The 1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Schedule
[1]
Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 5 |
1:30 PM |
Utah State* |
#2 |
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE |
|
W 56–12 |
75,910 |
September 12 |
4:00 PM |
#3 UCLA* |
#2 |
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE |
ESPN |
W 42–33 |
76,313 |
September 26 |
2:30 PM |
at #12 Arizona State* |
#2 |
Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ |
ABC |
W 35–28 |
71,264 |
October 3 |
3:00 PM |
South Carolina* |
#2 |
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE |
ESPN |
W 30–21 |
76,061 |
October 10 |
1:30 PM |
Kansas |
#2 |
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE |
|
W 54–2 |
76,053 |
October 17 |
1:30 PM |
at #12 Oklahoma State |
#2 |
Lewis Field • Stillwater, OK |
CBS |
W 35–0 |
50,440 |
October 24 |
1:30 PM |
Kansas State |
#2 |
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE |
|
W 56–3 |
76,106 |
October 31 |
1:30 PM |
at Missouri |
#2 |
Faurot Field • Columbia, MO |
|
W 42–7 |
55,594 |
November 7 |
1:30 PM |
Iowa State |
#2 |
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE |
|
W 42–3 |
76,001 |
November 21 |
2:30 PM |
#2 Oklahoma |
#1 |
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE |
CBS |
L 7–17 |
76,663 |
November 28 |
3:00 PM |
at Colorado |
#5 |
Folsom Field • Boulder, CO |
ESPN |
W 24–7 |
52,026 |
January 1 |
12:30 PM |
vs. #3 Florida State* |
#5 |
Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl) |
NBC |
L 28–31 |
72,112 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time. |
Roster and coaching staff
1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster |
Players |
Coaches |
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class |
C |
59 |
Jeff Anderson |
So |
C |
53 |
Mark Antonietti |
Jr |
OG |
58 |
R.G. Arneson |
So |
SE |
81 |
Chip Bahe |
So |
TE |
87 |
Tom Banderas |
Sr |
WB |
18 |
Vance Behrens |
Sr |
WB |
21 |
Richard Bell |
So |
QB |
12 |
Clete Blakeman |
Sr |
OT |
69 |
Bill Bobbora |
So |
WB |
33 |
Dana Brinson |
Jr |
FB |
29 |
Bryan Carpenter |
Jr |
IB |
32 |
Ken Clark |
So |
IB |
1 |
Ray Coleman |
Jr |
FB |
45 |
Doug Dalton |
Sr |
QB |
14 |
Jerry Dunlap |
So |
OT |
77 |
Jim Ernest |
Jr |
QB |
4 |
Gerry Gdowski |
So |
OT |
67 |
Doug Glaser |
So |
OT |
73 |
Derrick Green |
Sr |
SE |
19 |
Morgan Gregory |
So |
OG |
74 |
Mike Griffin |
So |
WB |
82 |
Hendley Hawkins |
Sr |
FB |
48 |
Micah Heibel |
Sr |
WB |
27 |
Jim Holscher |
Sr |
OT |
70 |
Corey Bill Hudson |
Sr |
IB |
6 |
Keith Jones |
Sr |
OG |
65 |
Andy Keeler |
Jr |
IB |
40 |
Jon Kelley |
Sr |
FB |
34 |
Tyreese Knox |
Jr |
TE |
85 |
Monte Kratzenstein |
So |
OT |
57 |
Keven Lightner |
Sr |
OG |
61 |
John McCormick |
Sr |
SE |
83 |
Tim McCoy |
So |
TE |
43 |
Todd Millikan |
Jr |
OG |
76 |
John Nelson |
Jr |
TE |
86 |
Keith Neubert |
Sr |
C |
63 |
John Nichols |
Sr |
C |
54 |
Chris O'Gara |
So |
IB |
20 |
Terry Rodgers |
So |
OG |
64 |
John Roschal |
So |
OT |
72 |
Brad Rother |
So |
FB |
25 |
Sam Schmidt |
So |
WB |
2 |
Von Sheppard |
Sr |
OT |
62 |
Bob Sledge |
Jr |
SE |
88 |
Rod Smith |
Sr |
OG |
|
John Strasheim |
|
QB |
9 |
Steve Taylor |
Jr |
WB |
31 |
Jamie Worden |
Jr |
C |
68 |
Jake Young |
So |
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class |
S |
23 |
Mark Blazek |
Jr |
OLB |
81 |
Kurt Broer |
Jr |
DT |
95 |
Paul Brungardt |
Fr |
LB |
49 |
Chris Caliendo |
So |
CB |
7 |
McCathorn Clayton |
Sr |
SS |
17 |
Reggie Cooper |
Fr |
CB |
17 |
Jon Crippen |
Fr |
OLB |
88 |
Mike Croel |
Fr |
CB |
28 |
John Custard |
Jr |
LB |
47 |
LeRoy Etienne |
Jr |
LB |
51 |
Brad Ferguson |
So |
LB |
