Match-up: #3 Nebraska vs. #5 LSU
Date: January 1, 1971
Outcome: 17-12 Nebraska
Oh how I would have loved to have been alive for this one. I can only imagine the party that went on long into the night on the beaches of Miami and throughout the state of Nebraska.
After years of being absolutely horrendous under coaches Bill Glassford and Bill Jennings and several other coaches in the 1940s, Bob Devaney swooped down from the mountains or plains or whatever it is they have in Wyoming and saved the day. Within a decade he had built a national championship team.
On the morning of January 1st 1971, Nebraska was not supposed to be playing for the national championship. The only reason a national title was on the line when Nebraska took the field against LSU in the Orange Bowl is because college football in the 70s was very dumb.
So sit on Uncle Jason's knee kids and I'll tell you a story about 1970s college football, but don't sit too close or they'll call child protective services on me again.
Texas had already claimed the national title in the Coaches Poll. That's because back then the Coaches Poll voted for their national champion before the bowl games were even played and I hope I don't have to explain to you why that's the dumbest thing anyone's ever thought of on God's green Earth.
But the AP National Championship was still on the line. Earlier in the day #1 Texas lost in the Cotton Bowl to #6 Notre Dame and #2 Ohio State had lost to #12 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. That means all #3 Nebraska had to do was beat #5 LSU and the AP National Championship would be theirs. (And let's thank God that the incredibly stupid and archaic bowl rules of the time prevented #1 Texas and #2 Ohio State from playing each other in a bowl game!)
Imagine what a feeling that must have been to wake up in your hotel room thinking you're just going to play for an Orange Bowl and then as you're finally taking the field you know that you have a chance to play for a nationa...Oh my bloody crumpets, WHAT IS THAT?
Now all of the sudden you've forgotten all about playing for a national championship, because the Orange Bowl logo at midfield is the stuff of nightmares.
Well the game went on regardless and Nebraska dominated early by taking advantage of 2 LSU fumbles for a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. They could have been up by more if it weren't for a ridiculous amount of drive-killing false starts that plagued the Husker offense throughout the first half.
LSU kicked a field goal in the 2nd for a 10-3 halftime score.
By this time you know you're watching football from a completely different era because Herbie's head is 10 feet tall.
You also keep hearing promotions for events that have long since passed. (Don't forget to tune in to President Nixon sitting down for an exclusive interview on CBS tomorrow night!)
Well the 2nd half starts and the Ku Klux Klan must have come in and given LSU a pretty rousing speech at halftime because they came roaring back to take a 12-10 lead in the 4th. (I'm kidding. Relax. But seriously, LSU did not have a single non-white player on the field at any point in the game. For comparison, Nebraska started #20 Johnny Rodgers, #31 Joe Orduna, #81 Willie Harper, #57 John Adkins and #70 Donnie McGee and had several other black players on the sideline.)
The last 12 minutes of the game is where it gets pretty crazy. Nebraska quarterback Jerry Tagge led Nebraska on a fateful 67 yard drive that ended with him stretching the ball over the goal line on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to take the lead for good. After the extra point it was 17-12. The image of Jerry Tagge stretching over the goal line for Nebraska is perhaps the most iconic image in Nebraska football history. As a kid, I always thought this touchdown was way more dramatic than it was. I thought he scored the go ahead touchdown with less than a minute to go, but in reality there was about 9:30 left on the clock when this happened.
Nebraska still had to run out the clock and they tried their best to blow it. After stopping LSU on the next drive, Nebraska failed to pick up a first down and had to punt. The Blackshirts then forced LSU into a 3rd and 30, which LSU's QB converted after scrambling out of the pocket and connecting with a wide receiver just beyond the first down marker. Willie Harper then ripped the ball out of the LSU ball carrier's hands a few plays later and with about a minute and a half left, it appeared the game was sealed.
That was until Joe Orduna fumbled on 3rd and 6 and gave LSU the ball with about 30 seconds left. The next play LSU threw a pick and the game was sealed for good. Jerry Tagge took a knee and Nebraska's first national championship was secured.
Sure, Nebraska technically splits the title with Texas since Texas did win the Coaches Poll after all. If you talk with anyone who knows their salt about college football (so not a Texas fan), they'll agree Nebraska was the nation's best team in 1970 because how the hell can you lose your bowl game and still consider yourself the national champion?
Tune in next Saturday after I watch Bob Devaney fight a bear for Nebraska's 2nd national title.
