Eric Crouch became Nebraska’s all-time total offense leader in quarterbacking the fourth-ranked Huskers to a 21-7 victory over TCU in the 2001 Pigskin Classic.
Crouch rushed for 69 yards and a score on 24 carries, while completing 10 of 18 passes for 151 yards in sharing MVP honors. With his 220 yards of total offense, the senior from Omaha passed Tommie Frazier’s total of 5,476 set from 1992 to 1995.
I-back Thunder Collins rushed for 71 yards, scoring on runs of six and 26 yards, on 14 carries in his first career start.
While the Huskers amassed 310 yards of total offense against a team that led the nation in total defense last season, the Blackshirt defense allowed just 186 yards of total offense, including just 56 yards on the ground and six first downs.
Holding a narrow six-point lead midway through the third quarter, the Huskers started a drive at their own two-yard line and marched 98 yards in 10 plays to extend their lead to the final margin of 21-7. On the drive, Crouch broke free for a 42-yard run to the TCU 32, which set up Collins’ second score of the day, a 26-yard gallop with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Collins’ first touchdown of the day, a six-yard run, came on the Huskers’ first possession, as NU marched 70 yards on six plays in taking a 7-0 lead. Collins combined with Crouch for all 70 yards on the drive. Crouch set up the score with a 33-yard scamper deep into TCU territory.
The Horned Frogs wasted little time knotting the score as Casey Printers connected with Matt Schobel for a 67-yard touchdown pass. Printers eluded the Blackshirts’ pass rush, then reversed field before finding Schobel open behind the Nebraska defense.
Nebraska took a 13-7 lead with 1:27 remaining in the first quarter, as Crouch capped a 55-yard drive with a sneak from one yard. Crouch found wingback John Gibson for a 41-yard completion to the TCU 11, and NU scored three plays later.
It was a frustrating start to what the Big Red hopes is a special season with a home game-dominated schedule and a superstar like Crouch at the controls.
Colonel Mustard