38 |
Steve Forch |
Sr |
CB |
10 |
Charles Fryar |
Jr |
DT |
84 |
Willie Griffin |
Jr |
LB |
36 |
Bob Hansen |
So |
CB |
8 |
Lorenzo Hicks |
Jr |
CB |
4 |
Tim Jackson |
Jr |
DE |
80 |
Jeff Jamrog |
Sr |
LB |
55 |
Randall Jobman |
So |
DT |
98 |
Lee Jones |
Sr |
CB |
5 |
Tahaun Lewis |
Fr |
DT |
94 |
Jeff Long |
So |
DE |
93 |
Jon Marco |
Jr |
S |
2 |
Dan McArdle |
So |
CB |
3 |
Kurt McCallum |
So |
DE |
42 |
Jeff Mills |
So |
MG |
74 |
Mike Murray |
So |
DE |
90 |
Harlan Opie |
Sr |
DT |
97 |
Tony Palmer |
Sr |
MG |
96 |
Lawrence Pete |
Jr |
MG |
92 |
Sean Putnam |
Jr |
S |
18 |
John Richman |
So |
DT |
78 |
Tim Rother |
Sr |
S |
26 |
Marvin Sanders |
So |
DT |
66 |
Kurt Skradis |
Jr |
DT |
99 |
Neil Smith |
Sr |
DE |
56 |
Steve Stanard |
Jr |
DE |
89 |
Broderick Thomas |
Jr |
S |
11 |
Jeff Tomjack |
Sr |
DT |
75 |
Ray Valladao |
So |
S |
41 |
Scott Vampola |
So |
CB |
27 |
Cartier Walker |
Jr |
DE |
83 |
Kenny Walker |
So |
S |
5 |
Brian Washington |
Sr |
MG |
91 |
Kent Wells |
So |
LB |
37 |
Doug Welniak |
Sr |
S |
1 |
Rick Wendland |
So |
LB |
24 |
Dante Wiley |
Jr |
S |
15 |
Wendell Wooten |
Jr |
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class |
PK |
44 |
Gregg Barrios |
So |
PK |
39 |
Dave Cheloha |
Jr |
PK |
16 |
Chris Drennan |
So |
P |
46 |
John Kroeker |
Jr |
P/PK |
13 |
Craig Schnitzler |
Sr |
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Charlie McBride
7th season as DC/LB coach
11th year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Colorado
- Ron Brown
1st season as WR/TE coach
1st year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Brown
- Dan Young
5th season as OL/K coach
5th year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Reed
- Milt Tenopir
14th season as OL coach
14th year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Sterling
- Tony Samuel
2nd season as OLB coach
2nd year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Nebraska
- George Darlington
DB coach
15th year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Rutgers
- Frank Solich
5th season as RB coach
9th year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Nebraska
- Boyd Epley
19th season as S&C coach
19th year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Nebraska
- Jack Pierce
9th year at Nebraska
- John Melton
15th season as TE/WB coach
26th year at Nebraska
Alma mater: Wyoming
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
Last update: 2011-01-17
|
Game notes
Utah State
Utah State at Nebraska [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Utah State |
0 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
12 |
• Nebraska |
7 |
21 |
21 |
7 |
56 |
|
Nebraska QB Steve Taylor rushed for 157 yards, breaking a 35-year-old Cornhusker quarterback record, and Nebraska returned two punts for touchdowns, tying its own Big 8 record. Nebraska rolled over Utah State with 515 rushing yards while holding the Aggies to -1 yard.
UCLA
UCLA at Nebraska [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
UCLA |
7 |
3 |
7 |
16 |
33 |
• Nebraska |
0 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
42 |
|
Memorial Stadium recorded its 150th consecutive sellout as #2 Nebraska defeated #3 UCLA. This was the first time two teams from the Top 3 had played in Lincoln. Nebraska QB Steve Taylor's five TD passes tied a Big 8 record set in 1938.
Arizona State
Nebraska at Arizona State [box score]
|
Following a late ASU game-tying score resulting from a fumble by Nebraska QB Steve Taylor, Nebraska IB Keith Jones tore off a 62-yard run with 3:37 remaining to set up the winning series as Nebraska triumphed over the #12 Sun Devils.
South Carolina
South Carolina at Nebraska [box score]
|
South Carolina was leading 21-13 in the 3rd as Nebraska QB Steve Taylor left the game with a shoulder injury. After that, Nebraska regained the momentum, holding the Gamecocks to just 9 yards total, recovering a fumble to set up a score, and adding a late interception and field goal to put up the win.
Kansas
Kansas at Nebraska [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Kansas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
• Nebraska |
17 |
10 |
14 |
13 |
54 |
|
Nebraska cruised against a weak Kansas team, as Nebraska QB Clete Blakeman filled in for injured starting QB Steve Taylor.
Oklahoma State
Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score]
|
Nebraska continued their 26-year winning streak against the Cowboys, putting a stop to #12 Oklahoma State's best start and best winning streak since 1945. Cowboys RB Thurman Thomas, at that time the NCAA rushing leader, was held to just 7 yards in 9 carries.
Kansas State
Kansas State at Nebraska [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Kansas State |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
• Nebraska |
21 |
14 |
14 |
7 |
56 |
|
Nebraska secured their 26th consecutive winning season, tying the NCAA record, and rolled up 459 rushing yards using 17 rushing players, while the Cornhusker defense prevented a touchdown for the third game in a row.
Missouri
Nebraska at Missouri [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• Nebraska |
7 |
21 |
7 |
7 |
42 |
Missouri |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
The NCAA touchdown pass record from 1938 was tied by Nebraska for the second time in this season as the Cornhusker offense scored in all four quarters for the 4th game in a row, though the defense finally allowed their first touchdown in 15 quarters.
Iowa State
Iowa State at Nebraska [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Iowa State |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
• Nebraska |
14 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
42 |
|
The Cornhuskers locked up their 19th consecutive 9-win season while piling up 666 total yards of offense as they rocketed to a 28-0 halftime lead before coasting to another win.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma at Nebraska [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• Oklahoma |
0 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
17 |
Nebraska |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
Billed as "Game of the Century II", this first-ever #1 vs. #2 matchup in Memorial Stadium brought a halt to the Cornhuskers' title hopes. Nebraska had taken away Oklahoma's #1 ranking before this game, and gave it back as the Cornhuskers struggled to move the ball after their first and only score. The Sooners went on to win their 4th straight Big 8 Championship.
Colorado
Nebraska at Colorado [box score]
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• Nebraska |
0 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
24 |
Colorado |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
2 |
13:54
|
NEB |
Steve Taylor 5-yard run (Chris Drennan kick) |
NEB 7-0 |
|
2 |
3:41
|
NEB |
Chris Drennan 50-yard field goal |
NEB 10-0 |
|
3 |
11:54
|
NEB |
Keith Jones 50-yard run (Chris Drennan kick) |
NEB 17-0 |
|
3 |
4:57
|
COL |
George Hemingway 4-yard pass from Mark Hatcher (David DeLine kick) |
NEB 17-7 |
|
4 |
9:34
|
NEB |
Keith Jones 44-yard run (Chris Drennan kick) |
NEB 24-7 |
|
Nebraska recovered from the Oklahoma loss and obtained their revenge for last year's loss to Colorado by taking out their frustrations on the Buffaloes in Boulder. Nebraska IB Keith Jones' 248 yards lifted him into a career 3rd-place ranking among Cornhusker runners.
Florida State
Florida State vs Nebraska [box score]
|
Nebraska lost after leading by 4 midway through the 4th. A Seminole defender stripped the ball from Nebraska IB Tyreese Knox as he ran in from the FSU 2, which set up a 97-yard FSU march for the winning touchdown with 3:07 left to play.
Rankings
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Ranking Movement
Poll |
Pre |
Wk 1 |
Wk 2 |
Wk 3 |
Wk 4 |
Wk 5 |
Wk 6 |
Wk 7 |
Wk 8 |
Wk 9 |
Wk 10 |
Wk 11 |
Wk 12 |
Wk 13 |
Wk 14 |
Final |
AP |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
Coaches |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
Awards
[2]
Award |
Name(s) |
All-America 1st team |
John McCormick, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas |
All-Big 8 1st team |
LeRoy Etienne, Steve Forch, Keith Jones, Kevin Lightner, John McCormick, Tim Rother, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas |
All-Big 8 2nd team |
Tom Banderas, Charles Fryar, Bob Sledge, Rod Smith, Jake Young |
All-Big 8 honorable mention |
Mark Blazek, Lee Jones |
NFL and pro players
The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1987 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[3]
References
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|
Venues |
|
Bowls & rivalries |
|
Culture & lore |
|
People |
|
Seasons |
|
National championship seasons in bold
|
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 1987 Husker Honors
- ↑ All Time NFL Huskers