2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Big 12 North co-champion Gator Bowl champion
Gator Bowl, W 26–21 vs. Clemson
Conference	Big 12 Conference
	North Division
2008 record	9–4 (5–3 Big 12)
Head coach	Bo Pelini (1st year)
Offensive coordinator	Shawn Watson (2nd year)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Carl Pelini (1st year)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 81,067)

2008 Big 12 football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Northern Division
#19 Missouri xy		5	–	3					10	–	4
Nebraska x		5	–	3					9	–	4
Kansas		4	–	4					8	–	5
Colorado		2	–	6					5	–	7
Kansas State		2	–	6					5	–	7
Iowa State		0	–	8					2	–	10
Southern Division
#5 Oklahoma xy$		7	–	1					12	–	2
#4 Texas x%		7	–	1					12	–	1
#12 Texas Tech x		7	–	1					11	–	2
#16 Oklahoma State		5	–	3					9	–	4
Baylor		2	–	6					4	–	8
Texas A&M		2	–	6					4	–	8
Championship: Oklahoma 62, Missouri 21
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bo Pelini and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Before the season

Pelini returned to Nebraska as Head Coach after a previous one-year stint as Defensive Coordinator for Nebraska in 2003.^[1] At the conclusion of the 2003 season, Pelini was appointed as Interim Head Coach,^[2] following the firing of Frank Solich, for Nebraska's appearance in the Alamo Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans, a contest in which Nebraska triumphed 17–3,^[3] leaving Nebraska with a final AP Poll ranking of 19 and Coaches Poll ranking of 18. Despite this performance and significant fan support, Pelini was passed over as Solich's permanent replacement in favor of Bill Callahan. During Pelini's absence from Nebraska, he served as Co-Defensive Coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2004, and Defensive Coordinator for the LSU Tigers for 2005–2007^[4] prior to his return to Nebraska following the dismissal of Callahan.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:00 PM	Western Michigan*		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska	FSN PPV	W 47–24	84,485
September 6	11:30 AM	San José State*		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska	FSN PPV	W 35–12	84,146
September 13	6:00 PM	New Mexico State*		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska	FSN PPV	W 38–7	84,821
September 27	7:00 PM	Virginia Tech*		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska	ABC	L 30–35	85,831
October 4	8:00 PM	No. 4 Missouri		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska	ESPN	L 17–52	85,372
October 11	2:00 PM	at No. 7 Texas Tech		Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, Texas	FSN	L 31–37 ^OT	53,449
October 18	11:30 AM	at Iowa State		Jack Trice Stadium • Ames, Iowa	Versus	W 35–7	48,794
October 25	11:30 AM	Baylor		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska	Versus	W 32–20	85,104
November 1	7:00 PM	at No. 4 Oklahoma		Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma	ESPN	L 28–62	85,212
November 8	1:30 PM	Kansas		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska	FSN PPV	W 45–35	85,486
November 15	2:35 PM	at Kansas State		Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, Kansas	FSN PPV	W 56–28	48,444
November 28	2:30 PM	Colorado		Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska (Rivalry)	ABC	W 40–31	85,319
January 1	12:00 PM	Clemson		Jacksonville Municipal Stadium • Jacksonville, Florida (Gator Bowl)	CBS	W 26–21	67,282
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

^[5]

