Since its inception in 1890, Nebraska claimed football victory No. 907 football last Saturday with the win over Buffalo in Lincoln.
I have followed 52 of NU’s seasons, and here my (personal) top 10 victories.
1. November 25, 1971 – Nebraska 35, Oklahoma 31. If you don’t know the story of this game, several history books have been printed. Contact your local librarian.
2. September 8, 1973 – Nebraska 40, UCLA 13. It was Tom Osborne’s first game as head coach, and I was petrified over the thought of TO losing his debut. It wasn’t until NU’s Tony Davis scored on a 43-yard run with 13 minutes remaining in the game that I sat down. I stood for over three-quarters of the game — while watching it on television.
3. November 11, 1978 – Nebraska 17, Oklahoma 14. The last time Nebraska defeated a No. 1 ranked team at Memorial Stadium, and I was there! Who was the person for which I was the happiest? Tom Osborne.
4. January 1, 1972 (Orange Bowl) – Nebraska 38, Alabama 6. After the gut-wrenching victory over Oklahoma six weeks earlier, I didn’t know if my 13-year-old heart could take another close game. Nebraska bolted to a 28-0 halftime lead and went on to claim its second consecutive national championship. My hypertension was alleviated by halftime.
5. November 28, 2003 – Nebraska 31, Colorado 22. The talk the week leading up to the CU contest was Nebraska had to win this game or Frank Solich would be terminated. Since I was a Solich supporter, I screamed at the television as loud as I ever have watching a Big Red game, and after NU’s victory, I was floating on a cloud. However, my shouting and yelling turned out to be wasted energy, as Steve Pederson kicked me off the cloud.
6. November 7, 2015 – Nebraska 39, Michigan State 38. Nebraska scored the winning TD with 17 seconds remaining in the game on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Armstrong to Brandon Reilly on a controversial “forced out of bounds” call that went in Nebraska’s favor. Every Nebraskan from the President of the University to the state’s newest newborn needed this victory to help keep the faith.
7. October 26, 1974 – Nebraska 7, Oklahoma State 3. Oklahoma State fumbled on the Nebraska one-yard line with 3:22 left in the game, or it would have been Nebraska’s third loss of the 1974 season. I viewed the game from row 96 of the south stands.
8. November 6, 1976 – Nebraska 14, Oklahoma State 10. In one of the hardest hitting football games I’ve ever witnessed, Cornhusker linebacker Clete Pillen made 30 tackles. Pillen prevented Nebraska from dropping its third game of the 1976 season. I was in Memorial Stadium to witness this thriller firsthand.
9. October 14, 1972 – Nebraska 62, Missouri 0. The first Cornhusker game I ever attended at Memorial Stadium.
10. October 24, 1981 – Nebraska 6, Missouri 0. Nebraska scored its winning touchdown with only 23 seconds remaining in the game.
Honorable Mention: Too many to mention.
If Nebraska can pull over the upset this Saturday in Norman, OK, I’m sure I will be able to make room for it to be added to my top 10.