*** Official Husker Yards to Glory Thread ***

[Mavric]

Here's the LJS' current take on the list

 

I haven't gone through it yet. See if you think we - or they - need to make any changes.

[Mavric]

94 - Courtney Grixby's 94 yard kick return for a TD in 2007 against K-State

 

Here's an alternate to consider:

 

The distance: 94 yards

The star: Roger Craig

The date: Sept. 19, 1981

The outcome: Huskers 34, Florida State 14

The story: The Huskers had been humbled just the week before, having laid an egg in Iowa City, losing 10-7 to an unranked Hawkeyes team to start the season.

 

The heat was on. And now an up-and-coming Florida State program rode into Lincoln, confident after having upset Nebraska in Lincoln the year before.

 

But the Seminoles had a problem on their hands this time. That problem's name was Roger Craig.

 

The future San Francisco 49ers All-Pro ran wild, posting 234 yards rushing. Craig saved his best for last.

 

Florida State had just cut the score to 27-14 midway through the fourth quarter. Then things got a little more tense in the stadium when Craig lost track of where he was while fielding the kickoff. He stepped out of bounds at his own 6.

 

Of minor matter.

 

Craig got loose on the next play, bursting through the right side of the line, breaking a couple of tackles and then running away from the defense for a 94-yard touchdown to put the game away.

 

“He comes through the middle of that line just like a catapult … he's like somethin' shout from a gun!” Husker play-by-play man Lyell Bremser exclaimed.

 

At the time, it tied Craig Johnson (1979 against Kansas) for the longest rushing touchdown in Husker history.

 

Twenty years would pass before Eric Crouch could knock the play down the list.

 

But Craig’s run is still one to remember, right along with Nebraska’s nonconference schedule that year: Iowa, Florida State, Penn State and Auburn.

 

There’s a reason teams don’t schedule like that anymore. Nebraska started that year 2-2.

 

— Brian Christopherson

[Mavric]

79 - Kyler Reed's reception from Taylor Martinez vs. Kansas State, 2010

 

Via the LJS:

 

Oh, don’t mistake it, Mike Fullman’s 79-yard punt return in Nebraska’s 1995 showdown with Kansas State came with some nifty dance steps by the return man.

 

Fullman busted free of an arm tackle, did some sideline tightroping, then finished the deal with some high-stepping pizazz the final 15 yards that earned him a flag for excessive celebration.

 

But it’s the block from Mike Rucker, the Husker defensive end who would go on to a fine NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, that sent collective “oohs” and “aahs” throughout the Memorial Stadium crowd.

 

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to play special teams.

 

Kansas State’s Joe Gordon was the poor guy who got lit up by Rucker. And … we … mean … lit … up.

 

Gordon looked like he was going to have a play on Fullman some 70 yards from the end zone.

 

But Rucker had other plans, coming in like a missile, laying a legal block on Gordon that caused the K-State player’s helmet to fly off and land 5 yards downfield.

 

“Who says blocking’s not fun?” said sideline reporter Dean Blevins during the ABC telecast. “The blow that Rucker just struck a moment ago not only had this crowd abuzz like I’ve never heard a crowd on a block, when Rucker's teammates saw it on the instant-replay big screens, they just mauled the guy."

 

It was the highlight play of what was a strange game between two top-10 teams. Nebraska jumped to a 42-6 lead before Kansas State scored 19 unanswered points in a span of seven minutes in the fourth quarter.

 

And of Nebraska’s seven touchdowns, none of them were rushing scores.

 

As for how good that ’95 Nebraska team was? The 24-point win against Kansas State was the third-closest game the Huskers had that season.

 

7:00 of this video:

 

[Mavric]

Went here hoping to find a cool 98 yard video to post, in the countdown thread but it's buried in the middle of the video so it didn't work as well.

 

How do we still not have 97, 96 or 91?

 

And does anyone have videos for the other yardages?