Roster and coaching staff

2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class OL 66 Barrett, CruzCruz Barrett So TE 83 Bechtold, DamonDamon Bechtold Fr WR 1 Brooks, ChrisChris Brooks Jr WR 82 Cammack, WesWes Cammack Jr OL 58 Caputo, MikeMike Caputo RFr IB 19 Castille, QuentinQuentin Castille So OL 77 Choi, Seung HoonSeung Hoon Choi Fr OL 62 Christensen, AndyAndy Christensen Sr WR 6 Cooper, KhiryKhiry Cooper Fr TE 81 Cotton, BenBen Cotton Fr QB 15 Davis, BeauBeau Davis Sr WR 46 Dixon, TaylorTaylor Dixon Fr QB 16 Ebke, JimJim Ebke So QB 12 Ganz, JoeJoe Ganz (C) Sr FB 41 Gillaspie, AaronAaron Gillaspie So WR 11 Gilleylen, CurenskiCurenski Gilleylen RFr FB 30 Hays, MikeMike Hays RFr IB 10 Helu Jr., RoyRoy Helu Jr. So OL 74 Henry, RickyRicky Henry Jr WR 8 Henry, WillWill Henry So TE 47 Hetzer, TysonTyson Hetzer Jr OL 67 Hickman, JacobJacob Hickman Jr TE 80 Hill, RyanRyan Hill RFr WR 18 Holt, MenelikMenelik Holt Jr OL 61 Huff, MikeMike Huff Sr WR 85 Hyland, KCKC Hyland Fr OL 69 Iske, CoryCory Iske Fr IB 28 Jones, AustinAustin Jones RFr OL 73 Jones, D.J.D.J. Jones So OL 78 Jones, MarcelMarcel Jones RFr FB 36 Lawson, ThomasThomas Lawson Sr QB 3 Lee, ZacZac Lee So FB 48 Legate, TylerTyler Legate RFr WR 9 Lester, BenBen Lester RFr IB 5 Lucky, MarlonMarlon Lucky Sr WR 21 Marlowe, TimTim Marlowe Fr TE 88 Martin, JayJay Martin RFr OL 71 Masin, MikeMike Masin RFr TE 44 McNeill, MikeMike McNeill So OL 54 McShane, MaxMax McShane Fr IB 32 Mendoza, MarcusMarcus Mendoza RFr OL 63 Meyer, DerekDerek Meyer Sr OL 76 Murtha, LydonLydon Murtha Sr IB 29 Okafor, CollinsCollins Okafor Fr WR 26 Osborne, StevenSteven Osborne Fr WR 24 Paul, NilesNiles Paul So WR 17 Peterson, ToddTodd Peterson Sr TE 25 Reed, KylerKyler Reed Fr QB 18 Ruiz, ZachZach Ruiz Fr OL 70 Slauson, MattMatt Slauson Sr OL 65 Smith, MikeMike Smith So QB 7 Spano, KodyKody Spano Fr WR 87 Swift, NateNate Swift (C) Sr TE 89 Teafatiller, HunterHunter Teafatiller Sr OL 79 Thompson, BrandonBrandon Thompson Fr FB 37 Thomsen, KevinKevin Thomsen RFr OL 59 Thorson, BrianBrian Thorson Fr RB 25 Wallace, JeremyJeremy Wallace Fr IB 14 Ward, LesterLester Ward Fr OL 68 Williams, KeithKeith Williams So QB 2 Witt, PatrickPatrick Witt RFr TE 49 Young, DreuDreu Young So	Defense Pos. # Name Class DE 95 Allen, PierrePierre Allen So CB 21 Amukamara, PrincePrince Amukamara So DE 70 Anderson, KennyKenny Anderson Fr S 4 Asante, LarryLarry Asante Jr DT 56 Barfield, ShukreeShukree Barfield Sr DB 39 Blatchford, JustinJustin Blatchford Fr CB 14 Blue, AnthonyAnthony Blue So LB Brandenburgh, LanceLance Brandenburgh Sr LB 42 Camarata, JosephJoseph Camarata Fr S 8 Cassidy, AustinAustin Cassidy RFr LB 51 Compton, WillWill Compton Fr DE 31 Covey, NickNick Covey Jr DT 94 Crick, JaredJared Crick RFr S 2 Culbert, MajorMajor Culbert Jr DB 20 Dean, JaseJase Dean Fr DB 15 Dennard, AlfonzoAlfonzo Dennard Fr LB 52 Dillard, PhillipPhillip Dillard Jr DE 92 Fahie, TyroneTyrone Fahie So LB 42 Fisher, SeanSean Fisher Fr LB 49 Foxhoven, TannerTanner Foxhoven Fr DE 39 Glassman, DanDan Glassman So LB 34 Glenn, CodyCody Glenn Sr LB 41 Grove, ThomasThomas Grove So CB 28 Hagg, EricEric Hagg So DE 80 Harvey, DavidDavid Harvey Jr LB 35 Holt, MattMatt Holt Fr DL 58 Jackson, JustinJustin Jackson Fr DE 85 Klingelhoefer, FaronFaron Klingelhoefer Fr LB 54 Koehler, ColtonColton Koehler Jr LB 44 Kreikemeier, MicahMicah Kreikemeier Fr LB 40 Lawrence, BlakeBlake Lawrence So DB 16 Levorson, JohnJohn