1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team explained

Mode:football
Year:1972
Team:Nebraska Cornhuskers
Conference:Big Eight Conference
Short Conf:Big 8
Coachrank:9
Aprank:4
Record:9–2–1
Conf Record:5–1–1
Head Coach:Bob Devaney
Hc Year:11th
Off Coach:Tom Osborne
Oc Year:4th
Def Coach:Monte Kiffin
Dc Year:4th
Off Scheme:I formation
Def Scheme:5–2
Stadium:Memorial Stadium
Champion:Big Eight co-champion
Orange Bowl champion
Bowl:Orange Bowl
Bowl Result:W 40–6 vs. Notre Dame

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

[1]

Roster

[2] [3] [4]

Depth chart

Coaching staff

NameTitleFirst year
in this position
Years at Nebraska Alma mater
Bob DevaneyHead Coach19621962-72Alma
Tom OsborneOffensive coordinator19691964-97Hastings
Cletus FischerOffensive Line1960-85Nebraska
Carl SelmerOffensive Line1962-72
Jim Ross1962-76
John MeltonTight Ends, Wingbacks19731962-88Wyoming
Mike CorganRunning Backs19621962-82Notre Dame
Monte KiffinDefensive Coordinator1969 1967-76Nebraska
Warren PowersDefensive Backs1969-76Nebraska
Boyd EpleyHead Strength Coach19691969–2003Nebraska
Jim Walden1971-72Wyoming
Bill MylesOffensive Line19721972-76

Game summaries

UCLA

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.[5] [6] [7] The upset loss dropped Nebraska from first to tenth in the AP Poll rankings.[8]

Texas A&M

Due to a stadium expansion completed over the summer, Nebraska's home opener drew record attendance with slightly more than 76,000 spectators.[9] 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.[10]

Army

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

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

Missouri

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 in the 3rd, but underdog Oklahoma scored seventeen unanswered points for Nebraska's three-year home winning streak, which began in September 1969, ended at

Notre Dame

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

See also: 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings.

Awards

[11]

AwardName(s)
Heisman TrophyJohnny Rodgers
Walter Camp AwardJohnny Rodgers
Outland TrophyRich Glover
Lombardi AwardRich 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

The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1973 NFL draft:[12]

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
1 25 San Diego Chargers
Willie Harper2 41 San Francisco 49ers
2 49 Oakland Raiders
3 61 Baltimore Colts
3 69 New York Giants
Doug Dumler 5 108 New England Patriots
8 183 Houston Oilers
Bill Janssen 8 206 Pittsburgh Steelers
Dave Mason 10 246 Minnesota Vikings
Jerry List 11 283 Oakland Raiders

The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1974 NFL draft:[13]

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
1 5 Baltimore Colts
Steve Manstedt4 79 Houston Oilers
Daryl White 4 98 Cincinnati Bengals
Bob Wolfe 6 156 Miami Dolphins
Maury Damkroger 7 178 New England Patriots
Frosty Anderson 10 235 New Orleans Saints

The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1975 NFL draft:[14]

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
1 19 Buffalo Bills
Bob Nelson2 42 Buffalo Bills
John Starkebaum 4 92 New Orleans Saints
5 128 Oakland Raiders
6 131 Baltimore Colts
Mark Doak 6 147 Washington Redskins
Ardell Johnson 11 277 Washington Redskins
Ritch Bahe 14 358 St. Louis Cardinals
Dennis Pavelka 16 412 Washington Redskins
Stan Hegener 17 442 Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL and pro players

The following is a list of 1972 Nebraska players
who joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.[15]

NameTeam
Tom AlwardBirmingham Vulcans
Joe BlahakHouston Oilers
Tony DavisCincinnati Bengals
Gary DixonSouthern California Sun
Mark DoakBirmingham Vulcans
Maury DamkrogerNew England Patriots
Doug DumlerNew England Patriots
John DuttonBaltimore Colts
Rich GloverNew York Giants
Willie HarperSan Francisco 49ers
Dave HummOakland Raiders
Bill JanssenCharlotte Hornets
Monte JohnsonOakland Raiders
Brent LongwellMemphis Southmen
Terry LuckCleveland Browns
Steve ManstedtBirmingham Americans
Dave MasonNew England Patriots
Bob NelsonBuffalo Bills
Bill OldsBaltimore Colts
Tom PateHamilton Tiger-Cats
Johnny RodgersMontreal Alouettes
Tom RuudBuffalo Bills
Bob SchmitPortland Storm
Don WestbrookNew England Patriots
Daryl WhiteDetroit Lions
Bob WolfeBirmingham Americans
Zaven YaralianPhiladelphia Bell

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Football - 1972 Schedule/Results. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletics Department. 2009-06-17.
  2. Web site: 1972 Football Roster. University of Nebraska Athletics. en. April 4, 2020.
  3. Web site: Nebraska 1972 Commitments . https://web.archive.org/web/20100107035112/http://huskerpedia.com/recruits/1972.html . 2010-01-07 . 2009-06-17 . live .
  4. News: Probable starters . Lawrence Journal-World . (Kansas) . October 20, 1972 . 15.
  5. Young Harmon Makes His Mark. . Jenkins . Dan . September 18, 1972 . 32.
  6. News: Bruins upend Cornhuskers on Herrera's field goal 20-17 . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. September 10, 1972. 3C.
  7. News: UCLA ends Nebraska's streak with late kick . The Bulletin . (Bend, Oregon). UPI. September 11, 1972. 11.
  8. News: Record crowd for Nebraska opener. September 15, 1972. Columbus Telegram. 12.
  9. News: Cornhuskers Bounce Back To Defeat Texas A&M, 37-7. September 17, 1972. Los Angeles Times. April 4, 2020.
  10. News: Nebraska bombards A&M, 37-7. September 17, 1972. Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. E3.
  11. Web site: 1972 Cornhusker honors. HuskerMax. en-US. April 4, 2020.
  12. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1973.htm Pro Football Reference.com
  13. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1974.htm Pro Football Reference.com
  14. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1975.htm Pro Football Reference.com
  15. Web site: All Time NFL Huskers . https://web.archive.org/web/20090815013540/http://nflhuskers.com/alltime.html . 2009-08-15 . 2009-06-16 . live .