1984 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1984 Nebraska Cornhuskers football Big Eight Conference Big 8 3 4 10–2 6–1 Tom Osborne 12th I formation Charlie McBride 4th 5–2 Memorial Stadium Big 8 co-championSugar Bowl champion Sugar Bowl W 28–10 vs. LSU The 1984 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1984 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 1984 AP Central September 8 1:30 pm w y 2 Wyoming Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 42–7 76,125 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-nebraska-steamrolls-w/170135898/ The Salina Journal Nebraska steamrolls Wyoming, 42–7 September 9, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 15 1:30 pm w y 1 Minnesota Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 38–7 76,077 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-husker-offe/170177989/ The Grand Island Independent Husker offense waves goodbye to Gophers September 16, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 22 2:30 pm w y y 1 UCLA 8 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA CBS 42–3 71,355 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-cornhuskers-troun/170139044/ The Sioux City Journal Cornhuskers trounce UCLA, 42–3 September 23, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 29 11:00 am l y y 1 Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY USA 9–17 47,280 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-syracuse-shocks-no-1-nebra/166832692/ Star Tribune Syracuse shocks No. 1 Nebraska September 30, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 6 2:30 pm w y 8 Oklahoma State 9 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 17–3 76,368 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-cornhuskers-lasso-co/170188791/ The Palm Beach Post Cornhuskers lasso Cowboys again, 17–3 October 7, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 13 1:30 pm w 6 Missouri Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry USA 33–23 76,319 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-nebraska-manhand/170187562/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Nebraska manhandles Missouri, 33–23 October 14, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 20 2:30 pm w y 5 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO rivalry 24–7 52,124 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-lackluster-nu-rall/170185897/ The Daily Nonpareil 'Lackluster' NU rallies for victory over Buffs October 21, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 27 1:30 pm w 4 Kansas State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 62–14 76,068 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-nebraska-blasts-kansas-state/170187086/ The State Nebraska blasts Kansas State, moves into lead in Big Eight October 28, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 3 1:30 pm w y 3 Iowa State Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA rivalry 44–0 52,919 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-husker-defense-too-m/170185382/ The Daily Nonpareil Husker defense too much for Cyclones November 4, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 10 1:30 pm w y 2 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS rivalry 41–7 50,653 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-nebraska-stuffs-kansas-e/170188398/ The Clarion-Ledger Nebraska stuffs Kansas, eyes No. 1 ranking, Oklahoma November 11, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 17 2:30 pm l 1 Oklahoma 6 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 7–17 76,323 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-sooners-shuck-huskers-177/170189332/ Tulsa World Sooners shuck Huskers, 17–7 November 18, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1. 