Game Preview: Huskers Open 2002 Campaign in Black Coaches Association Football Classic

Nebraska vs. Arizona State (Black Coaches Association Classic)

DATE: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002; TIME: 6:47 p.m. Central SITE: Lincoln, Neb. STADIUM: Memorial Stadium?248th Consecutive Sellout; STADIUM CAPACITY: 73,918 FIELD: Tom Osborne Field, Lincoln, Nebraska; SURFACE: FieldTurf (1999) NEBRASKA RADIO: 57-station Pinnacle Sports Network (Jim Rose-Play-by-Play; Color-Adrian Fiala; Dave Webber-Halftime Studio Host) TV: ESPN National (Ron Franklin-PBP; Mike Gottfried-Color; Adrian Karstens-Sideline) NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One/CBS Radio (John Tautges?PBP, Allen Pinkett?Color)

Nebraska is set to begin the 112th season in school history on Saturday, Aug. 24, against Arizona State in the 2002 Black Coaches Association Football Classic. The Huskers open the season ranked in the nation?s top 10 in both major polls with a No. 10 listing according to the Associated Press, while NU begins the season eighth in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.

The Huskers will be looking for their 17th consecutive victory in a season opener against an Arizona State team coming off a 4-7 season in 2001. The Sun Devils opened last year by winning three of their first four games under first-year coach Dirk Koetter, but found the going tough in Pac-10 Conference action. ASU returns 13 starters from last year?s team, including eight on the defensive side of the ball.

The meeting between the two schools will be the first since Arizona State shut out Nebraska 19-0 in Tempe in 1996, ending Nebraska?s 26-game winning streak. The Huskers own a 5-2 edge in the overall series between the two schools, including a 77-28 win in 1995, ASU?s last visit to Lincoln.

Nebraska enters Frank Solich?s fifth season as head coach fresh off an appearance in the national championship game and with numerous streaks in place. The season opener against Arizona State will mark the 248th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium and begins NU?s quest for a 34th consecutive season with nine or more wins and a 41st straight winning campaign.

Nebraska Set for 13-Game Slate in 2002
The Aug. 24 start is the earliest ever for a Nebraska football season and also begins the longest regular season in Husker football history, as NU is scheduled to play 13 games during the regular season. Nebraska has played 12 games on several occasions, but 2002 marks the first time the Huskers have had 13 scheduled regular-season games. The Huskers could play as many as 15 games in 2002, with the possibility of a Big 12 Championship Game and bowl game appearance.

Three home games kick off the 2002 season, before the Huskers begin one of the nation?s toughest road schedules with a Sept. 14 date at Penn State. Two weeks later, NU opens Big 12 Conference action on the road at Iowa State. The Huskers also visit Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Kansas State during conference action, with visits from 2001 Big 12 title game participants Texas and Colorado highlighting the Huskers? home schedule.

Nebraska Will Feature Well-Rounded Attack in 2002
Under the leadership of Coach Frank Solich, Nebraska played in its 13th national championship bowl game last season, and although the Huskers lost to undefeated Miami in the Rose Bowl, it set the stage for another outstanding season of Husker football in 2002. With 12 starters returning, Nebraska will build on that championship experience for its 112th Husker squad, the fifth under Solich.

Nebraska will feature a 2002 team without All-American and Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch at quarterback; All-American and Outland Trophy finalist Toniu Fonoti at left guard; and All-American and Jim Thorpe semifinalist Keyuo Craver at left corner. But, Nebraska has talented players prepared to move into starting roles.

Solich will field a team totally his own and will be able to rely on players he has recruited the past five years. Each of his classes have ranked among the nation's top 20 and have boasted at least seven prep All-Americans. Solich is a firm believer in having all three aspects of a team in place in order to contend for championships, and this season, the offense, defense and special teams look to be well balanced. While Solich may look to young players and newcomers to fill several voids left by senior veterans, the Huskers are loaded with talent and should show more speed across the board in 2002.

NU Opens 112th Season with Streaks in Place
Nebraska finished the 2001 season with an 11-2 record on the strength of an undefeated home season and a national rushing crown. Nebraska finished in a first-place tie in the Big 12 North, and although Colorado played in the Big 12 Championship game, the Huskers got the nod to face Miami in the national championship Rose Bowl game, based on its No. 2 final BCS standing. NU finished with a final No. 7 coaches and No. 8 AP ranking, which continued an unprecedented winning tradition no other school in the country can claim?33 consecutive years of being ranked among the AP's top 25. Nebraska will open its 112th season of intercollegiate football with several streaks in place, including an unprecedented 33 consecutive nine-win seasons.

• NCAA-record 247 consecutive sellouts in Memorial Stadium?Nebraska?s game with Arizona State is its 248th straight sellout and NU will celebrate its 250th consecutive sellout on Sept. 7 when it plays host to Utah State. In fact, all eight of Nebraska's 2002 home games are sold out. "Nebraska football fans are the best football fans in the world," said famed broadcaster Keith Jackson. Since the North and South end zones were built in 1964, Husker fans started a tradition of saluting the opposing team as they leave the stadium with a standing ovation?regardless of the game's outcome.
• 40 consecutive winning seasons?Nebraska holds the current NCAA record and ranks second all time behind Notre Dame's 42 consecutive winning seasons from 1889 to 1932. The streak began in 1962, the first year under Coach Bob Devaney, who was lured to Nebraska from Wyoming by Director of Athletics Tippy Dye.
• 33 consecutive nine-win seasons?Even more incredible than 40 consecutive winning seasons is Nebraska's NCAA record for consecutive nine-win seasons. Although some called for his resignation after a pair of 6-4 seasons in 1967 and 1968, Devaney stayed and redesigned the offense to an I-formation with an unbalanced line at the suggestion of then-assistant coach Tom Osborne. The Huskers won nine games in 1969 and have won at least that many in every year since.
• 40 bowl appearances?Biff Jones accepted the Huskers' first bowl bid following the 1940 season, agreeing to play in the 1941 Rose Bowl. The celebration in Lincoln lasted 24 hours and classes were canceled. While Nebraska lost to Stanford, 21-13, Nebraska has now appeared in 40 bowl games and is tied for fourth among all NCAA Division I-A schools behind Alabama's 51. Devaney used to joke that he lived in Lincoln several years before he found out Nebraska lost that first bowl game?a true testament to the support Nebraska football receives in Lincoln.
• 33 consecutive bowl bids?NU's streak of 33 consecutive bowl appearances is an NCAA record and dates back to 1969 when Devaney?s eighth team defeated Georgia 45-6 in the Sun Bowl. Michigan is the only other school with an active streak of 20 or more straight bowl appearances with 27.
• 343 consecutive weeks ranked in the Associated Press?Nebraska has been ranked in every Associated Press Poll for 343 consecutive weeks dating back to October 1981 (the first year Turner Gill took over quarterback starting duties). With the exception of three polls (one week in 1977 and two weeks in 1981), NU has been ranked in the last 520 polls, which dates back to 1964.
• 51 consecutive weeks ranked in the Associated Press top 10?Nebraska has been ranked in the AP top 10 every week since the preseason poll in 1999. Since Florida State dropped out of the top 10 last season, NU's streak is the nation's longest.
• 33 consecutive years ranked in AP top 25?Since the 1969 season, Nebraska has been ranked each season among the top 25 in the final AP poll. NU has also been ranked in the top 25 in every AP preseason poll since 1970.
• 21-game home winning streak?The Huskers have eight home games on the schedule in 2002 and hope to extend their home winning streak to 29. NU's 21-game home winning streak is the nation's longest current streak and is fourth best at NU, while the school record is 47 set from 1991 to 1998. The Huskers have won 89 of their last 92 home games.
• 102-12 record since 1993?In the last nine years, Nebraska has lost just 12 games and has lost more than two games in a season just once (1998). In that span, the Huskers went undefeated three times, winning national championships in 1994, 1995 and 1997. Nebraska also played for the national title in 1993 and 2001.

Nebraska Head Coach Frank Solich
Coach Frank Solich (Nebraska, 1966) enters his fifth season at the helm of the Husker program with a 42-9 school and career record (.824). With 11 wins in 2001, Solich moved into a tie for fourth on the all-time Division I list for victories in the first four seasons as a head coach. He will officially qualify to rank among his peers after this season with five years as a head coach, and with an .824 winning percentage, would rank tied for 19thamong all coaches and second among active coaches in Division I-A.

