Tom Osborne was concerned, even though Kansas was 4-3 when his top-ranked and undefeated Nebraska football team traveled to Lawrence to play in late October 1997.
For one thing, he never overlooked an opponent, for another, the weather, which “can be a great equalizer,” he said following Nebraska’s 35-0 victory. “I was really apprehensive.”
Temperature at the 6:07 p.m. kickoff was 45 degrees, with light rain, which would continue throughout, and wind gusts of 20-to-25 miles-per-hour out of the east.
Plus, two of the four banks of lights at the Jayhawks’ Memorial Stadium went out with 9:36 remaining in the first half, causing a 7-minute delay while the head coaches conferred with the officials. Osborne wanted to continue playing. Kansas Coach Terry Allen wanted to delay the game.
Play continued, though after the Jayhawks punted after a failed third down and Nebraska’s Joe Walker fumbled the punt, the game was delayed again, briefly, while Allen asked Osborne if he wanted to reconsider. Osborne did not. Play on, which the teams did.
By halftime, the lights had all returned. And Nebraska led 21-0.
Another of Osborne’s concerns was the Kansas defense, the Jayhawks’ strength. “At times, we struggled (offensively),” said Osborne. “We were going against the strongest part of their team. They used a lot of schemes, showed us a lot of different pictures. We were always guessing.”
More often than not, the Huskers guessed right.
Even if they hadn’t, however, they probably would’ve been fine. Kansas didn’t pick up a first down and had minus-19 yards of offense in the first half. The Jayhawks finished with a net of 48 total yards and four first downs, including 21 rushing yards on 31 carries.
Sacks by Grant Wistrom (two), Jason Peter and Steve Warren produced a combined 35 yards in losses. Taking that into account, Kansas rushed for 56 yards on 27 carries.
The Jayhawks never snapped the ball on Nebraska’s side of the 50-yard line.
“I think our defense is coming along, but you’ve got to temper that a little bit,” Osborne said. “You always have to gauge the strength of the side of the ball you’re going against.”
The Jayhawks hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown in the previous two games.
Even so, “shutouts are tough no matter who you’re playing,” Wistrom said, noting the Blackshirts were “getting better and better.”
Kansas hadn’t been shut out at home since mid-November 1986, 70-0 by Nebraska. The shutout was Nebraska’s second in a row. The previous week, the Huskers defeated Texas Tech 29-0.
Plus, being top-ranked, “we’re going to get everyone’s best shot,” said I-back Ahman Green, who rushed for more than 100 yards in a sixth-consecutive game, this time 123 and a touchdown on 25 carries. Quarterback Scott Frost carried 21 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Joel Makovicka also rushed for two touchdowns, with 82 yards on 10 carries.
Frost threw only nine passes, four complete for 33 yards. Frankie London was 0-for-1.
Makovicka scored the first and third touchdowns in the first half, on runs of 5 and 18 yards. Frost’s came on runs of 27 and 14 yards; Green’s from 2 yards early in the fourth quarter.
Nebraska finished with 382 yards rushing and didn’t turn the ball over, despite the weather.
