Post by mrsticka on Apr 14, 2023 21:16:47 GMT
The 1983 Nebraska football team is mostly unchanged. They still beat their opponents by at least 40 points or more. The team is known as "The Scoring Explosion". They still go undefeated and ranked #1. But the outcomes for a couple of games are different.
Oklahoma State, October 8th, 1983:
Nebraska does not struggle against the Cowboys and win by only 14-10 like they did originally. Instead, like most games that season, they dominate and easily win 64-10.
Miami, Orange Bowl, January 2nd, 1984:
Nebraska and Miami still meet in the Orange Bowl the day after New Year's. It still comes down to the wire with Nebraska scoring a touchdown and making it a 1-point game with them trailing 31-30. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne still decides to go for 2 instead of settling for a tie. So quarterback Turner Gill still passes to I-back Jeff Smith. It still gets broken up by Miami defender Kenny Calhoun. But he accidentally bobbles the ball in the air. The ball lands in the hands of Nebraska receiver Doug Dubose. So Nebraska makes the conversion and takes the lead 32-31. But there are still 30 seconds left. There's one more kickoff return where Miami gets the ball back. Nebraska has to stop them on defense. Miami tries to go for it on 4th down, but Nebraska gets the stop and that officially seals the win for them. Nebraska runs out the clock, assumes victory formation and the game is over. Nebraska wins the national championship. Tom Osborne's gutsy decision to go for 2 pays off. Maybe not quite the way he wanted, but he was still happy to win.
So there you have it. Nebraska won its first national championship in 12 years. They won back-to-back national titles in 1970 and 1971 under Bob Devaney. So this was their first one since then.
Afterwards, the 1983 Nebraska team goes on to be considered one of the greatest college football teams of all time along with the 1971 team and eventually the 1995 one.
Oklahoma State, October 8th, 1983:
Nebraska does not struggle against the Cowboys and win by only 14-10 like they did originally. Instead, like most games that season, they dominate and easily win 64-10.
Miami, Orange Bowl, January 2nd, 1984:
Nebraska and Miami still meet in the Orange Bowl the day after New Year's. It still comes down to the wire with Nebraska scoring a touchdown and making it a 1-point game with them trailing 31-30. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne still decides to go for 2 instead of settling for a tie. So quarterback Turner Gill still passes to I-back Jeff Smith. It still gets broken up by Miami defender Kenny Calhoun. But he accidentally bobbles the ball in the air. The ball lands in the hands of Nebraska receiver Doug Dubose. So Nebraska makes the conversion and takes the lead 32-31. But there are still 30 seconds left. There's one more kickoff return where Miami gets the ball back. Nebraska has to stop them on defense. Miami tries to go for it on 4th down, but Nebraska gets the stop and that officially seals the win for them. Nebraska runs out the clock, assumes victory formation and the game is over. Nebraska wins the national championship. Tom Osborne's gutsy decision to go for 2 pays off. Maybe not quite the way he wanted, but he was still happy to win.
So there you have it. Nebraska won its first national championship in 12 years. They won back-to-back national titles in 1970 and 1971 under Bob Devaney. So this was their first one since then.
Afterwards, the 1983 Nebraska team goes on to be considered one of the greatest college football teams of all time along with the 1971 team and eventually the 1995 one.