An Alamo to remember
SAN ANTONIO — Nebraska endured an up-and-down regular season, finishing on an ultra-high note last month at Colorado.
So perhaps it was fitting that the Huskers fought through an Alamo Bowl consisting of several mood swings, emerging with wide smiles following a 32-28 triumph over Michigan before 62,016 spectators Wednesday night at the Alamodome, plus a national television audience.
“We said before the game that we’d learn and grow from this (no matter the outcome),” Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. “This will give us more confidence playing big-time teams.”
Nobody embodied the roller-coaster nature of this contest more than Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor. He was pressured in the pocket all game long and threw two interceptions, but he saved his best for last. Taylor gunned a 13-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Terrence Nunn for the game winner with 4:29 remaining in the contest. Taylor finished 14-for-31 passing for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Nebraska senior safety Blake Tiedtke set up his team’s final touchdown by knocking the ball from Michigan quarterback Chad Henne as he attempted a pass in the pocket. Defensive tackle Ola Dagunduro picked up the pigskin and rumbled 13 yards to the Michigan 16-yard line.
“They came up huge,” Callahan said of the Husker defense. “I have to tell you, we put them in some bad, bad positions tonight, both on offense and special teams.” Husker senior I-back Cory Ross, who rushed 28 times for 161 yards on the night, had pulled Nebraska within 28-25 with a 31-yard touchdown run with 8:06 remaining.
The touchdown was set up by Cortney Grixby’s 28-yard punt return. Michigan (7-5) had seemed to seize control on Henne’s 7-yard touchdown scramble, pushing the Wolverines’ lead to 28-17 with 11:40 remaining.
Nebraska, a team that played from behind in games much of the season, kept throwing punches and eventually was rewarded with a satisfying victory, pushing its record to 8-4 a year after finishing 5-6 and out of the bowl business.
“There’s a lot of grit on this football team, and I’m very proud of that,” Callahan said. Ross referred to Nebraska’s team mantra of being “all-day fighters.”
“We did that all season long,” he said.
After a 14-14 tie at halftime, Nebraska got a field goal in the third quarter, which Michigan answered with a touchdown, setting up the wild fourth quarter. The game ended on a bizarre note, with Michigan desperately throwing lateral after lateral in a last-gasp attempt to reach the end zone. The Wolverines’ final play covered 62 yards, with Tyler Ecker being pushed out of bounds at the Nebraska 13, with dozens of Huskers already on the field thinking the game was over.
“I thought they were down six or seven times, and they kept popping up,” Husker linebacker Corey McKeon said.
Nebraska improved to 5-0 all-time in the Alamodome, while Michigan lost five games in a season for the first time in three decades.
The Huskers ended the season riding a three-game winning streak, the first time the program has managed that feat since closing the 1999 campaign with six straight triumphs.
Michigan and Nebraska were tied 14-14 at halftime after being deadlocked 7-7 after one quarter. Taylor threw two interceptions —both to cornerback Leon Hall — and Michigan made Nebraska pay for Taylor’s second misfire.
After Hall’s second interception gave Michigan possession at the Nebraska 28, the Wolverines needed only three plays to reach the end zone, on tight end Mike Massey’s 16-yard reception.
Nebraska didn’t flinch. Taylor rifled a 25-yard completion to Nunn on third-and-9. Ross then sprinted around right end for 19 yards, and a Michigan late-hit penalty moved the ball to the Wolverines’ 10.
Two plays later, Taylor zipped a 14-yard TD strike to wideout Nate Swift running a crossing route. Nebraska established itself early in the first quarter, opening scoring on Nunn’s 52-yard, catch-and-run reception off a quick slant over the middle. Nunn broke loose of free safety Brandon Harrison’s missed tackled and sprinted into open field.
Michigan answered on its ensuing possession, thanks to Steve Breaston’s Alamo Bowl-record 69-yard kickoff return to the Nebraska 30. The Wolverines needed five plays to reach paydirt, scoring on tight end Tyler Ecker’s 13-yard reception.
