1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Fiesta Bowl vs. #3 Florida State, L 28–31
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#6
AP	#6
1987 record	10–2 (6–1 Big 8)
Head coach	Tom Osborne (15th year)
Offensive coordinator	Tom Osborne (18th year)
Offensive scheme	I formation
Defensive coordinator	Charlie McBride (7th year)
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 73,650)

1987 Big 8 football standings
	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
#3 Oklahoma $	7	–	0	–	0	11	–	1	–	0
#6 Nebraska	6	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
#11 Oklahoma State	5	–	2	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
Colorado	4	–	3	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
Missouri	3	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Iowa State	2	–	5	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Kansas	0	–	6	–	1	1	–	9	–	1
Kansas State	0	–	6	–	1	0	–	10	–	1

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Schedule

^[1]

Date	Time	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	1:30 PM	Utah State*	#2	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE		W 56–12	75,910
September 12	4:00 PM	#3 UCLA*	#2	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE	ESPN	W 42–33	76,313
September 26	2:30 PM	at #12 Arizona State*	#2	Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ	ABC	W 35–28	71,264
October 3	3:00 PM	South Carolina*	#2	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE	ESPN	W 30–21	76,061
October 10	1:30 PM	Kansas	#2	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE		W 54–2	76,053
October 17	1:30 PM	at #12 Oklahoma State	#2	Lewis Field • Stillwater, OK	CBS	W 35–0	50,440
October 24	1:30 PM	Kansas State	#2	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE		W 56–3	76,106
October 31	1:30 PM	at Missouri	#2	Faurot Field • Columbia, MO		W 42–7	55,594
November 7	1:30 PM	Iowa State	#2	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE		W 42–3	76,001
November 21	2:30 PM	#2 Oklahoma	#1	Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE	CBS	L 7–17	76,663
November 28	3:00 PM	at Colorado	#5	Folsom Field • Boulder, CO	ESPN	W 24–7	52,026
January 1	12:30 PM	vs. #3 Florida State*	#5	Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl)	NBC	L 28–31	72,112
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Roster and coaching staff

1987 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster

Players Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
C	`59`	Anderson, JeffJeff Anderson	3.0 !So
C	`53`	Antonietti, MarkMark Antonietti	5.0 !Jr
OG	`58`	Arneson, R.G.R.G. Arneson	3.0 !So
SE	`81`	Bahe, ChipChip Bahe	3.0 !So
TE	`87`	Banderas, TomTom Banderas	57.0 !Sr
WB	`18`	Behrens, VanceVance Behrens	57.0 !Sr
WB	`21`	Bell, RichardRichard Bell	3.0 !So
QB	`12`	Blakeman, CleteClete Blakeman	57.0 !Sr
OT	`69`	Bobbora, BillBill Bobbora	3.0 !So
WB	`33`	Brinson, DanaDana Brinson	5.0 !Jr
FB	`29`	Carpenter, BryanBryan Carpenter	5.0 !Jr
IB	`32`	Clark, KenKen Clark	3.0 !So
IB	`1`	Coleman, RayRay Coleman	5.0 !Jr
FB	`45`	Dalton, DougDoug Dalton	57.0 !Sr
QB	`14`	Dunlap, JerryJerry Dunlap	3.0 !So
OT	`77`	Ernest, JimJim Ernest	5.0 !Jr
QB	`4`	Gdowski, GerryGerry Gdowski	3.0 !So
OT	`67`	Glaser, DougDoug Glaser	3.0 !So
OT	`73`	Green, DerrickDerrick Green	57.0 !Sr
SE	`19`	Gregory, MorganMorgan Gregory	3.0 !So
OG	`74`	Griffin, MikeMike Griffin	3.0 !So
WB	`82`	Hawkins, HendleyHendley Hawkins	57.0 !Sr
FB	`48`	Heibel, MicahMicah Heibel	57.0 !Sr
WB	`27`	Holscher, JimJim Holscher	57.0 !Sr
OT	`70`	Hudson, Corey BillCorey Bill Hudson	57.0 !Sr
IB	`6`	Jones, KeithKeith Jones	57.0 !Sr
OG	`65`	Keeler, AndyAndy Keeler	5.0 !Jr
IB	`40`	Kelley, JonJon Kelley	57.0 !Sr
FB	`34`	Knox, TyreeseTyreese Knox	5.0 !Jr
TE	`85`	Kratzenstein, MonteMonte Kratzenstein	3.0 !So
OT	`57`	Lightner, KevenKeven Lightner	57.0 !Sr
OG	`61`	McCormick, JohnJohn McCormick	57.0 !Sr
SE	`83`	McCoy, TimTim McCoy	3.0 !So
TE	`43`	Millikan, ToddTodd Millikan	5.0 !Jr
OG	`76`	Nelson, JohnJohn Nelson	5.0 !Jr
TE	`86`	Neubert, KeithKeith Neubert	57.0 !Sr
C	`63`	Nichols, JohnJohn Nichols	57.0 !Sr
C	`54`	O'Gara, ChrisChris O'Gara	3.0 !So
IB	`20`	Rodgers, TerryTerry Rodgers	3.0 !So
OG	`64`	Roschal, JohnJohn Roschal	3.0 !So
OT	`72`	Rother, BradBrad Rother	3.0 !So
FB	`25`	Schmidt, SamSam Schmidt	3.0 !So
WB	`2`	Sheppard, VonVon Sheppard	57.0 !Sr
OT	`62`	Sledge, BobBob Sledge	5.0 !Jr
SE	`88`	Smith, RodRod Smith	57.0 !Sr
OG		Strasheim, JohnJohn Strasheim
QB	`9`	Taylor, SteveSteve Taylor	5.0 !Jr
WB	`31`	Worden, JamieJamie Worden	5.0 !Jr
C	`68`	Young, JakeJake Young	3.0 !So

