2003 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 football 2003 Nebraska Cornhuskers Nebraska Cornhuskers logo, 1992–2003.svg 150 Big 12 Conference North Division Big 12 18 19 10–3 5–3 Frank Solich regular season 6th Bo Pelini interim; bowl game Barney Cotton 1st Bo Pelini 1st I formation 4–3 Memorial Stadium Alamo Bowl champion Alamo Bowl W 17–3 vs. Michigan State The 2003 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Frank Solich and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. After the Colorado game, Solich was fired as head coach. Defensive coordinator Bo Pelini served as interim head coach for the Alamo Bowl. By firing Frank Solich, Nebraska became the first Division I-A football team to fire a Head Coach immediately following a 9-3 season or better, without a recruiting scandal, or an NCAA investigation, or a sex scandal, or an academic cheating scandal, or some other equivalent scandal. Schedule 2003 AP Central August 30 2:30 pm w Oklahoma State 24 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 17–7 78,058 September 6 11:30 am w y 23 Utah State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE FSN 31–7 77,284 September 13 7:00 pm w y 18 Penn State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 18–10 78,008 September 25, 2003 6:45 pm w y y 15 Southern Miss M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS ESPN 38–14 36,125 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109317321/nebraska-goes-to-air-to-surprise-so-mis/ The Orlando Sentinel Nebraska goes to air to surprise So. Miss. September 26, 2003 September 10, 2022 Newspapers.com October 4 12:30 pm w y 12 Troy State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 30–0 77,825 October 11 6:00 pm l y 10 Missouri Faurot Field Columbia, MO rivalry TBS 24–41 68,349 October 18 11:30 am w y 18 Texas A&M Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE FSN 48–12 77,604 October 25 11:30 am w 14 Iowa State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry PPV 28–0 77,483 November 1 11:00 am l y 12 Texas 16 Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX ABC 7–31 83,308 November 8 2:30 pm w y 19 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS rivalry FSN 24–3 50,107 November 15 2:30 pm l 18 Kansas State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 9–38 78,014 November 28, 2003 11:00 am w y 25 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO rivalry ABC 31–22 53,434 December 29, 2003 8:00 pm w y y 22 Michigan State Alamodome San Antonio, TX Alamo Bowl ESPN 17–3 56,229 Football – 2003 Schedule/Results http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=3&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&Q_SEASON=2003 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Athletics May 14, 2009 February 7, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120207220009/http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=3&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&Q_SEASON=2003 dead Roster and coaching staff 2003 Nebraska Cornhuskers y Jake Andersen 71 OG J Matt Ankerson TE F Greg Austin 65 C F Brandon Biodrowski 38 WR J Andy Birkel 19 WR F Aaron Burbach OL F Brett Byford 59 OG F Joe Dailey 12 QB F Judd Davies 4 FB S C Josh Davis 1 IB S Darren DeLone 67 OG J Dan Erickson WR F Mike Erickson 78 OG J Isaiah Fluellen 28 WR RF Garth Glissman 17 QB SO Tierre Green 30 IB F Tim Green 72 OG S DeAntae Grixby 6 FB S Justin Haney 58 C RF Ben Hansen 36 IB F Matt Herian 11 TE SO Sean Hill TE F David Horne 9 IB SO Richie Incognito 51 OT SO y Joel Jackson 31 WR J Patrick Johnson TE F Dusty Keiser 47 TE J Tyler Kenney 49 WR RF John Knopp 46 TE SO Brandon Koch 75 OG SO Steve Kriewald 45 FB J Chris LeFlore WR F Mark LeFlore 10 WR SO Jermaine Leslie 66 OG RF