Records fall as Reds romp in spring game
An all-time high crowd of more than 18,000 fans were on hand on a bright, sunshiny spring afternoon for the annual All Sports Day scrimmage. The fans in the stands and those listening to the play-by-play broadcast throughout the state were treated to the biggest offensive explosion in history.
In all, ten records were broken and two others tied as the Reds, boasting the number one units on offense and defense at the close of spring drills, romped past the Whites, 64-21. Powered by the running of Jeff Kinney and Gary Dixon and the pinpoint passing of Jerry Tagge and Steve Runty, the Reds marched to a 44-0 half-time lead.
One of the high points of the day came with 53 seconds left in the half when Joe Blahak broke loose on a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown. That broke the old record by 40 yards.
Of the records broken, eight were team records. Only Blahak’s punt return and Al Pieratt’s five PAT kicks were new individual marks. With that kind of balance and overall team strength, the 18,000 Big Red fans went home to mark each of the 127 days remaining until the 1971 season opener against Oregon, September 11.
Recap source: 1971 media guide
Game stories
Lincoln Journal Star
Daily Nebraskan
1971 schedule
1971 schedule
Team info