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
S	`23`	Blazek, MarkMark Blazek	5.0 !Jr
OLB	`81`	Broer, KurtKurt Broer	5.0 !Jr
DT	`95`	Brungardt, PaulPaul Brungardt	1.0 !Fr
LB	`49`	Caliendo, ChrisChris Caliendo	3.0 !So
CB	`7`	Clayton, McCathornMcCathorn Clayton	57.0 !Sr
SS	`17`	Cooper, ReggieReggie Cooper	1.0 !Fr
CB	`17`	Crippen, JonJon Crippen	1.0 !Fr
OLB	`88`	Croel, MikeMike Croel	1.0 !Fr
CB	`28`	Custard, JohnJohn Custard	5.0 !Jr
LB	`47`	Etienne, LeRoyLeRoy Etienne	5.0 !Jr
LB	`51`	Ferguson, BradBrad Ferguson	3.0 !So
LB	`38`	Forch, SteveSteve Forch	57.0 !Sr
CB	`10`	Fryar, CharlesCharles Fryar	5.0 !Jr
DT	`84`	Griffin, WillieWillie Griffin	5.0 !Jr
LB	`36`	Hansen, BobBob Hansen	3.0 !So
CB	`8`	Hicks, LorenzoLorenzo Hicks	5.0 !Jr
CB	`4`	Jackson, TimTim Jackson	5.0 !Jr
DE	`80`	Jamrog, JeffJeff Jamrog	57.0 !Sr
LB	`55`	Jobman, RandallRandall Jobman	3.0 !So
DT	`98`	Jones, LeeLee Jones	57.0 !Sr
CB	`5`	Lewis, TahaunTahaun Lewis	1.0 !Fr
DT	`94`	Long, JeffJeff Long	3.0 !So
DE	`93`	Marco, JonJon Marco	5.0 !Jr
S	`2`	McArdle, DanDan McArdle	3.0 !So
CB	`3`	McCallum, KurtKurt McCallum	3.0 !So
DE	`42`	Mills, JeffJeff Mills	3.0 !So
MG	`74`	Murray, MikeMike Murray	3.0 !So
DE	`90`	Opie, HarlanHarlan Opie	57.0 !Sr
DT	`97`	Palmer, TonyTony Palmer	57.0 !Sr
MG	`96`	Pete, LawrenceLawrence Pete	5.0 !Jr
MG	`92`	Putnam, SeanSean Putnam	5.0 !Jr
S	`18`	Richman, JohnJohn Richman	3.0 !So
DT	`78`	Rother, TimTim Rother	57.0 !Sr
S	`26`	Sanders, MarvinMarvin Sanders	3.0 !So
DT	`66`	Skradis, KurtKurt Skradis	5.0 !Jr
DT	`99`	Smith, NeilNeil Smith	57.0 !Sr
DE	`56`	Stanard, SteveSteve Stanard	5.0 !Jr
DE	`89`	Thomas, BroderickBroderick Thomas	5.0 !Jr
S	`11`	Tomjack, JeffJeff Tomjack	57.0 !Sr
DT	`75`	Valladao, RayRay Valladao	3.0 !So
S	`41`	Vampola, ScottScott Vampola	3.0 !So
CB	`27`	Walker, CartierCartier Walker	5.0 !Jr
DE	`83`	Walker, KennyKenny Walker	3.0 !So
S	`5`	Washington, BrianBrian Washington	57.0 !Sr
MG	`91`	Wells, KentKent Wells	3.0 !So
LB	`37`	Welniak, DougDoug Welniak	57.0 !Sr
S	`1`	Wendland, RickRick Wendland	3.0 !So
LB	`24`	Wiley, DanteDante Wiley	5.0 !Jr
S	`15`	Wooten, WendellWendell Wooten	5.0 !Jr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
PK	`44`	Barrios, GreggGregg Barrios	3.0 !So
PK	`39`	Cheloha, DaveDave Cheloha	5.0 !Jr
PK	`16`	Drennan, ChrisChris Drennan	3.0 !So
P	`46`	Kroeker, JohnJohn Kroeker	5.0 !Jr
P/PK	`13`	Schnitzler, CraigCraig Schnitzler	57.0 !Sr

