Mike Murray Season 1987

Honors & Awards

Second-Team All-Big Eight (1989)

Tom Novak Award (1989)

Nebraska Football Lifter of the Year (1989)

1989 (Senior)
One of the hardest working Huskers on defense, Mike Murray started all 11 regular-season games and the 1990 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl at middle guard as a senior. Nebraska’s Lifter of the Year in 1989, Murray was also the team’s Tom Novak Award winner for the season, which is presented annually to the senior that best exemplifies courage and determination despite all odds in the manner of Nebraska All-America center Tom Novak. Listed at 5-10 and 240 pounds, Murray used his quickness and explosive strength to earn second-team All-Big Eight honors from the conference coaches and the UPI. He helped anchor a Blackshirt unit that ranked eighth nationally in total defense (274.1 ypg), while also ranking 17th nationally against both the run (111.3 ypg) and the pass (162.8 ypg). Murray closed his senior season with 30 total tackles, including 19 solos. He notched four TFLs (14 yards), two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. In the Fiesta Bowl, he had two tackles that both went for losses (10 yards), including an eight-yard sack.

A three-time letterwinner, Murray played 32 career regular-season games (17 starts) for the Huskers, totaling 75 tackles (45 solos), including 10 TFLs (31 yards) and two sacks (10 yards). He caused one fumble and recovered another, while recording six quarterback hurries and adding a pair of pass breakups.

1988 (Junior)
Murray started four games at middle guard while sharing starting duties with NFL-bound Lawrence Pete on Nebraska’s defensive line in 1988. Murray started the first three games for the Blackshirts, before making his final start of the year against Kansas State, when Pete was out with an injury. Murray posted season highs of four tackles against both Texas A&M and Utah State. He helped Nebraska capture the Big Eight title and a berth in the 1989 Orange Bowl against Miami. He had two unassisted tackles, including one TFL for one yard in the loss to the Hurricanes. As a team, the Huskers finished sixth in pass defense (134.8 ypg) and seventh in total defense (262.8 ypg), while ranking in the top 20 in both scoring defense (13th) and rushing defense (20th).

1987 (Sophomore)
Murray played in all 11 regular-season games and the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl against Florida State as a true sophomore. He earned a pair of starts (UCLA, Kansas State) and finished the regular season with 34 total tackles (21 solos), which were both the top totals on defense among non-starters. He had five TFLs (16 yards), including the only two regular-season sacks of his career (10 yards). He registered a season-high seven tackles against Iowa State.

1986 (Freshman)
A walk-on from Chicago, Murray won the starting job at middle guard for Coach Scott Downing’s Nebraska freshman team in 1986. Murray helped the freshmen to a 4-1 record by ranking second on the team with 46 tackles, an average of 9.2 stops per game.

Mount Carmel High School
An All-Catholic League selection for Coach Frank Lenti at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Murray was a teammate of fellow Husker Nate Turner.

Personal
The son of Hugh Murray, Mike was born in Chicago. He was a speech communications major at Nebraska.