Coach Solich became just the third first-year Nebraska head coach to record nine wins in his first season at the helm, joining a pair of Hall of Fame Coaches?Tom Osborne (9-2-1 in 1973) and Bob Devaney (9-2 in 1962). Solich posted a 9-4 record in his first season, despite being hit heavy with injuries. He posted the best record of any Husker second-year coach as his team posted a 12-1 record in 1999, leading NU to a Big 12 championship and No. 2 (coaches poll) and No. 3 (AP poll) final national rankings. Solich?s 21 wins in his first two years at NU bettered Devaney?s previous school record of 19 and ranked in a tie for third all time among Division I coaches in their first two years at the helm. He went 10-2 in 2000 and his 31 wins in three years bettered both Osborne and Devaney?s 28 wins in their first three years. His 42 wins in four years is also a school best.

Solich is the only Husker coach to have won 12 games in either of his first two seasons. Devaney won nine games in his first year, 10 his second year, nine in his third and 10 in his fourth, while Osborne won nine, nine, 10 and nine, respectively. Devaney won his first conference title his second year, while Osborne tied for his first title in his third year at the helm. Solich was named the 1999 Big 12 Coach of the Year by his league peers and the AP after winning the league championship in 1999, and was named coach of the year by the conference coaches a second time in 2001.

Solich has continued Nebraska's winning tradition the Husker way?by identification of athletic talent regardless of position or recruiting rank; with successful recruitment nationwide of the country's best student-athletes; developing local talent and utilizing the envious Husker walk-on program; and by providing the best athletic facilities and support available for the student-athletes.

Although defensive coordinator Charlie McBride retired after the 1999 season, the rest of Coach Osborne's staff is intact. Solich replaced himself with recruiting specialist and running backs coach Dave Gillespie, who was the recruiting coordinator at Nebraska when the Huskers signed the athletes who won back-to-back national championships in 1994 and 1995, and hired former Husker Jeff Jamrog away from New Mexico State to replace McBride in January of 2000. Counting Solich, five members of the Husker coaching staff played for Nebraska. Solich is one of 17 current Division I-A football coaches who played for and now coach their alma mater.

Solich was named Nebraska?s 26th head coach on Dec. 10, 1997, after serving as an NU assistant for 19 years. He played fullback for Hall of Fame Coach Bob Devaney, lettering in 1963-64-65. Solich was the first Husker running back to rush for 200 yards in a game and remains the only fullback to accomplish that feat. He also lettered for the NU baseball team in 1965. After serving as a local high school football coach for 14 years, Solich took over the NU freshman program and posted a 19-1 record from 1979 to 1982. He was elevated to NU?s running backs coach after four seasons, a position he held for 15 years (1983-97). He was promoted to assistant head coach in 1991 and head coach following the 1997 season. Solich earned his bachelor?s and master?s degrees from NU in 1966 and 1972, respectively.

Coaches? Game Day Assignments
Following the lead of Tom Osborne, Coach Solich is his own offensive coordinator, calling the plays from the sideline. Craig Bohl, who tutors the linebackers and is in his third season as defensive coordinator is also on the sideline, along with receivers coach Ron Brown, quarterbacks coach Turner Gill, defensive line coach Jeff Jamrog and kickers/offensive line coach Dan Young. Assisting from above in the press box are rush ends coach Nelson Barnes, defensive backs coach George Darlington, running backs coach Dave Gillespie and offensive line coach Milt Tenopir.

Huskers in Season Openers
Nebraska has won 16 straight openers since a 17-13 loss to Florida State in Lincoln in 1985. Nebraska is 81-26-5 in SEASON openers, including last year's 21-7 win over TCU. Head NU Coach Frank Solich is 4-0 in season openers. In the last 29 years, the Huskers are 24-4-1 in season openers, 19-2 at home, losing only to FSU in 1985 and Washington State in 1977 (10-19). In all-time HOME openers, NU is 90-17-5 including 62-14-3 at Memorial Stadium. NU is 27-2 in home openers over the last 29 years. When NU opens the season on the ROAD, it is 12-13-2. Nebraska is one of four Division I-A schools in the country that won each of its season openers during the 1990s. Nebraska leads the pack with 16 straight season opening victories, followed by Florida State with 13, Kansas State with 12 and Florida with 12 straight.

Huskers Successful in Preseason Contests
Nebraska?s meeting with Arizona State in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic marks the sixth time the Huskers have participated in a preseason contest. Nebraska is a perfect 5-0 in the preseason classics, most recently posting a 21-7 victory over TCU in the 2001 NACDA Pigskin Classic, also played at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska also played a preseason game in Lincoln in 1998, defeating Louisiana Tech in the Eddie Robinson Classic. The Huskers? first three preseason appearances were in the Kickoff Classic at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, with NU posting victories over Penn State (1983), Texas A&M (1988) and West Virginia (1994).

The Aug. 24 opener with the Sun Devils is the earliest in school history and marks the sixth time in the last nine years that Nebraska has opened its season in the month of August. The 2002 campaign will be the first time in school history Nebraska has played two games in August.

NU Shines Under the Lights
Nebraska is 48-15-3 all-time under the lights, including a 13-1 record at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska is scheduled to open the season with three consecutive home night contests, marking the first time in school history the Huskers have played three straight night games at home.

Huskers Make Season Debut on ESPN
Nebraska?s appearance on ESPN against Arizona State is its first since the 2000 Alamo Bowl when the Huskers defeated Northwestern, 66-17. It also marks Nebraska?s first regular-season appearance on the network since opening the 1995 season with a 64-21 victory at Oklahoma State. The Huskers are 21-4-1 all-time on ESPN.

Injury Update
The Huskers suffered a major blow in the final scrimmage of the fall when senior nose tackle Jason Lohr was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Lohr missed the last 10 games of last season after tearing the LCL in the same knee against Notre Dame. He was granted a medical hardship for 2001 and was looking forward to repeating his senior season in 2002. Lohr, who has not redshirted, is expected to undergo surgery within the next two weeks.

Lohr was the second 2002 projected starter to be lost for the season, joining defensive back Willie Amos, who suffered a major knee injury that required reconstructive surgery during spring ball. Amos had just made the switch from free safety to cornerback and was expected to take over for departed All-American Keyuo Craver at left corner. Amos has a redshirt year available.

Reserve I-back Robin Miller has also been ruled out of the season opener with Arizona State. Miller underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Aug. 17, after injuring the knee in NU?s first fall scrimmage. Miller is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Poll Position
Nebraska opens the 2002 season ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 25 for the 33rd consecutive season. The Huskers are ranked No. 10 in this year?s AP preseason listing, the 10th consecutive season Nebraska has opened in the Top 10. The Huskers are ranked eighth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches preseason poll.

Nebraska?s AP preseason ranking is its lowest since opening at No. 11 in 1992, but marks the fifth straight season under Solich that Nebraska has been in the preseason top 10. Under Solich, Nebraska?s loftiest preseason ranking came in 2000, when the Huskers were listed first in both AP and coaches polls.

Nebraska is one of four Big 12 teams to be ranked in the top 10 of both preseason polls, joining Oklahoma (2 AP/3 Coaches), Texas (4/2) and Colorado (7/6). Texas A&M is ranked 23rd in the Associated Press poll, while Husker non-conference opponent Penn State is ranked 24th in both preseason polls.

Huskers Elect Captains for 2002 Season
Head Coach Frank Solich announced on Aug. 17 that three seniors have been elected as captains for the upcoming season. This year?s captains, chosen by a vote of their teammates, are center John Garrison, rush end Chris Kelsay and cornerback DeJuan Groce.

Kelsay is the second member of his family to serve as a Nebraska football captain, joining his brother, Chad, a captain on Solich?s first team in 1998. The Kelsays are the fifth brother combination in school history to serve as team captains, joining Mike (1983) and Andy Keeler (1988), Erik (1991) and Zach Wiegert (1994), Christian (1995) and Jason Peter (1997) and Grant (1997) and Tracey Wistrom (2001).

This marks the first season Nebraska has had only three captains since the 1987 campaign. The Huskers had five captains a year ago and six in 2000.

Diedrick, Kelsay Lead Huskers Earning Preseason Honors
Several Huskers have received preseason recognition on both the Big 12 and national levels. On the conference level, senior rush end Chris Kelsay and senior I-back Dahrran Diedrick were both chosen by the league?s media as first-team preseason All-Big 12 picks.

Diedrick was also named first-team preseason All-Big 12 by Football News and Athlon, who also listed him as a second-team preseason All-America pick. The senior from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada was also listed by Lindy?s and The Sporting News as one of the nation?s top 10 running backs entering the season.

Last season Diedrick led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,299 yards and scored 15 touchdowns to earn first-team all-league honors. Diedrick rushed for 100 or more yards in seven of his 11 regular-season appearances and scored two or more touchdowns in five games. If Diedrick were to duplicate his yardage total of 2001, he would move into the top five on NU?s career rushing chart.

