1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 19–3 vs. Texas
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. T–11
AP	No. 7
Record	9–2–1 (4–2–1 Big 8)
Head coach	Tom Osborne (1st season)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Monte Kiffin (5th season)
Base defense	5–2
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1972 1974 →

1973 Big Eight Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 3 Oklahoma $	7	–	0	–	0			10	–	0	–	1
No. 7 Nebraska	4	–	2	–	1			9	–	2	–	1
No. 18 Kansas	4	–	2	–	1			7	–	4	–	1
No. 17 Missouri	3	–	4	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Oklahoma State	2	–	3	–	2			5	–	4	–	2
Colorado	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Kansas State	2	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Iowa State	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 8	3:50 pm	No. 10 UCLA*	No. 4	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	ABC	W 40–13	74,966
September 22	1:30 pm	No. 14 NC State*	No. 2	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 31–14	75,925	[1]
September 29	1:30 pm	Wisconsin*	No. 2	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 20–16	76,279
October 6	1:30 pm	at Minnesota*	No. 2	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (rivalry)		W 48–7	58,091
October 13	1:30 pm	at Missouri	No. 2	Faurot Field Columbia, MO (rivalry)		L 12–13	68,720
October 20	1:30 pm	No. 18 Kansas	No. 11	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 10–9	76,322–76,498
October 27	1:30 pm	at Oklahoma State	No. 10	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK		T 17–17	50,500
November 3	1:30 pm	No. 17 Colorado	No. 13	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)		W 28–16	76,555
November 10	1:30 pm	Iowa State	No. 11	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 31–7	76,503
November 17	1:30 pm	at Kansas State	No. 10	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS (rivalry)		W 50–21	42,000
November 23	1:20 pm	at No. 3 Oklahoma	No. 10	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry)	ABC	L 0–27	62,257
January 1, 1974	1:10 pm	vs. No. 8 Texas*	No. 12	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl Classic)	CBS	W 19–3	67,500
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Roster

^[2][3]

Adkins, Ken #5 (So.) SE Alward, Tom #63 (Jr.) G Anderson, Dan #67 (Sr.) G Anderson, Frosty #89 (Sr.) SE Austin, Al #78 (Sr.) OT Bahe, Ritch #24 (Jr.) WB Belka, Jim #47 (Jr.) FB Bell, John #66 (Sr.) MG Benish, Randy #4 (So.) DB Bonness, Rik #54 (So.) C Borg, Randy #19 (Sr.) DB Brock, Dan #00 (So.) DT Burns, Burton #49 (So.) FB Burrow, Jim #2 (So.) DB Butterfield, Dave #34 (So.) DB Coccia, Tom #98 (So.) DE Costanzo, Rich #77 (So.) OT Coyle, Mike (So.) PK Crenshaw, Marvin #70 (Jr.) OT Damkroger, Maury #46 (Sr.) FB Davis, Tony #25 (So.) IB Doak, Mark #71 (Jr.) OT Duda, Rich #50 (Jr.) C Dutton, John #90 (Sr.) DT Eichelberger, Percy #44 (So.) LB Everett, Earl #9 (So.) QB Fischer, Pat #33 (Sr.) DB Gissler, Dean #97 (So.) DT Goeller, Dave #28 (Sr.) IB Hegener, Stan #64 (Jr.) G Heiser, Tom #27 (So.) WB Henrichs, Dennis #75 (Jr.) OT Heydorff, Mark #22 (Jr.) DB		Hill, Jeff #36 (Jr.) SE Hoins, Steve #52 (So.) OT Humm, Dave #12 (Jr.) QB Hunter, Ken #78 (Jr.) MG Iverson, Dave #42 (So.) LB Johnson, Ardell #29 (Jr.) DB Johnson, Doug #92 (Sr.) DT Jones, Chuck #35 (So.) DB Kyros, George #18 (Jr.) DB Lackovic, Tim #80 (Jr.) SE Lee, John #69 (So.) MG Lemmerond, Rick #8 (So.) QB Leonardi, Chad #61 (Jr.) G Lessman, Randy #6 (So.) DE Lingenfelter, Bob #73 (So.) OT Lloyd, Jerry #99 (So.) MG Longwell, Brent #86 (Sr.) TE Luck, Terry #11 (So.) QB Manstedt, Steve #82 (Sr.) DE Martin, Bob #87 (So.) DB Mazon, Frank #31 (So.) DB Mills, George (So.) DT Monds, Wonder #26 (So.) DB Moran, Jeff #30 (Jr.) IB Mushinskie, Larry #88 (So.) TE Nelson, Bob #57 (Jr.) LB Nelson, Chris #37 (Jr.) TE Norrie, Rod #94 (Jr.) DT Offner, Mike #95 (So.) DE O'Holleran, Mike #38 (Sr.) FB O'Leary, John #14 (So.) IB Panneton, Rick #81 (Jr.) TE Pate, Tom #68 (Jr.) DE Pavelka, Dennis #74 (Jr.) OT		Peterson, Matt #39 (So.) TE Pillen, Clete #7 (So.) LB Powell, Ralph #41 (Sr.) FB Pruitt, Ron #91 (So.) DT Pumphrey, Jeff #3 (So.) SE Ray, Glen #10 (So.) QB Redding, Dave #96 (So.) DE Revelle, Bob #84 (Jr.) SE Rogers, Terry #40 (Jr.) DB Runty, Steve #13 (Sr.) QB Rutan, Bob #55 (So.) DE Ruud, Tom #45 (Jr.) LB Sanger, Rich #43 (Sr.) P/PK Schmidt, Dan #51 (So.) G Schmit, Bob #23 (Sr.) LB Schneider, Jeff #1 (So.) DB Seeton, Jim #16 (So.) DB Shamblin, Dave #85 (So.) SE Sledge, Jim #58 (So.) OT Starkebaum, John #48 (Jr.) DB Stuberg, Wayne #59 (So.) C Talley, Chester #32 (So.) IB Thomas, Tom #53 (Jr.) C Thornton, Bob #17 (Sr.) DB Thornton, Willie #65 (So.) MG Varner, Rich #56 (So.) C Westbrook, Don #21 (Jr.) WB White, Daryl #72 (Sr.) OT Wied, Jerry #93 (So.) DT Wieser, Steve #83 (Jr.) DE Wolfe, Bob #76 (Sr.) OG Yaralian, Zaven #15 (Sr.) DB Zanetich, Nick #62 (So.) G

