1969 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1969 Nebraska Cornhuskers football Big Eight Conference Big Eight 12 11 9–2 6–1 Bob Devaney 8th Tom Osborne 1st I formation Monte Kiffin 1st 5–2 Memorial Stadium Big Eight co-championSun Bowl champion Sun Bowl W 45–6 vs. Georgia The 1969 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. The team was led by eighth-year head coach Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. In his first year as offensive coordinator, Tom Osborne instituted the I formation. The Huskers lost the opener at home to fifth-ranked USC,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H-FVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3eADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4990%2C4352807 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Trojan soph sparkles September 21, 1969 2B and were 2–2 after a loss in the conference opener at #7 Missouri.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CqtVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5669%2C2659883 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Tigers hold Nebraska October 12, 1969 4B They won their final six regular season games to tie for the Big Eight championship, were invited to the Sun Bowl in El Paso,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4fBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5364%2C5455845 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press 'Huskers stall Owens November 23, 1969 5B and decisively beat the Georgia Bulldogs to finish the season at 9–2.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6REcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WVAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7102%2C2022067 Pittsburgh Press UPI Nebraska whips Georgia, 45–6 December 21, 1969 2, section 4https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_ZFfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7TAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5966%2C4166410 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Nebraska's field goals, defense stops Georgia December 21, 1969 17 The Huskers' strong finish in 1969 was followed by consecutive national championships in 1970 and 1971; after the rout of second-ranked Alabama in the 1972 Orange Bowl, Nebraska's unbeaten streak reached 32 games. Schedule 1969 AP Central September 20 1:30 pm l y USC 5 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 21–31 67,058 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-huskers-shelled-by-trojans-3/183435924/ The Record Huskers shelled by Trojans, 31–21 September 21, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 1:50 pm w y Texas A&M Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE ABC 14–0 66,331 https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-ex-west-stars-le/168917532/ Green Bay Press-Gazette Ex-West stars lead Huskers to 14–0 win September 28, 1969 October 21, 2023 Newspapers.com October 4 1:30 pm w y y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN rivalry 42–14 52,136 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-cornhuskers-eradicat/183495844/ The Odessa American Cornhuskers eradicate Gophers, 42–14 October 5, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 1:30 pm l y 20 Missouri 7 Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO rivalry 7–17 60,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-mu-hits-on-bombs/183442121/ The Kansas City Star M.U. hits on bombs October 12, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 1:30 pm w Kansas Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 21–17 63,223–66,667 rivalry https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2BxUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HjoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5175%2C6879156 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Woodling Chuck Pass interference call scuttles