[Mavric]

For reference:

100 - Niles Paul's kickoff return vs. Oklahoma State, 2010.
99 - Tommy Armstrong to Quincy Enunwa vs. Georgia in the 2014 Outback Bowl (replaced Joe Walker, kickoff return vs. Louisiana Tech, 1998)
98 - Johnny Rodgers kickoff return vs. Texas A&M, 1971 (longest play in Rodgers' career; 2:57 of the video)
97 -
96 -
95 - Eric Crouch runs past the entire defense vs Missouri in 2001 (1:32 of the video)
94 - Courtney Grixby's kick return in 2007 against K-State
93 - Mike Rozier vs. Kansas State during the Scoring Explosion years, 1983
92 - Willie Ross' kickoff return against Miami in the 1962 Gotham Bowl (Nebraska bowl record)
91 -
90 - Calvin Jones run vs. Oklahoma State in 1992 on his way to a 9 carry, 176 yard, 2 TD day
89 - Jarvis Redwine streaks down the sideline early in the 1980 OU game
88 - Nate Swift's punt return against VA Tech in 2008
87 - Dave Butterfield's punt return vs. TCU in 1976 en route to a 64-10 win.
86 - Cory Ross ices the game in the fourth (on a fairly icy day with the wind) against Missouri, 2004.
85 - Kenny Cheatham kickoff return vs. Oklahoma, 2006
84 - Tom Rathman's run against sCUm in 1985.
83 - Ralph Brown's 83-yard interception return vs Oklahoma, 1996
82 - Rick Berns run on the first play from scrimmage vs Missouri, 1978, the week after Osborne's first win over OU.
81 - Bobby Reynolds' scamper against Colorado, 10/14/1950 - courtesy Brian Christopherson
80 - Dan Alexander run @ Colorado 1999 where he out-ran a Colorado sprinter (0:41 of the video)
79 - Kyler Reed's reception from Taylor Martinez vs. Kansas State, 2010
78 - Richard Bell pass from Steve Taylor vs. South Carolina, 1987
77 - Johnny Rodgers' punt return vs. Alabama in the Orange Bowl, 1972
76 - Taylor Martinez runs over, under, around and through the Wisconsin defense in the 2012 B1G Championship
75 - "How many tackles can one man break?" Tommie Frazier "The Run" vs. Florida in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl
74 - Niles Paul 74 yard TD from Lee in the 2010 Holiday Bowl
73 - Joe Walker saves Nebraska's bacon against Okie Lite in Arrowhead with a punt return in the fourth in 1998
72 - "Man, Woman and Child, did that put 'em in the aisles!" Rodgers punt return vs OU in the Game of the Century, 1971
71 - DeJuan Groce's punt return against Miami in the National Championship game, 2002 (2001 season)
70 - Harry Meginnis returns a punt 70 yards against Iowa State for the game's only score and a 7-0 win in 1949
69 - Bobby Newcombe to Matt Davison as Nebraska pours it on Northwestern in the 2000 Alamo Bowl
69* - Jack Hoffman scores in the 2013 Spring Game
68 - Dennis Claridge's run vs. Auburn in the 1964 Orange Bowl
67 - Joe Orduna dances through the USC defense in 1967.
66 - Roy Helu lets Mizzou know it's gonna be a long day on NU's first play from scrimmage in 2010
65 - Tony Jeter catches a 65-yard pass early in the fourth quarter to help Nebraska defeat Minnesota 14-7 in 1963
64 - Jason Gamble seals the win against undefeated Oklahoma State on a pass from Travis Turner in 1984
63 - Black Flash 41 Reverse Pass, Stuntz to Crouch vs OU, 2001 (1:03 of the video)
62 - Gill to Fryar to help the Huskers escape Stillwater in 1983
61 - Jerry Tagge hooks up with Johnny Rodgers to beat Wake Forest 36-12 in 1961
60 - Eric Crouch adds a TD run to go along with a TD catch and TD throw against Cal in 1999
59 - Ahman Green scores his second TD in 88 seconds on his way to a 379 yard day against KState in 1997
58 - Ameer Abdullah runs through the entire McNeese State defense to score game-winning TD with less than a minute to play
57 - Alex Henery's game-winning field goal against Colorado in 2008 - note: This is a one-time exception to the TD requirement (2:04 of the video)
56 - Zac Lee pass to Niles Paul against Missouri, 2009, sparking the comeback 4th-quarter win.
55 - Mark LeFlore's pass from Jammal Lord against Missouri, 2003
54 - Jarvis Redwine against Kansas in 1979
53 - Nate Swift helps the Huskers beat RGIII and Baylor in 2008
52 - JR Superstar does it all, Rodgers pass to Frosty Anderson, 1973 Orange Bowl
51 - Imani Cross up the middle against Michigan State in 2013 (1:29 of the video)
50 - Humm to Rodgers during the 1973 Orange Bowl, The Slaughter of the Irish.
49 - Jordan Westerkamp catches a deflected pass from Ron Kellogg III on the final play to beat Northwestern in 2013
48 - Sophomore Fullback George Sauer rips through the line and races for the game-winning score to defeat Oklahoma 13-0 in 1931
