| 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.
| 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 | 1960-85 | Nebraska | |||
| Carl Selmer | Offensive Line | 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 | 1969-76 | Nebraska | |||
| Boyd Epley | Head Strength Coach | 1969 | 1969–2003 | Nebraska | ||
| Jim Walden | 1971-72 | Wyoming | ||||
| Bill Myles | Offensive Line | 1972 | 1972-76 |
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]
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]
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.
For the third straight week, Nebraska dominated the game in every way, shutting out Minnesota while piling up 542 yards of offense.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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
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.
See also: 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings.
| 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 |
The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1973 NFL draft:[12]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| 1 | 25 | San Diego Chargers | ||
| Willie Harper | 2 | 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 Manstedt | 4 | 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 Nelson | 2 | 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 |
The following is a list of 1972 Nebraska players
who joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.[15]
| 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 |