In addition to his first-team all-league notice by the conference media, Kelsay was a first-team All-Big 12 pick by The Sporting News, who listed him as the nation?s No. 5 defensive end. Kelsay, a senior from Auburn, Neb., is also on preseason watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award. Kelsay recorded 52 total tackles as a junior, including a team-best 17 tackles for losses totaling 58 yards and five sacks.

In addition to Diedrick and Kelsay, three other Huskers earned first-team preseason all-conference mention from various publications. Senior center John Garrison was a member of Athlon preseason all-league listing and has also been named to the 2002 Outland Trophy Watch list. Athlon also tabbed senior cornerback DeJuan Groce as a first-team All-Big 12 pick, while Football News recognized junior punter Kyle Larson on its first-team All-Big 12 team.

Garrison, a 6-4, 290-pounder from Blue Springs, Mo., will anchor the Husker offensive line this fall. Last year, he played a key role in NU winning a 15th NCAA rushing title, by averaging 314.7 yards per game on the ground.

Groce is a key cog on both the Husker defense and special teams. He broke up 14 passes as a junior and ranks fourth on Nebraska?s all-time PBU list. He also averaged 14.2 yards on 33 punt returns last season, including touchdowns against Kansas State and Miami. Like Groce, Larson will again be a special teams weapon for Nebraska. A year ago, Larson averaged 42.5 yards per punt and pinned the opposition inside their own 20 on 21 occasions.

Thomas Among Nebraska?s Career Receiving Leaders
Senior split end Wilson Thomas will be relied on as a go-to-player in the Husker offensive attack this season. A year ago, Thomas established himself as one of the Big 12?s premier receivers, catching 37 passes for 616 yards and three touchdowns.

Thomas? 37 receptions were the most by any Husker since All-American Irving Fryar caught 40 balls in 1983 and the sixth-most ever by a Husker. Thomas? 616 receiving yards ranked as the fifth-best single-season total in school history and was a record for Husker split ends. Thomas caught three or more passes in eight games last season, including six each against Oklahoma and Kansas State. He capped the 2001 regular season with a career-best 109 receiving yards against Colorado, including a career-long 78-yard reception.

The 6-6, 215-pound Thomas, has spent his past two offseasons playing for Coach Barry Collier?s Husker basketball team. Last season Thomas averaged 4.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 16 games, including a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Missouri in Lincoln.

Jammal Lord Set to Take Over at Quarterback
The Huskers have relied on a returning quarterback for the past three years. This season, junior Jammal Lord is poised to take over for departed Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch.

Lord is the eighth Husker (since 1946) to take over for a three-year starter at quarterback, following in the footsteps of Don Erway (1954), Bob Churchich (1964), Dave Humm (1972), Craig Sundberg (1984), Vince Ferragamo (1975), Gerry Gdowski (1989) and Scott Frost (1996). Lord follows Crouch, who was Nebraska?s starting quarterback in 1999, 2000 and 2001, compiling a 35-7 record, the most wins by any Husker quarterback. All but one of the seven previous replacements posted nine wins in their first year as a starter.

3/4-Year QBs	Years	Team Rec.	Replacement	Year	NU Rec.
John Bordogna	51-52-53	10-18-2	Don Erway	1954	6-5-0
Dennis Claridge	61-62-63	22-9-1	Bob Churchich	1964	9-2-0
Jerry Tagge	69-70-71	33-2-1	Dave Humm	1972	9-2-1
Dave Humm	72-73-74	27-7-2	Vince Ferragamo	1975	10-2-0
Turner Gill	81-82-83	33-4-0	Craig Sundberg	1984	10-2-0
Steve Taylor	86-87-88	31-6-0	Gerry Gdowski	1989	10-2-0
Tommie Frazier	92-93-94-95	45-4-0	Scott Frost	1996	11-2-0
Eric Crouch	99-00-01	33-5-0	Jammal Lord	2002

When comparing Lord with the 2002 Heisman winner, Lord has a definite size advantage, as Crouch stood 6-1, 200 and Lord is 6-2, 210. Coach Solich said that Lord has great scrambling abilities.

"One thing he does as well as any quarterback I can recall at Nebraska," Solich said, "is once a play breaks down, he makes something out of it. When scrambling, he instinctively will dump the ball off to someone running free."

The players have confidence in the junior from Bayonne, N.J. as well. "I think he?ll be a great quarterback," said I-back Dahrran Diedrick. "He just hasn?t had an opportunity yet. After the first quarter of the first game, everybody will realize that Jammal Lord is the real deal."

For the most part, Lord has been a patient backup, but is ready for his chance. "I?ve been antsy, but everyone knows who was in front of me. I had no problem watching him (Crouch) play."

Lord has had three full years of learning the system and has the benefit of two years of backup duty, however sporadic. Quarterbacks coach Turner Gill said Lord is ready to take control. "I anticipate him doing well because of all the intangibles he?s shown me," Gill said. "You can see it in the way he waited behind Eric. That shows character. He handled things that were out of his control. And now he?s going to be in a situation where he can handle things in his control."

Nebraska Leads Big 12 with 45 Players in NFL Camp
Nebraska remains among the nation?s leaders in supplying talent to the National Football League. In fact, the Huskers have a Big 12-best 45 players on NFL preseason rosters in 2002, leading second-place Colorado (37), followed by Texas A&M (35), Oklahoma (30), Kansas State (27) and Texas (25). A full listing can be found in the left margin of page eight.

Among Nebraska?s notable alumni on NFL rosters are 10-year veteran offensive guard Will Shields of the Kansas City Chiefs, who has appeared in seven consecutive Pro Bowls. Green Bay?s Ahman Green finished fourth in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,387 yards, while St. Louis defensive end Grant Wistrom has been a key component in a Ram defense that has helped the team to the Super Bowl in two of the last three years.

Since 1994, Nebraska has had 53 players selected in the NFL Draft, the third-most of any school in the nation and tops among Big 12 Conference schools.

Eight members of the 2001 Husker team are rookies in NFL camps this fall. Those on NFL rosters at the start of training camp included Jamie Burrow (N.Y. Jets), Keyuo Craver (New Orleans), Eric Crouch (St. Louis), Toniu Fonoti (San Diego), Jeremy Slechta (Philadelphia), Erwin Swiney (Green Bay), Dave Volk (Chicago) and Tracey Wistrom (Tampa Bay).

2002 Outlook...The 2002 Schedule
For the first time in school history, Nebraska has 13 regular-season games on the schedule. Nebraska added McNeese State in March as its 12th game of the season and will play host to Arizona State in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic. The Huskers are 5-0 in preseason games. For the second straight year and just the fifth time in Husker history, Nebraska will host eight home games.

With arguably one of the toughest road schedules of any Division I team this season, Nebraska first hits the road at Penn State on Sept. 14, then travels to Iowa State on Sept. 28 to open the Big 12 Conference season. ISU finished 7-5 last year, and played in the Independence Bowl. The Huskers travel to Oklahoma State on Oct. 19, playing in Stillwater for the first time since 1995. The OSU-NU game was moved to Kansas City in 1998 and the two teams did not meet in 1996 and 1997 or in 2000 or 2001 because of the Big 12 league format. The last two road games are against two more 2001 bowl participants, at Texas A&M (8-4, Galleryfurniture.com Bowl) on Oct. 26 and at Kansas State (6-6, Insight.com Bowl) on Nov. 16. Nebraska's home schedule is highlighted by a Nov. 2 contest with Texas, the last team to beat Nebraska in Lincoln (11-2, Holiday Bowl), and Colorado on Nov. 29 (10-3, Fiesta).

Huskers Return 12 Starters From 11-2 Team
Nebraska returns a total of 12 starters (five on offense, five on defense and both kickers) from a team that dropped just two games last season?to national champion Miami, and to Colorado.

Nebraska's losses are significant, as NU loses three first-team All-Americans including Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award winner and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Eric Crouch at quarterback, Outland Trophy finalist Toniu Fonoti at left guard and two-time Jim Thorpe semifinalist Keyuo Craver at left cornerback. NU also loses Dave Volk and Jon Rutherford off the offensive line, academic All-American and third-team All-American Tracey Wistrom at tight end and John Gibson at wingback.

On defense, NU lost Jeremy Slechta off the defensive line, two of its three linebackers in Jamie Burrow (Mike) and Mark Vedral (Will), free safety/rover Dion Booker and right cornerback Erwin Swiney. The Big 12's leading rusher, I-back Dahrran Diedrick, returns to pace the Husker offensive ground attack. Wilson Thomas also returns at split end after leading the team in receiving last year. Linemen John Garrison (center/snapper) and Dan Vili Waldrop (right tackle) and fullback Judd Davies complete the returning starters on offense. Other first-team returnees with significant experience include tight end Aaron Golliday and I-back Thunder Collins.