Kansas hopes, 21–17 October 20, 1969 12https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EatVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6085%2C4299497 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Nebraska nips Kansas October 19, 1969 2B October 25 1:30 pm w Oklahoma State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 13–3 66,421 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-ingles-aerial-sn/183495992/ The Sioux City Journal Ingles' aerial snatches spark Nebraska, 13–3 October 26, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 1:30 pm w Colorado 18 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 20–7 67,084 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-huskers-whip-buffs-b/183496081/ Council Bluffs Nonpareil Huskers whip Buffs by 20–7 November 2, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 1:30 pm w y 20 Iowa State Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE rivalry 17–3 67,107 https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal-huskers-slip-by-cyclo/183496192/ Rapid City Journal Huskers slip by Cyclones November 9, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 1:30 pm w y 17 Kansas State KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS rivalry 10–7 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-huskers-romp-past-k/183496357/ The Ann Arbor News 'Huskers romp past K-State November 16, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 1:30 pm w y 16 Oklahoma Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK rivalry 44–14 53,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-defense-kinney-star-as-husk/183496611/ Scottsbluff Daily Star-Herald Defense, Kinney star as Huskers rip Sooners 44–14 to end 'snakepit jinx' November 23, 1969 October 22, 2025 Newspapers.com December 20 1:00 pm w y y 14 Georgia Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Sun Bowl CBS 45–6 26,668 https://indd.adobe.com/view/a43ef127-75b5-4a41-ba24-c8eb235aa3a0 2023 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Media Guide Sun Bowl Association January 9, 2024 http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=3&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&Q_SEASON=1969 https://web.archive.org/web/20120305190658/http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=3&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&KEY=&Q_SEASON=1969 dead March 5, 2012 Football – 1969 Schedule/Results 2009-06-18 University of Nebraska–Lincoln Athletics Department Schedule/Results (1969 Nebraska) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174760 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 22, 2025 Roster Nebraska 1969 Roster Adkins, John #57 (So.) DE Ahlmann, Harold (Jr.) MG Anderson, Jim #18 (So.) RCB Ashman, Carl #53 (Sr.) LG Bomberger, Bill #46 (Jr.) FB Boyd, David (So.) E Branch, Jim (So.) LB Brownson, Van #12 (So.) QB Buda, Joe #52 (Sr.) C Carstens, Jim (So.) FB Chandler, George #33 (Jr.) LB Coppa, Rich (So.) C Davis, Harold (So.) LG Decker, John #21 (Jr.) LCB DeOrio, Lonnie (So.) DT Didur, Dale #84 (Jr.) SE Drakulich, Ron #41 (Sr.) DT Dumler, Doug #78 (So.) LT Dvorsak, Tony #11 (Jr.) QB Fiala, Adrian #32 (Sr.) LB Frost, Larry #28 (Sr.) HB Galbraith, Denis (Unk) MG Geddes, Ken #37 (Sr.) MG Graves, Lanny (So.) FB Green, Mike #34 (Sr.) FB Grenfell, Bob #59 (Jr.) LG Gutzman, Dennis #39 (Jr.) DE Hacias, Greg (So.) S Harvey, Phil #83 (So.) TE Hauge, Bruce #48 (So.) LB Hinckley, Ron #65 (So.) RG Hollstein, Gary #29 (So.) S Holmes, Bill (So.) E Hopkins, John #79 (So.) RT Hornbacher, Bill #55 (Sr.) DT Hughes, Jeff #26 (So.) HB Hyland, John #58 (So.) DE Ingles, Guy #88 (Jr.) SE Jacobson, Larry #75 (So.) DT Jamail, Doug #50 (So.) C Janssen, Bill #82 (So.) DE Jarmon, Sherwin #81 (Sr.) DE Jennings, Henry #38 (So.) MON Jones, George (So.) S Kinney, Jeff #35 (So.) HB Kinsel, John (So.) C Kobza, Dan #49 (Sr.) LB Kontos, Ken (So.) LB Kosch, Bill #24 (So.) RCB Larson, Al #20 (Sr.) MON Liddle, Kent #51 (So.) C Liggett, Bob #71 (Sr.) DT List, Jerry #85 (So.) TE Lowe, Rex #83 HB Mabin, Wes #39 (So.) LCB Malone, Dan (So.) DT Mason, Dave #87 (So.) E McClelland, Tom #16 (So.) S McFarland, Bob #27 (So.) RCB McFarland, Jim #80 (Sr.) TE McGhee, Donnie #70 (Jr.) RT McGowan, Tom (So.) LB McGuire, Mike #15 (So.) MON Menser, Charles #63 (So.) RG Miller, Jim #86 (So.) DE Minzak, Edward (So.) RG Montgomery, Al #47 (So.) HB Morell, Pat #40 (So.) LB Morock, David #43 (Jr.) MON Morrill, Pat (Unk) LB Murtaugh, Jerry #42 (Jr.) LB Newton, Bob #74 (Jr.) LT Newton, Clint (So.) E Orduna, Joe #31 (Sr.) HB Osberg, Chuck #17 (So.) QB Pabis, Bob #66 (So.) MG Patrick, Frank #10 (Sr.) QB Patterson, Glenn #72 (Sr.) C Periard, Ed #56 (Jr.) MG Pitts, John #54 (So.) DE Pogge, Bill (So.) FB Reeves, Randy #25 (Sr.) S Rogers, Paul #30 (Jr.) PK Schloff, Merle #69 (So.) DT Schneiss, Dan #22 (Jr.) FB Smith, Jim #23 (So.) HB Snyder, Bob (So.) RT Sobota, Joe (So.) DT Stejskal, Greg #68 (So.) LT Stephenson, Dana #36 (Sr.) LCB Tagge, Jerry #14 (So.) QB Tegels, John (So.) LB Terrio, Bob #45 (So.) FB Topliff, Paul #73 (Sr.) RT Vactor, Frank #19 (Jr.) HB Volberding, Ron #64 (So.) RG Walline, Dave #76 (Jr.) DT Weber, Bruce #61 (So.) LG Wenner, Rick (So.) S Williams, Gale #77 (Sr.) RG Winter, Wally #67 (Jr.) LT Witliff, Frank (So.) HB Wynn, Mike #90 (Sr.) DE Yanda, Steve #44 (So.) LB       I-Formation 5–2 Yes No Yes Jerry Tagge Van Brownson Tony Dvorsak Jeff Kinney Frank Vactor Jeff Hughes Dan Schneiss Mike Green Bill Bomberger Larry Frost Paul Rogers Jeff Hughes WB Guy Ingles Dave Mason Dale Didur SE Jim McFarland Phil Harvey Frank Patrick Bob Newton Wally Winter Doug Dumler Carl Ashman Bob Grenfell Bruce Weber Glenn Patterson Joe Buda Kent Liddle Gale Williams Ron Volberding Charles Menser Paul Topliff Donnie McGhee John Hopkins Adrian Fiala Dan Kobza George Chandler INSDIE Jerry Murtaugh Pat Morell Steve Yanda INSDIE Randy Reeves Tom McClelland Gary Hollstein Al Larson David Morock Henry Jennings MONSTER BACK Dana Stephenson John Decker Wes Mabin Jim Anderson Bill Kosch Bob McFarland Mike Wynn Bill Janssen Jim Miller Bob Liggett Ron Drakulich Merle Schloff Ken Geddes Ed Periard Bob Pabis Dave Walline Larry Jacobson Bill Hornbacher Sherwin Jarmon Dennis Gutzman John Pitts 110 88 No Coaching staff Name Title First yearin this position Years atNebraska Alma materBob DevaneyHead Coach 19621962–72AlmaTom OsborneOffensive coordinator19691964–97HastingsCletus FischerOffensive Line 19601960–85NebraskaCarl SelmerOffensive Line 1962–72Jim Ross 1962–76John MeltonTight Ends. Wingbacks19731962–88WyomingMike CorganRunning Backs19621962–82Notre DameMonte KiffinDefensive coordinator1969 1967–76NebraskaWarren PowersDefensive Backs 19691969–76NebraskaBoyd EpleyHead Strength Coach19691969–2003NebraskaBill ThorntonGraduate assistant19691969–72Nebraska Game summaries USC #5 USC at Nebraska [box score] #5 USC Nebraska 7 14 7 3 0 7 0 14 September 20 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE CST 67,058 USC had a fight on their hands, despite jumping out to an early 14–0 lead. Nebraska scrambled back and drew up within 7 points in the 4th quarter with 3:40 to go. The Cornhuskers again got the ball back with enough time to score, but USC intercepted and converted the turnover into a field goal in the final seconds to decide the outcome. Texas A&M Texas A&M at Nebraska [box score] Texas A&M Nebraska 0 0 0 0 7 7 0 0 September 27 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE CST 66,331 The Cornhuskers put up a touchdown in each of the first two quarters before Texas A&M was somehow able to bottle them up, but the Blackshirts had already established that the Aggies would get nothing on the day, and the 14 Nebraska points were carried for the win. Minnesota Nebraska at Minnesota [box score] Nebraska Minnesota 0 14 14 14 7 7 0 0 October 4 Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, MN