47 - Calvin Jones starts off the rout as #8 NU routs #8 CU on a cold, rainy Halloween night, 1992
46 - The T-Mart era begins with a bang on his very first carry, vs. Western Kentucky 2010
45 - George Sauer scores from 45 yards in the opening three minutes as NU beat Missouri 26-0 in a driving rainstorm in Columbia in 1933
44 - Craig Sundberg runs in yet another TD as Nebraska wallops Minnesota 84-13 in 1983 - the Scoring Explosion year
43 - Steve Taylor's run put NU up 35-0 in the first quarter against #10 Oklahoma State in 1988
42 - Michael Booker INT return in title game against Florida (1995)
41 - Irving Fryar run vs. Minnesota in 1983 in the 84-point Explosion
40 - John O'Leary "The Bummeroosky" 1975 NU vs Mizzou.
39 - Carlos Polk interception return on the first play of the game against Colorado in 2000
38 - Martinez, 38 yard run on a QB draw vs. Wisconsin in 2012 (NU Homecoming). Second largest comeback win in NU history (2:25 point in the video)
37 - Kenny Bell's leaping, one-handed snag against Illinois in 2013
36 - Punt block/ return by Jim Moore and Lee Zentic in the '59' upset of OU.
35 - Steve Taylor to Todd Millikan to beat Troy Aikman and UCLA, 1987
34 - Reggie Baul's 34-yard reception against Florida State in the 1993 Orange Bowl - the Unfinished Business game
33 - Bobbie "Mr. Touchdown" Reynolds runs all over the field in what was officially a 33-yard run to beat Missouri in 1950
32 - John Brown to Avard Mandery to put the Huskers up 14-0 over Notre Dame in 1925
31 - Jason Peter with a scoop and score vs. Virginia Tech in 1996
30 - Ndamukong Suh steamrolls Colorado's Cody Hawkins near the goal line on an INT return, 2008
29 - Barry Turner scores on a pass from Joe Ganz on a fake FG vs Colorado in 2006 (2:05 of the video)
28 - Joe Ganz run against Colorado in 2007
27 - Barrett Ruud INT return vs. Texas A&M, 2003
26 - Bobby Reynolds' 2nd TD helped Nebraska to a 19-0 win over Penn State & new Asst. Joe Paterno (then a 23-year-old QB coach) in 1950
25 - TD by Ahman Green early in the 2nd qt of the 1997 Big12 championship vs. A&M (1:20 of the video)
24 - Jeff Smith's TD run off the option on 4th & 8 late in the 4th quarter of the 1984 Orange Bowl.
23 - Gerry Gdowski to Chris Garrett to beat Oklahoma in 1989
22 - Vince Ferragamo passes to Mark Dufresne in the 1976 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl vs. Texas Tech
21 - Eric Crouch blasts through an Iowa defender in 1999
20 - Joel Makovicka crazy never say die run, vs. Akron 1997
19 - Dean Steinkuhler's Fumbleroosky vs Miami, 1984 Orange Bowl
18 - Taylor Martinez up the middle in the largest comeback in school history (vs. Ohio St., 2011)
17 - Nate Swift's sweet catch in the endzone against Clemson in the 2008 Gator Bowl
16 - TD run by Bill Thornton in the 4th to seal a 25-13 victory against Michigan @ Ann Arbor in 1962.
15 - Barret Ruud fumble return provides the go ahead score in Pelini's debut as DC against Okie Lite in '03 (0:15 of the video)
14 - Cory Schlesinger's go ahead TD in the 1995 Orange Bowl vs. Miami
13 - Taylor to Nunn to beat Michigan for the 2005 Alamo Bowl (3:29 of the video)
12 - Frost to Davison off Wiggins' foot to save the Missouri game and keep the championship season alive, 1997 (1:15 of the video)
11 - Brook Berringer bails the Huskers out late against Wyoming in 1994
10 - Randy Garcia to Curtis Craig to spark a comeback win over North Carolina in the 1977 Liberty Bowl
9 - Zac Taylor to Maurice Purify in the corner of the end zone to beat A&M at Kyle Field, 2006
8 - Johnny Rodgers' hard-fought eight-yard run against ND in the 1973 Orange Bowl. (Bob Devaney's last game as head coach; 0:56 of the video)
7 - Eric Crouch runs it in to beat Notre Dame in overtime, 2000 (0:55 of the video)
6 - Steve Taylor run against #11 Florida State in 1986 to tie the game in the third quarter, one of four TDs Taylor accounted for that day in his first start and the first night game ever at Memorial Stadium (13:37 of the video)
5 - Rick Berns opens the scoring for Nebraska en route to a 17-14 win against top-ranked Oklahoma in 1978 - Osborne's first win over the Sooners
4 - Eric Crouch vs. Texas for the 1999 Big XII Championship (1:28 of the video)
3 - Roger Craig run to beat Marcus Dupree & Oklahoma in 1982
2 - Mike Rozier's back and forth and back again TD vs UCLA in 1983 (0:42 of the video)
1 - Jerry Tagge's QB sneak in the 1971 Orange Bowl for our first national championship 1/1/71 vs LSU