On defense, NU returns rush ends Chris Kelsay and Demoine Adams, nose tackle Jon Clanton, Sam linebacker Scott Shanle and right cornerback DeJuan Groce. Kelsay and Groce will contend for Big 12 and national honors after leading the defense last season.

Both of NU's kickers return, including place-kicker Josh Brown and punter Kyle Larson. Nebraska's top two kick returnees also return, including punt returner DeJuan Groce (ranked ninth nationally with 14.2 ypr) and kickoff returner Josh Davis (ranked 14th with 27.0 ypr). Sandro DeAngelis, who was NU's No. 1 place-kicker in the first four games, also returns, giving NU one of the deepest special teams corps in the country.

Unprecedented Winning Tradition
Nebraska, the nation's third-winningest program all time (fourth by percentage), boasts a 764-301-40 record in 1,105 games (.710). In the last 32 years, NU is tops, posting a record of 330-60-5 for an .842 winning percentage (395 games), an average of more than 10 wins per year. In terms of victories, the Huskers are third in NCAA Division I-A history with 764. NU has won 10-or-more games 22 times in the Devaney/Osborne/Solich eras (since 1962), went undefeated and untied through the regular season seven times, played in 13 national title games (for at least one of the teams) and won the championship five times. Since the first Nebraska season in 1890, Husker teams have won 11 or more games 12 times, including seven of the last nine years. NU has won 12 or more games seven times, and 13 games three times (1971, 1994 and 1997). No one can match Nebraska's current 40-year winning season streak, or its 33-year nine-win streak, and by the same token, no other school has averaged 10 wins per season over the last 32 years. Nebraska's 40 years of consecutive winning records rank second all time behind Notre Dame?s 42 (1889-32) and third in terms of non-losing seasons, behind Penn State?s 46 (1939-87) and Notre Dame's 42 (1889-1932) and tied with Texas?s 40 (1893-32). Nebraska (702), Michigan (705), Alabama (728) and Notre Dame (736) are the only four programs to have won 700 games in the last century. Nebraska became the first Division I team to win 100 or more games in back-to-back decades, ranking first in the 1980s (103-20-0, .837) and second in the 1990s (108-16-1 record, .890) and posted a nation?s best 309-56-5 record in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Huskers Win Three National Titles in Four Years
In 1993, the Huskers went 11-1 losing only to Florida State, 18-16, in the Orange Bowl for the national championship. That loss began a run of wins, records and crystal collections. Nebraska followed 1993 with three perfect seasons in four years, winning national titles in 1994 (13-0), 1995 (12-0) and 1997 (13-0). No other team won three titles in the 1990s. Nebraska posted incredible numbers from 1993 on, consider...

In the Past Nine Years, the Huskers Have...

• Posted a 102-12 record
• Played in five national title games (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001)
• Won three national titles (1994, 1995, 1997) in four years
• Won five conference crowns (three Big Eight, two Big 12)
• Posted a 62-7 conference record (.899)
• Won 57 of 58 home games (21 straight)
• Gone 28-10 vs. Associated Press Top 25 teams (14-5 vs. top 10)

NU First to Win 100 Games in Back-to-Back Decades
Nebraskarecorded its 100th win of the 1990s with a 40-10 win over Missouri in Columbia on Sept. 25, 1999, and finished with a 108-16-1 mark in the decade (.868, second behind Florida State). Nebraska is the first Division I program to win 100-plus games in consecutive decades as NU won 103 games to 20 losses in the 1980s. The only other team to post 100-plus wins in the 1980s was Brigham Young with 102 wins and 26 losses. Oklahoma (102-13-3) and Alabama (103-16-1) posted 100-plus wins in the 1970s, while Nebraska came close to achieving the mark in three consecutive decades, as NU won 98 games in the 1970s. Florida State finished the 1990s with a 109-13-1 record (.890, first), but had just 87 wins in the 1980s.

By decade, the Huskers were 75-30-1 in the 1960s (.712); 98-20-4 in the 1970s (.820, fifth nationally), 103-20-0 in the 1980s (.837, first), 108-16-1 in the 1990s (second) and is 21-4 in this decade. Nebraska's 1990s record was aided by an unprecedented 60-3 five-year run from 1993 to 1997.

Nebraska owns the best record over the past three-plus decades with a 330-60-5 record, including an NCAA-best 309-56-5 record (.842) from 1960 to 1999. The Huskers have not lost more than 20 games in any of the last three decades.

Devaney Established Tradition
Retiring as the winningest active coach in the nation, Tom Osborne took over a program firmly entrenched in solid ground in 1973, when Hall of Fame Coach Bob Devaney named Osborne as his successor. Devaney posted a 101-20-2 record in his 11 years at Nebraska, won two national championships (1970 and 1971) and was the winningest active coach in the nation upon his retirement in 1972 with a 136-30-7 career record (.806) including a 35-10-5 record at the University of Wyoming.

Osborne followed suit and was selected to the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame shortly after he announced his retirement (inducted on Dec. 8, 1998). Osborne retired as the nation's winningest active coach, posting a 255-49-3 record (.836). Among all divisions of coaches with career winning percentages of .800 or better over a span of at least 10 years, Osborne is the fifth-winningest coach in Division I-A history, while the late Devaney is not far behind at No. 11.

Devaney and Osborne were the third Division I coaching duo to post back-to-back 100-win careers at the same institution (following Penn State's Rip Engle and Joe Paterno and Georgia Tech's John Heisman, Bill Alexander and Bobby Dodd), but were the first pair to do so in an unbelievable 21 years. Devaney and Osborne had a combined 356-69-5 record for an incredible .834 winning percentage (36 years, 430 games).

Frank Solich went 9-4 in his inaugural season, matching the wins of Devaney and Osborne in their first years and posted a school-record 12-1 record his second year (winning his first conference championship), a 10-2 record his third season, and 11-2 last year, playing in the national championship game, to post a school-best 42-9 four-year record. Like Osborne, he is on pace to hit 100 wins in 10 years. Devaney went 10-1 his second year (1963) winning his first Big Eight championship, while Osborne first won 10 games his third year when he also won a share of his first Big Eight title (1975).

NU in Big 12 Conference Action
Nebraska is 436-143-16 all time vs. Big 12 Conference teams. Since the Big 12 was formed in 1996, Nebraska is 41-7 in the league (23-1 at home), losing to Texas A&M in College Station (28-21), Texas in Lincoln (20-16) and Kansas State in Manhattan (40-30) in 1998; to Texas (24-20) in Austin in 1999; and to Oklahoma in Norman (31-14) and K-State in Manhattan (29-28) in 2000; and at Colorado (62-36) in 2001. Nebraska is 25-7 in the Big 12 under Coach Solich. Nebraska has won 13 straight conference games at home, since Texas defeated the Huskers on Oct. 31, 1998, which ended NU's school-record 47-game home winning streak.

NU Leads Conference in Crowns
Nebraska is the only team to capture two Big 12 titles in the first six years of the championship game. Texas, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado, in order, have won the six Big 12 titles. NU has played in three of the six possible title games.

The Huskers lost to Texas, 37-27, in the inaugural championship in St. Louis in 1996, defeated Texas A&M in 1997 in San Antonio, 54-15, and defeated Texas in San Antonio in 1999, 22-6. The Nebraska vs. Texas matchup in the 1999 Big 12 Championship Game marked the first time the game featured two teams that played each other in the regular season.

In the last nine years, Nebraska has won five conference crowns (three Big Eight, two Big 12). Nebraska has won 43 football conference championships overall, including eight under Coach Bob Devaney, 13 under Coach Tom Osborne and one under Coach Solich.

Happy at Home
Nebraska takes a nation-best 21-game home winning streak into the 2002 season and will play eight games at home for the second consecutive year. Nebraska is 89-3 at home the last 14 years, losing to two teams that went on to win a share of the national championship (Colorado in 1990 and Washington in 1991), and to Texas in 1998.

The Huskers are 456-122-20 (.779, 598 games, 112 years) in Lincoln, 331-99-13 (.762, 443 games, 79 years) in Memorial Stadium (since 1923) and 26-1 at home under Coach Solich. Nebraska has not lost more than one home game in a season since a 5-2 home record in 1980. Since then, the Huskers are 132-10 at Memorial Stadium, with eight of those losses coming against teams that finished in the top six in the final AP poll. Included in that stretch are four of the six longest home winning streaks in school history, including a school-record 47-game streak (fifth longest in nation all time) from 1991 to 1998, a 19-game streak from 1988 to 1990, a 21-game streak from 1981 to 1984 and the current 21-game winning string.

