Favorite Back-up

MichiganDad3

All-American
I thought I would start a topic to pass some time before the season starts.

Jeff Smith was my favorite backup. Smith came in the 1984 Orange bowl and had 99 yards on 4 carries after Rozier got hurt. He has 473 yards rushing in 2.5 games rushing the following year before he got hurt. Smith was not as big as Rozier, but he was faster. I wonder how great he could have been if he started in 1983 or stayed healthy in 1984. Smith reminds me of Burkhead. A backup until his senior year, which starts off great, and ends with an injury.

 
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My favorite story about 1995 Huskers was after the Michigan State game that NU won 50-10. Late in the game, Jay Sims broke off a long run for a TD. After the game, Nick Saban was asked about NU, and he basically said "They are so talented. I thought their best RB was the 6th stringer who had that long run after the game."

There were so many good backs on that '95 team.

 
Funny but a lot of my favorite back ups have already been mentioned. Jeff Smith, Jay Sims. I'll add Roger Craig who I always got excited anytime he got to carry the ball when he was backing up Rozier and Jarvis Redwine.

 
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Matt Turman. Frankie London. Curt Dukes. Joe Daily. Harrison Beck. Joe Ganz. Cody Green. Brion Carnes. Ron Kellog. and now Tommy Armtrong.

These were all, at one point in time, the most notable heroes of Husker lore over the last 20 years.

 
I like guys that fight through adversity, and refuse to quit.... so guys like A. Green, B. Heard, H. Beck, C. Rome, T. Moore and C. Green will always top my list....

 
I like guys that fight through adversity, and refuse to quit.... so guys like A. Green, B. Heard, H. Beck, C. Rome, T. Moore and C. Green will always top my list....
Ahhh, I see what you did there. Hahaha.

 
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bobby newcombe
Maybe this is another thread, but I wonder how good Newcombe would have been without injury. How many teams have a QB that could return punts for TDs?

DeAngelo Evens is another potentially great husker that couldn't stay healthy. That was when Husker water was contaminated causing all the abdominal injuries.

 
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