Flea Kicker

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'Flea Kicker'
Nebraska Cornhuskers Missouri Tigers (8-0) (6-3) 45 38 Head coach:  Tom Osborne Head coach:  Larry Smith AP 1 1 2 3 4 OT Total Nebraska 14 7 7 10 7 45 Missouri 7 17 7 7 0 38
Date	November 8, 1997
Stadium	Faurot Field
Location	Columbia, Missouri

In college football, the Flea Kicker was a controversial play executed by the Nebraska Cornhuskers against the Missouri Tigers on November 8, 1997 that sent the game into overtime and resulted in a win for the Cornhuskers who went on to win a share of the NCAA Division I-A National Championship.

Contents 1 Background 2 The play 3 Aftermath 4 Significance 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Background

The Cornhuskers, who had won national championships for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, went into the game with a 8-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll^[1]. They had only given up seven points in their last three games and had beaten the Tigers eighteen straight times^[2]. The Tigers were unranked with a 6-3 record, and in the school’s history, had never beaten a No. 1 ranked team.^[2]

[edit] The play

In the fourth quarter, Tigers quarterback Corby Jones completed a pass to Eddie Brooks to give Missouri a 38-31 lead, giving Mizzou fans hope that they would beat Nebraska for the first time since the 1970s and moving then-coach Larry Smith to tears. The Huskers took possession after the kickoff on their own 33-yard line with 1:02 remaining. In less than a minute, the Huskers moved the ball 55 yards. The Huskers were on the Missouri 12-yard line with only seven seconds remaining when Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost threw a pass intended for wingback Shevin Wiggins. Wiggins bobbled the ball near the goal line and Missouri safety Julian Jones tackled him as time expired. As Wiggins fell, his leg popped up, kicking the ball into the air. Cornhuskers receiver Matt Davison dived for the ball, his hands scraping the turf as he managed to make the catch in the endzone for a touchdown. Missouri fans stormed the field in celebration, thinking they had won and the game was over.

The play could have resulted in a 15-yard penalty (illegal kick) if officials had considered the kick intentional. Instead, they ruled the catch a touchdown. Once fans were cleared from the field, Kris Brown kicked the extra point for Nebraska sending the game into overtime. In overtime Frost ran for a touchdown and Jones was sacked on 4th and seven by Grant Wistrom to give Nebraska a 45-38 win.^{[3] [4]}

[edit] Aftermath

Missouri finished the season 7-5 with a loss to Colorado State in the Holiday Bowl.

Nebraska dropped to No. 3 in the AP Poll the following week, but they were still undefeated, and national title hopes were still alive. The Cornhuskers defeated Iowa State and Colorado in the last two games of the regular season and beat Texas A&M 54-15 in the Big 12 Championship Game. Nebraska went on to defeat No. 3 Tennessee 42-17 in the Orange Bowl to finish the season 13-0. The Cornhuskers had a No. 1 ranking in the Coaches Poll, giving them a third national championship in four seasons^[5]. However, they had to split the championship with the 12-0 Michigan Wolverines who defeated No. 8 Washington State 21-16 in the Rose Bowl Game and ended the season topping the AP Poll.

[edit] Significance

The Flea Kicker was ranked No. 11 on The Best Damn Sports Show Period's list of Top 50 Amazing Catches.

[edit] See also

• Fifth Down Game (1990)

[edit] References