Levorson Fr DE 75 Lingenfelter, LukeLuke Lingenfelter RFr LB 61 Manninger, MattMatt Manninger Fr DT 63 Martin, BenBen Martin So S 36 May, MathewMathew May RFr LB 62 McClure, MychaelMychael McClure Fr LB 65 McDermott, ColinColin McDermott Fr DE 66 McDermott, ConorConor McDermott Fr LB 67 Meginnis, SamSam Meginnis Fr DE 96 Meredith, CameronCameron Meredith Fr DL 68 Molek, JoshJosh Molek Fr DT 90 Moore, TerrenceTerrence Moore RFr FS 43 Moravec, BrentBrent Moravec Fr CB 6 Murillo, ArmandoArmando Murillo Sr S 33 O'Hanlon, MattMatt O'Hanlon Jr DB 12 Osborne, CourtneyCourtney Osborne Fr DE 98 Potter, ZachZach Potter (C) Sr DB 11 Rogers, JustinJustin Rogers Fr DE 89 Santin, JonathonJonathon Santin RFr DE 88 Sievers, ClaytonClayton Sievers Sr LB 48 Smith, MarcusMarcus Smith Fr DB 13 Smith, P.J.P.J. Smith Fr LB 9 Stafford, AustinAustin Stafford RFr DL 55 Steinkuhler, BakerBaker Steinkuhler Fr DT 43 Steinkuhler, TyTy Steinkuhler (C) Sr LB 71 Stoddard, GrahamGraham Stoddard Fr DT 93 Suh, NdamukongNdamukong Suh Jr CB 18 Sullivan, ShawnShawn Sullivan RFr S 3 Thenarse, RickeyRickey Thenarse Jr CB 23 Thorell, LanceLance Thorell RFr DL 50 Toailoa, QuentinQuentin Toailoa Fr DE 99 Turner, BarryBarry Turner Sr DB 22 Wald, MasonMason Wald Fr LB 7 Washington, LatravisLatravis Washington So S 24 Watson, AdamAdam Watson So CB 5 West, AnthonyAnthony West So LB 45 Whaley, AlonzoAlonzo Whaley Fr DE 17 Williams, JoshJosh Williams Fr LB 53 Wortman, TylerTyler Wortman Sr DE 47 Yancy, WilliamWilliam Yancy RFr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class LS 56 Baumgartner, JustinJustin Baumgartner Sr P/PK 27 Damkroger, JonJon Damkroger So PK 90 Henery, AlexAlex Henery So PK 20 Kunalic, AdiAdi Kunalic So P/PK 96 Maher, BrettBrett Maher Fr LS 82 O'Leary, T.J.T.J. O'Leary Sr LS 33 Pillen, DavidDavid Pillen Fr P 97 Titchener, DanDan Titchener Sr PK 37 Wesch, JakeJake Wesch Sr	Head coach Bo Pelini    1st season    2nd year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Ohio State Coordinators/assistant coaches Shawn Watson    2nd season as OC/QB coach    3rd year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Southern Illinois Carl Pelini    1st season as DC/DL coach    1st year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Youngstown State Tim Beck    1st season as RB coach    1st year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Central Florida Ron Brown    1st season as TE coach    18th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Brown Barney Cotton    1st season as AHC/OL coach    2nd year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Nebraska Mike Ekeler    1st season as LB coach    1st year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Kansas State Ted Gilmore    1st season as AHC/Rec coach    4th year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Wyoming John Papuchis    1st season as DE/ST coach    1st year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Virginia Tech Marvin Sanders    1st season as Sec coach    2nd year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Nebraska James Dobson    1st season as S&C coach    1st year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Wisconsin Curt Baldus    1st season as GA coach    2nd year at Nebraska    Alma mater: St. Cloud State Ross Watson    1st season as GA coach    1st year at Nebraska    Alma mater: Mount Union Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: January 16, 2011

