Countdown to Husker Football Season: #7 - Dale Klein Boots Seven Field Goals In A Game, October 19, 1985

Yesterday was not a good day for me, so #8 never got posted. #8 was, of course, the good ol' Big Eight conference. Oh, how we miss thee. Not really - the only thing that's missing is the annual game with Oklahoma - a big deal considering most Husker fans believe we no longer have a rivalry game. But what do you think would have happened to the Big Eight teams if they had not joined with the Texas half of the old Southwest Conference and formed the Big 12. 

We'd be nothing more than mid-majors now. That's a fact. 

Today is lucky number seven - ONE WEEK away from Husker football season! W00T! 

Scott Frost was #7 - but he's not the seven I chose. Instead, I'm going with the school record for the number of field goals in a game, set by Dale Klein in a win over Missouri on October 19, 1985. 

The Tigers were winless at 0-5 and on a nine-game winless streak as the Huskers came into Columbia. Nebraska had lost the home opener to Florida State 17-13, but had since been on a tear, squashing their next three opponents and then beating fifth-ranked Oklahoma State 34-24. There was nothing to indicate that Mizzou would put up a fight. 

Kicker Dale Klein had only kicked six field goals in his career going into the game, yet he tied a NCAA record by kicking five in the first half. The Husker offense could score only one touchdown but due to Klein's kicking escaped an upset, embarrassment, and left with a 28-20 victory. Klein's five field goals in a half stands as a NCAA record, as does his seven for the game, tied with Mike Prindle of Western Michigan who made seven in a game against Marshall in 1984. 

I remember my hometown newspaper editor writing an editorial stating that if that was how the Huskers had to win games, it'd be better if they'd not win them at all. Four of the seven field goals were over forty yards - maybe that old dolt should have tried to kick a 20 yarder without a rush just to get an idea of how hard it might be. 

Someone asked me during a radio interview a couple of weeks ago what kind of a weapon I thought Alex Henery would be this coming season. My first thought was that it would be best if Henery's services weren't used very often, but given the injury to Kody Spano and the dismissal of Quentin Castille, it's best not to get too cocky about the Husker offense. 

Alex Henery's accuracy does get Nebraska a nice weapon on special teams. I've stated previously my belief that this year's Husker team could resemble Virginia Tech - so we're potentially going to face a number of very tight games. 

This season the Huskers offense won't be manhandling their opponents, but our defense should keep us in every game. Should one or two come down to seven field goals, five or more in a half, I'm not going to complain about it too much.

A win is a win, just the same as it was in Missouri nearly 24 years ago, and the Huskers are going to have to get them any way they can.