re: Was nebraska the juggernaut program when we play them in the sugar bowl in the 1980s?

It is funny how every one uses the term “corn fed”. When in reality, they don’t grow sweet corn in Nebraska. 99% of the corn is for cattle feed. They don’t eat any more corn than anyone else

They were solid all three bowl games we played them in the 1980's. I think those two of those three games may have been sandwiched in between two NC years for the Huskers, and the 1983 Orange Bowl was the year before another Orange Bowl in 1984 that the team missed out on a share of an NC with Miami because they misfired on a two-point conversion try.

Nebraska was a noted football power from 1970 until the early 2000's.

quote:

---

Was there any chance l s u could have won those games?

---

Yes, Nebraska was one of the two or three dominant teams, and yes, we could have beaten them. In fact, I think we were a dubious holding call away from beating them once.

I can’t remember the year, but we were handling them. It was the fourth quarter; we were leading; and we had the ball on about Nebraska’s 12. A fullback dive went 11 yards to the one, and there was a hold. We wound up settling for a field goal. I believe we would have won that game otherwise.

It was the year Ramsey Dardar handled Dave Remington, and tiny Greg Bowser was Dardar’s backup. LSU’s starting 22 were better than Nebraska’s, and maybe the best in the nation. But we had almost nothing after that 22.

It wasn’t steroids. Nebraska had a mandatory redshirt for every freshman. They would be in the system for 5/6 years and it made a huge difference at that age. Sports Illustrated had a great article about it a long time ago. program.

‘Tom Osborne’s renowned redshirt program at Nebraska (1973–1997) was a developmental cornerstone, using the NCAA rule to sit freshmen for a year to gain physical strength and learn the system, ensuring they were fully prepared to compete at a high level. This strategy fueled immense team depth, success, and long-term player development’

quote:

---

the University of Nebraska was considered an elite "factory" for developing offensive linemen during the 1980s, setting the foundation for the famous "Pipeline" teams of the 1990s. While the 1990s teams are more frequently cited for their dominance, the 1980s was the era where Nebraska's offensive line coaching and strength program became a nationally recognized machine.

---

Yep. There’s a reason dudes like Dave Rimington and Steinkuler flamed out in the pros. They were over roided and joints overworked after going through “the program”.
Think about 85 scholarship “Lattimer’s” (A PLACE AT THE TABLE !)

They redshirted everyone and had the best strength program in the country. Those two variables no longer exist.

quote:

---

They redshirted everyone and had the best strength program in the country. Those two variables no longer exist.

---

I have said for years if they went back to the wishbone or whatever option offense they ran they would likely be dominant again. Would have their pick for option qb and the fact no one uses that offense anymore would give defenses hell. I don't think they have been good since going to a spread offense.

I remember that every county in Neb, sponsored an athletic scholarship. Thus, it had the largest walk on program in the NCAA's.