Tim Liley 13 WR S Jack Limbaugh 63 C S Brett Lindstrom 15 QB S Newton Lingenfelter 74 OT RF Chris Loos 76 OT S Jammal Lord 5 QB S C y Kurt Mann 64 C RF Mike McLaughlin 18 WR SO Grant Miller 30 FB RF Robin Miller 21 IB S Zach Miller QB F Josh Mueller 81 TE F Grant Mulkey 84 WR RF Brian Nelson 61 OG S Jack O'Holleran 24 WR J Adam O'Rourke 86 TE RF Ryan Ommert 8 WR S Charlie Peacock OL F Phil Peetz 82 TE S J.B. Phillips 85 TE F Gary Pike 56 OT SO Ross Pilkington 2 WR SO Kade Pittman 25 WR F Nick Povendo 69 OT J Cory Ross 22 IB SO y Andy Sand TE F Carson Schott 54 OG SO Matt Schroeder 14 WR SO Ryan Schuler 70 OT F Chris Septak 83 TE J Josh Sewell 79 C S Alex Shada 80 TE J Scott Siegel FB F Jeff Speichinger OL F Dusty Stamer 35 WR J Seth Starkebaum 17 WR RF Mike Stuntz 16 QB J Junior Tagoa'i 55 OG S Cory Timm 57 OT RF Dane Todd 41 FB RF Dan Vili Waldrop 68 OT S Cody Volk 53 OT S Sam Wells 73 OT J Kiffin Wigert 20 WR J Andy Wingender 34 FB S Matthew Woodward 44 TE SO Ben Zajicek 3 WR J Titus Adams 96 DE SO y Willie Amos 27 RCB J Peter Atha 61 MIKE SO Ryon Bingham 59 NT S y Cole Biodrowski 16 CB SO Philip Bland 21 SS J Stewart Bradley 34 DE RF y Stewart Bradley (American football) Titus Brothers 12 LCB F Chris Bryant 65 DT RF Chad Buller 39 WILL S Daniel Bullocks 14 SS SO y Josh Bullocks 20 FS SO y Dan Burrow 36 FS J Terrell Butler 4 LCB S Adam Carriker 90 DE RF y Ira Cooper 11 BUCK J Donald DeFrand 6 CB SO Charlie Denman 48 BUCK SO Ben Eisenhart DB F Seppo Evwaraye 97 DT SO Anthony Fisher 62 NT RF Tyler Fisher 15 FS SO Jared Franzluebbers 41 WILL SO Travis Gingery DB F Brandon Greeson 99 NT RF Kevin Guse 26 CB S Jared Helming 73 NT SO T.J. Hollowell 2 BUCK S y Lannie Hopkins 40 WILL J Kellen Huston 29 CB J Adam Ickes 49 WILL SO Trevor Johnson 88 DE S C y Trevor Johnson (American football) Patrick Kabongo 94 DT S y Nathan Krug 95 DT SO Kristopher Lewin 43 BUCK RF Jason Lohr 70 NT S Kevin Luhrs DE F Derek Matteo 32 FS J Jeff McBride 50 DE J Corey McKeon 13 WILL F Lornell McPherson 1 RCB J Jay Moore 44 DE RF y Wali Muhammad 57 DE SO Trevor Neemann 56 DE F Matt O'Shea 63 NT SO Chris Patrick Chris Patrick (gridiron football) 98 DE F y Jerrell Pippens 31 FS S y Andy Poulosky DE F Mitch Reeves 53 MIKE RF Thomas Rice DE F Pat Ricketts 28 RCB S Brandon Rigoni 24 SS RF Joey Robison 30 CB SO Bo Ruud 51 BUCK F y Barrett Ruud 38 MIKE J y Steve Safranek 42 MIKE S Andrew Shanle 8 CB RF Matt Shrader 76 DT J Shane Siegel 23 SS SO Chad Sievers 54 MIKE J Le Kevin Smith 66 DT SO y Brandon Teamer 74 DT F Benard Thomas 5 DE J Fred Thorne 10 CB S Blake Tiedtke 25 SS SO Tyler Toline 93 DE J Curt Tomasevicz 35 MIKE S y Curtis Tomasevicz Fabian Washington 3 LCB SO y Seth White 33 CB S Delrick Williams 9 SS S Demorrio Williams 7 WILL S C y Sandro DeAngelis 22 PK J David Dyches 27 PK F Dale Endorf 32 PK S Tyler Kester P F Sam Koch 37 P SO y Kyle Larson 19 P S y Kyle Larson (American football) Eric Lueshen PK F Jared Nielsen PK F Jake Peetz LS F http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=4&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&Q_SEASON=2003 January 16, 2011 Frank Solich   6th season   25th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Turner Gill   1st season as AHC/QB coach   12th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Barney Cotton   1st season as OC/OL coach   1st year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Bo Pelini   1st season as DC/LB coach   1st year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Ohio State Tim Albin   1st season as RB/PG coach   1st year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Northwestern Oklahoma Ron Brown   1st season as WR coach   17th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Brown Scott Downing   1st season as TE/ST