Sophomore Dan Alexander attracted attention for his performance in his first career start as 14-ranked Nebraska football rolled over Iowa State, 42-7, in snowy Ames the first week of November in 1998.
Understandably so.
“I thought he ran really well,” Coach Frank Solich said. “This game kind of suited him. You couldn’t really make the sharp cuts. I don’t think that his true speed and quickness showed today.”
The temperature at kickoff was 36 degrees, with light snow. More to the point, the wind chill index at Jack Trice Stadium, with 45,817 on hand, was 17 degrees.
The 6-foot, 250-pound Alexander “could be a fullback for us, no question. But right now we need him at I-back,” said Solich. An injury sidelined DeAngelo Evans, leaving only Correll Buckhalter.
Evans didn’t make the trip to Ames, and neither did quarterback Bobby Newcombe, who spent the week at home in Albuquerque, N.M., and El Paso, Texas, having his ligament issue analyzed.
OK, some numbers. Alexander rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. His longest run was 13 yards. He had only 6 yards in losses, 5 coming when he recovered a fumbled pitch.
Quarterback Eric Crouch, starting for just the third time, also drew praise. “I was really pleased with Eric and what he got accomplished again today, in rather tough conditions,” Solich said.
Crouch ran for 91 yards on 15 carries and was 4-of-8 passing for 44 yards, with one interception.
Nebraska offset the interception with three of its own, including two by free safety Clint Finley and the third by back-up rover Joe Walker, who returned it 65 yards for the Huskers’ last touchdown.
Walker, a sophomore, became just the fifth player in NCAA 1-A to score touchdowns on interception, kickoff and punt returns during the same season.
Back-up weakside linebacker Josh Kohl recovered a fumble to set up Nebraska’s first touchdown late in the first quarter. Kohl’s recovery came after a Bill Lafleur punt was partially blocked and the Cyclone returner gave up the ball at his own 42-yard line. Five plays later, Alexander scored on a 9-yard run.
Kris Brown added the first of seven extra-point kicks. He missed a 38-yard field goal.
Finley’s first interception set up a drive that would lead to Alexander’s second touchdown, midway through the second quarter. Buckhalter scored the third with 44 seconds remaining in the half.
Alexander scored his third late in the third quarter. And back-up quarterback Monte Christo ran 16 yards for a touchdown 1:53 into the fourth quarter, preceding Walker’s touchdown.
Iowa State finally got on the board with 4:47 remaining.
The Cyclones managed only 227 yards of offense, including 103 rushing on 38 attempts. Defensively, “for the most part, we really controlled the game from the outset,” said Solich. Cornerback Erwin Swiney led the team with eight tackles. Defensive tackle Jason Wiltz and rush end Chad Kelsay had sacks.
Solich announced on Monday Crouch and Alexander would be starting. “We’re just always searching for our best combination in terms of looking for big plays,” Solich said.
Crouch had a 31-yard run and reserve quarterback Jay Runty had a 28-yarder, though the conditions weren’t necessarily conducive to big plays.
Nebraska had rallied after being upset the week before at home by unranked Texas, 20-16. Next up for the 8-2 Huskers, who would move up to 11th in the Associated Press poll, was undefeated and second-ranked Kansas State in Manhattan.
“This is a very good game to build off of,” Solich said of the Iowa State victory. “And I’m not referring to it as a good game to build off of because of Kansas State.”
