Fans honor Hall of Famer Rozier

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BY KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

Mike Rozier’s little jog brought the fans to their feet and their voices to a loud cheer.

“Hey, it was cold, but I thought I could give a little taste,” said Rozier, who was introduced at halftime of the Nebraska-Texas game along with other Nebraska College Football Hall of Fame members Tom Osborne, Rich Glover, Johnny Rodgers and Forrest Behm.

Rozier, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983, is still the NU  record holder with a stunning 2,148-yard rushing season that including 29 touchdowns that year.  He will join 12 other former Huskers and six former NU coaches in the hall Dec. 5 in a ceremony in New York.

“It’s almost overdue,” said Rozier, who is still heralded as the greatest I-back in a herd of superb I-backs at Nebraska. “At least I’m still alive. Some of these awards seem to go to guys who are dead. But I’m alive, my folks are alive, and the fans seem to remember me.”

Asked if he could get by Nebraska’s most famous middle guard, Glover, who starred on Nebraska national championship teams in 1970 and 1971, Glover smiled and said, “I think so. Mike was as good as there ever was.” Glover now lives near his boyhood home in New Jersey.

Glover, who coached with former Husker Tony Samuel at New Mexico State, now works for the Jersey City public school system and helps with football instruction.

“I love coming back here because I get to see guys like Mike and coach Tom and what a neat guy Forrest Behm is,” he said. “I heard about the Rose Bowl (1941) and about those days.”

 Rozier added, “It makes you feel you’re a part of something that is very big and with great tradition.” Then he added, “Yes, I think I could get past Rich Glover on the field, but it wouldn’t be easy.”

Rozier, who also lives near where he grew up in New Jersey, spends his time working on his golf game, signing autographs, attending charity events and speaking engagements.

He also has an interest in a barbecue business in New Jersey.

“It’s a great honor to be mentioned with other Hall of Fame members and to be recognized by all these fans here,” Rozier said. “I am so impressed with the whole renovation here and with the way the program is going.”

Asked if he’d like to come back to school with the new north stadium facilities in place, he said: “They’re nice, but naahh. I played my days and I’m loving my life now.”