What's the most controversial loss you've seen for Husker football?

The entire officiating debacle for the whole 09' season. 1) The game against Iowa State where Burkhead almost got his head decapitated but yet we get the penalty when Legate pushed Klein off of burkhead. 2) The A&M game where going into that game, A&M was leading the Big 12 in penalties but yet only had 2 penalties to our 18. Also the late hit call against Osborne and the Nut grab on Cotton. 3) Lets not forget the Texas Big 12 title game with the added second.

 
FSU and PSU games may have cost us NCs but 09 Texas and 10a&m cost us a shot at getting back to being nationaly relevant again. For me, thats worth more.

 
I'm going to throw another one out there that is controversial for me for totally different reasons than bad refing.

2004 ISU.

Bill Clownahan was the new coach. He had a team that was recruited to run the ball. He had a QB that was not comfortable throwing the ball and WRs that were recruited to block more than catch. We go into Ames against an ISU team that was dead last in the conference in run defense. Our average per rush that game was over 5 yards per rush. HOWEVER, the genius decides to pass the ball 43 times. We only complete 19 with one interception and lose 34-27.

For me, this was the first time I really thought a Nebraska coach didn't care if we won or lost a game. He was going to do what ever he wanted. It was a real eye opener for me.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
You gotta say the '82 Penn St game. Any other loss you can make a legit case for how it was actually called. They were judgement calls. The clip against FSU in '93 and the fumble on that goal line. Even though the clip isnt found on tape, doesnt 100% mean it didnt happen. And it was in the 1st quarter, so in hindsight, shouldntve had the impact on the game that it did. And the fumble on that goalline is a bang bang play that was very VERY close. Replay probably overturns it. The Texas '09 game was just a pure choke job. We had it, slipped up, kicked the ball out of bounds. Gave up a slant rout and tacked on another 15 yard penalty on it. We gave that one away. There was a second left. We can debate all we want about the rights of the officials to put that second on. But looking back, the right thing was done. Plain and simple. A&M '10? A lot of those penalties we deserved. The questionable roughing the passer call shouldve had no impact had our offense woulda just strung together a drive or two. Again, another instance of us putting ourselves in that vulnerable situation and leaving it up to the officials to begin with.

But that '82 Penn St game was so blatantly. So obviously thrown. There is no excuse for those two plays at the end. No need for replay. It's so clear. That one ranks right at the top for me.

 
I think the loss against Minnesota this year should be looked at as controversial. Taylor Martinez clearly was not healthy enough to play. Let alone start. I know there was talk that he lied to the coaches about how good he actually felt or the coaches desperately wanted him out there or whatever.

The fact was that Pelini not only sent him out there but kept him out there when we had a QB on the bench that had started and played reasonably well and was starting to mesh with the rest of the starters.

To me, it was a bad decision by the coaches that could have been easily avoided and ultimately cost us the game.

 
StPaulHusker said:
I think the loss against Minnesota this year should be looked at as controversial. Taylor Martinez clearly was not healthy enough to play. Let alone start. I know there was talk that he lied to the coaches about how good he actually felt or the coaches desperately wanted him out there or whatever.

The fact was that Pelini not only sent him out there but kept him out there when we had a QB on the bench that had started and played reasonably well and was starting to mesh with the rest of the starters.

To me, it was a bad decision by the coaches that could have been easily avoided and ultimately cost us the game.
Click to expand...
With PJ Smith's enlightening of some things that went on surrounding and during that game in indy 18 months ago, I wouldnt be one bit surprised to see something come out in a year or two, or maybe a bit more, about some things that went on. I've heard some things as well. There was a major rift within the team at that point on what direction the qb position should be taken.

 
Taylor was hurt. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Taylor pass out at 31 Flavors that night. I guess it was pretty serious.

 
StPaulHusker said:
I think the loss against Minnesota this year should be looked at as controversial. Taylor Martinez clearly was not healthy enough to play. Let alone start. I know there was talk that he lied to the coaches about how good he actually felt or the coaches desperately wanted him out there or whatever.

The fact was that Pelini not only sent him out there but kept him out there when we had a QB on the bench that had started and played reasonably well and was starting to mesh with the rest of the starters.

To me, it was a bad decision by the coaches that could have been easily avoided and ultimately cost us the game.
Click to expand...
Yes Taylor was not even close to 100% and didn't help matters, but I can think of several reasons other than TM that NU lost that game.

1. They took Minnesota lightly. I am a BP supporter, but this is one area that he needs to improve. I think he takes teams lightly sometimes so in tern his team takes things lightly.

2. Beck had a poor game plan. I know that the Gopher DBs were begging NU to throw the ball, but it wasn't working. Abdulla had like 160 rushing. give him the ball.

3. There QB had a phenomenal day throwing and decision making. He didn't play that well the rest of the year.

4. The defense played terrible

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top