Defense FS Bob Thornton George Kyros Jim Seeton INSDIE INSDIE Tom Ruud Bob Nelson Bob Schmit John Starkebaum Precy Eichelberger Bob Schmit MONSTER BACK Mike Heydorff Wonder Monds Terry Rogers CB Zaven Yaralian Chuck Jones Dave Butterfield DE DT NT DT DE Bob Martin Ron Pruitt John Bell John Dutton Steve Manstedt Tom Pate Dean Gissler John Lee Willie Thornton Steve Wieser Dave Redding Doug Johnson Willie Thornton George Mills Mike Offner CB Randy Borg Ardell Johnson Pat Fischer Offense Wingback Ritch Bahe Don Westbook Tom Heiser LT LG C RG RT Daryl White Tom Alward Rik Bonness Dan Anderson Marvin Crenshaw Mark Doak Bob Wolfe Rich Duda Stan Hegener Al Larson Rich Costanzo Chad Leonardi Tom Thomas Nick Zanetich Dennis Pavelka TE Brent Longwell Larry Mushinskie Rick Panneton Splitend Frosty Anderson Dave Shamblin Jeff Hill QB Dave Humm Steve Runty Earl Everett Key reserves RB Tony Davis John O'Leary Dave Goeller FB Maury Damkroger Ralph Powell Mike O’Holleran Special teams

Coaching staff

Name	Title	First year in this position	Years at Nebraska	Alma mater
Tom Osborne	Head Coach Offensive coordinator	1973	1964–97	Hastings
Monte Kiffin	Defensive Coordinator	1973	1967–76	Nebraska
Cletus Fischer	Offensive line		1960–85	Nebraska
Jim Ross			1962–76
John Melton	Tight ends, wingbacks	1973	1962–88	Wyoming
Mike Corgan	Running backs	1962	1962–82	Notre Dame
Warren Powers	Defensive backs	1969	1969–76	Nebraska
Boyd Epley	Head strength coach	1969	1969–2003	Nebraska
Bill Myles	Offensive line	1972	1972–76
Jerry Moore	Wide receivers	1973	1973–78	Baylor
George Darlington		1973	1973–2002	Rutgers
Rick Duval	Linebackers Recruiting coordinator	1973	1973–74	Worcester

Game summaries

UCLA

#10 UCLA at #4 Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #10 UCLA 6 7 0 0 13 • #4 Nebraska 14 6 6 14 40 Date: 1973-09-08 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 74,966

The Tom Osborne era at Nebraska began in style, as the Cornhuskers exacted revenge for last year's loss to UCLA by beating the #10 Bruins in Lincoln 40-13. Nebraska jumped out to a 14-0 lead in less than 10 minutes, and though UCLA scored to come within 7, that was as close as they'd get for the rest of the game as the Blackshirts shut out the Bruins entirely in the 2nd half.

