T. Frazier
The Maestro. The Man.
“It was obvious before and it is unmistakable now: Frazier is the heart, soul, baton and megaphone on the nation’s best team.” — Mark Whicker, Orange County Register

 

“We knew we were going to have a tough time stopping Phillips. But I think we were surprised by the toughness of Frazier.” — Ben Hanks, Florida nickelbacker

 

“Frazier must now be considered one of the best big-game quarterbacks in college football history — its Joe Montana.” — Tim Layden, Sports Illustrated

 

“Three misconceptions went to dust in the desert … Tommie Frazier is not the best college player in the nation. Actually, Ohio State’s Eddie George got the Heisman Trophy, then damaged it in airport security. Maybe the little man on the trophy was just struggling to go to his master.” — Mark Whicker, Orange County Register

 

“The thing that Tommie brings to the game more than anybody else is a presence and a confidence and a competitiveness and an intelligence that very few players have.” — NU coach Tom Osborne

 

The great transformation
In October 1992, NU was mired in a nearly four-year-old slump during which it had not beaten a single Top 10 opponent and had won only once against a Top 20 foe. Then, an 18-year-old named Tommie Frazier took over at QB. Just a week later, the Top 10 drought was over, and before you knew it, Nebraska was a team that delivered in the big game. Sure, Frazier was just one of the contributors to the turnaround, but he seemed to show everyone else the way.

Here is how the Huskers and Frazier did games against AP-ranked teams after Frazier became the starter:

1992
NU 52, #8 Colorado 7 TF's 2nd start; 86 yds rush, 2 TD passes
NU 49, #13 Kansas 7 161 yds and 3 TDs passing
NU 14, #3 Florida St. 27 146 yds and 2 TDs passing

1993
NU 21, #20 Colorado 17 69 yds rush, 167 yds pass
NU 21, #16 Oklahoma 7 2 TDs run/pass
NU 16, #1 Florida St. 18 77 yds rush, 206 yds pass

1994
NU 31, #24 W. Virginia 0 130 yds rush, 100 yds pass, 4 TDs run/pass
NU 49, #13 UCLA 21 3 TDs run/pass
NU 24, #2 Colorado 7 Did not play -- injury
NU 17, #16 Kansas St. 6 Did not play -- injury
NU 24, #3 Miami 17 Game's MVP

1995
NU 49, #8 Kansas St. 25 4 TD passes
NU 44, #7 Colorado 21 241 yds pass, 3 TDs run/pass
NU 41, #10 Kansas 3 99 yds rush, 3 TDs run/pass
NU 62, #2 Florida 24 199 yds rush, 105 yds pass, 3 TDs run/pass

 
School records *

• Total offense, career (5,476 yards)
• Touchdown passes, career (43)
• Rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, career (36)
• Total offensive touchdowns, career (79)
• Rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, season (14)
• Rushing yards in a bowl game (199)**
• Total offense in a bowl game (304 yards)
• Longest touchdown run in a bowl game (75 yards)***

  * Some of his records have since been broken
** NCAA record for rushing yards by a QB in a bowl
*** ESPY college football play of the year | Video


Huskers.com bio
Video highlights

 

 

 
Major awards

• College Football Hall of Fame, 2013 class
• Football Writers 1995 First Team All American
• Walter Camp 1995 First Team All American
• Associated Press 1995 First Team All American
• United Press International 1995 First Team All American
• AFCA 1995 First Team All American
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award 1995
• Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year 1995
• TD Club of Columbus Quarterback of the Year 1995
• Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year 1995
• 1996 Fiesta Bowl Most Valuable Player
• 1994 and 1995 Orange Bowl Most Valuable Player
• 1992 Big Eight Freshman of the Year
• Sport magazine Top 10 Players of the Century