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1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

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1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 30–15 vs. LSU
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4
APNo. 5
Record10–2 (5–2 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive schemeI formation
Defensive coordinatorCharlie McBride (6th season)
Base defense5–2
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1985
1987 →
1986 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Oklahoma $ 7 0 0 11 1 0
Colorado 6 1 0 6 6 0
No. 5 Nebraska 5 2 0 10 2 0
Oklahoma State 4 3 0 6 5 0
Iowa State 3 4 0 6 5 0
Missouri 2 5 0 3 8 0
Kansas State 1 6 0 2 9 0
Kansas 0 7 0 3 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1986 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

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 67:00 pmNo. 11 Florida State*No. 8ABCW 34–1775,865
September 206:00 pmat Illinois*No. 6WTBSW 59–1475,869
September 271:30 pmOregon*No. 4
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
W 48–1476,185
October 412:30 pmat South Carolina*No. 3W 27–2473,109[1]
October 116:45 pmOklahoma StatedaggerNo. 3
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
ESPNW 30–1076,041
October 181:30 pmMissouriNo. 3
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
W 48–1776,005
October 252:30 pmat ColoradoNo. 3L 10–2052,440
November 11:30 pmKansas StateNo. 9
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
W 38–075,893
November 811:30 amat Iowa StateNo. 7RaycomW 35–1448,007
November 151:30 pmat KansasNo. 6W 70–048,800
November 222:30 pmNo. 3 OklahomaNo. 5
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
ABCL 17–2076,198
January 1, 19872:30 pmvs. No. 5 LSU*No. 6ABCW 30–1576,234[2]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Roster and coaching staff

[edit]
1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
G 68 Dan Bailey Jr
TE 87 Tom Banderas Jr
WB 18 Vance Behrens Jr
WB 21 Richard Bell So
QB 12 Clete Blakeman Jr
WB 33 Dana Brinson So
FB 24 Dan Casterline Sr
C 54 Mark Cooper Sr
FB Doug Dalton Jr
TE 81 Mark Diaz Sr
IB 22 Doug DuBose Sr
OT 77 Jim Ernest So
G 67 Ron Galois Sr
SE 86 Jason Gamble So
WB 8 Pernell Gatson Sr
OT 73 Derrick Green Jr
TE 84 Mike Hall Jr
SE 82 Hendley Hawkins Jr
FB 48 Micah Heibel Jr
G 75 Mike Hoefler Sr
WB 27 Jim Holscher Jr
OT 70 Corey Bill Hudson Jr
OT 64 Brad Johnson Sr
IB 6 Keith Jones Jr
FB 49 Ken Kaelin Sr
G 65 Andy Keeler So
IB 40 Jon Kelley Jr
IB 34 Tyreese Knox So
FB 41 Tom Lenneman Jr
OT 57 Keven Lightner Jr
OT 72 Rob Maggard Sr
G 61 John McCormick Jr
TE 43 Todd Millikan So
QB 16 Jerry Mlinar Sr
WB 4 Ray Nelson Sr
C 63 John Nichols Jr
OT 74 Stan Parker Sr
IB 20 Terry Rodgers Fr
SE 85 Robb Schnitzler Sr
C 53 Jeff Sellentin Sr
WB 2 Von Sheppard Jr
OT 62 Bob Sledge So
SE 88 Rod Smith Jr
QB 9 Steve Taylor So
OT 69 Tom Welter Sr
IB 25 Jeff Wheeler So
QB 15 Wendell Wooten So
C 68 Jake Young Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 23 Mark Blazek Jr
MG 58 Dave Bryan Sr
CB 42 Mike Carl Sr
S 45 Chris Carr Sr
CB 31 Gene Chealey Jr
CB 7 McCathorn Clayton Jr
CB 28 John Custard So
CB 32 Brian Davis Sr
LB 47 LeRoy Etienne So
LB 38 Steve Forch Sr
CB 10 Charles Fryar So
DT 84 Willie Griffin So
DT 52 Danny Groskurth Jr
LB 39 Blake Henning Jr
CB 8 Lorenzo Hicks So
DE 91 Tony Holloway Sr
DE 80 Jeff Jamrog Jr
DE 55 Randall Jobman So
DT 98 Lee Jones Jr
DE 93 Jon Marco So
CB 17 Cleo Miller Sr
LB 41 Marc Munford Sr
MG 95 Danny Noonan Sr
DE 94 Bump Novacek So
DE 90 Harlan Opie Jr
DT 97 Tony Palmer Jr
LB 35 Kevin Parsons Sr
MG 96 Lawrence Pete So
MG 92 Sean Putnam So
DT 78 Tim Rother Jr
CB 26 Marvin Sanders So
MON 3 Gary Schneider Sr
LB 51 Pat Shaw Sr
S 19 Bryan Siebler Sr
DT 66 Kurt Skradis So
DT 99 Neil Smith Jr
DT 76 Chris Spachman Sr
S 29 Dan Thayer Sr
MON 11 Jeff Tomjack Jr
DE 89 Broderick Thomas So
DE 83 Brad Tyrer Sr
LB 37 Doug Welniak Jr
LB 24 Dante Wiley So
MON 5 Brian Washington Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 44 Gregg Barrios Fr
PK 44 Chris Drennan So
PK 1 Dale Klein Sr
P 45 John Kroeker So
P/PK 13 Craig Schnitzler Jr
P 14 Jim Toner So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Charlie McBride
       6th season as DC/DL coach
       10th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Colorado
  • John Melton
       14th season as LB coach
       25th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Wyoming
  • Boyd Epley
       18th season as S&C coach
       18th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • George Darlington
       DB coach
       14th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Rutgers
  • Milt Tenopir
       13th season as OL coach
       13th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Sterling
  • Gene Huey
       10th season as WR coach
       10th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Wyoming
  • Frank Solich
       4th season as RB coach
       8th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • Jack Pierce
       8th year at Nebraska
  • Dan Young
       4th season as OL/K coach
       4th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Reed
  • Tony Samuel
       1st season as OLB coach
       1st year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2011-01-17

