Husker fans have an opportunity to witness a first as part of the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 16. For the first time, all three members of the 1983 “Scoring Explosion”?wingback Irving Fryar, quarterback Turner Gill and I-back Mike Rozier?will be together again in the stadium where they teamed for countless memorable moments. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Fryar, Gill and Rozier combined to form one of the most lethal offensive combinations in college football history. The “Triplets” capped their illustrious Husker careers together as seniors in 1983 and helped <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska’s offense earn acclaim as one of the best units in college history.
“The days of the Scoring Explosion at Nebraska were exciting times,” Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson said. “Mike, Turner, and Irving brought so much to Nebraska and we are grateful. It is our pleasure to be able to bring these men back to Nebraska as a group for the first time since they have all completed their playing career. They are a big part of Husker football history.”
The three 1983 stars will be a part of the Red-White Game festivities that also includes the return of more than 20 former Huskers that are currently playing in the National Football League. Fryar, Gill and Rozier will be honored on Tom Osborne Field after the end of the first quarter of the Red-White Spring Game and will also be guests on the Pinnacle Sports pre-game show that will be aired live from the Husker Nation Pavilion on Stadium Drive, west of Memorial Stadium.
In conjuction with the return of Fryar, Gill and Rozier, a limited number of the second edition of the 1983 “Scoring Explosion” schedule poster will be sold exclusively at Huskers Authentic on April 16 beginning at 8 a.m. The posters have been re-printed at the exact same size as the originals from more than two decades ago.
Only 1,500 posters have been printed for distribution. Of those, 83 will be autographed and numbered by Fryar, Gill and Rozier and available for $100, beginning at 8 a.m. at Huskers Authentic, with a limit of one per customer. The remainder will be available for $20 each at the store. All proceeds from the sale of the poster will be donated to the Husker Nation Championship Drive.
The “Triplets” keyed Nebraska’s run to a 12-1 record, a Big Eight Championship and a No. 2 final national ranking. In the process, Nebraska scored an NCAA record 624 points and topped the 50-point mark in seven of 13 games, including an 84-13 pasting of Minnesota.
Rozier posted the most prolific statistics of the three, rushing for 2,148 yards and 29 touchdowns en route to becoming Nebraska’s second Heisman Trophy recipient. The powerful Rozier averaged a remarkable 7.81 yards per carry and topped 200 yards four times in his senior season, including a then school-record 285 yards and four touchdowns against Kansas. Rozier resides in Ocean County, N.J.
Gill masterfully quarterbacked Coach Tom Osborne’s option attack, displaying incredible poise while utilizing both his strong arm and elusive running ability. Gill passed for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns against just four interceptions, while also rushing for 531 yards and 11 touchdowns. Gill finished fourth in the 1983 Heisman Trophy voting. Gill spent 13 seasons from 1992 to 2004 on the Nebraska coaching staff and is now a member of the Green Bay Packers’ staff.
Fryar was the most unheralded of the three at the college level, but produced the most prolific professional career. Fryar caught 40 passes for 780 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior, and was also a threat as a runner and a punt returner. He was the first overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and caught 784 passes, including 77 touchdowns in 15 seasons in the National Football League. Fryar is an ordained minister and resides in Jobstown, N.J.
The buzz around the “Scoring Explosion” began before the start of the 1983 season with the release of the original poster. Fryar, Gill and Rozier are pictured on the poster exploding through the large scoreboard that formerly rose above the north end of Memorial Stadium. Several flying footballs also fill the Nebraska sky on the poster, along with the 1983 Nebraska schedule. The poster was originally a recruiting piece designed by Pederson, who was Nebraska’s recruiting coordinator at the time. The popularity of the piece led to adding the schedule to the poster and making it available to the public.
The legend of the trio grew throughout the 1983 season, as the Huskers were on the cover of numerous national publications including Sports Illustrated and Time Magazine. The popularity of Fryar, Gill and Rozier made a “Scoring Explosion” poster a valued possession for Husker fans.
Continue to follow Huskers.com in the next week for all of the details on events surrounding the April 16 Red-White Spring Game.
“Scoring Explosion” Return
Posters
- 83 autographed and numbered available for $100 each (limit one) at Huskers Authentic
- Remainder of 1,500 are $20 each at Huskers Authentic
- Huskers Authentic Spring Game Day: Open at 8 a.m. (Stadium Drive Parking Garage)
Appearances
- Guests on Pinnacle Sports Pre-Game Radio Show from Husker Nation Pavilion (Stadium Drive)
- Honored on field at First-Quarter Break of Red-White Spring Game