[Huskerchussetts]

I feel like ahman green had 90+ td run against Mich st in sabans first yr there. Was at the game but it might have seemed longer than it was

[Mavric]

I feel like ahman green had 90+ td run against Mich st in sabans first yr there. Was at the game but it might have seemed longer than it was

 

I see a 57 yard run in 1995. Sims had an 80 yarder in the same game.

[huKSer]

Went here hoping to find a cool 98 yard video to post, in the countdown thread but it's buried in the middle of the video so it didn't work as well.

 

How do we still not have 97, 96 or 91?

 

And does anyone have videos for the other yardages?

 

Does the play have to end in a TD?

 

Long play that gets tackled or pushed out inside the 5?

[Huskers44]

 

 

Went here hoping to find a cool 98 yard video to post, in the countdown thread but it's buried in the middle of the video so it didn't work as well.

 

How do we still not have 97, 96 or 91?

 

And does anyone have videos for the other yardages?

Does the play have to end in a TD?

 

Long play that gets tackled or pushed out inside the 5?

I thought Taylor Martinez might've had a 91 yarder against Washington

[Mavric]

 

 

Went here hoping to find a cool 98 yard video to post, in the countdown thread but it's buried in the middle of the video so it didn't work as well.

 

How do we still not have 97, 96 or 91?

 

And does anyone have videos for the other yardages?

Does the play have to end in a TD?

 

Long play that gets tackled or pushed out inside the 5?

Has to be a TD

[huKSer]

 

 

Went here hoping to find a cool 98 yard video to post, in the countdown thread but it's buried in the middle of the video so it didn't work as well.

 

How do we still not have 97, 96 or 91?

 

And does anyone have videos for the other yardages?

Does the play have to end in a TD?

 

Long play that gets tackled or pushed out inside the 5?

Has to be a TD

 

Maybe put an asterisk next to it?

[Mavric]

 

[knapplc]

I finished the list with three TDs from 1938. 

 

91 yards from Jack Dodd on a fumble return vs. Minnesota

96 yards from Herm Rohrig's kickoff return vs. Missouri

97 yards from Sam Francis' kickoff return vs. Iowa State

 

Weird blend of old Big 8 foes and a current Big Ten foe in that group. 

[Born N Bled Red]

Was looking for Burkhead's jukeboxes against Ohio State during the largest comeback game, was surprised to not see it in the list.

[Mavric]

7 minutes ago, Born N Bled Red said:

Was looking for Burkhead's jukeboxes against Ohio State during the largest comeback game, was surprised to not see it in the list.

 

The swing pass juke TD was 30 yards.  Here's what's on there currently:

 

30 - Ndamukong Suh steamrolls Colorado's Cody Hawkins near the goal line on an INT return, 2008
 

Suh's play was a ton of fun but I would probably give the edge to Rex as far as impactful.  Curious what others think.