Depth chart

[edit]

Game summaries

[edit]

Florida State

[edit]
Florida State at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Florida State 7 730 17
Nebraska 0 101410 34

This was the first ever night game at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's loss to FSU in Lincoln the previous year was avenged when the Cornhuskers came back from a halftime deficit, outscoring FSU 24-3 and holding the Seminoles to -2 yards in the second half.

Illinois

[edit]
Nebraska at Illinois [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 28 10147 59
Illinois 0 707 14

The outcome of this game was more or less sealed from the very first play, as Illinois QB Chris Lamb threw an interception that Cornhusker CB Brian Davis returned for a touchdown, and Nebraska never looked back.

Oregon

[edit]
Oregon at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Oregon 7 007 14
Nebraska 14 21130 48

Oregon made the first strike, but Nebraska then ran away from the Ducks, scoring 48 unanswered points, though the Cornhuskers suffered the loss of WB Von Sheppard to injury and saw PK Dale Klein's consecutive PATs streak ended at 60.

South Carolina

[edit]
Nebraska at South Carolina [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 10 3014 27
South Carolina 0 7314 24

Nebraska survived a scare in Columbia, escaping with a victory due to recovering a Gamecock fumble with two minutes left to play to set up the go-ahead touchdown, and then intercepting a throw by South Carolina QB Todd Ellis at NU's 10 yard line with just 10 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma State

[edit]
Oklahoma State at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Oklahoma State 0 1000 10
Nebraska 14 790 30

Nebraska continued their string of domination over Oklahoma State in the second ever night game at Memorial Stadium, extending their win streak over the Cowboys to 25.

Missouri

[edit]
Missouri at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Missouri 3 0014 17
Nebraska 0 20217 48

Missouri scored first on a 29-yard field goal, but Nebraska owned the show for the rest of the game, scoring six straight touchdowns on their way to the win. Nebraska PK Dave Klein beat the Cornhusker career FG record of 22 when he extended his total to 24 in this game.