CST 52,136 Nebraska QB Jerry Tagge broke a record while taking apart Minnesota in Minneapolis. The 587 total Cornhusker yards was the second highest total in school history, and his 219 air yards and 82 ground yards rang up to 301 on the day, easily breaking the previous record of 264 yards set in 1951 and tied in 1967. The game started in doubt as Minnesota struck first and forced Nebraska to a 14–14 tie at the half, but there would be no further scoring from the Golden Gophers to answer the additional 28 Nebraska points posted after the half. Missouri #20 Nebraska at #7 Missouri [box score] #20 Nebraska #7 Missouri 0 0 7 0 7 7 3 0 October 11 Faurot Field, Columbia, MO CST 60,500 Nebraska attempted to bring a fight to Columbia to go along with their new #20 ranking, but after Missouri went up 7–0, it did not help that the Cornhuskers turned over a fumble to Missouri which was converted into 7 more points before the half. Nebraska managed to avoid the shutout with a 3rd-quarter touchdown but could not overcome Missouri's defense to score again, and subsequently fell back out of the polls. The Cornhuskers did not lose again until their 1972 season opener at UCLA. Kansas Kansas at Nebraska [box score] Kansas Nebraska 0 7 7 3 6 8 0 7 October 18 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE CST 66,667 Nebraska PK Paul Rogers set a Nebraska and Big Eight record with a 55-yard 1st-quarter field goal to open the scoring. It was a fierce back-and-forth game, though Nebraska ran ahead by 14 only to have Kansas, which shared the 1968 Big Eight championship but plummeted to 1–9 in 1969, tie it up in the 3rd and pull ahead with a field goal in the 4th. The Cornhuskers came through, however, putting in the game-winning touchdown with just 1:22 left to play. Oklahoma State Oklahoma State at Nebraska [box score] Oklahoma State Nebraska 0 0 3 0 0 7 6 0 October 25 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE CST 66,421 The defensive struggle of the day kept the scores low and the game in doubt late, as Nebraska held only a 10-point lead to start the 4th quarter, but the defenses held on both sides and the Cornhuskers got the win. Colorado #18 Colorado at Nebraska [box score] #18 Colorado Nebraska 7 0 0 0 3 7 10 0 November 1 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE CST 67,084 Nebraska's 13 point margin of victory was directly attributable to the school record 3 interceptions by Dana Stephenson, two of which were subsequently converted into touchdowns, giving Nebraska the upset win. Iowa State Iowa State at #20 Nebraska [box score] Iowa State #20 Nebraska 0 3 0 0 0 7 10 0 November 8 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE CST 67,107 Iowa State was held to only 27 yards on the ground in front a Memorial Stadium homecoming crowd, as Nebraska held the Cyclones to just a 2nd-quarter field goal on their way to the win. Kansas State #17 Nebraska at Kansas State [box score] #17 Nebraska Kansas State 0 0 3 7 7 0 0 0 November 15 KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS CST 40,000 The Blackshirts allowed Kansas State a touchdown early on, but closed the door for the rest of the game. The Cornhusker offense needed that support, as they were not able to put up their own points until splitting the uprights with a field goal late in the 3rd, and very much needed the touchdown punched in about 10 minutes later to pull ahead for the victory. Oklahoma #16 Nebraska at Oklahoma [box score] #16 Nebraska Oklahoma 14 3 13 14 7 0 0 7 November 22 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK CST 53,500 yes 1 OU Mildren 18-yard run (Derr kick) OU 7–0 1 NEB Brownson 1-yard run (Rogers kick) Tied 7–7 1 NEB Kinney 3-yard run (Rogers kick) NEB 14–7 2 NEB Rogers 26-yard field goal NEB 17–7 3 NEB Kinney 11-yard run (run failed) NEB 23–7 3 NEB Ingles 7-yard pass from Kinney (Rogers kick) NEB 30–7 4 NEB Kinney 6-yard pass from Brownson (Rogers kick) NEB 