Monte Kratzenstein Season 1987

Honors & Awards

Honorable-Mention Academic All-Big Eight (1989)

1989 (Senior)
A sure-handed receiver, Monte Kratzenstein (pronounced Monty KRATTS-en-STINE) emerged in the spring to replace All-Big Eight tight end Todd Millikan as Nebraska’s primary starter in 1989. Kratzenstein split time with William Washington at the position as a senior. Kratzenstein started eight regular-season games in 1989, while adding the final start of his career in the 1990 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl against Florida State. He closed the season with eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, which came on an 11-yard pass from Gerry Gdowski in a season-opening win over Northern Illinois. He finished with two catches for 39 yards against the Huskies, including a career-long 28-yard grab. He added two more catches for 20 yards in a 48-0 blanking of Minnesota, and he contributed a 21-yard catch against Iowa State. A devastating blocker, Kratzenstein helped the Huskers claim the NCAA rushing title by averaging 375.3 yards per game, while ranking second nationally in scoring offense (44.7 ppg) and third in total offense (513.3 ypg).

In 29 career regular-season games, Kratzenstein had 10 receptions for 128 yards and a score. He also had one assisted tackle on special teams. He made 11 career regular-season starts and earned three varsity letters.

1988 (Junior)
Kratzenstein played in every game as Millikan’s alternate at tight end, catching two passes for 19 yards, including an 11-yard grab against Iowa State and an eight-yard reception against Texas A&M. Kratzenstein made three starts (UCLA, Missouri, Iowa State) when the Big Red opened in two-tight end sets. He helped the Huskers claim the 1988 Big Eight title by going 7-0 in conference play to earn a spot in the 1989 Orange Bowl against Miami. He helped pave the way for Nebraska to win the NCAA rushing title (382.3 ypg), while ranking sixth in scoring offense (39.5 ppg) and seventh in total offense (477.9 ypg).

1987 (Sophomore)
Kratzenstein earned his first varsity letter after playing in six regular-season games for the Big Red. He did not have a catch.

1986 (Redshirt)
Kratzenstein redshirted in his second season as a Husker.

1985 (Freshman)
A walk-on, Kratzenstein shared tight end duties on the Nebraska freshman team with highly recruited Bump Novacek, a former high school teammate from Gothenburg. Both tight ends had five receptions on the season for the freshmen. Kratzenstein’s catches went for a total of 65 yards.

Gothenburg High School
An all-conference and all-state tight end for Coach Pat Novacek at Gothenburg High School, Kratzenstein was also an all-conference basketball player as a senior for the Swedes in 1984-85. He lettered three times in football and basketball and twice in track along with earning one letter in golf.

Personal
The son of John and Darlene Kratzenstein, Monte was born in Gothenburg. He has one sister, Suzanne. He was a history major at Nebraska.