1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football Big Eight Conference Big Eight 3 3 12–1 7–0 Tom Osborne 10th I formation Charlie McBride 2nd 5–2 Memorial Stadium Big Eight championOrange Bowl champion Orange Bowl W 21–20 vs. LSU The 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1982 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 1982 AP Central September 11 1:30 pm w y 3 Iowa Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ESPN 42–7 76,013 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-huskers-roll-in-steel/166359043/ Omaha World-Herald Huskers roll in steel-belted style September 12, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 1:30 pm w y 3 New Mexico State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 68–0 76,141 https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-nebraska-puts-on/158706285/ Democrat and Chronicle Nebraska puts on offensive show in 68–0 romp September 19, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 2:45 pm l y y 2 Penn State 8 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA CBS 24–27 85,304 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-penn-state-comeba/166131526/ The Sioux City Journal Penn State comeback kills Huskers' hopes September 26, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 1:30 pm w y y 8 Auburn 20 Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL 41–7 73,900 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-huskers-plow-through-au/134534478/ The Dothan Eagle Huskers plow through Auburn country October 3, 1982 November 2, 2023 Newspapers.com October 9 2:30 pm w y 7 Colorado Folsom Field Boulder, CO rivalry 40–14 53,022 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-huskers-hold-off-ga/166359174/ The Daily Nonpareil Huskers hold off 'game' Buffaloes October 10, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 1:30 pm w y 6 Kansas State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 42–13 76,268 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-nebraska-romps/166359295/ Tulsa World Nebraska romps October 17, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 2:50 pm w 5 Missouri Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry ABC 23–19 76,406 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-huskers-overcome/166359481/ The Sioux City Journal Huskers overcome Missouri challenge October 24, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 1:30 pm w y 6 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS rivalry 52–0 51,172 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-1982-kansas-nebrask/73367428/ The Kansas City Star Cornhuskers live up to billing, smash KU October 31, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 1:30 pm w 6 Oklahoma State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 48–10 76,387 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-everything-comes-up-r/166359785/ Omaha World-Herald Everything comes up Rozier for Huskers November 7, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 1:30 pm w y 4 Iowa State Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA rivalry 48–10 52,887 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-huskers-bre/166359935/ The Grand Island Independent Huskers breath easy with Gill, OU next up November 14, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 26, 1982 1:45 pm w 3 Oklahoma 11 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry CBS 28–24 76,398 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-nebraska-returns/166360059/ The Des Moines Register Nebraska returns to Orange Bowl, 28–24 November 27, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com December 4 11:30 pm w y y 3 Hawaii Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI 37–16 46,876 