Game notes

Western Michigan

Western Michigan at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total Western Michigan 0 10 7 7 24 • Nebraska 14 20 10 3 47 Date: August 30 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 6:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 84,485 TV announcers (FSN PPV): Ron Thulin (Play-by-play), Rich Baldinger (Color) & Stacy Paetz (Sideline)

Nebraska opened the season with expectations below average after finishing 5–7 in 2007. However, there was a buzz in the air as first year head coach Bo Pelini returned to Lincoln to improve a maligned defense and to re-energize the program. Nebraska played very well as the defense seemed much improved from 2007. LB Cody Glenn was the bright spot on defense and seemed to be in on almost every play. The offense continued to be as productive as usual with Joe Ganz at quarterback, en route to a 47–24 win.

San José State

San José State at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total San Jose State 6 3 0 3 12 • Nebraska 14 0 0 21 35 Date: September 6 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 11:30 a.m. CST Game attendance: 84,146 TV announcers (FSN PPV): Ron Thulin (Play-by-play), Dave Lapham (Color) & Joel Goldberg (Sideline)

The Husker spirit groups on the field.

Nebraska came into its second game of the year with a little more certainty. San Jose State quickly put a stop to that. The Spartans marched all over Nebraska's defense on the first drive with Kyle Reed scoring on a 12-yard run. Nebraska scored two touchdowns to recapture the lead going into the second quarter. The game turned mostly defensive with SJSU scoring field goals in the second and fourth quarters. After SJSU's field goal in the fourth, Niles Paul returned the kickoff 85 yards for a Nebraska touchdown. The return sparked the Huskers as they scored three more touchdowns sealing the game.

New Mexico State

New Mexico State at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total New Mexico State 0 0 0 7 7 • Nebraska 7 14 14 3 38 Date: September 13 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 6:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 84,821 TV announcers (FSN PPV): Ron Thulin (Play-by-play) & Matt Davison (Color)

Nebraska, entering the game 2–0, felt confident going against the Aggies who were playing their first game of the season. The Aggies, on the second drive, went down the field with relative ease only to have their field goal kick blocked by Zach Potter. Nebraska's offense finally looked like it came together scoring 35 points. The scoring included Marlon Lucky taking a toss and throwing it downfield to quarterback Joe Ganz and then Ganz running 33 yards on an option play.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total • Virginia Tech 9 9 10 7 35 Nebraska 7 3 7 13 30 Date: September 27 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 7:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 85,831 TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough (Play-by-play), Chris Spielman (Color) & Erin Andrews (Sideline)

Nebraska, 3–0, headed into the Virginia Tech game looking for a signature win in the first year of Bo Pelini's first year. It would not be on this night, though. Virginia Tech got on the board first, blocking a Dan Titchner punt for a safety. The Hokies controlled the game for most of the night, until senior Nate Swift returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Huskers needed a big defensive stop and seemed to have got it on a 3rd down run by Tyrod Taylor. Taylor was tackled out of bounds, but Nebraska defense tackle Ndamukong Suh appeared to have leaped on top of Taylor, prompting an official to throw a flag for a late hit. Bo Pelini, obviously upset, berated the official about the call until the official threw another flag for an unsportmanslike conduct on Coach Pelini. The penalties put Tech near the endzone and continued the Hokies drive, eventually having Taylor score and ice the game.