37–7 4 OU Nordgren 16-yard pass from Mildren (Derr kick) NEB 37–14 4 NEB Hughes 6-yard run (Rogers kick) NEB 44–14 yes Nebraska fought from behind to deliver Coach Devaney's first win in Norman, a convincing win in which the Blackshirts held the season's Heisman Trophy winner Steve Owens to just 71 yards with no touchdowns, breaking his 17-game touchdown streak. "Nebraska Whips Oklahoma, 44–14." Palm Beach Post. 1969 Nov 23. Georgia #14 Nebraska vs Georgia [box score] #14 Nebraska Georgia 18 0 14 13 0 0 0 6 December 20 Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX CST 31,728 Nebraska opened the day with four straight 1st-quarter field goals, setting new Nebraska and Big Eight records in the process, which was the beginning of Georgia being left far behind. By the time the Bulldogs found the scoreboard on a 4th-quarter touchdown, they merely closed the gap to 6–38, which the Cornhuskers then answered with one more touchdown before the final whistle. Rankings 1969 NCAA University Division football rankings 13 AP NR NR NR 20 NR NR NR 20 17 16 13 13 14 11 13 Coaches 12 Awards 1969 Husker Honors Award Name(s) All-America1st team Jim McFarland, Dana Stephenson Big Eight Sophomoreof the Year Jeff Kinney All-Big Eight1st team Ken Geddes, Bob Liggett, Jim McFarland,Jerry Murtaugh, Dana Stephenson All-Big Eight2nd team Sherwin Jarmon All-Big Eighthonorable mention Carl Ashman, Van Brownson, Guy Ingles,Al Larson, Glenn Patterson, Jerry Tagge,Paul Topliff, Dave Walline, Mike Wynn 1969 team players in the NFL The 1969 Nebraska Cornhuskers seniors selected in the 1970 NFL draft: Pro Football Reference.com https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231832/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1970.htm 2007-12-21 – 1970 NFL Draft Nebraska Cornhuskers Player Position Round Pick Franchise Jim McFarland TE 7 164 St. Louis Cardinals Ken Geddes LB 7 175 Detroit Lions Dana Stephenson DB 8 183 Chicago Bears Mike Wynn DE 8 206 Oakland Raiders Frank Patrick QB 10 251 Green Bay Packers Bob Liggett DT 15 390 Kansas City Chiefs Mike Green RB 16 406 San Diego Chargers Glenn Patterson C 17 439 Dallas Cowboys The 1969 Nebraska Cornhuskers juniors selected in the following year's 1971 NFL draft: Pro Football Reference.com https://web.archive.org/web/20100924054608/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1971.htm 2010-09-24 – 1971 NFL Draft Nebraska Cornhuskers Player Position Round Pick Franchise Joe Orduna RB 2 49 San Francisco 49ers Bob Newton T 3 71 Chicago Bears Paul Rogers K–DB 8 190 Pittsburgh Steelers Dan Schneiss TE 11 261 Boston Patriots The 1969 Nebraska Cornhuskers sophomores selected in the 1972 NFL draft:Pro Football Reference.com https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231837/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1972.htm 2007-12-21 – 1972 NFL Draft Nebraska Cornhuskers Player Position Round Pick Franchise Jerry Tagge QB 1 11 Green Bay Packers Jeff Kinney RB 1 23 Kansas City Chiefs Larry Jacobson DT 1 24 New York Giants Carl Johnson T 5 112 New Orleans Saints Van Brownson QB 8 204 Baltimore Colts Keith Wortman G 10 242 Green Bay Packers NFL and pro players The following 1969 Nebraska players joined a professional 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 2009-06-16 Name Team Doug Dumler New England Patriots Ken Geddes Los Angeles Rams Larry Jacobson New York Giants Bill Janssen Charlotte Hornets Sherwin Jarmon Chicago Fire Jeff Kinney Kansas City Chiefs Bob Liggett Kansas City Chiefs Dave Mason New England Patriots Jim McFarland St. Louis Cardinals Bob Newton Chicago Bears Joe Orduna New York Giants Frank Patrick Green Bay Packers Jerry Tagge Green Bay Packers Frank Vactor Washington Redskins References Nebraska Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football seasons Category:Big Eight Conference football champion seasons Category:Sun Bowl champion seasons Nebraska Cornhuskers football