league against Nebraska, the Tigers went on after this painful shutout to upset Notre Dame and Colorado in their next two games.

Kansas

[edit]
#5 Nebraska at Kansas [box score]
1 234Total
• #5 Nebraska 0 281414 56
Kansas 0 000 0

The shutouts and domination continued, as Nebraska scored at will against Kansas in Lawrence (albeit with Cornhusker fans forming the majority of the sellout crowd of 50,500), and held the Jayhawks to just 63 total yards of offense and only four first downs.

Oklahoma State

[edit]
Oklahoma State at #3 Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Oklahoma State 0 000 0
• #3 Nebraska 13 0714 34

Nebraska tied a 1937 NCAA record of four straight shutouts, and although Oklahoma State was not as easy to push around as the previous three opponents, the Cornhuskers still had little trouble getting the win.

Colorado

[edit]
#3 Nebraska at #15 Colorado [box score]
1 234Total
• #3 Nebraska 19 0140 33
#15 Colorado 0 1000 10

Colorado attempted to put some more challenge into the event than Nebraska had been seeing in recent games, and was even able to draw back from a 0-19 deficit to get within 9 by halftime and end Nebraska's shutout streak, but it was all Cornhusker points the rest of the way. Still, the Blackshirts mourned the end of their touchdown-free stretch at 17 quarters.

Iowa State

[edit]
#3 Nebraska at #17 Iowa State [box score]
1 234Total
#3 Nebraska 7 6010 23
#17 Iowa State 0 1076 23
  • Date: 1972-11-11
  • Location: Clyde Williams Field, Ames, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 36,231

Iowa State pretty much ended any Nebraska hopes for another national title, as the Cornhuskers gave up two interceptions and six fumbles to help the Cyclones stay in the game. Nebraska came back from behind to pull ahead 20-17 in the 4th, and padded the lead with a field goal when the clock was down to just 1:03, but Iowa State stormed back down the field to score again with 0:23 remaining, and would have won the game outright if the subsequent PAT had not failed and ended the game tied at 23.

Kansas State

[edit]
Kansas State at #5 Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Kansas State 0 007 7
• #5 Nebraska 10 28147 59

Nebraska put up Coach Devaney's 100th career win as the Cornhuskers easily trampled Kansas State in Lincoln and had reserves in the game for playing time while cruising behind a comfortable 38-0 lead even prior to the half. The Wildcats finally put up a touchdown with just over 6 minutes remaining to play.

Oklahoma

[edit]
#4 Oklahoma at #5 Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
• #4 Oklahoma 0 0710 17
#5 Nebraska 7 070 14

It looked like Nebraska's day on Thanksgiving in Devaney's final home game as head coach. They led at the half and were up 14–0 in the 3rd, but underdog Oklahoma scored seventeen unanswered points for the win;[13] Nebraska's three-year home winning streak, which began in September 1969, ended at 23 games.[14]

Notre Dame

[edit]
#9 Nebraska vs #12 Notre Dame [box score]
1 234Total
#12 Notre Dame 0 006 6
• #9 Nebraska 7 13200 40

Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers was shifted from WB to IB for the 1973 Orange Bowl, and flashed brilliance as he ran for three touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass, and also threw a fifth touchdown. The Cornhuskers scored with ease and often against the stunned Fighting Irish, who were unable to put any points up of their own until the 4th quarter. This was head coach Bob Devaney's final game, a third straight Orange Bowl victory, and second straight Orange Bowl rout.

Rankings

[edit]
See also: 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
AP1109766533355894
Coaches198755443255899

Awards

[edit]

[15]

Award Name(s)
Heisman Trophy Johnny Rodgers
Walter Camp Award Johnny Rodgers
Outland Trophy Rich Glover
Lombardi Award Rich Glover
All-America
1st team 		Rich Glover, Willie Harper,
Johnny Rodgers, Daryl White
All-America
2nd team 		Joe Blahak
Big Eight
Defensive Player
of the Year 		Rich Glover
Big Eight
Offensive Player
of the Year 		Daryl White
All-Big Eight
1st team 		Joe Blahak, Rich Glover, Willie Harper,
Johnny Rodgers, Daryl White
All-Big Eight
2nd team 		Jim Branch, Doug Dumler, Dave Humm,
Bill Janssen, Steve Manstedt, Dave Mason,
Bob Wolfe