Date: January 1, 1971
Outcome: 17-12 Nebraska
Oh how I would have loved to have been alive for this one. I can only imagine the party that went on long into the night on the beaches of Miami and throughout the state of Nebraska.
After years of being absolutely horrendous under coaches Bill Glassford and Bill Jennings and several other coaches in the 1940s, Bob Devaney swooped down from the mountains or plains or whatever it is they have in Wyoming and saved the day. Within a decade he had built a national championship team.
On the morning of January 1st 1971, Nebraska was not supposed to be playing for the national championship. The only reason a national title was on the line when Nebraska took the field against LSU in the Orange Bowl is because college football in the 70s was very dumb.
So sit on Uncle Jason's knee kids and I'll tell you a story about 1970s college football, but don't sit too close or they'll call child protective services on me again.
Texas had already claimed the national title in the Coaches Poll. That's because back then the Coaches Poll voted for their national champion before the bowl games were even played and I hope I don't have to explain to you why that's the dumbest thing anyone's ever thought of on God's green Earth.
But the AP National Championship was still on the line. Earlier in the day #1 Texas lost in the Cotton Bowl to #6 Notre Dame and #2 Ohio State had lost to #12 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. That means all #3 Nebraska had to do was beat #5 LSU and the AP National Championship would be theirs. (And let's thank God that the incredibly stupid and archaic bowl rules of the time prevented #1 Texas and #2 Ohio State from playing each other in a bowl game!)
Imagine what a feeling that must have been to wake up in your hotel room thinking you're just going to play for an Orange Bowl and then as you're finally taking the field you know that you have a chance to play for a nationa...Oh my bloody crumpets, WHAT IS THAT?
Now all of the sudden you've forgotten all about playing for a national championship, because the Orange Bowl logo at midfield is the stuff of nightmares.
Well the game went on regardless and Nebraska dominated early by taking advantage of 2 LSU fumbles for a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. They could have been up by more if it weren't for a ridiculous amount of drive-killing false starts that plagued the Husker offense throughout the first half.
LSU kicked a field goal in the 2nd for a 10-3 halftime score.
By this time you know you're watching football from a completely different era because Herbie's head is 10 feet tall.
 |
| I know we're playing for a national title, but don't get a big head Herbie |
You also keep hearing promotions for events that have long since passed. (Don't forget to tune in to President Nixon sitting down for an exclusive interview on CBS tomorrow night!)
Well the 2nd half starts and the Ku Klux Klan must have come in and given LSU a pretty rousing speech at halftime because they came roaring back to take a 12-10 lead in the 4th. (I'm kidding. Relax. But seriously, LSU did not have a single non-white player on the field at any point in the game. For comparison, Nebraska started #20 Johnny Rodgers, #31 Joe Orduna, #81 Willie Harper, #57 John Adkins and #70 Donnie McGee and had several other black players on the sideline.)
The last 12 minutes of the game is where it gets pretty crazy. Nebraska quarterback Jerry Tagge led Nebraska on a fateful 67 yard drive that ended with him stretching the ball over the goal line on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to take the lead for good. After the extra point it was 17-12. The image of Jerry Tagge stretching over the goal line for Nebraska is perhaps the most iconic image in Nebraska football history. As a kid, I always thought this touchdown was way more dramatic than it was. I thought he scored the go ahead touchdown with less than a minute to go, but in reality there was about 9:30 left on the clock when this happened.
 |
| Jerry Tagge immortalizes himself in Nebraska football history. |
Nebraska still had to run out the clock and they tried their best to blow it. After stopping LSU on the next drive, Nebraska failed to pick up a first down and had to punt. The Blackshirts then forced LSU into a 3rd and 30, which LSU's QB converted after scrambling out of the pocket and connecting with a wide receiver just beyond the first down marker. Willie Harper then ripped the ball out of the LSU ball carrier's hands a few plays later and with about a minute and a half left, it appeared the game was sealed.
That was until Joe Orduna fumbled on 3rd and 6 and gave LSU the ball with about 30 seconds left. The next play LSU threw a pick and the game was sealed for good. Jerry Tagge took a knee and Nebraska's first national championship was secured.
Sure, Nebraska technically splits the title with Texas since Texas did win the Coaches Poll after all. If you talk with anyone who knows their salt about college football (so not a Texas fan), they'll agree Nebraska was the nation's best team in 1970 because how the hell can you lose your bowl game and still consider yourself the national champion?
Tune in next Saturday after I watch Bob Devaney fight a bear for Nebraska's 2nd national title.
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