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-island-independent-no-3-huske/166218116/ The Grand Island Independent No. 3 Huskers wake up in 4th quarter December 6, 1982 February 21, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1983 7:00 pm w y y 3 LSU 13 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl NBC 21–20 54,407 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-nu-air-game-pops-lsu/134536104/ Omaha World-Herald NU air game pops LSU balloon January 2, 1983 November 2, 2023 Newspapers.com Roster http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&SPID=22&SPSID=4 Nebraska 1982 Roster June 2, 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 1982 Commitments http://www.huskermax.com/recruits/1982.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100107034621/http://huskerpedia.com/recruits/1982.html 2010-01-07 live 2009-06-02 Behning, Mark #73 (So.) OT Biggers, Kevin #13 (Jr.) CB Bourn, Don #92 (So.) TE Brown, Todd #29 (Sr.) SE Brungardt, Tim #32 (Jr.) IB Buchanan, Eric #82 (So.) DE Burke, Dave #33 (So.) CB Campbell, Grant #24 (Sr.) P Clark, Bret #10 (So.) S Craig, Roger #21 (Sr.) IB Damkroger, Steve #35 (Sr.) LB Daum, Mark #51 (So.) LB Denny, Gregorio #36 (Fr.) IB Engebritson, Monte #83 (Jr.) TE Evans, Brent #48 (Sr.) LB Felici, Tony #46 (Sr.) DE Fisher, Todd #6 (So.) CB Fryar, Irving #27 (Jr.) WB Gdowski, Tom #93 (Sr.) DT Gill, Turner #12 (Jr.) QB Glathar, Kurt #69 (Sr.) OG Graeber, Ken #52 (So.) MG Greene, Ricky #5 (So.) CB Grimminger, Harry #58 (So.) OG Haase, David #4 (Jr.) S Hagerman, Mark #9 (Sr.) PK Harris, Neil #11 (So.) CB Herrmann, Doug #63 (Jr.) DT Hill, Dan #84 (Sr.) TE Hill, Pete #41 (So.) DE Holbrook, Tim #23 (Sr.) MON Huebert, Randy #31 (Sr.) WB Johnson, Brad #55 (Sr.) C Keeler, Mike #61 (Jr.) DT Kimball, Scott #88 (So.) SE Knox, Mike #44 (So.) LB Krenk, Mitch #89 (Sr.) TE Kwapick, Jeff #70 (Sr.) OT Larsen, Pat #3 (Sr.) S Lyday, Allen #18 (Sr.) CB Mandelko, Mike #68 (Sr.) OG Mason, Nate #8 (Jr.) QB Mathison, Bruce #19 (Sr.) QB McCashland, Mike #2 (So.) MON McLaughlin, Scott #59 (So.) OG McWhirter, Steve #45 (Sr.) LB Merrell, Jeff #74 (Sr.) MG Moravec, Mark #40 (Sr.) FB Morrow, Tom #77 (So.) OT Muehling, Brad #54 (Jr.) C Murphy, Jim #16 (Jr.) CB Orton, Greg #67 (So.) OG Praeuner, Wade #85 (Jr.) DE Raridon, Scott #72 (Jr.) OT Rathman, Tom #26 (So.) FB Reinhardt, John #62 (Jr.) MG Ridder, Dave #86 (Jr.) DE Rimington, Dave #50 (Sr.) C Ripa, Dan #43 (So.) LB Rozier, Mike #30 (Jr.) IB Schellen, Mark #25 (Jr.) FB Schneider, Gary (Fr.) CB Schoening, Lynn #91 (Sr.) PK Schoettger, Scott #42 (So.) SE Seibel, Kevin #49 (Sr.) PK Sherlock, John #66 (Jr.) OT Simmons, Ricky #7 (Jr.) WB Smith, Jeff #28 (So.) IB Steinkuhler, Dean #71 (Jr.) OG Strasburger, Scott #90 (So.) DE Stuckey, Rob #75 (So.) DT Sundberg, Craig #15 (So.) QB Swanson, Shane #17 (So.) WB Theiss, Randy #65 (Sr.) OT Thomas, Anthony #53 (So.) OG Thompson, Jim #39 (So.) WB Tramner, Mike #64 (Jr.) MG Traynowicz, Mark #57 (So.) OT Turner, Travis #14 (So.) QB Van Norman, Kris #38 (Sr.) MON Vergith, Tom #22 (Sr.) SE Waechter, Kevin #76 (Jr.) DT Weber, Bill #87 (So.) DE Weed, Dan #56 (So.) C Wilkening, Doug #34 (Jr.) FB Williams, Jamie #80 (Sr.) TE Williams, Toby #97 (Sr.) DT Wingard, Dan #47 (So.) PK Zierke, Mike (So.) DT       https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bpkyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VugFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6463%2C5831746 Lawrence Journal-World Kansas Saturday's game rosters October 29, 1982 18 Depth chart I-Formation 5–2 Yes Yes Yes Turner Gill Bruce Mathison Nate Mason Mike Rozier Roger Craig Jeff Smith Doug Wilkening Mark Schellen Mark Moravec Todd Brown Ricky Simmons Scott Kimball SE Irving Fryar Shane Swanson Tom Vergith WB Jamie Williams Mitch Krenk Dan Hill Randy