Missouri

Missouri at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total • Missouri 14 17 21 0 52 Nebraska 7 3 0 7 17 Date: October 4 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 8:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 85,372 TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough (Play-by-play), Chris Spielman (Color) & Rob Stone (Sideline)

Missouri came into this game having not won in Lincoln since 1978. That streak was broken as the Tigers romped over Nebraska scoring in bunches to roll all over Nebraska. Penalties were the biggest killers of NU as the Huskers had 14 of them for 101 yards.

Texas Tech

Nebraska at Texas Tech [box score]

1 2 3 4 OT Total Nebraska 0 7 3 21 0 31 • Texas Tech 7 10 7 7 6 37 Date: October 11 Location: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas Game start: 2:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 53,449 TV announcers (FSN): Joel Meyers (Play-by-play), Gary Reasons (Color) & Jim Knox (Sideline)

After being routed by Missouri, Nebraska was expecting more of the same against Texas Tech. Instead, they found themselves in the midst of a battle. Nebraska went punch for punch with the Red Raiders. Todd Peterson caught a touchdown pass with :29 left to tie the game at 31 forcing it into overtime. In overtime, the Red Raiders scored a touchdown but had their extra point blocked, opening the door for Nebraska to win. However, on 2nd down, Joe Ganz threw an interception to cornerback Jamar Wall, ending the game. This was Nebraska's first loss in overtime in school history.

Iowa State

Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total • Nebraska 7 14 0 14 35 Iowa State 0 0 7 0 7 Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa Game start: 11:30 a.m. CST Game attendance: 48,794 TV announcers (Versus): Ron Thulin (Play-by-play), Glenn Parker (Color) & Lindsay Soto (Sideline)

Playing Iowa State may have been the trick for Nebraska, having lost their last three games. Nebraska roared to a 21–0 lead at halftime. Iowa State stifled Nebraska offense for the third quarter and scored a touchdown of their own, but going into the fourth, Nebraska took back momentum scoring twice to finish off the Cyclones.

Baylor

Baylor at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total Baylor 14 6 0 0 20 • Nebraska 7 10 7 8 32 Date: October 25 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 11:30 a.m. CST Game attendance: 85,104 TV announcers (Versus): Ron Thulin (Play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (Color) & Lewis Johnson (Sideline)

Nebraska might have been sleeping in the first half as they let Baylor jump on them 20–17 going into the half. Nebraska came back from a halftime deficit for the first time since 2003, scoring 15 points in the third and fourth quarters including a safety and a 9-yard touchdown catch by Nate Swift, a catch that broke Johnny Rodgers' record for career catches.

Oklahoma

Nebraska at Oklahoma [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total Nebraska 0 14 7 7 28 • Oklahoma 35 14 13 0 62 Date: November 1 Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma Game start: 7:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 85,212 TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick (Play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (Color) & Holly Rowe (Sideline)

Nebraska ran into an offensive explosion in Norman and in a matter of minutes was down 35–0. Three first-quarter turnovers doomed the Huskers as Oklahoma capitalized on all of them. Nebraska however did not lay down and fought through the circumstances to put up a respectable 28 as the Huskers looked to regroup.

Kansas

Kansas at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total Kansas 7 7 7 14 35 • Nebraska 7 7 10 21 45 Date: November 8 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 1:30 p.m. CST Game attendance: 85,486 TV announcers (FSN PPV): Dan McLaughlin (Play-by-play), Matt Davison (Color) & Stacy Paetz (Sideline)

Nebraska vowed the start of a new season heading into this game, one that consisted of three games. Needing only one win to become bowl eligible, Nebraska played exceptional on a frigid day in Lincoln. Nebraska and Kansas went blow for blow until the fourth quarter when a 52-yard touchdown run by Roy Helu Jr. and a 2-yard touchdown catch by Ndamukong Suh opened up the game for Nebraska.