Head coach

Tom Osborne
   15th season
   24th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Nebraska

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Charlie McBride
   7th season as DC/LB coach
   11th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Colorado
Ron Brown
   1st season as WR/TE coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Brown
Dan Young
   5th season as OL/K coach
   5th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Reed
Milt Tenopir
   14th season as OL coach
   14th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Sterling
Tony Samuel
   2nd season as OLB coach
   2nd year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Nebraska
George Darlington
   DB coach
   15th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Rutgers
Frank Solich
   5th season as RB coach
   9th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Nebraska
Boyd Epley
   19th season as S&C coach
   19th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Nebraska
Jack Pierce
9th year at Nebraska
John Melton
   15th season as TE/WB coach
   26th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Wyoming

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2011-01-17

Game notes

Utah State

Utah State at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah State	0	3	3	6	12
• Nebraska	7	21	21	7	56

Date: 1987-09-05
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 75,910

Nebraska QB Steve Taylor rushed for 157 yards, breaking a 35-year-old Cornhusker quarterback record, and Nebraska returned two punts for touchdowns, tying its own Big 8 record. Nebraska rolled over Utah State with 515 rushing yards while holding the Aggies to -1 yard.

UCLA

UCLA at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
UCLA	7	3	7	16	33
• Nebraska	0	14	14	14	42

Date: 1987-09-12
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,313

Memorial Stadium recorded its 150th consecutive sellout as #2 Nebraska defeated #3 UCLA. This was the first time two teams from the Top 3 had played in Lincoln. Nebraska QB Steve Taylor's five TD passes tied a Big 8 record set in 1938.

Arizona State

Nebraska at Arizona State [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Nebraska	0	14	7	14	35
Arizona State	0	6	15	7	28

Date: 1987-09-26
Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Game attendance: 71,264

Following a late ASU game-tying score resulting from a fumble by Nebraska QB Steve Taylor, Nebraska IB Keith Jones tore off a 62-yard run with 3:37 remaining to set up the winning series as Nebraska triumphed over the #12 Sun Devils.

South Carolina

South Carolina at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
South Carolina	0	7	14	0	21
• Nebraska	3	10	0	17	30

Date: 1987-10-03
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,061

South Carolina was leading 21-13 in the 3rd as Nebraska QB Steve Taylor left the game with a shoulder injury. After that, Nebraska regained the momentum, holding the Gamecocks to just 9 yards total, recovering a fumble to set up a score, and adding a late interception and field goal to put up the win.

Kansas

Kansas at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Kansas	0	0	0	2	2
• Nebraska	17	10	14	13	54

Date: 1987-10-10
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,053

Nebraska cruised against a weak Kansas team, as Nebraska QB Clete Blakeman filled in for injured starting QB Steve Taylor.

Oklahoma State

Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Nebraska	7	14	7	7	35
Oklahoma State	0	0	0	0	0

Date: 1987-10-17
Location: Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Game attendance: 54,440

Nebraska continued their 26-year winning streak against the Cowboys, putting a stop to #12 Oklahoma State's best start and best winning streak since 1945. Cowboys RB Thurman Thomas, at that time the NCAA rushing leader, was held to just 7 yards in 9 carries.

Kansas State

Kansas State at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Kansas State	0	3	0	0	3
• Nebraska	21	14	14	7	56

Date: 1987-10-24
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,106

Nebraska secured their 26th consecutive winning season, tying the NCAA record, and rolled up 459 rushing yards using 17 rushing players, while the Cornhusker defense prevented a touchdown for the third game in a row.

Missouri

Nebraska at Missouri [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Nebraska	7	21	7	7	42
Missouri	0	7	0	0	7

Date: 1987-10-31
Location: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
Game attendance: 55,594

The NCAA touchdown pass record from 1938 was tied by Nebraska for the second time in this season as the Cornhusker offense scored in all four quarters for the 4th game in a row, though the defense finally allowed their first touchdown in 15 quarters.

