Lincoln Journal Star: 1977 Nebraska vs. Alabama football retrospective
Sept 17, 1977, Nebraska 31, Alabama 24 Huskers shake off upset by stunning No. 4 Tide BY STEVE HILL Lnedn Journal Star The phrase most likely to be ‘-. ? uttered as 76,000 Nebraska fans left ‘ Memorial Stadium on Sept 17, 1977? ‘ Now, that’s more like it!. The Huskers, coming of f an : embarrassing loss to unranked -Washington State in the season and , home opener, responded by downing the Bear Bryant-coached Alabama , Crimson Tide 31-24. The victory over the No. 4-ranked Tide served as an t important confidence booster for a team that needed it after losing to the lightly regarded Cougars.;, Coach Tom Osborne emphasized the importance of the victory to his team in regard to the rest of the season. But he also acknowledged .the significance and personal s satisfaction of earning a win over a coaching legend. “To beat a team coached by Bear Bryant is a great feeling out of respect for him, not animosity,” . Osborne told reporters following the game. ‘ Osborne and the Huskers did it with several bold decisions on offense. ; ; … ‘ The boldest : Osborne spurned a ? cinch field goal with just over seven minutes to play and the score tied at 24. Instead, facing a f ourth-and-short near the goal line, Osborne called Rick Berns’ number. The I-back ‘ responded by diving over the pile for a touchdown and a 31-24 lead. The seven-point margin proved Coach Tom Osborne emphasized the importance of the victory to his team in regard to the rest of the season. . Cut he also acknowledged the significance and personal satisfaction of earning a win over a coaching legend. “To beat a team coached by Dear Bryant is a great feeling out of respect for him, hot animosity.” Osborne told reporters following the game. critical because it forced the wishbone-option prone Tide into a : passing attack. Husker cornerback Jim Pillen responded with two interceptions, preserving Osborne’s , first win over a top-five team. t … Osborne’s Nebraska teams went on to win another 11 games vs. top-. ‘ five teams and posted a 12-24 record against such opponents. In addition to the gutsy fourth down call, the supposedly .’ conservative Osborne pulled several other tricks out of his bag en route to ‘ the win. In one touchdown drive the Big Red used an I-back pass, a flea-flicker and, finally, a fake field goal But it was Alabama and Bryant that began the trickery. WithMJ leading 3-0 in the first ‘. . quarter, the Tide rolled 91 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. The key , . play in the drive came on a flea-flicker when running back Tony ‘ Nathan took a handoff then pitched the ball back to quarterback Jeff Rutledge, who hooked up with All- ; American split end Ozzie Newsome. on a 33-yard pass play.- .. – NU responded later in the quarter with the I-back pass from Berns to wingback Curtis Craig for 36 yards. Then quarterback Tom ; i -Sorley pitched the ball to Berns, who pitched it to split end Tim Smith, who pitched it back to Sorley. The v , ; California native then fired an ‘ 11-yard strike to tight end Ken ‘, – – Spaeth. But Sorley was hit as he : , released the ball reinjuring the , !’ right shoulder he had hurt in the ‘ previous week’s loss. – Quarterback Randy Garcia continued the drive, finally hitting “. paydirt when he completed a pass to – Berns on a fake field goaL -‘:.:rl.-