Kansas State

Nebraska at Kansas State [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total • Nebraska 14 21 0 21 56 Kansas State 7 7 7 7 28 Date: November 15 Location: Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas Game start: 2:35 p.m. CST Game attendance: 48,444 TV announcers (FSN PPV): Dan McLaughlin (Play-by-play), Rich Baldinger (Color) & Joel Goldberg (Sideline)

Nebraska felt confident heading into Manhattan as lame-duck coach Ron Prince had never beaten them, nor had former Nebraska commit, Josh Freeman. Also, Nebraska's defense got their blackshirts back for the first time this season. NU made a crucial mistake early allowing a 57-yard interception return for a touchdown. Barring that play and a long touchdown pass by Freeman, NU played sparkling defense in the first half. KSU scored only twice more one on a methodical drive by backup Carson Coffmann and a kickoff return by Brandon Banks.

Colorado

Colorado at Nebraska [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total Colorado 14 10 7 0 31 • Nebraska 14 10 3 13 40 Date: November 28 Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska Game start: 2:30 p.m. CST Game attendance: 85,319 TV announcers (ABC): Ron Franklin (Play-by-play), Ed Cunningham (Color) & Jack Arute (Sideline)

Colorado came into this game fighting for bowl eligibility at 5–6. Nebraska had already secured a spot in a bowl game, but a win would help improve where they would be headed. Colorado would have none of it, taking an early 14–0 lead. Nebraska came back taking a 24–17 lead and was looking to add on going into the half. On a fake field goal play, holder Jake Wesch was to flip it over his head and kicker Alex Henery was supposed to catch it and throw it, a play that was made against Kansas. This time, Colorado's Jimmy Smith picked off the flip in mid-air and returned it 58 yards to tie the game. Late in the fourth quarter, Nebraska trailed 31–30. NU had the ball deep into Buff's territory when Patrick Mahnke sacked Joe Ganz for a 15-yard loss, setting up a 4th & 25. It looked like Nebraska was out of Alex Henery's field goal range with the kick being 57 yards. Bo Pelini sent his kicker out anyway after Henery told him he could do it. Henery came onto the field and with 1:55 left, kicked the 57 yarder, giving Nebraska the 33–31 lead. On Colorado's next drive, Cody Hawkins pass was deflected by Zach Potter and intercepted by Ndamukong Suh who rumbled 30 yards for a touchdown, icing the game at 40–31 and sending Colorado home with no bowl. Nebraska finished the regular season 8–4 and Big 12 North Co-Division Champions with Missouri.

Clemson

Nebraska vs Clemson [box score]

1 2 3 4 Total • Nebraska 0 3 20 3 26 Clemson 0 14 7 0 21 Date: January 1 Location: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida Game start: 12:00 p.m. CST Game attendance: 67,282 TV announcers (CBS): Craig Bolerjack (Play-by-play), Steve Beuerlein (Color) & Dan Fouts (Color)

The 2009 Gator Bowl in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska defeated Clemson in a come-from-behind 26–21 finish at the 2009 Gator Bowl on January 1, 2009. All 21 of Clemson's points came following Nebraska turnovers. The game remained in doubt until the very end, as Clemson marched from their own 23 to the Nebraska 10. With 1st and goal to go and about two minutes remaining on the clock, the Blackshirts made their stand, resulting in a 16-yard sack and three Clemson incompletions to seal the outcome of the game. The game was played only days after Head Coach Bo Pelini and Defensive Coordinator Carl Pelini returned from their father's funeral in Ohio.

Rankings

Ranking Movement

Poll	Pre	Wk 1	Wk 2	Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5	Wk 6	Wk 7	Wk 8	Wk 9	Wk 10	Wk 11	Wk 12	Wk 13	Wk 14	Final
AP	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Coaches	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Harris	Not released				NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
BCS	Not released							NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	N/A

