Randy York N-Sider
Official Blog of the Huskers
Just when Andy Janovichappeared to reach folklore status for the Gretna, Neb., senior walk-on fullback/special teams player extraordinaire, bad luck intervened once again Saturday and flashed a no crossing sign. Janovich's 55-yard touchdown run with 2:39 remaining sent Nebraska's 344th consective home sellout crowd into delierium until Wisconsin recovered and kicked a 46-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to escape with a 23-21 Big Ten Conference win at Memorial Stadium.
The maddening finish keeps Nebraska in a waiting-to-exhale mode, based on one simple truth: All four Husker losses have come on the opponents' final offensive play of the game. That startling fact prompted a close friend of mine to go straight to his Facebook page and ask if anyone knew how many ways a surgeon can cut the heart out of your chest.
Another friend in South Dakota said he's running out of daggers to plant deep in his heart. Both fans remain staunch Mike Riley advocates despite the burden the Huskers carry with a 2-4 record that could just as easily be 6-0 if Nebraska could subtract 11 points scored in the last 15 seconds of their four losses. Two non-conference losses included a Hail Mary pass completion against BYU and an interception and field goal that cost the Huskers a possible overtime win at Miami. Those were followed by two conference defeats that included a game that could have secured a Husker win if Nebraska had not thrown an incomplete pass at Illinois and Saturday's late field goal heart-breaker.
Despite the onslaugt of adversity, Riley was his even-keeled self in the press conference following another emotional loss. "I can't be anything but impressed by the team and the leadership on their ability to answer the bell despite disappointment," he said. "That's a good quality. That's also a broken record for you guys (the media), but I've been pretty consistent telling you that they're good kids. I really like this team, and I like how they come to practice and get ready to play, even when they fall short."
Alonzo Moore's 41-Yard Touchdown Catch Belongs in Game Highlight Reel
Junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. staked the Huskers to a 14-7 halftime lead, scoring the Huskers' first touchdown on a seven-yard keeper and rifling a 41-yard touchdown pass to Alonzo Moore (pictured above), who outbattled a Wisconsin defender for what briefly was the Huskers' longest touchdown of the season before Janovich's 55-yard gallup.
Armstrong's 129 passing yards increased his career total to 5,161, advancing him to third on the career passing chart, overtaking Dave Humm and Joe Ganz in the process. "They made plays and we made plays," Armstrong said. "Our receivers went up and got the ball at certain times. We just didn't play the whole game like we wanted to, and it cost us the game."
Janovich "has the speed to outrun guys," Armstrong said. "That was a great run and put us in the right situation. It was a great call by our coaches to get the ball in his hands. Those guys tried to stack the box knowing he had some push up front. Andy made one guy miss and then he was one-on-one with the safety and made that guy miss, too. It was a great run. I told him 'If you get a one-on-one situation, just look for the ball and go up and get it,' he said. "I feel no one can cover our receivers one-on-one. They kind of proved they can come down with the ball. I don't think anyone in the conference can stop those guys one-on-one."
Newby's Four Pass Breakups Tie Nebraska Record for a Linebacker
Marcus Newby (No. 3 above), Nebraska's 6-foot-1, 235-pound sophomore from North Potomac, Md., finished with four tackles and four pass breakups, tying the Husker record for most breakups by a linebacker. Scott Shanley had four breakups at Missouri in 2011 and held that record by himself until Saturday. The record was no consolation for the result. "Everybody's fighting their tail off throughout the whole game and Wisconsin executed more plays, so it's pretty tough," Newby said. "Like Coach Riley said in our lockerroom, you gotta bounce back. We're a good team, and we just gotta keep fighting."
Vincent Valentine Returns to the Field, Helps Fortify Defensive Line
Nebraska welcomed back Vincent Valentine (No. 98, pictured above) to the lineup Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound junior defensive tackle from Edwardsville, Ill., helped fortify a unit that continues to get healthier. Valentine was credited with three tackles, including the Huskers' only sack for a seven-yard loss and two tackles that resulted in eight combined yards in losses.
Kalu Records Nine Tackles and Joins Newby with Four Pass Breakups
Joshua Kalu (No. 10 pictured above), a 6-foot-1, 185-pound sophomore cornerback from Houston, finished with nine tackles Saturday, leading the Huskers with six solo stops and adding three assists. Kalu also broke up four passes, the same number Newby recorded. The Huskers broke up a season-high 12 passes, seven more than the five they posted at Miami.
Freshman Dedrick Young Posts Nine Tackles and Breaks Up a Pass
Dedrick Young (No. 5, pictured above), a 6-foot-1, 220-pound freshman from Peoria, Ariz., continued to show his versatility at linebacker against Wisconsin. He duplicated Kalu's nine tackles, three of which were solos and added one pass breakup. Senior defensive back Byerson Cockrell (senior, Columbus, Miss.) led all tacklers with 10, including four solos and a pass breakup. Linebackers Chris Weber (freshman, Elkhorn, Neb.) and Nate Gerry (junior, Sioux Falls, S.D.) each finished with seven tackles.
Huskers Salute Pro Football Hall-of-Famers Mick Tingelhoff, Will Shields
In the first quarter, nearly 90,000 Husker fans roared their approval of Mick Tingelhoff (left) and Will Shields, who were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last August in Canton, Ohio. Both offensive linemen became legendary Iron Men, each starting for 17 years and 14 years respectively, with the Minnesota Vikings (Tingelhoff) and the Kansas City Chiefs (Shields).
National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame Honors Trev Alberts
During halftime, Chuck Neinas, representing the National Football Foundation, recognized Nebraska All-America linebacker Trev Alberts (pictured above middle with Tom Osborne, right). The Vice Chancellor of Athletics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Alberts will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in New York City in December.
Rimington First Football Inductee in Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame
Dave Rimington was recognized Saturday as the first football inductee into the University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame. NU Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst made the presentation. Rimington won the Outland Trophy twice and the Lombardi Award. For the last 15 years, the Rimington Trophy has honored the nation's top collegiate football center.
Big Red Fans Helped Inspire Huskers’ Spirited Performance
One group that helped make Saturday's national telecast exciting was nearly 90,000 Big Red fans, who consistently turned up the volume throughout the game to inspire the home crowd. "Their noise level reminded me of something straight out of the '90s. They're behind this team," a former Husker player told me on Memorial Stadium's sidelines.
Nebraska Recognizes 2015 National Championship Bowling Team
Last April, Bill Straub (above, far left) coached Nebraska to its seventh NCAA-recognized national championship in women's bowling. Three All-Americans led the Huskers to the 2015 NCAA national title in St. Louis – Lizabeth Kuhlkin, Julia Bond and Gazmine Mason. Named Nebraska’s 2015 Female Athlete of the Year across all sports, Kuhlkin also earned the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Bowler honor. The Huskers’ other women’s national bowling chamionships were achieved in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2013.
Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)
Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider