First Things First,
Regrets for the monster delay on this and it’s still not complete as I’m publishing this in parts. I guess this is Part 2 because I did a piece on the final game with OU weeks ago, which was a rundown that essentially deteriorated into a running down Shawn Watson into the ground (you can find it in my archives if you didn’t see it). So, I guess this Part 2 is actually a prequel since the events happened long before the last game, so maybe this is Part 1? Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be like some sci-fi sept-trilogy or something; I hate those things, probably because they’re over my head and I didn’t even bother to watch the last three Star Wars movies. From here on out we’ll just go chronological, fair enough? In this episode however, we will jump in the wayback machine to the essentially the beginning of the Husker Dynasty in the modern era that began in earnest with the hiring of Bob Devaney in 1962 up through 1972 when the Bobfather handed the headset and now a true rivalry with OU over to a 35 year old assistant named Tom Osborne.

University of Oklahoma Sooners 1912 - 2010
Series History NU 38 - OU 45 - T 3
a.k.a. OU, Boomers, Schooners, Heartbreak U,

OU Before OU and NU Were Mentioned in the Same Sentence
The first OU game was in 1895, twelve years before Oklahoma became a state. According to Wikipedia, OU’s very first team was comprised mostly of non-students, so in that regard, not much has changed in 115 years. By the late teens, early 1920s, OU football was in full swing and acquired its first mascot; a terrier by the name of Mex. Mex wore a red sweater with a big white O on the side and his primary duty was to scare away stray dogs that would roam onto the field. The practice of using a watchdog was stopped when the dogs understandably had problems differentiating between stray mongrels and OU’s deep pocket boosters roaming the sidelines. In 1947 and OU hired a guy named Jim Tatum as head coach over another candidate named Paul “Bear” Bryant. The silver lining was that OU also liked a young guy named Bud Wilkinson and insisted Tatum make Bud his top assistant. When Tatum bolted for Maryland after one year, Bud Wilkinson stepped-in and would coach the Sooners for the next 16 years. Some OU fans with rose colored glasses will tell you Bud’s 145–29–4 overall record, three national titles, 14 conference titles (13 consecutive), and NCAA record streak of 47 consecutive wins between 1953 and 1957 is impressive. I personally don’t see what all the hub-bub is about, I mean the guy went 9 - 20 in two years in the NFL in the late 70s, so like, can you say “hack”?

Bud’s amazing successes raised eyebrows across the nation for anyone that followed college football; which unfortunately included folks in the NCAA’s compliance office. In January of 1956, in between Bud’s consecutive National Championships the OU was placed on probation for extra benefits and improper recruiting inducements, but because the NCAA did not award National Championships at the time, OU was still awarded the honor. In déjà vu fashion in 1960, OU was again spanked by the NCAA for extra benefits; improper recruiting inducements; this time with lack of institutional control tacked on for good measure. It was not the first and wouldn’t be the last time the OU and the NCAA met for reasons other than the annual Christmas party.

To give some NU perspective during this era, between 1943 and 1958 the Huskers were ranked only once in the polls, a short-lived stay at #16 in 1950, and minus a one point loss in 1947, 14 points was the closest NU came to beating OU in 15 consecutive defeats. NU did shock the nation when a moribund 4-6 Husker squad ended OU’s 74 game conference unbeaten streak with a 25-21 Homecoming win. In a game that saw OU more than double NU’s offensive output, the scrappy Huskers made a number of special teams plays on punts, both returns and a block, and preserved the win with an interception in the endzone in the last minute of play. The Huskers repeated their feat in 1960, however a 3 - 6 - 1 OU squad that year was clearly nicked by the NCAA’s sword in what was Bud’s only losing season with the Sooners. Once OU was back in business, NU went back to its losing ways against OU in 1961, which was also the year NU coach Bill Jennings was returned to a life outside of football.

“I don’t expect to win enough games to be put on NCAA probation. I just want to win enough to warrant an investigation.” - Bob Devaney
Bob Devaney was a protégé of legendary Michigan State University coach Duffy Daugherty until 1956 and then in 1957 began a 5 years stint as Wyoming’s head coach where he finished with at least a share of the Skyline Conference crown in his last 4 years. In 1962, Devaney was AD Tippy Dye’s 3rd choice to replace Jennings, but Husker fans still greeted the new coach with enthusiasm by filling the stadium. Devaney was old-school, even for 1962; a fierce competitor with a crusty demeanor that let you know as a player you didn’t want to find yourself on his bad side, but he was also quick with a smile and a joke, that sort of made Devaney like the happy drunk you loved having at your parties. Bob didn’t disappoint the optimistic fans, turning the Huskers around from the 3 - 6 - 1 debacle in 1961 and delivered a 9 -3 season and NU’s first bowl victory ever, beating Miami in the Gothem Bowl in NYC. The Huskers fell one game shy of a conference title and Orange Bowl berth at the hands of, you guessed it, OU. The 1962 game began, in Bob’s mind, the Sooner rivalry as OU surprised him with an aerial attack that shredded the Huskers D in a lopsided 6-34 loss that prompted Devaney to say “We were concerned with their running game; we should have shot the air out of the football.”

