BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 6:00 pm
SAN ANTONIO — Many believe that Cory Ross sparked his Nebraska career with a 37-carry game in the Alamo Bowl two years ago. Perhaps it was fitting, then, that Ross ended his career with his best game of his senior season on the same field.
Ross, the much-loved, diminutive Husker running back, jump-started a Nebraska running game that had been lacking steam in the second half of the season. He carried the ball 28 times for 161 yards, leading Nebraska to a thrilling 32-28 come-from-behind victory against Michigan in Wednesday night’s Alamo Bowl.
Ross was named the game’s most valuable offensive player. Chants of “Cory! Cory!” echoed from the Husker contingent that numbered around 25,000.
“I think this is definitely better,” Ross said when asked to compare his performance to that of two years ago, when he ran for 138 yards in a 17-3 victory against Michigan State. “We had ups and downs this whole season, and we had to fight for everything we had.
“We were switching O-linemen in and out every game this whole season. We had a month to really find some guys out, and they just came out and did their job today.”
When the game began, it looked as if Ross simply would push along Nebraska’s running game, giving the Huskers a little bit of balance.
But he did that and much more. By the final minutes, Ross was carrying the ball, trying to salt away the clock and a Nebraska victory.
Ross ignited his teammates, not to mention a partisan Nebraska crowd, with his 31-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Huskers life.
At the time, it had looked as if Michigan had seized control with a 28-17 lead. The Nebraska offense was sputtering, and quarterback Zac Taylor was getting pummeled.
Enter Ross. After a 28-yard punt return by Cortney Grixby set up Nebraska at the Michigan 38-yard line, Ross did the rest. He carried 7 yards on a run to the right, then on the next play, found a crease on the left side and darted 31 yards for a touchdown.
“It was set up perfect,” Ross said. “Greg Austin had a great block, and I think it was Matt Slauson on the left side. I hit right between there, and Dane Todd had a great block.”
A successful two-point conversion pass pulled the Huskers within three points, and two possessions later, Nebraska scored the game-winning touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Taylor to Terrence Nunn.
The next time Ross touched the ball, the Huskers had held off Michigan on a fourth-and-8 play deep in NU territory, and Nebraska was trying to run out the clock.
Ross had an inauspicious beginning when it appeared he fumbled and lost the ball on Nebraska’s second series. Instant replay wasn’t used, though, and the Huskers maintained possession.
From there on, Ross was brilliant. His 20-yard run against a Michigan blitz in the second quarter was the first run for 20 or more yards from a Nebraska running back since the Wake Forest game.
Ross had a 25-yard gain on a similar play early in the third quarter, helping set up a field goal that gave Nebraska a 17-14 lead.
“There were creases everywhere,” Ross said. “Whether guys would miss a block or not, there were still creases somewhere. I commend those (linemen). They should be out here with me right now.”
Ross says goodbye to his Nebraska career but said the Huskers’ performance Wednesday should ignite a young Husker team.
“It’s definitely a boost. A huge boost,” Ross said. “You talk about restored order, I think we did.
“It’s time for the young guys who were getting a lot of experience this whole time, this whole season, Marlon (Lucky), (Cody) Glenn, Brandon Jackson … they’re just going to step in there and do the same thing I did.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.