Theiss Mark Behning John Sherlock Mike Mandelko Anthony Thomas Scott McLaughlin Dave Rimington Brad Johnson Brad Muehling Dean Steinkuhler Harry Grimminger Kurt Glather Jeff Kwapick Scott Raridon Mark Traynowicz Steve McWhirter Mike Knox Kurt Whiteman INSDIE Steve Damkroger Brent Evans Mark Daum INSDIE Bret Clark Pat Larsen Gary Schneider Kris Van-Norman Tim Holbrook Mike Mccashland MONSTER BACK Dave Burke Jim Murphy Brian Pokorny Allen Lyday Neil Harris Charlie Cartwright Tony Felici Scott Strasburger Dave Ridder Rob Stuckey Jim Skow Mike Zierke Jeff Merrell Mike Tramner Ken Graeber Toby Williams Tom Gdowski John Reinhardt Bill Weber Wade Praeuner Eric Buchanan Kevin Seibel Grant Campbell 110 88 No Season-ending injury DT Doug Herrman DT Mike Keeler Coaching staff Name Title First yearin this position Years atNebraska Alma materTom OsborneHead CoachOffensive coordinator19731964–1997Hastings CollegeCharlie McBrideDefensive Coordinator19811977–1999ColoradoCletus FischerOffensive Line 1960–1985NebraskaJohn MeltonLinebackers19731962–1988WyomingMike CorganRunning Backs19621962–1982Notre DameBoyd EpleyHead Strength Coach19691969–2003NebraskaGeorge DarlingtonDefensive Ends 1973–2002 RutgersMilt TenopirOffensive Line19741974–2002 SterlingGene HueyReceivers19771977–1986WyomingFrank SolichHead Freshman Coach19791979–2003NebraskaJack Pierce 1979–1991Bob ThorntonSecondary19811981–1985Nebraska Game summaries Iowa Iowa at #3 Nebraska [box score] Iowa #3 Nebraska 0 0 0 7 14 14 0 14 1982-09-11 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,013 ESPN Defending Big Ten Champion Iowa was down 28–0 by halftime, and was only able to muster a single 4th-quarter touchdown against Nebraska reserves to avoid the shutout. New Mexico State New Mexico State at #3 Nebraska [box score] New Mexico State #3 Nebraska 0 0 0 0 14 14 33 7 1982-09-18 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,141 Records fell all over as Nebraska steamrolled New Mexico State 68–0 in Lincoln. Nebraska's total of 883 offensive yards, 645 consecutive yards without going backwards, 36 rushing first downs, and 43 total first downs were all new NCAA records. Penn State #2 Nebraska at #8 Penn State [box score] #2 Nebraska #8 Penn State 0 7 7 10 7 7 7 6 1982-09-25 Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania CST 85,304 Nebraska fought back from a 7–21 deficit and finally pulled into the lead on an 80-yard drive with 1:18 remaining, yet the Nittany Lions drove right back and handed the Cornhuskers their first and only loss of the season, keyed by a controversial Penn State completion at the sideline, leaving 9 seconds left on the clock. Sixteen years later, Penn State TE Mike McCloskey, the receiver of the controversial catch, admitted he was out of bounds on the play and should have been ruled incomplete.7 May 1998 McCloskey: Catch was out of bounds 19 McCook Daily Gazette https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1933&dat=19980507&id=GqEgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2GgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2590,1050765 2 August 2022 Because the McCloskey "catch" stood, quarterback Todd Blackledge subsequently tossed the game winning catch to Kirk Bowman with 4 seconds remaining.http://www.huskermax.com/games/1982/03pennstate.html 1982 Penn State football Auburn #8 Nebraska at #20 Auburn [box score] #8 Nebraska #20 Auburn 7 7 7 20 7 0 0 0 1982-10-02 Jordan–Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama CST 73,900 The Cornhuskers, demoralized from the loss to Penn State a week earlier, struggled to come to life as Nebraska entered the locker room at halftime with a narrow 14–7 lead. By the end of the 3rd quarter, Nebraska had tacked on another 7 points, while Auburn had turned over the ball three times, and