Maybe it was the “butterfly effect,” where a small change in the past can alter major events.
After all, a butterfly did flutter just outside a press box window a couple of hours before kickoff for the Nebraska-Michigan game at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon.
That small change might have been Matt Rhule’s decision to go for a touchdown instead of settle for a field goal on the game’s first possession, fourth-and-2 at the Michigan 6-yard line.
Actually, it seemed like the right thing to do, be aggressive against an opponent ranked 21st nationally, in a game that could underscore progress in the development of the program.
Had Kyle Cunanan kicked a short field goal — he was two-for-three, missing a 44-yarder on Nebraska’s next possession — the game might have gone to overtime. Might have.
The final score: Michigan 30, Huskers 27.
“If you’re going to beat Michigan, you have to run those plays,” Rhule said.
Plus, analytics indicated that should be the play.
A Dylan Raiola shovel pass to tight end Luke Lindenmeyer gained 1 yard.
“We were playing to win,” said Rhule.
More words should probably be used on what the Huskers did at the end of the first half, a play that will be long remembered, in the way Ron Kellogg III’s 49-yard Hail Mary to Jordan Westerkamp against Northwestern in 2013 has been. Though this one might have been even more dramatic.
To recap, if necessary. Nebraska trailed 17-10 with the ball, first down at its own 49-yard line with 1:10 remaining in the half. Raiola was sacked for a 9-yard loss.
Timeout Huskers with 1:30 remaining.
Emmett Johnson ran for 3 yards and Nebraska let the clock run down to 23 seconds before calling its second timeout. The Huskers appeared to be letting time elapse.
Johnson ran for 5 yards as the clock went to 1 second. Nebraska called timeout.
Raiola’s 52-yard Hail Mary, which Michigan obviously expected, was caught by Jacory Barney Jr. for a touchdown. Cunanan’s extra-point kick tied the score at halftime.
It was unbelievable, a signature moment in Husker history despite the loss.
After Michigan took a 30-20 lead, with a 10-play, 77-yard touchdown drive with 3:34 remaining, some fans began heading for the exits, causing them to miss a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive by the Huskers to cut the deficit to three with 1:34 remaining.
They never quit, just like the Hail Mary to end the first half.
“Once all our sadness disappears, there are a lot of things to build on,” Rhule said.
If you just looked at the statistics, you might think Nebraska won. The Huskers had more first downs, 23-16, ran more plays, 72-56, and led in time of possession, 33:17-26:43. Raiola passed for 308 yards and three touchdowns, on 30-of-41, with one interception. But he took seven sacks.
Nebraska managed only 43 net yards rushing. Add the sack losses and it was 92 yards. Michigan had 286 rushing yards. The bigger issue, however, was the Wolverines’ touchdowns came on runs of 37 by Bryce Underwood, 54 by Justin Marshall and 75 by Justice Haynes.
“At the end of the day, they frustrated us at times,” Rhule said.
Long runs in particular, and not just those for the touchdowns.
It seemed as if the day would be special. Terence “Bud” Crawford, in a No. 168 Husker jersey, led the team onto the field, the Tunnel Walk, and the 1995 national championship team was honored, as was the national runner-up wrestling team. Attendance was 87,278, sellout No. 406.
CBS televised the game, and again, on the first possession, Nebraska drove 70 yards in 10 plays to the Michigan 6-yard line. Things seemed to be falling into place.
One small decision could have had major consequences. But it was the right decision, something winning teams do. It just didn’t happen on this afternoon.
Even so, Nebraska will be the better for it.
“We’ll come together,” said Raiola.
And do something special. That’s my prediction.
youtube.com/watch?v=DpVEicyJr2U&pp=0gcJCeAJAYcqIYzv
