Rodgers: Teamwork THE Ultimate Athletic Experience

Johnny Rodgers: Devaney Changed Program, Mindset

In the 1970s, Johnny The Jet Was Dust in the Wind

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Take this from a guy who’s won a Heisman Trophy and made the most electrifying play in the Game of the Century – the sheer beauty of athletics, at any level, is, was, and always will be the shared chemistry and camaraderie of teamwork.

Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, enshrined last month into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame, describes his decorated career as “THE ultimate athletic experience” for one simple, yet compelling reason – his accomplishments are based far greater on Nebraska’s back-to-back national championships in 1970 and ’71 than the individual accolades that resulted from climbing college football’s highest mountain.

After beating Oklahoma in the Game of the Century and thrashing Alabama in the national championship Orange Bowl game, Rodgers realized how rare it is to assemble a group of guys at the right place and the right time with the right coaches, who combine to multiply the intensity.  

Only One Word Counts When You Want to Be the Very Best – T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K

“The experience you get being with everybody who’s putting their best together at the same time is the basis of teamwork," said Rodgers, pictured above with Nebraska Executive Associate A.D. and Senior Woman's Administrator Pat Logsdon and Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst.

"That's the only word that counts when you become the best team in the country and possibly the best team of all time. Only one word can describe that – T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K,” Rodgers said, spelling out the word for emphasis.

“Teamwork reflects the camaraderie that we built, the understanding that we had and the belief we showed to each other to win at the highest level possible," Rodgers said. "“That experience was probably the best thing that ever happened to me because I learned if you want to do something big, you can’t do it by yourself. No one anywhere is big enough to do it.”

Rodgers believes talent wins games but talent without teamwork does not win national championships or Heisman Trophies. “No one’s ever won either by themselves,” Rodgers said. “Success is determined by the people around you. That’s why team goals are always more important than individual goals. We were fortunate. Everybody had that mindset when we won back-to-back national championships."

Rodgers: Recent Knee Surgery Has Improved His Drive and Quality of Life

The photo above shows Rodgers and Mike Rozier in their respective Heisman Trophy stance last Saturday while Eric Crouch processes the idea to join in. I suggested the photo during pregame, knowing Rodgers had undergone knee surgery less than a month earlier. I expected Rozier and Crouch to accommodate the request with Rodgers being a spectator. It was encouraging to see how quickly Rodgers had bounced back.

"It's a quality of life thing," Rodgers said. "When I had my right knee fixed, I could play basketball with the grandkids and other things I haven't done in years. My new left knee is going to add years to my life because it's easier to control your weight when you have two brand new knees.

"People with injuries in the past would lose a wheel and be through," Rodgers said. "Now, you just go in and get a new one. Rehab is a lot better. I can play tennis, golf, raquetball, everything. What used to be three months of recovery is now more like three weeks, if you get after it."

Johnny Rodgers Grateful to Be Woven into the Fabric of Nebraska's Stellar Brand 

Rodgers became Nebraska’s first Heisman Trophy Winner in 1972 when he also was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year. A two-time first-team All-American, Rodgers ended his career with NCAA career records for all-purpose yards (5,487), punt return touchdowns (7), kick return touchdowns (9) and yards per touch (13.8).

Overall, Rodgers set more than 40 school records and ended his career as Nebraska’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. More importantly, he helped Nebraska to a 32-2-2 record in his three seasons as starter.

Following his career, Rodgers (No. 20) became the second Husker to have his number retired. He went on to be selected in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft, but opted to play on a Grey Cup championship team in the Canadian Football League before spending two seasons in the NFL. The capstone of Johnny The Jet's career was his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame 16 years ago.

"At this stage of my life, it's meaningful to be inducted into Nebraska's Hall of Fame," Rodgers said. "I thought I was done receiving awards at the turn of the century."

With Work Still Left to Be Done, Rodgers Envisions a Bright Football Future

Johnny Rodgers often referenced a line that his future was so bright, he has to wear shades. Older and wiser in his golden years, Rodgers now relishes the word "we" more than "me" and joins the vast majority of Husker Nation in supporting the direction Nebraska football is going.

"It's gotten a lot better in my estimation," Rodgers said. "We have a great head coach and a really good staff. Our coaches have systems they're familiar with and what has been successful for them in the past will be dramatically good for us because our players are working hard and bonding together.

"Our recruiting has been very good, and that helps prospects believe that we're on the comeback trail as well," Rodgers said. "Everything is going in the right direction. We have to cut down on mistakes, but they're working hard on that. It takes time. Greatness doesn't just fall at once out of grace. It doesn't happen that way. It's a building process, and we're taking the right steps. For the first time in a long time, we have a good chance to win 10 games."

Rodgers: Nebraska's Capital City in the Right League at the Right Time

In the early '70s, Rodgers won the Most Valuable Player Award in the Big Eight Conference. More than four decades later, he calls the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame a "new deal" to remind Big Red fans about the roots of our foundation and our road to national prominence.

"Being honored is a big deal for me and for every other Husker who is enshrined in the Hall of Fame," Rodgers said. "I come to all the home games. I sit in our skybox and sometimes have tickets in the press box.

"When I look out and see our little big city, which is the capital of our state, I can't help but think about what we had before anyone else did – Boyd Epley and strength training that really took off and led the whole country and emphasizing the importance of nutrition and eating the right food," Rodgers said. "We set the pace for major change around the country.

"Lincoln is building and getting so big, I almost get lost myself, not just in the city but the campus as well," Rodgers said. "We're changing and continuing to grow everywhere you look, and it's putting us in position to be one of the leaders in the Big Ten Conference. Since its conception, the Big Ten has pretty much led the whole country in football."

Huskers 'Going in the Right Direction' to Reach the Right Stepping Stones

"Things are going in the right direction. We're getting pretty close," Rodgers said. "There were times in our evolution when I haven't been very happy with what was going on. Now, I have lots of confidence in our coaches and staff and the attitudes in the players who are coming up.

"You can see stepping stones to great things they can do," Rodgers said. "That's why so many want to come to Nebraska. They can see what we have on the ball here. We're serious about the program, and some of the best are willing to take a risk and help us reach a whole new level.

"Shawn Eichorst has been a good guy to get to know, and I personally think he's quite stable in what he's doing," Rodgers said. "We still need a tweaking, but we'll get there. The guys really want it, and they're in position to have it. Our schedule is set for a breakout. We just need to stay positive, stay happy and learn from our adversity to build our success."

According to Rodgers, success requires attitude, commitment and growth. "When things didn't go well for me, I could have quit school, quit the team and blamed everyone else for my problems," Rodgers said. "Instead, I dug in, and so did everybody else. That's the essence of teamwork. You never give up on things, whether they're big or small. You perservere and keep grinding and when you do that, the sky's the limit."

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

N-Sider Archives