10-15-24
THANKS FOR COMING
For Indiana’s visit to Memorial Stadium in late September 1975, the title of an Alice Cooper album might have been appropriate: Welcome to My Nightmare.
That’s what the afternoon must have felt like for the Hoosiers. Much to the delight of 76,022, Nebraska won 45-0. That’s the big picture. But consider how it came about.
On Indiana’s first play from scrimmage, also the game’s first, Husker defensive back Dave Butterfield intercepted a Terry Jones pass to set up Nebraska’s first touchdown, scored by quarterback Terry Luck from 1 yard out. Luck was a senior and first-year starter, though he would give way to Vince Ferragamo down the stretch. Ferragamo sat out the 1974 season after transferring from California.
Dave Humm directed Nebraska’s offense in 1974.
Anyway, less than 5 minutes into the game the Huskers led 7-0. Al Eveland added the extra point and would kick a 22-yard field goal late in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead.
Indiana had responded to the first touchdown by driving 69 yards to the Nebraska 11-yard line but missed a field goal. That was the Hoosiers’ only serious scoring threat.
Jones finished 5-of-15 for 23 yards and two interceptions. Kurt Stacey had the other interception. Jones’ backup, Dobby Grossman, was 1-of-3 for 5 yards. Yes, Indiana passed for 28 yards . . . and rushed for a net of 69 yards, so 97 yards of offense. Welcome to My Nightmare.
Lincoln’s Sunday Journal and Star quoted Husker defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin: “We’ve got to improve every week, keep getting better. And this is a bunch of good kids, who still continue to work hard. I expect them to get better each week.”
Middle guard John Lee led the Blackshirts with eight tackles. Defensive tackle Mike Fultz had seven. Defensive end Ray Phillips and linebackers Clete Pillen and Jim Wightman had five each.
Nebraska would finish eighth nationally in total defense, and 15th in rushing defense.
Offensively, the Huskers finished sixth nationally in points per game (33.6) and 13th in total offense, averaging 406.2 yards per game. They finished with 470 yards against Indiana, including 300 rushing. I-back John O’Leary was the leading rusher, carrying 17 times for 88 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Tony Davis rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
I-back Monte Anthony carried eight times for 50 yards and two touchdowns.
Luck completed 12-of-17 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown to Bobby Thomas, a 12-yarder, with 20 seconds remaining in the first half to take a 24-0 lead. Ferragamo was 3-of-6 for 32 yards.
“I felt better about our offense today, and the defense had another great effort,” Tom Osborne was quoted in the Sunday Journal and Star. “To shut them out indicates the defense has improved as well as the offense improved. We need to keep improving.”
Nebraska, ranked No. 6 going into the Indiana game, would shut out three more opponents and score more than 45 points three more times. The Huskers were 10-0 and ranked No. 2 going into their final regular-season game at No. 7 Oklahoma.
You know what’s coming, right? The Sooners won 35-10.
For Nebraska, it was Welcome to My Nightmare.
- Mike Babcock