1985, 1985 7:00 pm w y y 5 LSU 12 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 28–10 75,608 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-osborne-says-victory/134620613/ Omaha World-Herald Osborne says victory extra sweet January 2, 1985 November 4, 2023 Newspapers.com Roster http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&SPID=22&SPSID=4 Nebraska 1984 Roster June 1, 2009 March 4, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090304053341/http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&SPID=22&SPSID=4 dead Nebraska 1984 Commitments http://www.huskermax.com/recruits/1984.html https://web.archive.org/web/20090521091420/http://www.huskerpedia.com/recruits/1984.html May 21, 2009 live June 1, 2009 Anderson, Paul (So.) FB Augustyn, Joe (So.) TE Bailey, Dan (So.) OG Banderas, Tom #83 (So.) TE Behning, Mark #73 (Sr.) OT Behrens, Vance (So.) WB Biggers, Kevin #13 (Sr.) MON Blakeman, Clete #16 (Fr.) QB Blankenship, Brian #70 (Jr.) OG Bourn, Don #92 (Sr.) TE Bourne, David (So.) DE Bryan, Dave (So.) OT Bunger, Jon #97 (Jr.) DT Burke, Dave #33 (Sr.) CB Carl, Mike #42 (So.) CB Carpenter, Todd (So.) OT Carr, Chris #37 (So.) S Cartwright, Charlie #31 (So.) MON Casterline, Dan #24 (Jr.) MON Chealey, Gene (So.) CB Clark, Bret #10 (Sr.) S Clayton, McCathorn (So.) QB Cooper, Mark #54 (So.) C Daffer, Chad #46 (Jr.) LB Daum, Mark #51 (Sr.) LB Demmel, Tom (So.) PK Diaz, Mark (So.) MON Dietz, Dave #98 (Jr.) TE Dittmer, Jim #59 (Jr.) OT Douglas, Don (So.) QB DuBose, Doug #22 (So.) IB Fisher, Todd #6 (Jr.) MON Forch, Steve #38 (So.) LB Frain, Todd #80 (Jr.) TE Galois, Ron (So.) OG Gamble, Jason #86 (Fr.) SE Gangwish, Paul (Sr.) DE Gatson, Pernell (So.) WB Graeber, Ken #52 (Sr.) MG Green, Derrick (So.) OT Greene, Ricky #5 (Sr.) CB Grimminger, Harry #58 (Sr.) OG Haecker, Kelly (So.) CB Hall, Mike (So.) TE Harris, Neil #11 (Sr.) CB Hawkins, Hendley (So.) QB Hedlund, Mike (So.) FB Heibel, Micah (So.) FB Hiemer, Brian #94 (Sr.) TE Hill, Scott (So.) DB Hoefler, Mike #59 (So.) OG Holloway, Tony #43 (So.) DE Holscher, Jim (So.) WB Hoskins, Thurman #32 (So.) IB Jamrog, Jeff (So.) DE Johnson, Brad #64 (So.) OT Jones, Keith #6 (Fr.) IB Jones, Lee #98 (So.) DT Kaelin, Ken #49 (So.) FB Kelley, Jon (Fr.) IB Kimball, Scott #88 (Sr.) SE King, Scott (So.) CB Kingston, Bob #37 (Jr.) IB Klein, Dale (So.) PK Knox, Mike #44 (Sr.) LB Kreikemeier, Keith (Jr.) OG LeCompte, Butch (So.) OT Lewis, Bill #68 (Jr.) C Lightner, Keven #66 (Fr.) OG Lindstrom, Roger #23 (Jr.) WB Livingston, Scott #48 (Sr.) PK Macias, Bill #78 (So.) OT Maggard, Rob #72 (So.) OT Mattingly, Tom (So.) S McCashland, Mike #2 (Sr.) MON McCormick, John #61 (So.) OG McCoy, Dan #40 (Jr.) LB Miles, Paul #21 (Jr.) IB Mlinar, Jerry (So.) QB Moore, Brian (Jr.) TE Moritz, Mike (So.) C Morrow, Tom #77 (Jr.) OT Mullins, Marty (So.) SE Munford, Marc #41 (So.) LB Nelson, Ray (So.) WB Nichols, John #55 (So.) C Noel, Jack #56 (Jr.) C Noonan, Danny #97 (So.) DT Olson, Todd #63 (So.) OG Opie, Harlan (So.) DE Orton, Greg #67 (Sr.) OG Otte, Mike (So.) SE Paige, Woody #9 (Jr.) CB Palmer, Tony (So.) DT Parker, Paul (So.) CB Parker, Stan #74 (So.) OG Parsons, Kevin #35 (So.) LB Pokorny, Brian #18 (Jr.) CB Porter, Scott #36 (Sr.) FB Proffitt, Todd #34 (Jr.) LB Rathman, Tom #26 (Jr.) FB Reeves, Gregg #84 (Jr.) DE Reinhardt, John #62 (Sr.) MG Reynolds, Rod #93 (Jr.) DT Rogers, Phil (Jr.) MG Roth, Tim #65 (Jr.) OT Rother, Tim (So.) OT Rozier, Guy #4 (Jr.) MON Schaaf, Jim (So.) OG Schneider, Dave #1 (Jr.) PK Schneider, Gary #3 (Jr.) CB Schnitzler, Craig #13 (So.) PK Schnitzler, Robb #85 (So.) SE Schoettger, Scott (Sr.) SE Sellentin, Jeff (So.) OG Shaw, Pat (So.) LB Shead, Ken #99 (Jr.) MG Sheppard, Von #7 (So.) WB Siebler, Bryan #19 (So.) S Skow, Jim #96 (Jr.) DT Smith, Brad #81 (Jr.) DE Smith, Jeff #28 (Sr.) IB Smith, Rod (So.) SE Spachman, Chris #76 (So.) DT Storer, Lance (So.) OG Strasburger, Matt (So.) S Strasburger, Scott #90 (Sr.) DE Stuckey, Rob #75 (Sr.) DT Sundberg, Craig #15 (Sr.) QB Swanson, Shane #17 (Sr.) WB Taylor, Jeff #12 (So.) QB Tenopir, Todd (So.) PK Thayer, Dan (So.) S Thomas, Anthony #53 (Sr.) OG Thomas, Stephen (So.) MG Thompson, Jim #39 (Sr.) WB Tomjack, Jeff (So.) MON Traynowicz, Mark #57 (Sr.) C Tucker, Scott #89 (Jr.) DE Turner, Travis #14 (Jr.) QB Tyrer, Brad (So.) DE Vinger, Eric (So.) PK Wade, Stanley #55 (Jr.) LB Washington, Brian #43 (Fr.) MON Watkins, Dennis #27 (Jr.) CB Weber, Bill #87 (Sr.) DE Weber, Scott (Jr.) DT Welniak, Doug (So.) LB Welter, Tom #69 (So.) OT Whyrick, Doug (So.) C Wingard, Dan #47 (Jr.) PK Yates, Rod #91 (Sr.) SE Yost, Scott (So.) SE Zierke, Mike #78 (Sr.) DT       Depth chart Pro-Set 5–2 Yes No Yes Craig Sundberg Travis Turner Clete Blakeman Doug Dubose Jeff Smith Keith Jones Paul Miles Tom Rathman Scott Porter Ken Kaelin Scott Kimball Jason Gamble Robb Schnitzler SE Shane Swanson Jim Thompson Pernell Gatson WB