NOVEMBER 23, 1963 - OU vs. NU
John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas the previous day. With a nation in mourning both universities wanted to postpone the game, but too many wheels were already in motion for a conference title clash between #10 NU and #6 OU that was to be nationally televised. The game would be played as scheduled, one of only a few events of any kind across the nation that proceeded that Saturday. This time NU shocked OU with a stifling defense that held OU’s vaunted offense scoreless through 3 quarters. The Huskers took a 10 – 0 lead into the 4th Q which quickly became 17 - 0 and then 29 - 7 with only two minutes left to play. Aided by two NU fumbles, OU scored two very late TDs to make the score a deceiving 29 - 20. NU would finish 1963 10 - 1, undefeated in the Big 8 with an Orange Bowl victory over #5 Auburn 13 – 7; the only blemish being a 3 point early season loss to Air Force.

Invariably, you can ask anyone that was around in 1963 and they can tell you exactly where they were on November 22nd the moment they heard President Kennedy had been shot. Ask any Husker fan and they can likely tell you where they were on the 23rd as well, the moment The Bobfather delivered NU its first conference title in 23 years and serving notice loud and clear that the Huskers would no longer be taken lightly.

1964 - NU vs. OU
In 1964, the Huskers picked up where they left off, winning their first 9 games; extending to a nation’s best 16 game unbeaten streak and a #4 ranking. The Huskers traveled to Norman and struggled on offense, producing only 7 points in a 17 - 7 loss. Regardless, one loss NU still won the Big 8 Title for a second consecutive year and ranked #6, narrowly lost to #2 Arkansas 10 - 7 on a late Hogs TD in the Cotton Bowl.

1965 - OU vs. NU
With only 3 conference losses in as many years, NU had earned national respect and opened the season ranked #1. Again the Huskers met OU with a perfect record and again it appeared OU might demolish NU’s National Title hopes, taking a 9 - 0 lead. However Bob Churchich relieved a struggling Fred Duda at QB and NU took command, scoring 21 unanswered points, won the game going away 21 - 9, and earn its 3rd straight Big 8 Title. Although pollsters had moved Duffy Daugherty’s MSU team and Arkansas ahead of NU earlier in the season, both teams lost their New Years bowl games and the #3 Huskers faced #4 Alabama in the Orange Bowl knowing a win would give Nebraska its first National Title. It was not to be however as NU turned the ball over 5 times and struggled to contain ‘bama’s offense, ultimately losing 28 - 39 and allowing ‘bama to jump from #4 all the way to #1 and capture their second consecutive National Title under legendary coach Bear Bryant.

1966 - NU vs. OU
In what was becoming a trend, NU again visited Norman undefeated and again came away with a heartbreaking loss 9 - 10. Having an extra point blocked and throwing 3 interceptions, including one in the endzone was the difference in the game. Another tremendously successful season and forth consecutive Big 8 Title ended in melancholy fashion with the OU loss and a lopsided 7 – 34 humbling by Alabama again, this time in the Sugar Bowl.

"I know the fans are with me, win or tie" - Bob Devaney
The 1967 and 1968 seasons saw a regression to a pair of bowless 6 - 4 seasons with 3 - 4 records in the Big 8 which included a pair of losses to OU. 1967 saw a huge underdog NU team dominate OU statistically, but lose by a TD in a game that featured 7 Husker giveaways. 1968 was a 0 - 47 pasting where NU was held to under 200 yards of total offense and eventual Heisman winner Steve Owen ran all over the Blackshirts. In what only 6 years earlier would’ve been considered monumental successes, Husker Nation was in no mood to return to the inglorious days of the 40s and 50s. Public opinion that Devaney’s offenses had become stale and predictable may have had merit as NU failed to eclipse 21 points in 16 of 20 games which included 3 shutouts. Devaney was no fool and knew the monster of his own creation could ultimately become his undoing. He also knew he had a protégé on staff in a young, little known Offensive Ends Coach Tom Osborne, but I don’t anyone including the Bobfather knew he was about to hand the keys of the Husker offense to arguably the greatest offensive mind in the history of the game. Likewise, I’m certain Husker Nation had no idea what now loomed on the horizon.