coach   4th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Sterling Jeff Jamrog   1st season as DL/DE coach   6th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Marvin Sanders   1st season as Sec coach   1st year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Jimmy Williams   1st season as LB coach   1st year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Boyd Epley   35th season as S&C coach   35th year at Nebraska   Alma mater: Nebraska Depth chart Pro-Set 4–3 Yes No Yes Jammal Lord Joe Dailey Cory Ross Josh Davis David Horne Judd Davies Steve Kriewald Mark LeFlore Jack O'Holleran Tim Liley Ross Pilkington Isaiah Fluellen Matt Herian Phil Peetz Dusty Keiser Richie Incognito Nick Povendo Mike Erickson Tim Green Josh Sewell Kurt Mann Jake Andersen Brandon Koch Dan Vil Waldrop Darren DeLone Demorrio Williams Chad Buller WEAK Barrett Ruud Chad Sievers MIDDLE T.J. Hollowell Ira Cooper STRONG Josh Bullocks Jerrell Pippens Daniel Bullocks Shane Siegel Fabian Washington Terrell Butler Pat Ricketts Lornell McPherson Benard Thomas Titus Adams Ryon Bingham Patrick Kabongo Le Kevin Smith Brandon Teamer Trevor Johnson Adam Carriker David Dyches Kyle Larson Josh Davis Josh Davis 110 90 No Game summaries Oklahoma State Oklahoma State at Nebraska [box score] Oklahoma State Nebraska 7 0 0 0 3 0 14 0 August 30 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 2:37 p.m. CST 78,058 Brad Nessler (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color), & Lynn Swann (Sideline) ABC Utah State Utah State at Nebraska [box score] Utah State Nebraska 7 0 0 0 6 9 13 3 September 6 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 11:40 a.m. CST 77,284 Joel Meyers (Play-by-play), Dave Lapham (Color), & Jim Knox (Sideline) FSN Penn State Penn State at Nebraska [box score] Penn State Nebraska 0 10 0 0 3 6 6 3 September 13 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 7:07 p.m. CST 78,008 Brad Nessler (Play-by-play), Bob Griese (Color), & Lynn Swann (Sideline) ABC Southern Miss Nebraska at Southern Miss [box score] Nebraska Southern Miss 17 0 14 7 0 7 0 7 September 25 M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 6:45 p.m. CST 36,125 Mike Tirico (Play-by-play), Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit (Colors), & Dr. Jerry Punch (Sideline) ESPN Troy State Troy State at Nebraska [box score] Troy State Nebraska 0 0 0 0 3 7 13 7 October 4 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 12:30 p.m. CST 77,825 Missouri Nebraska at Missouri [box score] Nebraska Missouri 7 3 14 0 7 7 0 27 October 11 Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri 6:10 p.m. CST 68,349 Ron Thulin (Play-by-play), Charles Davis (Color), Erin Andrews, & Craig Sager (Sidelines) TBS Texas A&M Texas A&M at Nebraska [box score] Texas A&M Nebraska 3 0 3 6 20 0 14 14 October 18 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 11:40 a.m. CST 77,604 Bill Land (Play-by-play), Dave Lapham (Color), & Jim Knox (Sideline) FSN Iowa State Iowa State at Nebraska [box score] Iowa State Nebraska 0 0 0 0 21 7 0 0 October 25 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 11:40 a.m. CST 77,483 Dave Armstrong (Play-by-play), Eric Crouch (Color), & Bill Doleman (Sideline) PPV Texas Nebraska at Texas [box score] Nebraska Texas 0 0 0 7 7 7 3 14 November 1 Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas 11:10 a.m. CST 83,308 Gary Thorne (Play-by-play) and David Norrie (Color) ABC Kansas Nebraska at Kansas [box score] Nebraska Kansas 3 7 7 7 0 3 0 0 November 8 Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas 2:40 p.m. CST 50,107 Bill Land (Play-by-play), Gary Reasons (Color), & John Rhadigan (Sideline) FSN Kansas State Kansas State at Nebraska [box score] Kansas State Nebraska 7 0 10 21 0 7 