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1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

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Conference
  
Big 12 Conference

Coaches
  
No. 1

1997 record
  
13–0 (8–0 Big 12)

Division
  
North Division

AP
  
No. 2

Head coach
  
Tom Osborne (25th year)

The 1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. There was controversy over whether this team should have been declared National Champions after finishing the season unbeaten.

Contents

Statistics

  • QB Scott Frost: 88/159 (55.3%) for 1,237 yards (7.80) with 5 TD vs. 4 INT (2.52%). 176 carries for 1,095 yards (6.22) and 19 TD.
  • RB Ahman Green: 278 carries for 1,877 yards (6.75) with 22 TD. 16 catches for 151 yards and 0 TD.
  • FB Joel Makovicka: 105 carries for 685 yards (6.52) and 9 TD.
  • RB Correll Buckhalter: 54 carries for 311 yards (5.76) and 6 TD.
  • WR Lance Brown: 12 catches for 226 yards (18.83) and 0 TD.
  • WR Matt Davison: 10 catches for 219 yards (21.90) and 1 TD.

    • After the season

    Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne announced his retirement just prior to the 1998 Orange bowl, capping a remarkable career of success. The #2 Cornhuskers handily defeated the #3 Tennessee Volunteers 42-17, while #1 Michigan defeated #7 Washington State team 21-16. In postgame coverage on the field, Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost openly lobbied Coaches' Poll voters for support based on performance comparisons between Nebraska and Michigan, also mentioning Osborne's retirement. The voters apparently agreed, as Nebraska was ranked #1 in the final Coaches' Poll, while Michigan retained their pre-bowl #1 ranking in the AP Poll, creating a split National Championship. The 1997 Huskers set an NCAA record that still stands by scoring an average of 5.5 rushing touchdowns per game (66 rushing touchdowns in twelve games, not including the six scored in the Orange Bowl).

    NFL and pro players

    The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1997 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.

    References

    1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA