Written for every sports fan who follows the Cornhuskers, this account goes behind the scenes to peek into the private world of the players, coaches, and decision makers—all while eavesdropping on their personal conversations. From the Nebraska locker room to the sidelines and inside the huddle, the book includes stories about Bill Callahan, Bob Devaney, and Johnny Rogers, among others, allowing readers to relive the highlights and the celebrations.
Here is your chance to go inside the huddle, head into the locker room, or grab a seat on the sidelines. This is your exclusive pass to get on the team plane or have breakfast at the team hotel. Go behind the scenes and peek into the private world of the players, coaches, and decision makers and eavesdrop on their conversations.
Acknowledgments xiPrologue xiiiIntroduction-The Early Years xviiBob Devaney: The Beginning of Nebraska's Dynasty 1Devaney's First Season 5Devaney's First Nebraska Postseason Trip: Gotham Bowl 8The Growth of Memorial Stadium Under Devaney 10Early Success 13Nebraska's Smallish Fullback Frank Solich 15Rolling in 1963 16The 1963 Season Ends with the Orange Bowl 19Devaney's Recruiting, Practice Wizardry 20Winding Up in Dallas 22Devaney's Third Straight Title 23Alabama's Orange Bowl Chicanery 25The 1966 Season 27Down Years 29The Weight-Loss Experiment Backfires 32Still the Rib-Rattling Defense 33Junior College Linemen, Weight Lifting 35Back-to-Back National Titles, Game of the Century 39Another Title: Perfection 45Transitioning to Tom Osborne 511970, 1972 Army Games Drove Devaney Nuts 54Rich Glover: New Jersey Pipeline 551973 Orange Bowl: Send Off for Devaney, Rodgers 57Devaney's Enduring Charm, Connection with the State 59Walden on Devaney's Remarkable Memory 61Osborne Becomes Head Coach 61The 1973 Season: Osborne's Baptism 63Oklahoma Series Heating Up 67Tom Osborne's Early OU Curse 71Better Times vs. OU 74Down the Stretch 75Missouri Series 77The 1965 Game: "Barnyard" Language 81The 1970s: Nebraska's Roller Coaster vs. MU 83The Nature of the Osborne-Powers Rivalry 85Huskers Score in Final Seconds in 1981; Controversy Again in 1982 87Nebraska's Domination Until the 1997 Classic 89Osborne's Legacy 93Osborne's Early Head-Coaching Years 97Winning the Big 8, Trick Plays 99Winning the National Title 101Winding It Down 104Offensively Good, Then Great Triplets 109Redwine: Heisman Candidate, Exploited Athlete 112Recruitment of Fryar, Rozier, and Gill 113The Triplets Coming Together 116Fitting Together Perfectly 119Two Points from Glory 122National Champs Again 125Quarterback Tommie Frazier: The Magic Man 128The Nebraska Fullback Legends 131The 1995 Season: Peters' Pregame Defensive Antics 132Lawrence Phillips: A Wasted Talent 134Winning Another Title in 1995 136It Happened That Spring 139Desert Outfoxed in 1996 140Rolling to a Big 12 Championship Game 142An Odd Trail to the Outland Trophy 145That Special 1997 Season 147Walk-ons, Weight Lifting, Redshirting, Fan Adoration: The Culture of Nebraska 151The Walk-on Phenomenon 157Nebraska's Adoring Fans 159The Solich Years 163Crouch's Recruitment, Promise 166Ricky Williams, Texas Provide Tough Hurdles 168McBride Steps Down 170Notre Dame Game in 2000 171Crouch Wins 2001 Heisman, Other Awards 173Solich Falls Out of Favor 175Callahan Years Lead to Pelini 183A Total Defensive Collapse in 2007 189Hiring Pelini Back to Nebraska 193Coming Over from LSU 196Sources 199