Has it really been 53 years?!?
October 10, 1970 was a grey, cool day in Lincoln, Nebraska.
As it was on my childhood farm 25 miles northwest of Lincoln.
With my trusty portable radio and the voice of the iconic Lyell Bremser at my side, the Nebraska Cornhusker Blackshirts came up big, allowing just a one-yard touchdown run as Nebraska downed Missouri, 21-7, in a hard-hitting, turnover-filled game in Lincoln, in front of 67,538 fans.
The Huskers were ranked sixth in the country, while Missouri checked in at number 16.
Van Brownson took over at quarterback for the Huskers in the second half, and he led a 66-yard drive to break a 7-7 tie early in the fourth quarter. I-back Joe Orduna set up the score with a 41-yard run after Nebraska had gained possession on a dropped fair catch by Mizzou.
With four minutes left in the game, Johnny Rodgers iced the victory with a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Nebraska’s offense had bogged down after marching 80 yards for a TD on its first possession of the game. Missouri tied it up early in the second quarter after picking off a Jerry Tagge pass and returning it to the Nebraska one-yard line.
“After the first drive, we had trouble generating our offense, and I felt Van deserved a chance to move the team,” coach Bob Devaney said of the QB switch.
Missouri’s chances took a big hit late in the first quarter when star tailback Joe Moore was lost for the season with a separated shoulder after he received a vicious, but legal, hit from NU defensive lineman Dave Walline.
He was held to six yards on four carries after averaging more than 150 yards in the Tigers’ first four games.
Nebraska would record its fifth of 11 victories on the road to their first national title.
Nebraska’s 21-7 victory was the Cornhuskers first over the Tigers since 1966.