Nebraska also had a 33-game home winning streak from 1901 to 1906 (which is tied for the 11th-longest streak in Division I-A). Since 1986 (16 years), NU is 101-5 in Lincoln, with losses to Colorado, Washington, Oklahoma (twice) and Texas. Those five teams posted a combined mark of 53-6-1 in their respective seasons.

Nebraska has not been shut out at home since a 12-0 loss to Kansas State in 1968 (208 games). NU has posted 40 unbeaten and untied home seasons, including 2001 when NU went 8-0. Against Notre Dame in 2001, the Huskers set a new attendance record in Memorial Stadium when 78,118 fans attended.

NCAA Record 247 Consecutive Sellouts
Nebraska's Memorial Stadium boasts an NCAA-record 247 consecutive sellouts, dating back to Hall of Fame Coach Bob Devaney's first year in 1962 (vs. Missouri on Nov. 3). Notre Dame is second in all-time consecutive sellouts with 161, 86 fewer than Nebraska.

NU is 221-26 during the 247 sellouts (50-9 under Devaney, 145-16 under Osborne, 26-1 under Solich). The mark includes a 37-18 record against ranked teams. NU is 4-0 in the four milestone sellouts during that period (50th, 100th, 150th and 200th sellouts), including a 24-7 win over No. 2 Colorado on Oct. 29, 1994, for the 200th sellout.

Nebraska's 2002 schedule includes eight home games. All eight games are sold out, which will give NU 255 consecutive sellouts at the end of the 2002 season. The Utah State?Nebraska game on Sept. 7 will mark Memorial Stadium's 250th consecutive sellout.

Huskers Grind Out 15th Rushing Title
For the second straight year and 15th time in school history, Nebraska led the nation in rushing offense. In 12 games, the Huskers averaged 314.7 yards, 33 yards per game more than runner-up Rice?s total of 281.5. The Huskers led the nation with 47 touchdowns (six more than second-place BYU) and yards per rush (5.62), edging out BYU, which averaged 5.61 per carry.

The Huskers won their 14th NCAA rushing title in 2000, averaging 349.3 yards per game. The Huskers have won the rushing title seven times in the last 10 years and 13 of the last 22 titles. Since 1978, Nebraska has ranked in the top six in rushing average every year and has averaged 300 or more yards rushing per game in all but four of the last 25 years (1993, 1996, 1998 and 1999).

More Husker Rushing Numbers
NU is 188-6-0 in the last 29 years when rushing for 300 or more yards in a game (since 1973) and had won 110 straight when rushing for 300-plus yards before the loss at Colorado on Nov. 23, when the Huskers rushed for 354 yards. Nebraska is 95-0 since 1973 when rushing for 400 or more yards and has topped the 400-yard mark twice in 2001, most recently rushing for 641 yards at Baylor.

NU has had 365, 100-yard rushing performances all time (52 under Coach Solich, most recently Eric Crouch, 114 vs. Miami) including 56 games in which two or more Huskers rushed for 100 yards (most recently Dahrran Diedrick, 108, and Crouch, 106, against Kansas State). Before having four rushers top the century mark against Baylor on Oct. 13, 2001, NU had three rushers top the 100-yard mark in a game only twice in school history, recording the feat against Kansas in 2000 (Dan Alexander, Correll Buckhalter and Crouch) and against Arizona State in 1998 (Ken Clark, Steve Taylor and Terry Rodgers). The Iowa game in 2000 marked the only time in the 56 games where there were two-or-more 100-yard rushers, and Nebraska failed to score at least one rushing touchdown. The Huskers have had 30, 200-yard rushing performances (most recently 240 by Alexander vs. Northwestern).

Nebraska is 23-1 under Coach Solich when the team rushes for 300 or more yards; 10-0 when rushing for 400 or more and 2-0 when rushing for 500 or more. Solich is 29-6 when a Husker rushes for at least 100 yards, and 8-5 when an opponent has a 100-yard rusher (1-2 in 2001). Among current Huskers, Diedrick has seven 100-yard games, all coming in 2001 to lead the team. Thunder Collins and Judd Davies both eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the first time at Baylor in 2001.

Oklahoma State is the last conference team to hold the Huskers to less than 100 yards rushing, when NU had just 73 yards against the ?Pokes in 1998.

Nebraska rushed for an NCAA and school-bowl-record 524 yards vs. Florida in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl on a school-bowl-record 68 attempts with a school-bowl-record six rushing touchdowns. NU also had six rushing touchdowns in the 1998 Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee.

Adding up the Points
For the 15th time in the last 16 years, the Huskers averaged more than 35 points per game, as Nebraska finished the 2001 season with an average of 37.4 points per game to finish sixth nationally and second in the Big 12. NU scored 35 or more points in seven of the last 10 games and eight times last season.

The offensive output is not surprising since Nebraska has averaged 30 or more points per game for 24 straight years (since 1978) and has averaged 40 or more points eight times since 1982, including four of the past seven seasons. The Huskers have ranked among the nation's top 10 in scoring average for 22 of the last 24 years (since 1978) and finished first on four occasions (1982, 1983, 1994 and 1997).

Before the loss at Colorado, NU had won 236 consecutive games when scoring 35 or more points, and the Huskers are 300-2 all time when scoring 35 or more points, losing only to Oklahoma, 49-35, in 1950 and at Colorado, 62-36, in 2001.

The last time the Huskers were shut out was a 19-0 loss at Arizona State in 1996. Nebraska has since scored in 75 straight games. Nebraska has not been shut out at home since KSU shut out the Huskers, 12-0, on Homecoming in 1968 (213 games). Offensively, the Huskers have been shut out just five times since 1962, including once at home during that span. NU was shut out by Miami in the 1992 Orange Bowl (22-0), the only time the Huskers have been shut out in a bowl game.

Nebraska was held scoreless in the first half at Kansas in 1999, marking the first time that a regular-season opponent had accomplished that feat since the Arizona State game in 1996. Miami also held the Huskers scoreless in the first half of the 2002 Rose Bowl. The Huskers have scored 30 or more points in six of their last eight bowl games, including a school and NCAA bowl-record 66 vs. Northwestern in the 2000 Alamo Bowl.

Holding Opponents off the Scoreboard
After allowing 19.4 points per game in 2000 to rank 26th nationally, Nebraska?s defense was enjoying a superb year entering the season finale at Colorado. Through 11 games, NU had allowed just 11.5 points per game to rank second nationally. Even after the loss at CU, the Husker defense dropped to sixth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 15.8 points per game, more than a field goal per game less than in 2000. The average ranked third in the Big 12, as NU held seven opponents to 14 points or less last season.

The Huskers have won 101 straight games when holding opponents to 10 or less dating back to a 10-7 loss to Iowa on Sept. 12, 1981. In fact, NU is 209-5-1 since 1962 (Devaney?s first year) when holding opponents to 10 or fewer points, including 19-0 under Solich. NU has posted 100 shutouts in school history with 62 of them taking place since Bob Devaney?s first season in 1962. The Huskers have four shutouts under Solich, most recently a 59-0 whitewash of Baylor in 2000.

Attack Defense is Solid vs. the Rush
Since going to the 4-3 attack defense in 1993, the Husker "D" has posted five of the school?s top seven rush defense averages, allowing 79.3 ypg in 1994, 78.4 ypg in 1995 (back-to-back national championship teams), 83.8 ypg in 1996, 73.4 ypg in 1997 and 77.1 ypg in 1999. The 1997 average ranked second best all time at NU and third nationally. Nebraska has never led the nation in rushing defense, but has ranked in the top 20 in six of the last eight years. Since 1946, the Nebraska defense has allowed 100 or fewer rushing yards per game over the course of the season 13 times, the first of which was 1963.

In 2001, the Blackshirts ranked 22nd nationally allowing 116.9 yards per game, despite facing three of the top 10 rushing teams in the nation. The Huskers held 11 of their 13 opponents under their season averages. Against Troy State, the Huskers held the Trojans to minus-25 yards, the fourth-lowest total in school history.

Associated Press Poll Record Hits 343
Nebraska begins the 2002 season ranked 10th by the AP, extending its AP poll record to 343 consecutive weeks (every weekly AP poll since Oct. 17, 1981 to Aug. 10, 2002). NU's streak is the nation's longest active streak, after Florida State dropped out in the Nov. 18, 2001, poll, breaking a string of 210 straight weeks in the poll. Florida is second to the Huskers at 202 weeks.