0 2 November 15 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 2:36 p.m. CST 78,014 Brent Musburger (Play-by-play), Gary Danielson (Color), & Jack Arute (Sideline) ABC Colorado Nebraska at Colorado [box score] Nebraska Colorado 7 14 0 10 7 9 6 0 November 28 Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado 11:10 a.m. CST 53,434 Keith Jackson (Play-by-play), Dan Fouts (Color), & Todd Harris (Sideline) ABC Michigan State Michigan State vs Nebraska [box score] Michigan State Nebraska 3 0 0 0 3 14 0 0 December 29 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas 8:05 p.m. CST 56,229 Mike Tirico (Play-by-play), Lee Corso Kirk Herbstreit (Colors), & Dr. Jerry Punch (Sideline) ESPN Rankings 2003 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 17 RV RV* 23 18 15 15 12 10 19 14 12 19 18 23 25 23 22 19 Coaches Poll 0 17 RV RV 24 18 15 11 8 7 14 11 9 16 15 23 23 21 21 18 BCS 9 16 11 9 18 17 22 23 21 20 After the season Nebraska finished in 2nd place in the Big 12 North Division and tied for 4th conference-wide, with a final record of 10–3 (5–3). Prior to the season, Head Coach Frank Solich was feeling pressure to perform after a 7–7 (3–5) record the previous year (the first non-winning season since 1961), and had significantly revamped his coaching staff for 2003. Despite the sweeping changes and the improvements they brought, which helped Nebraska to another 9-win season, Solich was fired at the conclusion of the regular season. Defensive Coordinator Bo Pelini was named Interim Head Coach and led the Huskers to a 17–3 Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State. When new Head Coach Bill Callahan was announced in later weeks, most of the existing assistants (including Pelini) were also fired. Pelini would later return as Callahan's replacement in 2008. Awards 2003 Husker Honors http://www.huskermax.com/honors/honors_2003.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100102023956/http://huskerpedia.com/honors/honors_2003.html January 2, 2010 live May 15, 2009 Award Name(s) All-America 1st team Josh Bullocks, Kyle Larson All-America honorable mention Richie Incognito, Demorrio Williams All-Big 12 1st team Josh Bullocks, Matt Herian, Richie Incognito, Kyle Larson, Demorrio Williams All-Big 12 2nd team Ryon Bingham, Barrett Ruud All-Big 12 3rd team Fabian Washington All-Big 12 honorable mention Daniel Bullocks, Josh Davis, Mike Erickson, Isaiah Fluellen, T. J. Hollowell, Trevor Johnson, Jammal Lord, Josh Sewell, Dan Vili Waldrop NFL and pro players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 2003 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.All Time NFL Huskers http://nflhuskers.com/alltime.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090815013540/http://nflhuskers.com/alltime.html August 15, 2009 live May 15, 2009 Name Team Titus Adams New York Jets Ryon Bingham San Diego Chargers Stewart Bradley Philadelphia Eagles Daniel Bullocks Detroit Lions Josh Bullocks New Orleans Saints Adam Carriker St. Louis Rams Josh Davis New York Jets Aaron Golliday Scottish Claymores T. J. Hollowell New York Giants Richie Incognito St. Louis Rams Trevor Johnson New York Jets Patrick Kabongo Detroit Lions Sam Koch Baltimore Ravens Kyle Larson Cincinnati Bengals Jammal Lord Houston Texans Jay Moore San Francisco 49ers Chris Patrick New York Giants Jerrell Pippens Chicago Bears Andy Poulosky Sioux City Bandits Cory Ross Baltimore Ravens Barrett Ruud Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bo Ruud New England Patriots Le Kevin Smith New England Patriots Fabian Washington Oakland Raiders Demorrio Williams Atlanta Falcons References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Alamo Bowl champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football