On the Wednesday following Nebraska football’s 54-15 victory against Texas A&M in the 1997 Big 12 Championship Game, with some tears all around, Tom Osborne announced his retirement. That was the backdrop for the No. 2 Huskers’ Orange Bowl clash with No. 3 Tennessee, January 2, 1998.
That and the possibility Osborne could be sent out not only with a 13-0 final season but also with a third national championship in four seasons. Top-ranked Michigan had finished its unbeaten season with a less-than-impressive 21-16 victory against No. 8 Washington State the previous day.
“We wanted to make a statement by the way we played,” the Huskers’ Outland Trophy-winning center Aaron Taylor said. “I think we did that. We know in our hearts we are one of the best teams in the country. That’s what’s exciting, that we came through this season undefeated for Coach Osborne.”
The statement was reflected in a 42-17 victory against the Peyton Manning-led Volunteers.
Osborne was appreciative, of course, but as was always the case, didn’t want to be the focus of attention. That should be on the players.
“This has been a very difficult week,” he said. “I would have much preferred to have gone away in the spring. I think an ideal scenario for me would have been to get on through recruiting, go through spring ball and then disappear in May.”
That wouldn’t have been fair to those he recruited, Osborne said, “a bunch of players knowing I was going to leave. So I didn’t want to do that.”
OK, the game. Nebraska led in the nation in total offense (513.7 yards per game), rushing (392.6) and scoring (47.1) and ranked in the top 10 in total defense, rushing defense and scoring defense. Tennessee, its only loss to then-No. 3 Florida, was 11-1 with nine-consecutive victories. The Volunteers averaged 482.1 yards, including 331.8 passing, and held opponents to fewer than 95 yards rushing.
The Huskers managed only 69 yards rushing in the first half, but took a 14-3 lead to the locker room, both touchdowns following fumble recoveries. The first was forced by cornerback Ralph Brown and recovered by rush end Mike Rucker at the Nebraska 22-yard line, the second a wingback Lance Brown recovery of a mishandled punt at the Tennessee 15.
The Huskers drove 78 yards on eight plays after Rucker’s recovery, with I-back Ahman Green carrying 1 yard for the touchdown. Wingback Shevin Wiggins ran 10 yards for the second.
Tennessee managed a field goal after the Wiggins touchdown in the second quarter. Nebraska could have increased its lead before halftime, if not for a Scott Frost fumble at the Volunteer 11-yard line.
The third quarter was nearly all Nebraska. The Huskers, who had managed only 69 yards rushing in the first half, ran over Tennessee, 21-6, with Green carrying the ball 13 times for 159 yards and a second touchdown. Green had ran it 11 times for 31 yards in the first half.
Frost ran for the other touchdowns and added a third on the ground in the fourth quarter. Green finished with 206 yards and the two touchdowns, on 29 carries.
The 206 rushing yards were an Orange Bowl record and a Nebraska bowl record. The previous record was 199 yards by Tommie Frazier in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.
Manning was 21-of-31 passing, for 134 yards and a touchdown, with one interception — by free safety Eric Warfield. He faced pressure but took only one sack, by Rucker.
“The attention has been nice, but it’s something I’d really rather not have,” Osborne said. “It’s been difficult to keep everybody focused on the game. I think the players did a great job of that.”
Green was asked if Nebraska’s performance was enough to move past Michigan in the rankings. “I think so, but we can’t worry about that,” he said. “That’s not in our control.
“What’s in our control was tonight, and we took care of that.”
After the game, Frost made an impassioned plea to voters.
Michigan remained atop the rankings in the Associated Press poll. But Frost’s plea, and the Husker performance, influenced coaches in the Coaches Poll. At 2:30 a.m. Eastern, ESPN announced Nebraska had moved past the Wolverines, by four votes.
In his final five seasons, Osborne was 60-3 with three national titles, career record 255-49-3.