So perhaps it was fitting that the Huskers fought through an Alamo Bowl consisting of several mood swings, emerging with wide smiles following a 32-28 triumph over Michigan before 62,016 spectators Wednesday night at the Alamodome, plus a national television audience.
“We said before the game that we’d learn and grow from this (no matter the outcome),” Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. “This will give us more confidence playing big-time teams.”
Nobody embodied the roller-coaster nature of this contest more than Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor. He was pressured in the pocket all game long and threw two interceptions, but he saved his best for last. Taylor gunned a 13-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Terrence Nunn for the game winner with 4:29 remaining in the contest. Taylor finished 14-for-31 passing for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Nebraska senior safety Blake Tiedtke set up his team’s final touchdown by knocking the ball from Michigan quarterback Chad Henne as he attempted a pass in the pocket. Defensive tackle Ola Dagunduro picked up the pigskin and rumbled 13 yards to the Michigan 16-yard line.
“They came up huge,” Callahan said of the Husker defense. “I have to tell you, we put them in some bad, bad positions tonight, both on offense and special teams.” Husker senior I-back Cory Ross, who rushed 28 times for 161 yards on the night, had pulled Nebraska within 28-25 with a 31-yard touchdown run with 8:06 remaining.
The touchdown was set up by Cortney Grixby’s 28-yard punt return. Michigan (7-5) had seemed to seize control on Henne’s 7-yard touchdown scramble, pushing the Wolverines’ lead to 28-17 with 11:40 remaining.
Nebraska, a team that played from behind in games much of the season, kept throwing punches and eventually was rewarded with a satisfying victory, pushing its record to 8-4 a year after finishing 5-6 and out of the bowl business.
“There’s a lot of grit on this football team, and I’m very proud of that,” Callahan said. Ross referred to Nebraska’s team mantra of being “all-day fighters.”
“We did that all season long,” he said.
After a 14-14 tie at halftime, Nebraska got a field goal in the third quarter, which Michigan answered with a touchdown, setting up the wild fourth quarter. The game ended on a bizarre note, with Michigan desperately throwing lateral after lateral in a last-gasp attempt to reach the end zone. The Wolverines’ final play covered 62 yards, with Tyler Ecker being pushed out of bounds at the Nebraska 13, with dozens of Huskers already on the field thinking the game was over.
“I thought they were down six or seven times, and they kept popping up,” Husker linebacker Corey McKeon said.
Nebraska improved to 5-0 all-time in the Alamodome, while Michigan lost five games in a season for the first time in three decades.
The Huskers ended the season riding a three-game winning streak, the first time the program has managed that feat since closing the 1999 campaign with six straight triumphs.
Michigan and Nebraska were tied 14-14 at halftime after being deadlocked 7-7 after one quarter. Taylor threw two interceptions —both to cornerback Leon Hall — and Michigan made Nebraska pay for Taylor’s second misfire.
After Hall’s second interception gave Michigan possession at the Nebraska 28, the Wolverines needed only three plays to reach the end zone, on tight end Mike Massey’s 16-yard reception.
Nebraska didn’t flinch. Taylor rifled a 25-yard completion to Nunn on third-and-9. Ross then sprinted around right end for 19 yards, and a Michigan late-hit penalty moved the ball to the Wolverines’ 10.
Two plays later, Taylor zipped a 14-yard TD strike to wideout Nate Swift running a crossing route. Nebraska established itself early in the first quarter, opening scoring on Nunn’s 52-yard, catch-and-run reception off a quick slant over the middle. Nunn broke loose of free safety Brandon Harrison’s missed tackled and sprinted into open field.
Michigan answered on its ensuing possession, thanks to Steve Breaston’s Alamo Bowl-record 69-yard kickoff return to the Nebraska 30. The Wolverines needed five plays to reach paydirt, scoring on tight end Tyler Ecker’s 13-yard reception.
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.