Countdown to Husker Football Season: #12 - The Grace Of Turner Gill

by Jon Johnston on Aug 24, 2009 2:17 PM CDT in Nebraska Husker Football

I've been run over by a flu bug since posting the article about Quentin Castille, hence missing the postings on #14 and #13, which were, respectively two other quarterbacks, #14 Jerry Tagge and #13 Zac Taylor.

Coming in at #12 as we continue our countdown to the 2009 Husker football season is my favorite Husker player of all time - Turner Gill. Perhaps I was influenced by the fact that I saw him play live during my tenure at Nebraska, or perhaps it's the fact that I've heard heard Gill speak an ill word of others, nor heard an ill word said about him as well.

He never won a national title as a quarterback (oh, but for a two-point conversion), but Gill ran Tom Osborne's offense with a beauty and grace that has yet to be repeated. He had a 28-2 record as a starter, and was 20-0 against the rest of the Big Eight.

Gill did win national titles as an assistant coach, serving as the quarterbacks coach from 1992-2004, while tutoring greats Tommie Frazier, Scott Frost and Heisman winner Eric Crouch.

I believe that Gill will be a tough act to follow for some time to come - who's your favorite all-time Husker and why?

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I went to a small college in Nebraska, was bored, and was an angry bitter former houston oilers fan, who now hated football because my team was stolen, and then I turned on the TV, and saw Eric Crouch and the huskers play, and was hooked. I always kinda of think of Crouch when I think of the huskers.

by NinjaRehab on Aug 24, 2009 7:07 PM CDT reply actions

Frazier and Rozier

When I think of great players, I think of Tommie Frazier and Mike Rozier.

Rozier was tearing up the Miami defense in that National Championship game until he tore his ankle up. That was a real blow to the Nebraska offense, and I believe that if he hadn’t gotten hurt, Nebraska would have six National Championships.

Frazier was a magician with the ball. How many times I was watching Frazier because I thought he still had the ball is unknown to me. I never felt too bad though because he also usually fooled the cameraman as well!

The Minnesota Vikings - Undefeated in the Playoffs at Lambeau Field!

by BaldViking on Aug 24, 2009 8:11 PM CDT reply actions