Following Nebraska football’s 24-3 victory at California on Sept. 12, 1998, Husker Coach Frank Solich said he knew quarterback Monte Christo, a senior walk-on, could get the job done — as long as he was healthy.
Christo had dealt with injuries during his career.
He was ready to go, for a second week in a row, against California. The previous week against Alabama-Birmingham, he had stepped in for a time when starter Eric Crouch went to the sideline with cramping. This time Crouch left two series into the third quarter with cramping. And Christo came in to finish the Huskers’ third victory.
Opening-game starter Bobby Newcombe was still out after giving way to Crouch because of a knee injury. Solich said he hoped Newcombe could return for the next game against Washington.
Nebraska led 14-0 when Crouch left. The plan was to run the ball but by that time, California’s defense had appeared to adjust to the Huskers’ option. Given the score, “we didn’t want to throw too much late in the game,” Solich was quoted in the Lincoln Journal Star. “So we ran the options, and Cal got to playing it very well and we tried some passing.” Christo completed 9-of-12 passes for 106 yards, 5 of the yards to wingback Shevin Wiggins for Nebraska’s third touchdown.
Christo wasn’t intercepted — Crouch threw one pick, finishing 6-of-16 for 74 yards. The latter ran for two touchdowns, the first from 1 yard 2:58 into the first quarter.
California’s only points came on a field goal midway through the third quarter.
Kris Brown kicked a 41-yard field goal for the Huskers’ final points, a decision Solich said he regretted. Only 19 seconds remained. There was no reason to increase the score.
The possession was set up by a back-up linebacker Carlos Polk interception. Safety Mike Brown also had an interception. Linebacker Eric Johnson had two sacks. Linebackers Chad Kelsay, Tony Ortiz and Kyle Vanden Bosch had sacks. Middle linebacker Jay Foreman led with seven tackles.
Fullback Joel Makovicka was Nebraska’s leading rusher, with 83 yards on 14 carries. In the first two games, Makovicka had a combined 74 yards on 18 carries.
I-back Correll Buckhalter rushed for 71 yards on 12 carries.
“We are banged up, I don’t think there is any question about it,” Solich said. “I thought the guys that did play, our back-up players, did well. We have some depth on our team.”
In addition to Newcombe, defensive tackle Jason Wiltz and I-back DeAngelo Evans were among those missing. “Hopefully now we’ll be able to get better and get some guys healed up,” said Solich.
Attendance in Berkeley was 67,000, with “more than 35,000 red-clad fans in attendance,” according to the game recap in the 1999 Husker media guide. The Journal Star account had the estimate at 30,000. Both reflect the passion of Nebraska fans — and the pressure on Solich following Tom Osborne.
The 3-0 start “sounds awfully good to me,” Solich was quoted. “We weren’t bad by any stretch.”
Even so, “we’ve to things to work on,” he said.
Adding to the pressure, Nebraska moved from fourth to third in the Associated Press poll.
After the Alabama-Birmingham win, Solich was asked about where the Huskers stood in the national rankings. They would know more “four or five” games in, he said.
Next up for Nebraska, in Lincoln, was Washington, which would be ranked ninth.
