Tommie Frazier played so well, again, against Colorado in 1995, the subject of whether he could win the Heisman Trophy was part of Tom Osborne’s post-game interview.
“If statistics are the criteria, obviously, Tommie probably isn’t going to win it. If they look at moving the football and winning games, being a great competitor and being multifaceted, then I think Tommie has a great chance,” Osborne said. “If there are other things that are major factors, he probably doesn’t have much of a chance. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
“And who knows what people are looking for?”
Frazier didn’t win the Heisman, of course. Ohio State running back Eddie George did. Frazier finished second. He was among four quarterbacks in the top 10 of voting. Florida junior Danny Wuerffel was third, Tennessee sophomore Peyton Manning sixth, Ohio State senior Bobby Hoying 10th.
All three of the other quarterbacks had more impressive passing statistics. But Frazier wasn’t a passer, until he needed to be, as was the case Oct. 28 in Boulder. Even though Nebraska led the nation in rushing, averaging 426.9 yards per game, it managed “only” 226 yards rushing.
Ahman Green led the way with 97 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
“Nebraska knew our defense is designed to take away the run,” Colorado Coach Rick Neuheisel said. “They probably said, ‘We’re going to have to throw a little bit more.’”
Frazier threw a season-high 23 passes, completing 14 for a career-best 241 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception. He also ran for a touchdown in a 44-21 victory, before a then-record crowd of 54,063 at Folsom Field. “We did a tremendous job executing with the crowd noise,” said Osborne. “At times, the players said they couldn’t hear, but we still changed the play.”
How that happened, Osborne said, he wasn’t certain. Adding: “Again, I think it has to do with the poise and leadership of Frazier. To play an error-free game is tough to do.”
Playing error-free and Frazier’s passing were factors in the Huskers’ decisive victory against Colorado, which was nationally-ranked seventh to Nebraska’s second. The Buffaloes were 6-1, their loss to Kansas. They would finish 10-2 and ranked sixth.
Neuheisel brought his players through the stands beforehand, “to try and give them a little bit of a distraction, so they wouldn’t sit in the locker room and think all the time about what we have to do,” he said. “I tried to break it up a little bit, so they could make the game happen and be ready.”
On the Huskers’ first play from scrimmage, Green took a pitch from Frazier and ran 57 yards for a touchdown. Kris Brown kicked the extra point and Nebraska led 7-0 2:47 into the game.
Colorado responded with a touchdown for a tie, but the Huskers scored two more touchdowns before the quarter was over, Green from 1 yard and Clester Johnson on a 52-yard pass from Frazier. The Buffaloes cut the lead to 21-14, but Brown kicked the first of three field goals and Frazier passed 7 yards to Jon Vedral before halftime. Score: Nebraska 31, Colorado 14.
Green’s second touchdown was set up by a Terrell Farley interception and 43-yard return. Doug Colman also intercepted a pass, and Grant Wistrom and Jon Hesse had sacks.
The Buffaloes cut the lead to 31-21 in the third quarter but didn’t score again, while Brown kicked two more field goals and Frazier ran 2 yards for a touchdown.
“We have a very mature group of players, who really rise to the challenge,” Osborne said. “Playing on the road doesn’t seem to intimidate them. I really like the chemistry of this team.”
Colorado quarterback John Hessler was asked about the Huskers being ranked second, behind Florida State. “I don’t make the polls, but they are the best team we played all year,” he said.
The voters agreed. Nebraska moved ahead of the Seminoles, who had an off-week, in the rankings. The 8-0 Huskers, reigning national champions, were atop the polls, finally.