1972 team Players in the NFL

[edit]

The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1973 NFL draft:[16]

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Johnny Rodgers WR 1 25 San Diego Chargers
Willie Harper LB 2 41 San Francisco 49ers
Monte Johnson LB 2 49 Oakland Raiders
Bill Olds RB 3 61 Baltimore Colts
Rich Glover DT 3 69 New York Giants
Doug Dumler C 5 108 New England Patriots
Joe Blahak DB 8 183 Houston Oilers
Bill Janssen T 8 206 Pittsburgh Steelers
Dave Mason DB 10 246 Minnesota Vikings
Jerry List TE 11 283 Oakland Raiders

The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1974 NFL draft:[17]

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
John Dutton DE 1 5 Baltimore Colts
Steve Manstedt LB 4 79 Houston Oilers
Daryl White G 4 98 Cincinnati Bengals
Bob Wolfe T 6 156 Miami Dolphins
Maury Damkroger LB 7 178 New England Patriots
Frosty Anderson WR 10 235 New Orleans Saints

The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1975 NFL draft:[18]

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Tom Ruud LB 1 19 Buffalo Bills
Bob Nelson LB 2 42 Buffalo Bills
John Starkebaum DB 4 92 New Orleans Saints
David Humm QB 5 128 Oakland Raiders
Don Westbrook WR 6 131 Baltimore Colts
Mark Doak T 6 147 Washington Redskins
Ardell Johnson DB 11 277 Washington Redskins
Ritch Bahe WR 14 358 St. Louis Cardinals
Dennis Pavelka G 16 412 Washington Redskins
Stan Hegener G 17 442 Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL and pro players

[edit]

The following is a list of 1972 Nebraska players
who joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.[19]

Name Team
Tom Alward Birmingham Vulcans
Joe Blahak Houston Oilers
Tony Davis Cincinnati Bengals
Gary Dixon Southern California Sun
Mark Doak Birmingham Vulcans
Maury Damkroger New England Patriots
Doug Dumler New England Patriots
John Dutton Baltimore Colts
Rich Glover New York Giants
Willie Harper San Francisco 49ers
Dave Humm Oakland Raiders
Bill Janssen Charlotte Hornets
Monte Johnson Oakland Raiders
Brent Longwell Memphis Southmen
Terry Luck Cleveland Browns
Steve Manstedt Birmingham Americans
Dave Mason New England Patriots
Bob Nelson Buffalo Bills
Bill Olds Baltimore Colts
Tom Pate Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Johnny Rodgers Montreal Alouettes
Tom Ruud Buffalo Bills
Bob Schmit Portland Storm
Don Westbrook New England Patriots
Daryl White Detroit Lions
Bob Wolfe Birmingham Americans
Zaven Yaralian Philadelphia Bell

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). soonersports.com. Oklahoma Athletics. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). huskers.com. Nebraska Athletics. p. 206. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Football - 1972 Schedule/Results". University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletics Department. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  4. ^ "1972 Football Roster". University of Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  5. ^ "Nebraska 1972 Commitments". Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  6. ^ "Probable starters". Lawrence Journal-World. (Kansas). October 20, 1972. p. 15.
  7. ^ Jenkins, Dan (September 18, 1972). "Young Harmon Makes His Mark". Sports Illustrated: 32. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011.
  8. ^ "Bruins upend Cornhuskers on Herrera's field goal 20-17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 10, 1972. p. 3C.
  9. ^ "UCLA ends Nebraska's streak with late kick". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. September 11, 1972. p. 11.
  10. ^ "Record crowd for Nebraska opener". Columbus Telegram. September 15, 1972. p. 12.
  11. ^ "Cornhuskers Bounce Back To Defeat Texas A&M, 37-7". Los Angeles Times. September 17, 1972. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Nebraska bombards A&M, 37-7". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. September 17, 1972. p. E3.
  13. ^ "Sooners rally to beat Nebraska 17-14". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 24, 1972. p. 19.
  14. ^ "Sooners overhaul Nebraska, take Big Eight lead". Milwaukee Journal. press dispatches. November 24, 1972. p. 18, part 2.
  15. ^ "1972 Cornhusker honors". HuskerMax. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  16. ^ Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine - 1973 NFL Draft
  17. ^ Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine - 1974 NFL Draft
  18. ^ Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine - 1975 NFL Draft
  19. ^ "All Time NFL Huskers". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
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