Rahmir Johnson, who had returned home to New York City, was named MVP of Nebraska’s 20-15 victory against Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Had the Huskers chosen an MVP, Johnson almost certainly would’ve won that honor, too.
Yes, the Harlem native scored Nebraska’s first touchdown on a 4-yard run 4 seconds into the second quarter. And yes, he sealed the victory with an 11-yard run on fourth-and-1 at the Boston College 35-yard line with just over 2 minutes remaining and the Eagles out of timeouts.
Overall, Johnson carried 10 times for 60 yards and caught one pass for 9 yards.
Beyond statistics, however, Johnson was playing with the heavy heart of someone whose mother passed in November. Coach Matt Rhule knew the situation, as did teammate Emmett Johnson. But no one else on the team did. Rahmir told Rhule he didn’t want to be a distraction.
An emotional Rhule related the details at the beginning of his post-game news conference, after letting Rahmir know he would. Rahmir’s heart had been with the team as well as with his mom.
“Rahmir has never allowed anyone to really to know what happened to him this year,” Rhule said. “A year ago, he got hurt and missed the whole season, and I sat there with him in my office as he wept, and the opportunity came to come back this year, and he decided to come back, with no guarantees.”
Johnson, who was injury-plagued throughout his career, was granted a sixth season.
“His mom was really, really sick for the whole season, and I asked him to go home,” said Rhule. “(University) President (Jeffrey) Gold intervened and got us in contact with doctors here that were taking care of his mom when she was preparing for hospice. And I asked Rahmir to go home, and he wouldn’t go home. He had to play that (week’s) game, he had to stay with his teammates.”
The only time Rahmir went home was during Nebraska’s off-week, following the UCLA game.
Rahmir “lost his mom in November,” Rhule said, emotion causing a pause, “and, uh . . . I mean, those are the kids that got me into coaching, men that keep me in coaching. He’s awesome.”
So were the other Huskers, who took a 20-2 lead on a 13-yard, Dylan Raiola-to-Emmett-Johnson touchdown pass with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter. John Hohl added the extra-point kick, not a given on this afternoon. Hohl’s second extra-point kick, following Kwinten Ives’ 2-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter, was blocked and returned 87 yards for Boston College’s two points.
Nebraska’s defensive play was such it appeared the game was well in-hand nearly 6 minutes into the fourth quarter. That’s when the Eagles drove 64 yards in eight plays for a touchdown from 1 yard by Turbo Richard. A two-point conversion attempt failed. With 6:11 remaining, the score was 20-8.
Less than 2 minutes later, the score was 20-15, after Boston College’s Victor Nelson Jr. blocked a Brian Buschini punt and Omar Thornton returned the ball 17 yards to the Husker 2-yard line. On the first play, Jordan McDonald carried into the end zone. The extra-point kick made the score 20-15.
That set up the dramatic drive that included Rahmir’s 11-yard run followed by three Raiola kneel-downs.
Given the circumstances, “for him (Rahmir) to go out there and do that today,” Rhule said, “for him to have that run, for us to have to get him out of the stands to get him to accept the MVP trophy…”
Rahmir had estimated between 50 and 75 friends and family, including the Harlem Jets, the youth football team for which he had played, would be at Yankee Stadium for the game.
“It was never about him. So forgive me,” said Rhule. “I told him I was going to share that because it’s never been about him. He loved his mother. He lost his mother. And he cares about this team. So this was a fitting end for him. I hope he wears his pads home on the subway, goes to his apartment, takes that MVP trophy …
“I love that kid. I love those seniors. And I’m grateful for them.”
The Pinstripe Bowl was about more than football.