Iowa State

Iowa State at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa State	0	0	3	0	3
• Nebraska	14	14	7	7	42

Date: 1987-11-07
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,001

The Cornhuskers locked up their 19th consecutive 9-win season while piling up 666 total yards of offense as they rocketed to a 28-0 halftime lead before coasting to another win.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma at Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Oklahoma	0	0	14	3	17
Nebraska	7	0	0	0	7

Date: 1987-11-21
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game attendance: 76,663

Billed as "Game of the Century II", this first-ever #1 vs. #2 matchup in Memorial Stadium brought a halt to the Cornhuskers' title hopes. Nebraska had taken away Oklahoma's #1 ranking before this game, and gave it back as the Cornhuskers struggled to move the ball after their first and only score. The Sooners went on to win their 4th straight Big 8 Championship.

Colorado

Nebraska at Colorado [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Nebraska	0	10	7	7	24
Colorado	0	0	7	0	7

Date: 1987-11-28
Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado
Game attendance: 52,026

Scoring summary

2	13:54	NEB	Steve Taylor 5-yard run (Chris Drennan kick)	NEB 7-0

2	3:41	NEB	Chris Drennan 50-yard field goal	NEB 10-0

3	11:54	NEB	Keith Jones 50-yard run (Chris Drennan kick)	NEB 17-0

3	4:57	COL	George Hemingway 4-yard pass from Mark Hatcher (David DeLine kick)	NEB 17-7

4	9:34	NEB	Keith Jones 44-yard run (Chris Drennan kick)	NEB 24-7

Nebraska recovered from the Oklahoma loss and obtained their revenge for last year's loss to Colorado by taking out their frustrations on the Buffaloes in Boulder. Nebraska IB Keith Jones' 248 yards lifted him into a career 3rd-place ranking among Cornhusker runners.

Florida State

Florida State vs Nebraska [box score]

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Florida State	0	21	3	7	31
Nebraska	14	0	14	0	28

Date: 1988-01-01
Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Game attendance: 72,112

Nebraska lost after leading by 4 midway through the 4th. A Seminole defender stripped the ball from Nebraska IB Tyreese Knox as he ran in from the FSU 2, which set up a 97-yard FSU march for the winning touchdown with 3:07 left to play.

Rankings

Ranking Movement
Poll	Pre	Wk 1	Wk 2	Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5	Wk 6	Wk 7	Wk 8	Wk 9	Wk 10	Wk 11	Wk 12	Wk 13	Wk 14	Final
AP	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	5	5	5	6
Coaches																6

Awards

^[2]

Award	Name(s)
All-America 1st team	John McCormick, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas
All-Big 8 1st team	LeRoy Etienne, Steve Forch, Keith Jones, Kevin Lightner, John McCormick, Tim Rother, Neil Smith, Steve Taylor, Broderick Thomas
All-Big 8 2nd team	Tom Banderas, Charles Fryar, Bob Sledge, Rod Smith, Jake Young
All-Big 8 honorable mention	Mark Blazek, Lee Jones

NFL and pro players

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1987 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.^[3]

Name	Team
Richard Bell	Pittsburgh Steelers
Dana Brinson	San Diego Chargers
Ken Clark	Indianapolis Colts
Reggie Cooper	Dallas Cowboys
Mike Croel	Denver Broncos
LeRoy Etienne	San Francisco 49ers
Tim Jackson	Dallas Cowboys
Keith Jones	Cleveland Browns
Jeff Mills	San Diego Chargers
Keith Neubert	New York Jets
Lawrence Pete	Detroit Lions
Tim Rother	Los Angeles Raiders
Neil Smith	Kansas City Chiefs
Steve Taylor	Edmonton Eskimos
Broderick Thomas	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenny Walker	Denver Broncos
Brian Washington	Cleveland Browns
Kent Wells	New York Giants

References

↑ "Football - 1987 Schedule/Results". University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletics Department. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
↑ 1987 Husker Honors
↑ All Time NFL Huskers

Nebraska Cornhuskers football

Venues	Lincoln Park (1890–95) "M" Street Park (1894–96) Antelope Field (1897–1908) Nebraska Field (1909–22) Memorial Stadium (1923–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Colorado Iowa Miami Minnesota Missouri Oklahoma Texas Wisconsin

Culture & lore	Herbie Husker Lil' Red "Dear Old Nebraska U" "Hail Varsity" Marching band Blackshirts Origin of "Cornhuskers" 1939 Kansas State game 1971 Oklahoma game Fumblerooski 1982 Penn State game Flea Kicker Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass 1 Second Left

People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders

Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

National championship seasons in bold

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