Posted this at Royals Review under the Worst Sports Losses column. Was too harrowing not to commiserate on here.
LINCOLN, NE – 2006 was supposed to be the year. The year we pointed to as justification of all the post-Osborne & Company rebuilding. Bill Callahan was the coach. The Huskers were actually throwing the football, and playmakers resided outside the numbers rather than inside the trenches. Change was afoot, and it appeared to be working.
On October 21st, NU was 6-1, with their only loss coming in a hard fought bout with then top-ranked USC, and Lincoln was abuzz with another top-5 team looming in the shadows of the Memorial Stadium press box. There, history is etched into the facade, only the paint had long since dried- Nebraska had gone 7 years without a conference title.
Was this the year they find themselves back in the Big 12 (and national) conversation? Beat Texas, and you might find out. It would be NU’s first win over a top-10 team in 5 years.
A friend and I were sophomores at Nebraska, tailgating our asses off to prepare for a blustery 2pm kickoff. We didn’t miss a game during our college careers. None stands out today as much as the one we were about to take in.
The Huskers played well in the first half, taking a quick 7-0 lead but falling behind 16-7 by the end of the second quarter. Colt McCoy and Texas’ offense was held to field goals where they were used to scoring touchdowns. Nebraska’s offense was keeping a vaunted Longhorns defense at bay.
Both teams would be held scoreless in the 3rd quarter, but Nebraska was piling up yardage and momentum.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Huskers scored on a long catch and run by Brandon Jackson to pull within two, 16-14. The crowd was on its feet.
Texas answered with another field goal. 19-14, Nebraska football.
Then came the snow.
With NU calling a timeout around Texas’s 20-yard line, the skies opened, the wind picked up and the fans, eager to keep warm and desperate for a signature win, were going ballistic. Bouncing all over each other. Did I mention it was a ‘Blackout’ game in the student section?
As the Huskers broke the huddle, snow now falling in thick flakes, wind swirling, we could feel it. Hollywood couldn’t script it any better.
Zac Taylor takes the snap, tosses to Marlon Lucky headed to his right. Lucky dekes the toss sweep, steps back, and lobs a perfect option pass to Nate Swift all alone in the end zone. Touchdown, Nebraska. Permanent eardrum damage ensued. It was f’ing beautiful.
The Huskers failed to make the two-point conversion, yet here we sit, up 1, 5 minutes to play. This was it!
Nebraska forced Texas into a turnover on downs their ensuing possession. Now just to run out the clock.
First down, running play, minimal gain. (Chris Berman Voice: tiiiiiick tick tick tick tick).
Second down, same result.
Third down, Taylor rolls right and hits receiver Terrance Nunn for a game-clinching first down. Except Nunn fumbles.
NUNN FUMBLES!
Longhorns recover, McCoy drives them down the field, kicker nails the game-winner after being iced not once but twice.
Brutal.