Nebraska?s nation-leading streak of consecutive weeks in the AP top 10 ended at 96 with the 1998 loss to Texas, but NU has been ranked in the top 10 for 148 of the last 154 weeks from the 1993 preseason poll to present. NU's current streak of 51 weeks in the top 10 is the longest in the nation after FSU dropped out of the top 10 in the Sept. 23, 2001, poll, ending the Seminole's 53-week run in the top 10.

Nebraska has been in 517 of the last 520 AP polls since 1969 (33 consecutive years), missing one week in 1977 and two weeks in 1981. Nebraska was ranked among the top 10 in the 2002 preseason poll, which marked the 27th time in the last 30 years that NU has opened the season in the top 10. With a No. 8 final AP ranking in 2001, NU finished among the AP top 10 for the 30th time since the first poll in 1936 and for the 24th time since 1970. Nebraska has been among the top 10 in the final AP poll eight of the last nine years (all except 1998). NU is the nation's fifth-most successful program based on AP rankings since the poll began, scoring 547 points, and NU was the only team to be ranked in every poll of the 1990s.

Nebraska as the Associated Press No. 1 Team
Nebraska began the 2000 season at the top of the Associated Press poll for the sixth time since the AP?s first preseason poll in 1950, also entering the season as the No. 1 pick in 1965, 1972, 1976, 1983 and 1996. Nebraska did not retain the No. 1 position throughout an entire season, in any of those years. In 2001, NU began the year ranked fourth and although the Huskers moved up to No. 1 in the coaches poll for one week (Nov. 11) and ranked No. 1 four weeks in the BCS poll, the Huskers never reached No. 1 in the AP poll last season.

In the history of the Associated Press poll (which began in 1936), Nebraska has been ranked No. 1 a total of 70 times, including one week in 1965, one week in 1970, 14 weeks in 1971 (all but preseason poll), one week in 1972 (preseason poll only), one week in 1976 (preseason poll only), 15 weeks in 1983 (all but final poll), four weeks in 1984, one week in 1987, eight weeks in 1994, seven weeks in 1995, the first five weeks of 1996, three weeks in 1997 and nine weeks in 2000 (all but one of the first 10 polls).

The Huskers were ranked No. 1 for 12 consecutive weeks spanning the 1995-96 seasons (Oct. 29, 1995, after a 44-21 win over No. 7 Colorado, until Sept. 22, 1996, after a 19-0 loss to Arizona State). After a 14-week hiatus, NU returned to No. 1 on Oct. 19, 1997, where it has been for at least a couple of weeks in five of the last nine seasons (1993-2001). In 1993, NU was No. 1 by the coaches for three weeks, but never higher than No. 2 in AP. But from 1994 to 1997, Nebraska was No. 1 by AP for at least two weeks in each season. Its two streaks of 15 consecutive weeks being ranked No. 1 (1970-72, and entire 1983 regular season) still rank in a tie for third in AP history.

The Huskers have played in 54 games as the No. 1 AP team, posting a 46-7-1 record (.861). NU?s most-recent streak of winning nine straight as the AP No. 1 team ended when Nebraska lost to Oklahoma on Oct. 28, 2000. The school record for wins while being ranked No. 1 is 12 weeks, established twice, within the 1971 and 1983 seasons.

Against AP Ranked Teams
Nebraska is 89-92-3 (.492, 184 games) all time vs. AP ranked opponents, not a bad percentage considering NU started with a 7-35 mark before Coach Bob Devaney came on the scene in 1962. Over the last nine seasons, the Huskers have gone 28-10 against ranked foes, with none of the losses at home. Nebraska has won 14 of its last 18 games against top 10 AP teams (since 1994), including seven straight at home.

Nebraska went 2-2 vs. ranked teams last season, with both losses occurring away from the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium. No. 3 Nebraska's 20-10 win over No. 2 Oklahoma in 2001 was NU?s last win over a higher ranked team. Over the last 29 years, NU is 71-45-1 (.611, 117 games) vs. ranked teams. In the 1990s, NU was 27-10-1 (counting the Jan. 2, 2000, win over Tennessee). Solich is 10-8 vs. ranked teams (4-4 vs. top 10 AP teams), winning eight of the last 12 matchups and has not lost at home to a ranked AP team (6-0 home, 1-6 away, 3-2 neutral).

NU vs. the Unranked
The Huskers have lost just 13 of 241 games to unranked opponents since 1973 (32-1 record under Solich). Nebraska has lost just five games to unranked opponents at home in that time. Nebraska?s most recent loss to an unranked foe was to Texas at home on Oct. 31, 1998, and the Huskers have won the last 27 straight vs. the unranked. NU?s last road loss to an unranked opponent was to Texas in the 1996 Big 12 Championship Game. In both losses to Texas, the Longhorns were not ranked in the top 25, but had enough votes to rank in the top 30.

In a regular-season road game, Nebraska has not lost to an unranked opponent since Iowa State upset the Huskers, 19-10, in 1992. In fact, in the last 29 years, Nebraska has gone 226-13-2 against unranked opponents (.942, 241 games, five losses in the 1990s) and suffered only one loss to a team that finished the season below .500 (Iowa State in 1992). The last time Nebraska lost in Lincoln to a team with a losing record at game time was to Kansas State (12-0) in 1968 (2-5 record at game time).

Husker Title Runs
The Huskers have the skill to be in the hunt for their sixth national title in 2002. NU has played in 13 national championship bowl contests, winning back-to-back national championship titles in 1970 and 1971 and again in 1994 and 1995. The Huskers had a shot at the 1996 title until they were upset in the Big 12 Championship Game by Texas. NU entered that game ranked No. 3, despite an early season loss at Arizona State. In 1997, Nebraska went 13-0 and played in its fourth title game in a five-year period, winning the national title as named by the coaches poll, but not by the AP. Most recently, the Huskers played Miami for the national title in the 2002 Rose Bowl.

The Huskers' back-to-back national championships in 1994 and 1995 marked the ninth time overall (by just six Division I schools) and first time in 16 years that a team had repeated, since Alabama won back-to-back titles in 1978-79. Nebraska is only the second school to win undefeated and consensus back-to-back national titles, the first since Oklahoma accomplished that feat in 1955-56. No Division I-A school has won three consecutive national championships. Hall of Fame Coach Bob Devaney (who passed away in May of 1997) won Nebraska's first national title in 1970 and repeated in 1971. Three teams, counting Nebraska, have repeated twice, including Oklahoma (1955-56 and 1974-75) and Alabama (1964-65 and 1978-79). Nebraska and Oklahoma are the only schools, since the coaches began picking national champions, to be unanimous repeat champions, in both polls, posting perfect, back-to-back national championship seasons. OU went 11-0 in 1955 and 10-0 in 1956. Nebraska (1994, 1995, 1997 by coaches) and Notre Dame (1946, 1947, 1949 by AP) are the only two teams to win three national titles in a four-year period.

NU Tied for Fifth in AP Titles

Notre Dame leads the nation winning eight Associated Press national titles since 1936. Oklahoma won seven, Alabama six, Miami five, and Nebraska and Minnesota are tied for fifth with four. While the Huskers were awarded the national title by the coaches in 1997, NU finished second to Michigan in the Associated Press poll. In 1970, NU was awarded the AP national title, but not the coaches (Texas was first, Ohio State second and NU third as the final poll was released before the bowl games were played). In the coaches poll (since 1950), Nebraska is tied for third with USC and Miami with four titles, behind Alabama's and Oklahoma's six.

The Huskers vs. AP No. 1
In the past 12 years, the Cornhuskers have faced seven teams that finished the season ranked No. 1 and shared the national title?Colorado and Georgia Tech (Citrus Bowl) in 1990, Washington and Miami (Orange Bowl) in 1991, Florida State in the 1994 Orange Bowl; Oklahoma in 2000; and Miami in the 2002 Rose Bowl. In addition, Nebraska's 1993 Federal Express Orange Bowl opponent, Florida State, missed winning the 1992 national title by a field goal and finished No. 2. Nebraska's 1996 Fiesta Bowl opponent, Florida, went on to win the national title in the 1996 season, after Nebraska won the title in 1994 and 1995. After Nebraska defeated Tennessee in the Orange Bowl that followed the 1997 season, Tennessee went on to win the national championship in 1998. The Fiesta Bowl game between Nebraska and Florida was the 30th meeting between the No. 1 and No. 2 AP teams, including 11 bowl games. The Huskers won 62-24, as Nebraska's 38-point margin of victory over Florida was the second largest in such games. Nebraska is 3-2 in No. 1 vs. No. 2 games, and 3-1 as the No. 1 team.