1969, with newly appointed OC Tom Osborne implementing an I-formation backfield and play-calling a balanced offensive attack; NU saw a dramatic reversal of fortunes. The resurgent Huskers only lost two early season games to top 10 opponents USC and Missouri and the season was heralded a huge success. Although the 9 – 2 season, including a tie for the Big 8 Title couldn’t fully be attributed to a stark offensive turnaround; as the year progressed it was obvious TO was on the right track, evidenced by ending the season with a 44 - 14 drubbing of OU in Norman and a 45 – 6 annihilation of Georgia in the Sun Bowl.

TO @ OC = NC x 2
NU entered a new decade in 1970 with momentum on its side and although the term “swagger” probably hadn’t been invented yet, the Huskers were now feeling it on both sides of the ball. A 10 point loss to #5 USC in Lincoln the year before was now a 21 – 21 tie against #3 USC in LA; with a botched snap on a 22 yard FG attempt the only thing keeping 2 TD underdog NU from the major upset. From that point until the OU game, NU dominated its competition, averaging 38 points per game, scoring 50+ three times. In year two Osborne’s balanced, multi-threat offense was taking hold and becoming an effective system regardless of which person on the steeped roster was installed. Junior QB Van Brownson was the clear starter until off-season injuries rendered him unavailable, so another junior named Jerry Tagge stepped in and ran the offense to near perfection. A sophomore “half-back” at the time, Johnny Rodgers was blossoming into a huge threat at wingback and punt returner. Senior RB Joe Orduna was tearing it up on the ground, while being reliably spelled by a junior from McCook named Jeff Kinney. On D, LB Jerry Murtaugh was a disruptive force against the run and the pass, while junior DT Larry Jacobson at 6’ 6” 250 was at that time a giant swatting aside linemen and garnering national acclaim.

1970 - OU vs. NU
NU at #3 was heavily favored over an unranked 6 - 3 OU team; but as always seems to be the case for the Huskers, they were meeting a team late in the season that was all of a sudden firing was on all cylinders. OU HC Chuck Fairbanks had installed OC Barry Switzer’s wishbone offense 6 games earlier and shifty QB Jack Mildren was now fluidly running the complex system; not to mention, this was OU. The game had all the signs of an upset in the making as twice the Huskers got inside OU’s 10 and twice came away empty handed. The Sooners scored first and earned multiple 7 point leads that NU twice needed to equalize; being fortunate to go into the break tied at 14. Late in the 3rd NU grabbed its first lead at 21 - 14, but the sigh of relief was short-lived as OU as Mildren made it look easy on a long drive to tie it once again. NU called-in a gut-check as Tagge led NU on a 60 yard drive requiring two key third down completions, including a fingertip grab by FB Dan Schneiss in traffic for 24 yards inside the 10 that NU converted into a TD a few plays later. Still over 8 minutes remained and the dicey last period included NU missing a 37 yard FG that would’ve iced the game and OU heaving a pass in the endzone that fell incomplete as time expired. It wasn’t easy, but the Huskers sent the home crowd into the streets knowing NU’s shot at a National Championship was still alive.

Ranked #3, NU needed a victory over #5 LSU and its nationally feared defense in The Orange Bowl and also needed a little help from #1 ranked Texas and #2 ranked Ohio State to have a chance at the NC. Both Texas and Ohio State obliged by losing their bowl games and NU went into the Orange Bowl knowing a win would wrap up an AP National title. A Tagge drive with 10 minutes remaining and a stout Blackshirt 4th quarter got it done 17 - 12 and the Huskers won the 1970 AP National Championship.

On a side note, because the other major poll, the United Press (UPI), voted prior to bowl games until 1973 the Huskers had no realistic chance at becoming consensus #1. Instead, in typical Texas false bravado fashion, the Longhorns would boast a phony baloney UPI National Title despite being manhandled in their own backyard by #6 Notre Dame in The Cotton Bowl. Go figure.