NC State

#14 NC State at #2 Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #14 NC State 7 0 7 0 14 • #2 Nebraska 0 7 3 21 31 Date: 1973-09-22 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 75,925

It was touch and go for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers fought to stay even with NC State until blowing the game wide open in the 4th quarter with three straight unanswered touchdowns.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin at #2 Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total Wisconsin 0 7 0 9 16 • #2 Nebraska 7 0 0 13 20 Date: 1973-09-29 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,279

Wisconsin fought Nebraska to a 7-7 tie entering the 4th quarter before pulling ahead by 3 on a field goal with 8 minutes to go. The Cornhuskers replied with a touchdown, which was promptly answered by a 96-yard Badger kickoff return to put Nebraska behind again. Nebraska again responded, marching 83 yards in just seven plays to score again for the win.

Minnesota

#2 Nebraska at Minnesota [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total • #2 Nebraska 7 14 13 14 48 Minnesota 7 0 0 0 7 Date: 1973-10-06 Location: Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis Game attendance: 58,091

Minnesota QB Tony Dungy managed to get a 1st-quarter touchdown, and that would be the last time the Golden Gophers saw the scoreboard, as the first Minnesota sellout since 1960 (with help from the numerous traveling Cornhusker fans) watched Nebraska dismantle the Gophers 48-7.

Missouri

#2 Nebraska at Missouri [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #2 Nebraska 6 0 0 6 12 • Missouri 0 6 0 7 13 Date: 1973-10-13 Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri Game attendance: 68,720

Missouri handed coach Tom Osborne his first career defeat as Nebraska's 2-point conversion for the win with 1:00 remaining was intercepted, marking the first time Coach Osborne decided to forgo the tie and take a shot at the win, an approach later repeated to much attention in the 1984 Orange Bowl.

Kansas

#18 Kansas at #11 Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #18 Kansas 0 3 6 0 9 • #11 Nebraska 7 0 0 3 10 Date: 1973-10-20 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,498

Scoring summary 1 NEB Davis 2-yard run (Sanger kick) Nebraska 7–0 2 KAN Swift 26-yard field goal Nebraska 7–3 2 KAN Williams 4-yard run (kick failed) Kansas 9–7 4 NEB Sanger 28-yard field goal Nebraska 10–9

Kansas avoided the 1st half shutout on a recovered Nebraska fumble converted into a field goal. The Jayhawks then came out from halftime and continued to hold off Nebraska while putting in their own touchdown late in the 3rd to pull ahead, though the PAT was blocked. Less than five minutes later, Nebraska responded with a field goal to pull ahead by 1 point, where a tie would have existed had the previous Kansas PAT attempt been good. From there on out, the Blackshirts held on for the rest of the quarter to preserve the razor thin winning margin.

Oklahoma State

#10 Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #10 Nebraska 10 0 7 0 17 Oklahoma State 10 7 0 0 17 Date: 1973-10-27 Location: Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma Game attendance: 50,500

With 2:23 remaining in a fierce contest, no scoring since the previous quarter, and a 17-17 tie still on the board, Nebraska opted to forgo the easy field goal and instead attempted to go for it on 4th and goal inside the Cowboys' one yard line, but the attempt failed, and both teams were forced to settle for a tie.^[4]

Colorado

#17 Colorado at #13 Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #17 Colorado 0 3 6 7 16 • #13 Nebraska 14 14 0 0 28 Date: 1973-11-03 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,555 Source:[5]

Scoring summary 1 12:38 NEB Brent Longwell 9-yard pass from David Humm (Sanger kick) NEB 7-0 1 6:39 NEB Tony Davis 9-yard run (Sanger kick) NEB 14-0 2 13:13 COL Fred Lima 31-yard field goal NEB 14-3 2 8:35 NEB Frosty Anderson 21-yard pass from David Humm (Sanger kick) NEB 21-3 2 0:52 NEB Tony Davis 1-yard run (Sanger kick) NEB 28-3 3 11:10 COL Bo Matthews 5-yard run (kick failed) NEB 28-9 4 11:35 COL David Williams 73-yard pass from Billy Waddy (Lima kick) NEB 28-16

Colorado never really had a chance in this game, as Nebraska rolled out to an early 28-3 lead by the half. The final Cornhusker touchdown was a change of plans, after a field goal setup was moved towards the end zone due to a Colorado penalty, and Nebraska instead decided to run one in. The 4th quarter Buffalo touchdown was made on a trick play against Nebraska reserves who had entered the game to mop up.

Iowa State

Iowa State at #11 Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total Iowa State 0 0 7 0 7 • #11 Nebraska 14 10 0 7 31 Date: 1973-11-10 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game attendance: 76,503

Once again, Nebraska ran out to a substantial early lead and coasted in for the win, as the game was essentially decided when the Cornhuskers put in a 67-yard pass touchdown just before the half. Nebraska reserves entered the game in the 4th and put in a touchdown to further pad the win.

