Where I Come From: Favorite Nebraska Teams

the 1994 team. That was my favorite too. I was actually at that Pacific game. A lot of people picked an upset for that K-State game, but if I recall the weather helped us out there, because it was so cold and raining. Their hotshot QB May (?) could never really get a rhythm going. Who could stop The Turmanator! When we won the Orange Bowl vs. Miami, I was literally sitting there shaking. After everything that season, I couldn’t believe it had actually happened. Schlesinger barreling into the endzone will always be one of those iconic Husker images burned into my memory.

My favorite player of all time was Touchdown Tommie Frazier. I thought that guy could do anything. During The Run vs. Florida, I was sitting on the floor giggling uncontrollably. Who could have predicted such a route? Another play of his that stands out in my mind was in the 1995 game vs. Colorado when he was being rushed, got hit flush by a linebacker, still stood strong for a moment, and then delivered a perfect strike downfield. That #15 was Superman in my eyes.

I was a student at UNL in 1995, and what I remember most from that season was the bunker mentality that developed due to the intense media scrutiny of the entire program. Obviously, we all remember Lawrence Phillips and that mess, but what we often forget is how CBS and Armen Keteyian seemed to be out to tear down the program in its entirety, starting with Dr. Tom recruiting “cornvicts” like Phillips, Christian Peter and others.

I’m not excusing the terrible things some of those players did – just remembering what it was like at the time, because those of us on campus knew the program included lots of guys with far more good than bad. Brook Berringer, Grant Wistrom, the Mackovickas – those guys never got the credit they were due for being community leaders and folks who made a positive impact, and we knew it.

The thing that impressed me most about that team was they way they focused on what they could control. With all the circus going on around them, they beat the hell out of just about every opponent that year, no matter who was playing. Lawrence Phillips wasn’t even missed, even though he likely would have won the Heisman if his performance at Michigan State was any indication. Looking back, I’d say the only truly irreplaceable player on that team was Tommie Frazier, and even then Brook Berringer likely would have been good enough to get us through the season undefeated.

I don’t know if I’d say they’re a favorite – I could honestly say my favorite Huskers are the ones on the field right now. But they’re certainly an unforgettable team.

Truly every Husker loves the National Title teams (70, 71, 94, 95, 97) and even ones that were oh so close (Jon’s ‘83 pick). But I wasn’t even alive for some of those so I’m going to try something a little different and pick a team while I was going to school at UNL (‘01-’06).

With that, I’ve got to pick the ‘01 team. Even at the beginning of the year you felt added excitement from both a team standpoint and Heisman talk on Crouch. And as the year progressed it seems that things were falling into place. I didn’t get to see every game as a freshman that year (stupid freshman ticket lockout!) but I did get a chance to witness Crouch’s excellence in both the MIssouri and Oklahoma games that year. Even though the end of the year didn’t pan out like all Husker fans wanted I’m still happy at least we added another trophy to the case in terms of Crouch’s heart and determination while playing for NU.

I know that the teams the next two years won titles, but the 1993 team never, ever gave up. They were completely ignored by everyone until the last few weeks of the regular season (everyone was watching Notre Dame and Florida State), and came within a few feet of pulling off one of the great upset championships of all-time. The 94 and 95 teams finally one the big ones, but the “Refuse to Lose” team of 93 set the table for what was to come.