# 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 8 | 3:50 pm | No. 10 UCLA* | No. 4 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | ABC | W 40–13 | 74,966 |
| September 22 | 1:30 pm | No. 14 NC State* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | | W 31–14 | 75,925 |
| September 29 | 1:30 pm | Wisconsin* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (rivalry) | | W 20–16 | 76,279 |
| October 6 | 1:30 pm | at Minnesota* | No. 2 | Memorial StadiumMinneapolis, MN (rivalry) | | W 48–7 | 58,091 |
| October 13 | 1:30 pm | at Missouri | No. 2 | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO (rivalry) | | L 12–13 | 68,720 |
| October 20 | 1:30 pm | No. 18 Kansas | No. 11 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (rivalry) | | W 10–9 | 76,322–76,498 |
| October 27 | 1:30 pm | at Oklahoma State | No. 10 | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK | | T 17–17 | 50,500 |
| November 3 | 1:30 pm | No. 17 Colorado | No. 13 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (rivalry) | | W 28–16 | 76,555 |
| November 10 | 1:30 pm | Iowa State | No. 11 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | | W 31–7 | 76,503 |
| November 17 | 1:30 pm | at Kansas State | No. 10 | KSU StadiumManhattan, KS (rivalry) | | W 50–21 | 42,000 |
| November 23 | 1:20 pm | at No. 3 Oklahoma | No. 10 | Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK (rivalry) | ABC | L 0–27 | 62,257 |
| January 1, 1974 | 1:10 pm | vs. No. 8 Texas* | No. 12 | Cotton BowlDallas, TX (Cotton Bowl Classic) | CBS | W 19–3 | 67,500 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||||

## Roster

Defense :
* FS
* Bob Thornton
* George Kyros
* Jim Seeton
| INSDIE | INSDIE |
| Tom Ruud | Bob Nelson |
| Bob Schmit | John Starkebaum |
| Precy Eichelberger | Bob Schmit |
* MONSTER BACK
* Mike Heydorff
* Wonder Monds
* Terry Rogers
* CB
* Zaven Yaralian
* Chuck Jones
* Dave Butterfield
| DE | DT | NT | DT | DE |
| Bob Martin | Ron Pruitt | John Bell | John Dutton | Steve Manstedt |
| Tom Pate | Dean Gissler | John Lee | Willie Thornton | Steve Wieser |
| Dave Redding | Doug Johnson | Willie Thornton | George Mills | Mike Offner |
* CB
* Randy Borg
* Ardell Johnson
* Pat Fischer
Offense :
* Wingback
* Ritch Bahe
* Don Westbook
* Tom Heiser
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| Daryl White | Tom Alward | Rik Bonness | Dan Anderson | Marvin Crenshaw |
| Mark Doak | Bob Wolfe | Rich Duda | Stan Hegener | Al Larson |
| Rich Costanzo | Chad Leonardi | Tom Thomas | Nick Zanetich | Dennis Pavelka |
* TE
* Brent Longwell
* Larry Mushinskie
* Rick Panneton
* Splitend
* Frosty Anderson
* Dave Shamblin
* Jeff Hill
* QB
* Dave Humm
* Steve Runty
* Earl Everett
* Key reserves
* RB
* Tony Davis
* John O'Leary
* Dave Goeller
* FB
* Maury Damkroger
* Ralph Powell
* Mike O’Holleran
* Special teams

## Coaching staff

| Name | Title | First year in this position | Years at Nebraska | Alma mater |
| Tom Osborne | Head Coach Offensive coordinator | 1973 | 1964–97 | Hastings |
| Monte Kiffin | Defensive Coordinator | 1973 | 1967–76 | Nebraska |
| Cletus Fischer | Offensive line | | 1960–85 | Nebraska |
| Jim Ross | | | 1962–76 | |
| John Melton | Tight ends, wingbacks | 1973 | 1962–88 | Wyoming |
| Mike Corgan | Running backs | 1962 | 1962–82 | Notre Dame |
| Warren Powers | Defensive backs | 1969 | 1969–76 | Nebraska |
| Boyd Epley | Head strength coach | 1969 | 1969–2003 | Nebraska |
| Bill Myles | Offensive line | 1972 | 1972–76 | Drake University |
| Jerry Moore | Wide receivers | 1973 | 1973–78 | Baylor |
| George Darlington | | 1973 | 1973–2002 | Rutgers |
| Rick Duval | Linebackers Recruiting coordinator | 1973 | 1973–74 | Worcester |