1971 - NU vs. OU (a.k.a The Game of the Century)
" Johnny Rodgers is not only the greatest athlete I ever coached, he is the greatest athlete I have ever seen. The only thing he could not do real well was drive a car." - Bob Devaney

The Huskers entered the ’71 season with a 19 game unbeaten streak to extend and a National Title to defend. Entering the 3rd year of Osborne’s offensive overhaul, Tagge now owned the QB role and had a year and a half’s experience. Orduna was gone, but it was quickly apparent Jeff Kinney, a fearless Rex Burkhead-type, was up to the task. Johnny Rodgers, now a junior was a threat every time he touched the ball. On D the Blackshirts, loaded with playmakers, had become impenetrable. Murtaugh was gone, but Bob Terrio at LB stepped in to lead the team in tackles. Senior Larry Jacobson was paired with emerging junior Rich Glover to create the best DL tandem the modern era had ever seen; both going on to be All-Americans and Outland Trophy winners. The #1 ranked NU D gave up a paltry 171 yards per game and eight times in ten games held opponents to 7 points or less; never giving up more than 17 and pitching 3 shutouts. On offense the Huskers scored 31 or more in all 10 games. Mysteriously, NU started the season #2 in the AP Poll, but that would be rectified after week two as NU would wear the #1 bulls-eye on their backs the rest of the season.

Meantime #2 Oklahoma had perfected their offense, as goofy as it looked even for the wishbone with the FB in a full 4 point stance flanked by two HBs, and went into the Nebraska game ranked #1 offensively in scoring and yardage. The Sooners averaged 7.07 yards per carry with Gregg Pruitt averaging 8.98 yards per carry, which are STILL NCAA records.

The build-up to the game was infectious. Few would argue NU and OU were hands-down the two best teams in the nation; both having easily gone through the season unscathed. It was the unbreakable D against the unstoppable O. It was a defacto National Title game that would be played on Thanksgiving Day, where turkeys were postponed or got cold in 55 million households across the nation. The only thing missing was Keith Jackson to call the game for ABC, because Don Crique and Bud Wilkinson (yes, that Bud Wilkinson) provided about as much flare as the Watergate hearings would two short years from then. However, those in Nebraska that were fortunate enough to have turned on the radio would be rewarded with a timeless Lyle Bremser classic including the now “Call of the Century” with his “Man, woman, and child did that put ‘em in the aisles...” play-by-play on the Johnny Rodgers 72 yard punt return. Regardless, the drama on the field produced enough excitement that no one needed to be telling the audience to sit on the edge of their seats. As I’m sure many reading weren’t yet members of the human race when this game was played, I highly advise taking the opportunity as the game is online thanks to a friends of OU site.

Obviously the Rodgers return was the banner play of the game, a slippery dash that saw “The Jet” need to make not just the first guy miss, but the first 4 guys that all converged on him within a hair of each other. After reversing his field west to east and a few ankle breaking jukes, Rodgers was headed south, getting a few key blocks, but with Rodgers on a mission, it’s debatable whether he even needed them. But this game was far more than a punt return that actually happened early in the first quarter and was the first score in a back and forth game that came down to the wire.

Rich Glover at middle guard had 22 tackles in a performance that is arguably the best single defensive performance ever by a Husker, including Ndangukong Suh; and Glover’s domination came regardless of going nose to nose with OU’s All-American center. Despite holding Heisman candidate Pruitt to 53 total yards, OU still managed to score 31 points and held a 31 – 28 lead with 7:10 left to play.

Though the entire game is worth recapping, I feel the last 7:10 truly exemplify how the game could’ve have easily swung either way. NU began its final drive from its own 26 and penetrated OU territory to the 46 where it faced a 3rd and 8 with 4:50 remaining. Jerry Tagge barely escaped a sack and hit Rodgers for 10 yards with a low pass that was a clear catch, but it was a dicey few seconds as viewers waited for the officials on OU’s turf to rule it a catch instead of a trap. The correct call made it 1st and 10 from the OU 36 and on the next play Kinney bounced outside for 14 yards to the OU 22. Johnny Rodgers then took a handoff and turned what should’ve been a no gain play into 7 yards, followed by Kinney going 7 yards himself, straight up the middle for a first and goal at the 8. After a two yard Kinney gain on a bobbled pitch, Kinney fought through a tackler and a strip attempt to the two yard line where the ball did come loose at the end of the play and was covered by OU. The officiating crew correctly ruled Kinney down, but again this was a road game decades before instant replay that required a clean call; meaning NU was fortunate this game wasn’t played in 2010 with Dallas-based crews. On 3rd and goal Kinney got the ball again and powered it in from two yards out and the Huskers took the lead 35 - 31 with just over a minute and a half left in the game. OU still had a couple of time outs and it was the type of game where no lead felt safe. NU did its job on kick coverage leaving OU needing 81 yards to win the game. On first down Mildren went play action buying himself a short window of time and had a streaking Harrison running down the center of the field with a step and a half on Husker DB Joe Blahok. A perfect pass an NU loses the game on that play, but Jack overshot his receiver. On 2nd and 10 OU ran the option keeper for about 4 yards and then on 3rd down and 6 Larry Jacobson blew by his man and threw Mildren for 8 yard loss before he knew what hit him. Forth down was almost a repeat as Jacobson, again scarcely slowed, barely missed getting consecutive sacks, which was of small consolation to Mildren who escaped directly into the path of a steamrolling Rich Glover, who went airborne, swatting down a desperation pass attempt and flattening Jack all in a single bound. The incomplete pass that could’ve been ruled a fumble was recovered by Jacobson in the endzone, but it didn’t matter; the Huskers owned the ball, the lead, and 55 seconds later, the Game of the Century went into the books NU 35 - OU 31.