Huskers in No. 1 vs. No. 2 AP Games (3-2)

• 1971 NU (1) vs. Oklahoma (2), W, 35-31 (regular season)
• 1972 NU (1) vs. Alabama (2), W 38-6 (Orange Bowl)
• 1987 NU (1) vs. Oklahoma (2), L, 7-17 (regular season)
• 1994 NU (2) vs. Florida State (1), L, 16-18 (Orange Bowl)
• 1996 NU (1) vs. Florida (2), W, 62-24 (Fiesta Bowl)

NU Has Faced 32 AP Top Three Teams Since 1962
The Rose Bowl matchup against No. 1 Miami (L 37-14) marked the 32nd top three AP team the Huskers have faced since 1962?Bob Devaney's first season as head coach. NU also faced No. 2 Oklahoma last season in Lincoln (W 20-10). NU has posted a 10-21-1 record in those matchups and was the lower ranked team in all but eight of those games. NU is 6-2 when it is the higher-ranked team.

Under Solich, NU is 1-3 vs. top three AP teams, with all three losses on the road or at neutral sites. The Huskers have won six of their last nine matchups against the AP top three, and 11 of the last 14 games against AP top 10 teams since 1994. The K-State game in Manhattan in 1998, when the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll, was the first time NU faced a No. 1 team (in either the AP or coaches poll) in the regular season since facing No. 1 Oklahoma in 1978, when OU was No. 1 in both polls. (NU defeated the Sooners 17-14 in Lincoln). NU had to face the Sooners again in the 1979 Orange Bowl (OU won 31-24). OU was ranked No. 1 in the BCS poll in 2001, but was No. 2 in both the AP and coaches poll. In the stretch of 32 games, Nebraska has faced Oklahoma nine times. NU is 3-6 vs. Oklahoma when OU is ranked in the top three, 1-3 in Norman. In seven different seasons, Nebraska has faced two or more top three teams (1971, 1978, 1981, 1987, 1992, 1994 and 2001) and in 1987 played three top three teams in (UCLA, Oklahoma and Florida State).

NCAA-Best Streak of 33 Straight Bowls
Including the 2002 Rose Bowl national championship game against Miami, Nebraska has now participated in 33 straight bowls, a continuing NCAA record. Nebraska's 40 bowl appearances overall are tied for fourth best, trailing Alabama's 50, Tennessee?s 42, Texas' 41 and tied with USC's 40. Nebraska has participated in a "major" bowl (BCS, Jan. 1 or top four) in 19 of the past 21 years. The 1998 Holiday Bowl appearance broke a streak of 17 consecutive major bowls. NU's 33 consecutive bowls streak began with a 45-6 win over Georgia in the 1969 Sun Bowl.

Nebraska is 20-20 all time in bowl games, 6-2 over the last seven years (2-2 under Solich). The 2002 Rose Bowl marked the 15th time in 17 years that Nebraska has squared off against a team ranked among the top six. Nebraska's 1941 Rose Bowl appearance was the school's first bowl appearance, when NU lost to Stanford, 21-13. Nebraska won four of its five national championships at the Orange Bowl, defeating Louisiana State in 1970, Alabama in 1971, Miami in 1994 and Tennessee in 1997. Nebraska defeated Florida in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl for the national championship following the 1995 season.

All-America U
Nebraska had three first-team All-Americans last season in Eric Crouch (AP, AFCA, The Sporting News), Toniu Fonoti, (AP, FWAA, Walter Camp, Football News, The Sporting News) and Keyuo Craver (Football News, The Sporting News). The Huskers have had at least one All-American in all but two (1991, 1998) of the past 32 years (since 1970). The three honorees in 2001 marked the 15th time that Nebraska has had at least three All-Americans, and gives Head Coach Frank Solich eight All-America award winners in four years as head coach. Nebraska ranks ninth all time in Division I-A with 53 consensus All-Americans. Nebraska has seen 88 different players earn first-team All-America honors by at least one recognized source with 14 winning double honors for 102 total first-team awards. The first was tackle Vic Halligan in 1914. NU has had at least one All-America honoree in each of the past three years (1999-2001). The most All-Americans Nebraska has had in any given year was six in 1971 (I-back Jeff Kinney, QB Jerry Tagge, WB Johnny Rodgers, DT Larry Jacobson, MG Rich Glover, DE Willie Harper). The position with the most All-Americans at Nebraska is the offensive line, which has seen 26 linemen win 31 certificates.

Crouch Wins Nebraska?s Third Heisman Trophy
Quarterback Eric Crouch won the school?s third Heisman Trophy in 2001 to cap a stellar senior season. Crouch (770 points, 162 first-place votes) won the award over three other quarterbacks: Florida sophomore Rex Grossman (708, 137); Miami junior Ken Dorsey (638, 109); and senior Joey Harrington of Oregon (364, 54), in the fourth-closest voting in Heisman history. Crouch joins wingback/return specialist Johnny Rodgers (1972) and I-back Mike Rozier (1983) as the school?s third Heisman Trophy winner as Nebraska's last three head Coaches Bob Devaney (1962-72), Tom Osborne (1973-97) and Frank Solich (1998-present) have all had a Heisman winner. Crouch is the 17th quarterback to win the Heisman but the first true option quarterback in the 67-year history of the award. He posted a 35-7 career record as a starter, a remarkable feat which ranks fourth best among Division I-A quarterbacks all time. He put up incredible numbers, ranking fourth all time in NCAA history in rushing among quarterbacks with 3,434 career yards and bettering the NCAA record for rushing touchdowns by 10 with 59. He ranks third at NU and seventh in the Big 12 in passing with 4,481 yards, becoming just one of three quarterbacks in NCAA Division I history to rush for 3,000 and pass for 4,000 yards. He became the 13th quarterback to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in a season and had 1,115 rushing and 1,510 passing yards with 18 and seven TDs, respectively, in 2001. Crouch?s season rushing yards more than doubled that of the most by any Heisman quarterback (Oregon State?s Terry Baker had 538 in 1962). The only thing he didn't get done is win a national championship, but only 10 of the 67 winners all-time have done so in the year they won the award, just four since 1950. Crouch was a first-team All-American and won the school?s third Walter Camp Player-of-the-Year Award and the school?s first Davey O?Brien trophy.

Huskers Continue Academic Tradition
Nebraska continues to lead the nation in Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans for all sports and all teams with 196; in first-team winners for all sports with 104; and also leads the nation in football academic honor winners with 59 first-team certificates and 76 football all-teams certificates. The 196 is 51 better than second-place Notre Dame, while the 59 is 21 more than second-place Notre Dame's 38.

Last season, Nebraska continued its streak of 15 straight years with at least one first-team Verizon/CoSIDA All-American when tight end Tracey Wistrom won first-team honors, following in the footsteps of his older brother Grant (1996, 1997). NU had nine Huskers qualify academically (3.2 or better cumulative GPA) and athletically (starter or important reserve) in 2001. Of those, Wistrom, fullback Judd Davies, rush end Chris Kelsay and offensive tackle Dave Volk were first-team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District VII selections.

The Husker football program also leads the nation with nine NCAA Today's Top Eight Award winners, 30 NCAA postgraduate scholarship winners and 19 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes, including Wistrom last season.

NU Grad Rates Rank High Nationally
Nebraska has led the Big 12 in four of the past five years in graduation rates (all except 2000). Nebraska?s four-class (1990-91 to 1993-94) graduation rate was 57 percent. That figure is higher than the national average for all students (56 percent) and football student-athletes (50 percent). Nebraska?s student-athlete graduation rate for all sports, which includes only those students who completed their eligibility at NU, is an outstanding 87 percent (national average is 81 percent). Nebraska was one of nine schools honored by the American Football Coaches Association, when the school received the 2002 Academic Achievement Award in late June. Nebraska was recognized for graduating 90 percent or more of its football student-athletes from the freshman class of 1996-97. Since Coach Solich?s first year at the helm in 1998, 86 of his 95 seniors have earned their degree, including 22 of 23 last season.

This year?s team will have five student-athletes playing with degree in hand including Demoine Adams, who became the second Husker all time to graduate in three years (also Bobby Newcombe 1999), Patrick Kabongo (also a junior), Justin Smith, Dahrran Diedrick and Ben Cornelsen.

Husker Sideline Report...
Walk-ons Remain Crucial to Success...On the preseason depth chart, 29 of the 94 Huskers listed (30 percent) were walk-ons when they first came to Nebraska. Of those, five are projected starters in 2002, including Sam linebacker Scott Shanle and punter Kyle Larson, who are both returning starters, wingback Troy Hassebroek, left cornerback Pat Rickets and rover Aaron Terpening. In reward of their hard work and dedication, all five have since earned scholarships.