Nebraska finally ran off three straight scores in the 4th to put it away. Colorado #7 Nebraska at Colorado [box score] #7 Nebraska Colorado 7 13 0 20 0 0 14 0 1982-10-09 Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado CST 53,022 yes 1 NEB Doug Wilkening 3-yard run (Kevin Seibel kick) NEB 7–0 2 NEB Roger Craig 1-yard run (Kevin Seibel kick) NEB 14–0 2 NEB Kevin Seibel 26-yard field goal NEB 17–0 2 NEB Kevin Seibel 31-yard field goal NEB 20–0 3 COL Richard Johnson 37-yard pass from Randy Essington (Tom Field kick) NEB 20–7 3 COL Richard Johnson 24-yard run (Tom Field kick) NEB 20–14 4 NEB Mike Rozier 6-yard pass from Turner Gill (pass failed) NEB 26–14 4 NEB Mike Rozier 11-yard run (Kevin Seibel kick) NEB 33–14 4 NEB Jeff Smith 1-yard run (Kevin Seibel kick) NEB 40–14 yes Nebraska LB Steve Damkroger only recorded two interceptions during his Nebraska career, both in this game, as new Colorado coach Bill McCartney had his Colorado Buffaloes gunning for Nebraska through his attempt to establish the Cornhuskers as their main rival to give his squad a target by which to measure their success. At one point, Colorado came within 6 points of the lead, but Damkroger's two interceptions helped put to bed any Colorado upset hopes as Nebraska posted 20 unanswered 4th quarter points for the easy win. Kansas State Kansas State at #6 Nebraska [box score] Kansas State #6 Nebraska 0 3 10 0 7 14 7 14 1982-10-16 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,268 Nebraska IB Mike Rozier became the second Nebraska back, after I.M. Hipp, to play back-to-back 200 yard games, and Cornhusker QB Turner Gill set a new Big Eight completion percentage record of 91.7%, as Nebraska had little trouble with Kansas State in Lincoln. Missouri Missouri at #5 Nebraska [box score] Missouri #5 Nebraska 0 7 3 9 3 3 3 14 1982-10-23 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,406 Missouri was sniffing an upset after Nebraska QB Turner Gill was forced out by an injury in the 2nd quarter as the Tigers led 7–6, and the pressure was mounting after the Cornhuskers fell behind 9–13 in the 4th quarter, but backup QB Bruce Mathison directed two touchdown drives with help from an interception by Nebraska LB Brent Evans, and although Missouri would score again, the 10-point lead with 2:36 to go was too much for the Tigers to overcome. Kansas #6 Nebraska at Kansas [box score] #6 Nebraska Kansas 7 10 21 14 0 0 0 0 1982-10-30 Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas CST 50,172 Nebraska cruised to their 14th win in a row over Kansas and their 2nd shutout of the season, piling up 546 yards of offense compared to 69 for the Jayhawks and giving up only one turnover while owning the ball for 34:27. Five different players recorded touchdowns, as the Cornhuskers set out to protest their drop in the poll from #5 to #6 and prove that the previous close call in Missouri was not to be the norm. Oklahoma State Oklahoma State at #6 Nebraska [box score] Oklahoma State #6 Nebraska 0 7 0 3 7 14 14 13 1982-11-06 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,387 Oklahoma State runner Ernest Anderson, who later became the NCAA rushing record holder, was held to just 68 yards, while Nebraska IB Mike Rozier broke the Nebraska single season rushing record, held by Bobby Reynolds since 1950, with his 251-yard performance. The Cornhuskers jumped out to a 21-point lead, and the Cowboys only came within 14 before Nebraska left them behind. Iowa State #4 Nebraska at Iowa State [box score] #4 Nebraska Iowa State 7 14 14 13 7 0 0 3 1982-11-13 Cyclone Stadium, Ames, Iowa CST 52,887 Iowa State briefly held Nebraska to just a 7-point lead, long enough for the Cyclones to post a tying score at the end of the 1st quarter, but the Cornhusker offense proved to be impossible to