The ’71 Huskers were a team of destiny, with which few other teams in history can compare. After traveling to Honolulu for a formality game and a 45 -3 victory over Hawaii, NU would get a measure of revenge against bowl nemesis Alabama in the Orange Bowl; unapologetically obliterating the #2 Tide 38 - 6 in a non-competitive game. In the end, the Huskers were a unanimous National Champion and had beaten OU, CU, and ‘bama, the three teams that finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the polls, by a combined score of 104 - 44; but it was the OU game that everyone would and will remember. The Sooners were the only team that could lay any claim to having belonged on the same field with NU in `71 and Devaney would go on to say that the 35 - 31 victory over OU was the greatest of his career.

One More for the Road...
Fresh off back to back National Titles the 1972 Huskers returned a solid roster that included Johnny Rodgers at WB and Rich Glover at MG, but gone were QB Jerry Tagge, IB Jeff Kinney, and DT Larry Jacobson. Summer dreams of a three-peat, or whatever it was called before Pat Riley stamped his trademark on the phrase, ended abruptly with a first game road loss to UCLA 20 - 17, in which it was obvious by NU’s 4 fumbles and 2 INTs that the offense would need time to gel under new QB Dave Humm. Just like that NU’s 32 game unbeaten and 23 game winning streak was over. Another shocker was Bob Devaney’s announcement that 1972 would be his last year as HC and he would now be focusing full-time as NU’s AD, with Tom Osborne being named his replacement beginning in 1973.

The Huskers would regroup, dominating its next 7 opponents, including #15 CU, but an 8 turnover performance the next week at #17 ISU, resulted in a lucky 23 - 23 tie with the Cyclones, who missed an extra point for the win with 22 seconds left in the game. The unlucky part was that a loss and a tie would effectively end NU’s title hopes and undefeated OU loomed as favorites to break NU’s string of 3 consecutive Big 8 Titles.

1972 - OU vs. NU
Bob Devaney’s final home game as HC of the Huskers would be played in front of a record Memorial Stadium crowd on Thanksgiving Day, which was a day for Husker giving thanks to the Bobfather for all he had done for NU football. Unfortunately a 14 - 0 lead late in the 3rd quarter would not survive Dave Humm’s 3 INTs and fumble inside the Husker 30 that resulted in a winning 41 yard field goal for OU. Although both Ds were dominant, OU simply was a bit more disruptive and made a few more plays.

NU would recover to annihilate Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl 40 - 6. In addition to being Devaney’s last game, NU would also say “so long” to Johnny Rodgers and Rich Glover that fittingly took home the lion’s share of hardware in 1972, including the Heisman and Outland Trophies respectively.

A Farewell to Bob
The loud, boisterous, full of life Devaney would quietly and gracefully step aside, but instead of the jalopy Bill Jennings had given him eleven years earlier, Bob handed his 35 year old prodigy the keys to a freight train. Devaney's record at NU was 101–20–2 (.829) in 11 seasons, with nine bowl appearances, 8 Big 8 Titles, and two national championships, going 32–2–2 (.916) in his final three seasons. Although the ’72 loss sealed a losing record against OU (5 - 6) it didn’t feel that way. NU dominated the conference during Bob’s tenure and the ’63, ’70, and ’71 OU games filled a well of Husker pride that remains full to this day.

Devaney capably and confidently ran the AD’s office until 1993, primarily ensuring the coveted football program he built continued to thrive. One unenviable task included stretches of having to defend his hand picked successor Tom Osborne, in part because of difficulties beating OU. Bob remained steadfast in his defense of Osborne and got to witness Dr. Tom return NU to total dominance with teams in ’94 and ’95 that were highly reminiscent of Devaney’s ’70 and ’71 teams and instilled tremendous pride in Bob as he neared his final calling. Devaney died in the spring of 1997 prior to Osborne’s final season and 3rd NC, but he left knowing NU football was still a force that more than ever, would never be taken lightly. Devaney will always be remembered at the architect of the Husker tradition of excellence and one of the great icons of the sport. Aptly put, Osborne would say of Devaney "I know they (the fans and the media) like and respect me. But they loved Bob.”

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