Nebraska Natives...Twelve Huskers who hail from Nebraska are in position to be starters in 2002, including six on the offensive side of the ball, SE Wilson Thomas (Omaha), LG Mike Erickson (Omaha), RG Wes Cody (Fremont), TE Aaron Golliday (York), FB Judd Davies (Omaha), and WB Troy Hassebroek (Lincoln); five on the defensive side of the ball, LRE Chris Kelsay (Auburn), SLB Scott Shanle (St. Edward), MLB Barrett Ruud (Lincoln), LCB Pat Ricketts (Omaha) or Lornell McPherson (Omaha); and one kicker-punter Kyle Larson (Funk).

Family Connections...It's all in the family at NU, as several Huskers followed their fathers and brothers to NU. Those who followed in their older brothers' footsteps include: RE Chris Kelsay (1998-present, brother Chad, 1995-98); FS Dan Burrow (2000-present, brother Jamie, 1998-2001); LCB Cole Biodrowski (2002-present) and SE Brandon (2001-present); WB Adam Hassebroek (2001-present) and WB Troy (1998-present); and FS Andrew Shanle (2002-present and SLB Scott (1998-present). The Huskers welcomed the first set of scholarship twins in the program?s history last year in redshirt freshmen Josh (FS) and Daniel Bullocks (Rover). Second generation Huskers include the Burrows (father Jim played in 1974-75 and is now a graduate assistant for NU); junior rover IB Josh Davis (father Tony played in 1973-75);FS Brett Lindstrom (father Dan played in 1978-80); MLB Barrett Ruud (father Tom played in 1972-74 and Ruud?s great-grandfather Clarence Swanson played for NU from 1918 to 1921 and is a member of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame); RE Trevor Johnson (father Robert wrestled for NU in 1973-76) and RCB Shane Siegel (father Robert played basketball for NU in 1974-77).

Frosh Players...Last season, three Huskers saw action as true freshmen including Mike linebacker Barrett Ruud, rover Philip Bland and receiver Mike Stuntz. Bland became the first true freshman to start since 1997 (Erwin Swiney and Joe Walker). Stuntz has moved back to quarterback after playing split end last year. He is the first skill-position player (QB, RB or WR) under Solich to bypass a redshirt season.

Non-Redshirts...Along with the three sophomores who played last season, six others have bypassed redshirt seasons during their careers. The following are listed along with their true freshman year: Willie Amos (2000, will redshirt in 2002 due to injury); Terrell Butler (2000); T.J. Hollowell (2000); Benard Thomas (2000); John Garrison (1999); and Jason Lohr (1998).

Huskers in the NFL...34 former Huskers were active in the NFL in 2001. With four selections in the 2002 draft, NU has had 221 players picked since 1970, an average of seven per year. The Huskers rank 11th nationally with 30 first-round draft picks (including 11 in the last 16 drafts). Huskers drafted in 2002 include Outland Trophy finalist Toniu Fonoti (second round, San Diego), Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch (third round, St. Louis), All-American Keyuo Craver (fourth, New Orleans) and Tracey Wistrom (seventh, Tampa Bay). Others signing free agent contracts include Jamie Burrow (New York Jets), Erwin Swiney (Green Bay), Jeremy Slechta (Philadelphia) and Dave Volk (Chicago).

Husker Running Back Success in the NFL...A pair of former Husker I-backs have found success in the NFL in 2001. Green Bay?s Ahman Green (1995-97) ranks among the NFL rushing leaders and topped 1,000 yards for the second straight season and was selected to the Pro Bowl, while Correll Buckhalter (1997-2000) has ranked among the Eagles? rushing leaders with nearly 600 yards, including an Eagles? rookie record with 134 yards against Arizona in October. Currently, five former NU running backs are on NFL teams, including starting fullbacks Joel Makovicka (1995-98) with the Arizona Cardinals and Cory Schlesinger (1992-94) with the Detroit Lions. Dan Alexander (1997-2000) is currently on the Tennessee Titans? practice squad.

Pipeline to the NFL...Under longtime Husker offensive line coach Milt Tenopir, Nebraska offensive linemen have enjoyed unparalleled success with six Outland Trophy winners, two Lombardi Award winners and 21 All-Americans in Tenopir?s 28 seasons at NU. Currently, eight former Husker linemen are in the NFL, including former Outland winners Will Shields (1992, Kansas City) and Zach Wiegert (1994, Jacksonville). Adam Treu (Oakland) and Brenden Stai (Detroit) join Shields and Wiegert as starters for their respective teams. Other Husker offensive linemen in the NFL include Chris Dishman (Arizona), Dominic Raiola (Detroit), Russ Hochstein (Tampa Bay) and Toniu Fonoti (San Diego). Raiola and Hochstein both earned first-team All-America honors in 2000. Of the 15 linemen chosen for the Walter Camp All-Century team in 1999, nearly a quarter of the players selected were NU linemen coached by Tenopir (guards Aaron Taylor, Will Shields and Dean Steinkuhler and center Dave Rimington).

Orange Bowl Record...Coach Frank Solich holds the Orange Bowl record for most kickoff return yards in a game, with 130 in 1966. Solich was the first Husker to rush for more than 200 yards (204 vs. Air Force, 1965) and remains the only fullback to do so.

Former Head Coach Tom Osborne...Former coach and current Congressman Tom Osborne coached the Huskers to three national championships (1994, 1995, 1997) and retired as head football coach on Dec. 10, 1997. He is the only collegiate football coach to retire as a reigning national champion.

Team Snippets
FieldTurf...Nebraska is 20-0 on FieldTurf, the artificial grass surface installed in NU?s Memorial Stadium before the 1999 season. FieldTurf emulates the look and feel of blades of grass by blending polyethylene and polypropylene, which specially treats the surface to be soft, smooth and strong. The 2.50-inch blades are resistant to extremes in temperature and have an ultraviolet protectant to help resist fading. Memorial Stadium was filled with 200,000 pounds of ground rubber, recycled from Nebraska tires, and silica sand, before the turf was installed. NU was the first Division I school to install the surface, which has also been installed at other professional facilities and Division I schools. Memorial Stadium featured a grass playing field from its opening in 1923 through the 1969 season. Astro-Turf was first installed in 1970 and replaced in 1977. Artificial All-Pro Turf was installed in 1984 and replaced with Astroturf-8 in 1992 before the FieldTurf was installed in July of 1999.

Positively Speaking on Turnovers...In the last 28 years, NU has had just one season with a negative turnover margin (minus five in 1984). Under Solich, NU has a cumulative turnover margin of plus 14.

When Nebraska Trails...Nebraska trailed in seven games in 2001, but rallied to win the first five before losing at Colorado and against Miami. NU also trailed against Troy State, Missouri, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Kansas State. The last time NU trailed at the half, but won was against Kansas State in 2001, where the Huskers erased a 14-13 Wildcat halftime lead. The last time the Huskers trailed in the fourth quarter, but won was against Colorado on Nov. 24, 2000, where the Huskers marched 44 yards in 47 seconds to set up Josh Brown?s 29-yard field goal as time expired. The win marked the first time since statistics have been kept (since 1946) that the Huskers won on the last play of regulation. Under Coach Solich, the biggest deficit Nebraska has overcome was nine points at Kansas in 1999, when the Huskers trailed 9-0 at halftime before winning 24-17.

After a Loss...Nebraska has lost just 11 back-to-back games since 1962. Nebraska ended the 2001 season losing its last two games, at Colorado and to Miami. Before last season, the last time NU lost two consecutive games in one season was in 1990, when NU lost to Oklahoma in the final regular-season game (45-10) in 1990 and lost to national champion Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl (45-21). NU has not lost consecutive regular-season games since the 1976 season, when the Huskers lost at Iowa State (37-28) and to Oklahoma (20-17). Of the 11 back-to-back losses, eight were losses to end the regular season followed by a loss in the bowl games, including each of the last five.

In Overtime...The Huskers are 3-0 in overtime, defeating Missouri, 45-38, in Columbia in 1997; Colorado, 33-30, in Boulder in 1999; and Notre Dame in South Bend, 27-24, in 2000. In 1997, Missouri won the coin toss and Nebraska scored in three plays on a 12-yard Scott Frost run, then held the Tigers. Against CU, Nebraska won the coin toss, held the Buffs to a field goal, then scored five plays later on a one-yard Eric Crouch run. Against Notre Dame, NU won the toss, chose defense, held the Irish to a field goal, then scored five plays later on a Crouch seven-yard run. All three of NU?s overtime wins were on the road and were won by rushing touchdowns (two by Crouch).