hold back as Nebraska then ran off 28 unanswered points. Iowa State feebly posted a field goal in the 4th quarter, which Nebraska then punctuated with another 13 points to put this one away. Oklahoma #11 Oklahoma at #3 Nebraska [box score] #11 Oklahoma #3 Nebraska 7 3 14 0 7 14 7 0 1982-11-26 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,398 A hard-fought, statistically matched game of football powerhouses, Nebraska and Oklahoma traded the lead a few times before both offenses ground to a halt at the end of the 3rd quarter with the Cornhuskers clinging to a 4-point lead. Two 4th quarter Sooner drives crossed Nebraska's 35-yard line without producing points, yet the game remained in doubt until Nebraska DE Scott Strasburger intercepted Oklahoma with 26 seconds left to play and ended the Sooners' hopes for the upset. Hawaii #3 Nebraska at Hawaii [box score] #3 Nebraska Hawaii 0 0 7 30 7 3 6 0 1982-12-04 Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii CST 46,876 Few, if any, could have predicted that unranked Hawaii would lead Nebraska 10–0 by halftime and 16–7 at the end of the 3rd quarter, but the Cornhuskers finally found their footing late in this rare, late-season non-conference game and ripped 30 straight unanswered points in the 4th quarter, amassing 479 rushing yards on the day, to escape Honolulu with a 37–16 win. LSU #13 LSU vs #3 Nebraska [box score] #13 LSU #3 Nebraska 7 7 3 3 7 0 7 7 1983-01-01 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami CST 54,407 Nebraska struggled to overcome six turnovers in a game that saw them behind 7–14 at the half, behind 17–14 by the end of the 3rd, and clinging to a 1-point lead after LSU was forced to settle for a field goal in the 4th. Nebraska only punted once compared to the Tigers' six punts, had nearly double the total offensive yards, and a dominating rushing yardage lead, but the LSU ownership of the turnover battle demonstrated the importance of not giving away the ball as Nebraska barely escaped with the win. Rankings 1982 NCAA Division I-A football rankings 15 AP 4 3 3 2 8 7 6 5 6 6 4 4 3 3 3 3 15 Coaches 3 Awards 1982 Husker Honors Award Name(s) Outland Trophy Dave Rimington Lombardi Award Dave Rimington National Lineman of the Year Dave Rimington Big Eight Athlete of the Year Dave Rimington Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year Mike Rozier All-America 1st team Dave Rimington, Mike Rozier All-America 3rd team Randy Theiss All-America honorable mention Steve Damkroger, Turner Gill, Mike Mandelko, Jamie Williams, Toby Williams All-Big Eight 1st team Steve Damkroger, Tony Felici, Turner Gill, Mike Mandelko, Dave Rimington, Mike Rozier, Randy Theiss, Jamie Williams All-Big Eight 2nd team Irving Fryar, Jeff Merrell, Allen Lyday, Grant Campbell NFL and pro players The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1982 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 Todd Brown Montreal Concordes Bret Clark Tampa Bay Bandits Roger Craig San Francisco 49ers Irving Fryar New England Patriots Turner Gill Montreal Concordes Brad Johnson Boston Breakers Mike Knox Denver Broncos Mitch Krenk Chicago Bears Allen Lyday Houston Oilers Bruce Mathison San Diego Chargers Jeff Merrell Boston Breakers Greg Orton Detroit Lions Tom Rathman San Francisco 49ers Dave Rimington Cincinnati Bengals Mike Rozier Pittsburgh Maulers Mark Schellen New Orleans Breakers Kevin Seibel Chicago Blitz Ricky Simmons Washington Federals Jeff Smith Kansas City Chiefs Dean Steinkuhler Houston Oilers Swanson, Shane Denver Broncos Mark Traynowicz Buffalo Bills Jamie Williams St. Louis Cardinals Toby Williams New England Patriots References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons Category:Orange Bowl champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football