## Game summaries
### UCLA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #10 UCLA | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| • #4 Nebraska | 14 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 40 |
The Tom Osborne era at Nebraska began in style, as the Cornhuskers exacted revenge for last year's loss to UCLA by beating the #10 Bruins in Lincoln 40-13. Nebraska jumped out to a 14-0 lead in less than 10 minutes, and though UCLA scored to come within 7, that was as close as they'd get for the rest of the game as the Blackshirts shut out the Bruins entirely in the 2nd half.

### NC State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #14 NC State | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • #2 Nebraska | 0 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 31 |
It was touch and go for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers fought to stay even with NC State until blowing the game wide open in the 4th quarter with three straight unanswered touchdowns.

### Wisconsin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin | 0 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 16 |
| • #2 Nebraska | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
Wisconsin fought Nebraska to a 7-7 tie entering the 4th quarter before pulling ahead by 3 on a field goal with 8 minutes to go. The Cornhuskers replied with a touchdown, which was promptly answered by a 96-yard Badger kickoff return to put Nebraska behind again. Nebraska again responded, marching 83 yards in just seven plays to score again for the win.

### Minnesota

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • #2 Nebraska | 7 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 48 |
| Minnesota | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Minnesota QB Tony Dungy managed to get a 1st-quarter touchdown, and that would be the last time the Golden Gophers saw the scoreboard, as the first Minnesota sellout since 1960 (with help from the numerous traveling Cornhusker fans) watched Nebraska dismantle the Gophers 48-7.

### Missouri

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #2 Nebraska | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| • Missouri | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
Missouri handed coach Tom Osborne his first career defeat as Nebraska's 2-point conversion for the win with 1:00 remaining was intercepted, marking the first time Coach Osborne decided to forgo the tie and take a shot at the win, an approach later repeated to much attention in the 1984 Orange Bowl.

### Kansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #18 Kansas | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| • #11 Nebraska | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Kansas avoided the 1st half shutout on a recovered Nebraska fumble converted into a field goal. The Jayhawks then came out from halftime and continued to hold off Nebraska while putting in their own touchdown late in the 3rd to pull ahead, though the PAT was blocked. Less than five minutes later, Nebraska responded with a field goal to pull ahead by 1 point, where a tie would have existed had the previous Kansas PAT attempt been good. From there on out, the Blackshirts held on for the rest of the quarter to preserve the razor thin winning margin.

### Oklahoma State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #10 Nebraska | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Oklahoma State | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
With 2:23 remaining in a fierce contest, no scoring since the previous quarter, and a 17-17 tie still on the board, Nebraska opted to forgo the easy field goal and instead attempted to go for it on 4th and goal inside the Cowboys' one yard line, but the attempt failed, and both teams were forced to settle for a tie.

### Colorado

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #17 Colorado | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| • #13 Nebraska | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
Colorado never really had a chance in this game, as Nebraska rolled out to an early 28-3 lead by the half. The final Cornhusker touchdown was a change of plans, after a field goal setup was moved towards the end zone due to a Colorado penalty, and Nebraska instead decided to run one in. The 4th quarter Buffalo touchdown was made on a trick play against Nebraska reserves who had entered the game to mop up.

### Iowa State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Iowa State | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • #11 Nebraska | 14 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
Once again, Nebraska ran out to a substantial early lead and coasted in for the win, as the game was essentially decided when the Cornhuskers put in a 67-yard pass touchdown just before the half. Nebraska reserves entered the game in the 4th and put in a touchdown to further pad the win.

### Kansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • #10 Nebraska | 10 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 50 |
| Kansas State | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
Kansas State never was in this game, as the Cornhuskers blasted the Wildcats for a 23-0 1st half lead and never really slowed down, rolling up 612 yards of total offense along the way. The performances of Nebraska IB Tony Davis and IB John O'Leary on the day marked the first time two Cornhusker runners exceeded 100 yards in the same game.