Brian Hiemre Todd Frain Don Bourn Mark Behning Tim Roth Todd Carpenter Harry Grimminger Anthony Thomas John McCormick Mark Traynowicz Bill Lewis Mark Cooper Greg Orton Stan Parker Mike Hoefler Tom Morrow Tom Welter Rob Maggard Marc Munford Chad Daffer Steve Forch INSDIE Mark Daum Kevin Parsons Todd Proffitt INSDIE Bret Clark Chris Carr Todd Fisher Mike Mccashland Charlie Cartwright Brian Washington MONSTER BACK Dave Burke Mike Carl Ricky Greene Dennis Watkins Neil Harris Brian Pokorny Scott Strasburger Brad Smith Scott Tucker Rob Stuckey Jim Skow Lee Jones Ken Graeber Ken Shead John Reinhardt Chris Spachman Danny Noonan Mike Zierke Bill Weber Greg Reeves Brad Tyrer Dale Klein Scott Livingston 110 88 No Coaching staff Name Title First yearin this position Years at Nebraska Alma materTom OsborneHead coachOffensive coordinator19731964–1997Hastings CollegeCharlie McBrideDefensive coordinator19811977–1999ColoradoCletus FischerOffensive Line 1960–1985NebraskaJohn MeltonLinebackers19731962–1988WyomingBoyd EpleyHead Strength Coach19691969–2003NebraskaGeorge DarlingtonDefensive Ends 1973–2002 RutgersMilt TenopirOffensive Line19741974–2002 SterlingGene HueyReceivers19771977–1986WyomingFrank SolichRunning Backs19831979–2003NebraskaJack Pierce 1979–1991Bob ThorntonSecondary19811981–1985NebraskaDan YoungOffensive LineKicking19831983–2002Reed College Game summaries Wyoming Wyoming at #2 Nebraska [box score] Wyoming #2 Nebraska 0 7 0 0 0 14 21 7 1984-09-08 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,125 Nebraska was forced to put extra effort in for the win after losing three of four first-half fumbles and giving up an interception, as Wyoming won the turnover battle 4–1. Minnesota Minnesota at #1 Nebraska [box score] Minnesota #1 Nebraska 0 0 0 7 0 21 10 7 1984-09-15 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,077 'Fumble-itis' continued to plague Nebraska, after the ball was put on the ground eight times, half of them lost to Minnesota. Still, the newly minted #1 Cornhuskers easily put away the turnover-free Golden Gophers with the help of 405 yards on the ground. UCLA #1 Nebraska at #8 UCLA [box score] #1 Nebraska #8 UCLA 6 15 7 14 0 0 3 0 1984-09-22 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California 12:30 p.m. PDT Jim Sprenger 71,355 CBS Gary Bender and Pat Haden Nebraska dominated UCLA in the new Rose Bowl home of the Bruins, handing them their worst loss in 14 years. The Cornhuskers recorded eight sacks while running up 42 points, while the offensive output of the Bruins netted only a 3rd quarter field goal. Syracuse #1 Nebraska at Syracuse [box score] #1 Nebraska Syracuse 7 0 0 2 0 3 7 7 1984-09-29 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York 12:30 p.m. EDT Raymond Bower 47,280 KATZ Curt Gowdy and Len Dawson Unranked Syracuse, coming off a 0–19 shutout loss against Rutgers at home the week prior, severely embarrassed the #1 Cornhuskers, who may have been guilty of overlooking the team they had defeated 63–7 the year before. Nebraska's regular season winning streak was ended at 23. Coach Osborne stated it simply; "They were more physical today". Oklahoma State #9 Oklahoma State at #8 Nebraska [box score] #9 Oklahoma State #8 Nebraska 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 1984-10-06 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 2:30 p.m. CDT John McClintock 76,368 ABC Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles It was another season of disappointment for Oklahoma State's record against Nebraska. The Cowboys came to Lincoln with a better record than the Cornhuskers for the first time ever, with high hopes after Nebraska fell to Syracuse the week before, and OSU indeed led the game for three quarters. A 4th quarter, 49 yard punt return by Shane Swanson swung the momentum to Nebraska, and Oklahoma State's 22-year-long drought against Nebraska was extended yet another year. Missouri Missouri at #6 Nebraska [box score] Missouri #6 Nebraska 7 3 0 13 7 9 10 7 1984-10-13 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,319 Missouri fought a hard battle and barely won the time of possession battle, at one point drawing within 6 points, but a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown opened the game up a bit as Nebraska gained enough room to finish the game ahead by 10. Colorado #5 