1972
January 1, 1972 – Orange Bowl Stadium
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
‘Huskers Win Second Straight Title
A match-up between top-ranked Nebraska and No. 2 Alabama was billed as the "Game of the Century II,” but the 'Huskers proved to be far superior as they handed Alabama and coach Paul “Bear” Bryant a 38-6 defeat.
The game followed Nebraska’s 35-31 "Game of the Century I" win over Oklahoma that earned the Big Eight title and Orange Bowl berth.
Nebraska jumped to a 14-0 lead on a Jeff Kinney two-yard run and then 'Husker All-American Johnny Rodgers' 77 yard punt return for a touchdown on the final play of the first quarter. Two more 'Husker scores engineered by Jerry Tagge in the second quarter gave Coach Bob Devaney's team a comfortable 28-0 halftime lead. Devaney notched his first win in three tries over Bryant.
|
|
NEB |
ALA |
|
First Downs |
15 |
16 |
|
Rushing Attempts |
47 |
58 |
|
Rushing Yards |
183 |
241 |
|
Passes Attempted |
20 |
13 |
|
Passes Completed |
11 |
3 |
|
Had Intercepted |
0 |
2 |
|
Passing Yards |
159 |
47 |
|
Total Offense |
342 |
288 |
|
Punts/Avg. |
5/42.2 |
7/43.3 |
|
Fumbles/Lost |
3/2 |
5/2 |
|
Penalties/Yards |
4/50 |
4/58 |
|
SCORE BY QUARTERS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nebraska |
14 |
14 |
3 |
7 |
- |
38 |
|
Miami |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
- |
6 |
SCORING SUMMARY
NEB: Kinney 2-yard run (kick failed); NEB: Rodgers 77-yard punt return (Damkroger pass from Tagge); NEB: Tagge 1-yard run (Sanger kick); NEB: Dixon 2-yard run (Sanger kick); ALA: Davis 3-yard run (run failed); NEB: Sanger 21-yard FG; NEB: Van Brownson 1-yard run (Sanger kick) MOP: Jerry Tagge (Nebraska), Rich Glover (Nebraska)
Nebraska Head Coach: Bob Devaney
Alabama Head Coach: Paul “Bear” Bryant