Colorado

[edit]
Nebraska at Colorado [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 0 073 10
Colorado 7 3010 20

Unranked Colorado stunned the #3 Cornhuskers, holding Nebraska to its lowest rushing yard total in eight years and ending Nebraska's 18-year winning streak against the Buffaloes.

Kansas State

[edit]
Kansas State at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Kansas State 0 000 0
Nebraska 17 0147 38

The hapless Wildcats suffered Nebraska's wrath following their loss to unranked Colorado the week prior, as the Cornhuskers romped in the snow at Memorial Stadium and shut out Kansas State while allowing them just 106 total yards of offense.

Iowa State

[edit]
Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 7 01414 35
Iowa State 0 1400 14

Nebraska struck first but then seemed to flame out, as Iowa State sent the Cornhuskers to the locker room behind 14-7 at halftime. After a rousing pep talk from Coach Osborne, the Cornhuskers stormed back in the 2nd half for the win.

Kansas

[edit]
Nebraska at Kansas [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 21 142114 70
Kansas 0 000 0

Nebraska absolutely crushed Kansas in Lawrence, handing the Jayhawks their worst-ever loss and posting the biggest Cornhusker shutout since a 100-0 smashing of Nebraska Wesleyan in 1917.

Oklahoma

[edit]
Oklahoma at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Oklahoma 7 0013 20
Nebraska 7 370 17

The #5 Cornhuskers, flying high after their 70-0 shutout against Kansas the previous week, looked ready to upset the #3 Sooners, but it was not to be. Oklahoma found the end zone twice in the 4th quarter to tie the game, and forced a Nebraska punt with 1:22 remaining. After grinding back down the field, and with just 9 seconds remaining, Oklahoma PK Tim Lashar made a 31-yard kick to split the uprights for the win, handing the Sooners their 2nd consecutive Big 8 Championship title.

LSU

[edit]
Nebraska vs LSU [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 0 10713 30
LSU 7 008 15

Nebraska's 25th bowl appearance saw the Blackshirts setting two new bowl-game records by holding LSU to just 32 net rushing yards and 10 first downs as the #6 Cornhuskers rolled up the win over the #5 Tigers.

Rankings

[edit]
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
AP866433339765665
Coaches4

Awards

[edit]

[3]

Award Name(s)
All-America 1st team Danny Noonan
All-America 3rd team Tom Welter
All-America honorable mention Broderick Thomas, Keith Jones, Rob Maggard, John McCormick, Marc Munford, Stan Parker, Chris Spachman
Sophomore All-America 1st team Broderick Thomas
Sophomore All-America honorable mention LeRoy Etienne
Big 8 Athlete of the Year Danny Noonan
All-Big 8 1st team Keith Jones, Danny Noonan, Broderick Thomas, Tom Welter, Marc Munford
All-Big 8 2nd team John McCormick, Brian Davis, Rob Maggard, Todd Millikan, Stan Parker, Rod Smith

NFL and pro players

[edit]

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1986 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.[4]

Name Team
Richard Bell Pittsburgh Steelers
Dana Brinson San Diego Chargers
Brian Davis Washington Redskins
Doug DuBose San Francisco 49ers
LeRoy Etienne San Francisco 49ers
Keith Jones Cleveland Browns
Marc Munford Denver Broncos
Danny Noonan Dallas Cowboys
Lawrence Pete Detroit Lions
Tim Rother Los Angeles Raiders
Von Sheppard Coventry Jets
Neil Smith Kansas City Chiefs
Steve Taylor Edmonton Eskimos
Broderick Thomas Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brian Washington Cleveland Browns
Tom Welter St. Louis Cardinals

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nebraska keeps second-half cool, fouls up Gamecocks' upset plans". Omaha World-Herald. October 5, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Huskers take all the growl out of Tigers". Lincoln Journal Star. January 2, 1987. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ 1986 Husker Honors
  4. ^ "All Time NFL Huskers". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2009.