Kansas State

#10 Nebraska at Kansas State [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total • #10 Nebraska 10 13 7 20 50 Kansas State 0 0 14 7 21 Date: 1973-11-17 Location: KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas Game attendance: 42,000

Kansas State never was in this game, as the Cornhuskers blasted the Wildcats for a 23-0 1st half lead and never really slowed down, rolling up 612 yards of total offense along the way. The performances of Nebraska IB Tony Davis and IB John O'Leary on the day marked the first time two Cornhusker runners exceeded 100 yards in the same game.

Oklahoma

#10 Nebraska at #3 Oklahoma [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #10 Nebraska 0 0 0 0 0 • #3 Oklahoma 14 0 6 7 27 Date: 1973-11-23 Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma Game attendance: 61,826

Oklahoma completely dismantled Nebraska in every way, as the Cornhuskers were shut out for the first time since 1968, an indignity that would not be repeated until Miami defeated Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl eighteen years later. The Cornhuskers were held to just 74 ground yards and 174 yards of total offense as the Nebraska offense never crossed mid-field.

Texas

#8 Texas vs #12 Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total #8 Texas 3 0 0 0 3 • #12 Nebraska 0 3 13 3 19 Date: 1974-01-01 Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas Game start: 1:00 CST Game attendance: 67,500

SWC champion Texas put up the first points early in the 1st quarter with a field goal, but never saw the scoreboard again as Nebraska fought back to a 3-3 tie by the half, and then shut down the Longhorns' efforts afterwards by blocking a field goal and recovering a Texas fumble along the way to creating a comfortable lead by the end of the 3rd quarter. It was the Huskers fifth consecutive bowl victory.

Rankings

See also: 1973 NCAA Division I football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
AP	4	2	2	2	2	2	11	10	13	11	10	10	13	12	7
Coaches															11

Awards

^[6]

Award	Name(s)
All-America 1st team	John Dutton, Daryl White
All-America honorable mention	Steve Manstedt
All-Big Eight 1st team	Frosty Anderson, John Dutton, Steve Manstedt, Daryl White
All-Big Eight 2nd team	Dan Anderson, John Bell, Randy Borg
All-Big Eight honorable mention	Ritch Bahe, Tony Davis, Dave Humm, Bob Thornton

1973 Team Players in the NFL

The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1974 NFL draft:^[7]

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 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1975 NFL draft:^[8]

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

The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1976 NFL draft:^[9]

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Rik Bonness	C	3	84	Oakland Raiders
Tony Davis	RB	4	106	Cincinnati Bengals
Wonder Monds	DB	4	112	Pittsburgh Steelers
Bob Martin	LB	6	163	New York Jets
Jim Burrow	DB	8	218	Green Bay Packers
Dean Gissler	DE	11	308	Washington Redskins
John O'Leary	RB	12	303	Chicago Bears
Brad Jenkins	TE	13	348	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
John Lee	DT	13	351	San Diego Chargers
Larry Mushinskie	TE	14	402	Dallas Cowboys
Rick Costanzo	T	16	458	Dallas Cowboys

NFL and Pro Players

The following is a list of 1973 Nebraska players
who joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.^[10]

Name	Team
Tom Alward	Birmingham Vulcans
Rik Bonness	Oakland Raiders
Jim Burrow	Green Bay Packers
Tony Davis	Cincinnati Bengals
Mark Doak	Birmingham Vulcans
Maury Damkroger	New England Patriots
John Dutton	Baltimore Colts
Dave Humm	Oakland Raiders
John Lee	San Diego Chargers
Bob Lingenfelter	Cleveland Browns
Brent Longwell	Memphis Southmen
Terry Luck	Cleveland Browns
Steve Manstedt	Birmingham Americans
Bob Martin	New York Jets
Wonder Monds	Ottawa Rough Riders
Bob Nelson	Buffalo Bills
John O'Leary	Montreal Alouettes
Tom Pate	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
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

1. "NU escapes Wolfpack's bite to triumph 31–14". Scottsbluff Star-Herald. September 23, 1973. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Nebraska 1973 Roster
3. "Nebraska 1973 Commitments". Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
4. "Nebraska vs. Okla. State 1973 -- HuskerMax".
5. "Nebraska vs. Colorado 1973 -- HuskerMax".
6. 1973 Husker Honors
7. Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine – 1974 NFL Draft
8. Pro Football Reference.com Archived 2007-12-21 at the Wayback Machine – 1975 NFL Draft
9. Pro Football Reference.com – 1976 NFL Draft
10. "All Time NFL Huskers". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2009.