Nebraska at Colorado [box score] #5 Nebraska Colorado 0 3 0 21 0 7 0 0 1984-10-20 Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado CST 52,124 The Blackshirts carried Nebraska for three quarters as the offense sputtered and failed to produce a useful lead. Finally, in the 4th quarter, the Cornhuskers overcame their struggles and ran off 21 points for the win. Kansas State Kansas State at #4 Nebraska [box score] Kansas State #4 Nebraska 7 0 7 0 19 29 7 7 1984-10-27 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,068 Nebraska recorded its 25th straight conference win as Kansas State rolled over and fell behind by 48–7 at the half. The lead allowed the Cornhuskers to rotate several players into the game, which resulted in no single player exceeding 100 rushing yards rushing for the first time in 20 games. Iowa State #3 Nebraska at Iowa State [box score] #3 Nebraska Iowa State 3 7 6 28 0 0 0 0 1984-11-03 Cyclone Stadium, Ames, Iowa CST 52,919 Nebraska held Iowa State's star receiver to two catches for 11 yards, and the Cyclones offense to just five first downs, as the Blackshirts posted their first shutout in two years. By the 4th quarter, Iowa State's own defense lost their effectiveness and could no longer keep up, as the Cornhuskers rolled up 28 more points to pull away. Kansas #2 Nebraska at Kansas [box score] #2 Nebraska Kansas 21 7 0 13 0 0 0 7 1984-11-10 Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas CST 50,653 The Cornhuskers held Kansas to just 12 first downs and 24 yards on the ground, clinching at least a share of the 1984 Big 8 Title. Oklahoma #4 Oklahoma at #1 Nebraska [box score] #4 Oklahoma #1 Nebraska 7 0 0 10 0 7 0 0 1984-11-17 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska 2:30 p.m. CST 76,323 ABC Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles Four painful turnovers were enough to overcome the statistical success Nebraska achieved, as Oklahoma ended Nebraska's 27 game conference win streak and 21 game win streak in Lincoln. The run-oriented Cornhuskers out-passed the Sooners 236–58, but two key stops by the Sooners in the 2nd half put down Nebraska's hopes for a shot the National Championship. LSU #4 Nebraska vs #12 LSU [box score] #4 Nebraska #12 LSU 0 7 7 14 3 7 0 0 1985-01-01 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana 7:35 p.m. CST 75,608 ABC Keith Jackson and Frank Broyles Nebraska overcame a 10-point deficit to come within 3 by halftime, and after that it was all Nebraska as the Cornhuskers won the turnover game's battle 6–3 and ran off 21 more points while shutting down all further attempts by LSU to score. Rankings 1984 NCAA Division I-A football rankings 15 AP 2 2 1 1 1 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 7 5 5 4 15 Coaches 3 Awards 1984 Husker Honors Award Name(s) All-America 1st team Bret Clark, Harry Grimminger, Mark Traynowicz All-America 2nd team Jeff Smith All-America 3rd team Mark Behning All-America honorable mention Doug DuBose, Scott Strasburger, Bill Weber, Scott Livingston All-Big 8 1st team Mark Behning, Bret Clark, Doug DuBose, Harry Grimminger, Scott Livingston, Marc Munford, Greg Orton, Jeff Smith, Scott Strasburger, Mark Traynowicz, Bill Weber All-Big 8 2nd team David Burke, Mark Daum, Rob Stuckey All-Big 8 honorable mention Ken Graeber, Shane Swanson NFL and pro players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1984 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 2009-08-15 live 2009-06-01 Name Team Mark Behning Pittsburgh Steelers Brian Blankenship Pittsburgh Steelers Bret Clark Tampa Bay Bandits Doug DuBose San Francisco 49ers Todd Frain Washington Redskins Keith Jones Cleveland Browns Mike Knox Denver Broncos Bill Lewis Los Angeles Raiders Scott Livingston Dallas Cowboys Paul Miles Tampa Bay Buccaneers Marc Munford Denver Broncos Danny Noonan Dallas Cowboys Greg Orton Detroit Lions Tom Rathman San Francisco 49ers Tim Rother Los Angeles Raiders Jim Skow Cincinnati Bengals Jeff Smith Kansas City Chiefs Scott Strasburger Dallas Cowboys Shane Swanson Denver Broncos Mark Traynowicz Buffalo Bills Brian Washington Cleveland Browns Dennis Watkins Philadelphia Eagles Tom Welter St. Louis Cardinals References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons Category:Sugar Bowl champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football