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EXCERPT | September 5, 1983
Big Red Machine
Nebraska overwhelmed Penn State on opening day
With a powerful offensive line and a backfield that included quarterback Turner Gill and All-America I-back Mike Rozier, the Cornhuskers were touted as one of the country's top teams. Jack McCallum reported for SI.
This time Nebraska didn't take any chances. The last time Nebraska played Penn State—on Sept. 25, 1982—the Cornhuskers blew a three-point lead in the final four seconds and suffered a bitter 27--24 defeat. The Nittany Lions went on to win the national championship. On Monday night, though, in the inaugural Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands, Nebraska gave Penn State not the slightest opportunity to stage late-game heroics. Or, for that matter, early or mid-game heroics. Unleashing a formidable offensive attack coolly led by quarterback Turner Gill, the Huskers rolled up 500 yards on the way to a 44--6 romp that was even more one-sided than the score.
With Penn State behind him—far, far behind—Nebraska coach Tom Osborne noted afterward that a team usually improves the most between its first and second games of the season. Yikes. Heaven help Wyoming, the next victim on the Huskers' schedule.
Gill turned down a baseball offer this summer from the New York Yankees—he's a shortstop—to direct Osborne's option offense. The senior completed 11 of 14 passes for 158 yards and one touchdown, ran for 53 yards and a score, and constantly befuddled the Lions with his option trickery. Penn State would play the pass—and Gill would run. Penn State would play the run—and Gill would pass.
The Huskers finished 12--0 and Rozier won the Heisman, but they lost the national title to Miami in a memorable Orange Bowl, falling 31--30.
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Editor's Choice
Numbers Game
This week SI.com takes a look at the alltime greatest NFL players at each number, from 00 to 99
Our decision was based on a combination of the player's impact on the game, statistics and the team's success when the player wore that number. Wearing number 51 for nine seasons with the Bears, Dick Butkus(above) appeared in eight Pro Bowls and remains the standard by which all middle linebackers are judged.
Cover Shots Big Men on Campus
1961
Terry Baker was both a quarterback and a point guard at Oregon State. In '62 he won the Heisman Trophy, led the Beavers to the Final Four and was named SI's Sportsman of the Year.
1975
Rick Slager quarterbacked Notre Dame to an 8--3 record in coach Dan Devine's first season—which included senior walk-on Daniel (Rudy) Ruettiger's sack in a win over Georgia Tech.
1991
Desmond Howard scored six touchdowns in Michigan's first two games—highlighted by the diving winner in a 24--14 win over Notre Dame. He went on to earn the Heisman Trophy.
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Photograph by HEINZ KLUETMEIER
I-BACK ATTACK Rozier rushed for only 71 yards against Penn State, but he finished the season with 2,148 and 29 touchdowns.
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HY PESKIN
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HEINZ KLUETMEIER
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DUANE BURLESON/AP
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JOHN G. ZIMMERMAN/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (BUTKUS)
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ANN HEISENFELT/AP (STRASBURG)
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JOHN BIEVER (ADDAI)
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GREG NELSON (ARIZA)
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ANDY HAYT (WHITE)
#92 Reggie White
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PETER READ MILLER (RICE)
#80 Jerry Rice
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PETER READ MILLER (ELWAY)
#7 John Elway
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JERRY WACHTER (PAYTON)
#34 Walter Payton
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JAMES DRAKE (UNITAS)
#19 Johnny Unitas
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JOHN IACONO (SANDERS)
#20 Barry Sanders