### Oklahoma

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #10 Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • #3 Oklahoma | 14 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
Oklahoma completely dismantled Nebraska in every way, as the Cornhuskers were shut out for the first time since 1968, an indignity that would not be repeated until Miami defeated Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl eighteen years later. The Cornhuskers were held to just 74 ground yards and 174 yards of total offense as the Nebraska offense never crossed mid-field.

### Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #8 Texas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • #12 Nebraska | 0 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 19 |
SWC champion Texas put up the first points early in the 1st quarter with a field goal, but never saw the scoreboard again as Nebraska fought back to a 3-3 tie by the half, and then shut down the Longhorns' efforts afterwards by blocking a field goal and recovering a Texas fumble along the way to creating a comfortable lead by the end of the 3rd quarter. It was the Huskers fifth consecutive bowl victory.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
| AP | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 7 |
| Coaches | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |

## Awards

| Award | Name(s) |
| All-America 1st team | John Dutton, Daryl White |
| All-America honorable mention | Steve Manstedt |
| All-Big Eight 1st team | Frosty Anderson, John Dutton, Steve Manstedt, Daryl White |
| All-Big Eight 2nd team | Dan Anderson, John Bell, Randy Borg |
| All-Big Eight honorable mention | Ritch Bahe, Tony Davis, Dave Humm, Bob Thornton |

## 1973 Team Players in the NFL

The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1974 NFL draft:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| John Dutton | DE | 1 | 5 | Baltimore Colts |
| Steve Manstedt | LB | 4 | 79 | Houston Oilers |
| Daryl White | G | 4 | 98 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Bob Wolfe | T | 6 | 156 | Miami Dolphins |
| Maury Damkroger | LB | 7 | 178 | New England Patriots |
| Frosty Anderson | WR | 10 | 235 | New Orleans Saints |
The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1975 NFL draft:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Tom Ruud | LB | 1 | 19 | Buffalo Bills |
| Bob Nelson | LB | 2 | 42 | Buffalo Bills |
| John Starkebaum | DB | 4 | 92 | New Orleans Saints |
| David Humm | QB | 5 | 128 | Oakland Raiders |
| Don Westbrook | WR | 6 | 131 | Baltimore Colts |
| Mark Doak | T | 6 | 147 | Washington Redskins |
| Ardell Johnson | DB | 11 | 277 | Washington Redskins |
| Ritch Bahe | WR | 14 | 358 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Dennis Pavelka | G | 16 | 412 | Washington Redskins |
| Stan Hegener | G | 17 | 442 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1976 NFL draft:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Rik Bonness | C | 3 | 84 | Oakland Raiders |
| Tony Davis | RB | 4 | 106 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Wonder Monds | DB | 4 | 112 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Bob Martin | LB | 6 | 163 | New York Jets |
| Jim Burrow | DB | 8 | 218 | Green Bay Packers |
| Dean Gissler | DE | 11 | 308 | Washington Redskins |
| John O'Leary | RB | 12 | 303 | Chicago Bears |
| Brad Jenkins | TE | 13 | 348 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| John Lee | DT | 13 | 351 | San Diego Chargers |
| Larry Mushinskie | TE | 14 | 402 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Rick Costanzo | T | 16 | 458 | Dallas Cowboys |

### NFL and Pro Players

The following is a list of 1973 Nebraska players who joined a professional team as draftees or free agents.
| Name | Team |
| Tom Alward | Birmingham Vulcans |
| Rik Bonness | Oakland Raiders |
| Jim Burrow | Green Bay Packers |
| Tony Davis | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Mark Doak | Birmingham Vulcans |
| Maury Damkroger | New England Patriots |
| John Dutton | Baltimore Colts |
| Dave Humm | Oakland Raiders |
| John Lee | San Diego Chargers |
| Bob Lingenfelter | Cleveland Browns |
| Brent Longwell | Memphis Southmen |
| Terry Luck | Cleveland Browns |
| Steve Manstedt | Birmingham Americans |
| Bob Martin | New York Jets |
| Wonder Monds | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| Bob Nelson | Buffalo Bills |
| John O'Leary | Montreal Alouettes |
| Tom Pate | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Tom Ruud | Buffalo Bills |
| Bob Schmit | Portland Storm |
| Don Westbrook | New England Patriots |
| Daryl White | Detroit Lions |
| Bob Wolfe | Birmingham Americans |
| Zaven Yaralian | Philadelphia Bell |