Statistics

Team

Nebraska Opponent Total Scoring 460 365   Points per Game 35 28   Total 1st Quarter Scoring 98 113   Total 2nd Quarter Scoring 126 107   Total 3rd Quarter Scoring 81 93   Total 4th Quarter Scoring 155 52   Total Overtime Scoring 0 6 First Downs 295 228   Rushing First Downs 113 85   Passing First Downs 171 115   Penalty First Downs 11 28 Rushing Yards 2210 1540 Rushing Attempts 487 420   Yards per Rush 5 4 Rushing Touchdowns 27 24   Net Rushing Yards Gained 2512 1921   Net Rushing Yards Lost 302 381 Passing Yards 3650 3008   Passing Completions 294 220   Passing Attempts 432 383   Interceptions 11 12   Yards per Pass Attempt 8 8   Yards per Pass Completion 12 14 Passing Touchdowns 27 19 Total Yards Offense 5860 4548 Total Plays Offense 919 803   Average Offensive Yards per Play 6 6 Fumbles – Lost 32 – 18 17 – 5 Penalties – Yards 94 – 800 64 – 477

Nebraska Opponent Punts – Yards 48 – 1850 66 – 2544   Average Yards per Punt 39 39   Average Net Yards per Punt 32 32   Punts inside 20 Yard Line 14 18   Punts over 50 Yards 4 9   Punt Touchbacks 5 4   Punt Fair Catches 6 9 Kickoffs – Yards 88 – 5613 71 – 4435   Average Yards per Kickoff 64 62   Average Net Yards per Kickoff 42 42   Kickoff Touchbacks 29 10 Punt Returns – Yards – TDs 31 – 376 – 1 22 – 208 – 0   Average Net Punt Return Yards 12 9 Kickoff Returns – Yards – TDs 58 – 1245 – 1 58 – 1383 – 1   Average Net Kickoff Return Yards 21 24 Interceptions – Yards – TDs 12 – 202 – 2 11 – 249 – 3 Fumble Recoveries – Yards – TDs 2 – 14 – 0 5 – 150 – 2 Average Total Time of Possession 34:01 25:59   Average 1Q Time of Possession 08:49 06:11   Average 2Q Time of Possession 08:40 06:20   Average 3Q Time of Possession 08:35 06:25   Average 4Q Time of Possession 07:57 07:03 3rd Down Conversions – Attempts 84 – 178 57 – 169 4th Down Conversions – Attempts 5 – 13 10 – 21 Scored from Red Zone – Attempts 54 – 62 37 – 49 Sacks – Yards 35 – 272 21 – 128   Average Yards per Sack 8 6 PATs – Attempts 56 – 57 45 – 49 FGs – Attempts 18 – 21 10 – 17 Longest Rush 58 67 Longest Pass 69 68 Longest Punt 58 69 Longest Field Goal 57 48

After the season

The reputation of the Blackshirts, whose trademark black jerseys quietly disappeared during the disappointing 5–7 (2–6) 2007 season, was restored with emphasis during 2008 as the coveted black jerseys were once again distributed to defensive starters on November 11^[6] following a key emotional win over the Kansas Jayhawks.

The season concluded January 1, 2009 with a come-from-behind 26–21^[7] Nebraska victory over the Clemson Tigers in the 2009 Gator Bowl. Nebraska finished as co-division Champions of the Big 12 North Division, with a final record of 9–4 (5–3). Head Coach Bo Pelini's overall career record improved to 10–4 (.714), 5–3 in conference, and 2–0 in bowl games. Pelini's 2008 regular season record of 9–4 was the highest among all 28 Division 1A teams with new head coaches and staffs that year.^[8]

Awards

^[9]

Award	Name(s)
All-American honorable mention	Ndamukong Suh
All-Big 12 1st team	Ndamukong Suh, Matt Slauson, Nate Swift
All-Big 12 2nd team	Alex Henery
All-Big 12 honorable mention	Larry Asante, Roy Helu Jr., Jacob Hickman, Lydon Murtha, Nate Swift, Zach Potter, Ty Steinkuhler
All-Bowl team	Ndamukong Suh

Draft picks, signees, or other future professional players

• Prince Amukamara, 2011 1st–round pick of the New York Giants
• Larry Asante, 2010 4th–round pick of the Cleveland Browns
• Chris Brooks, 2010 free agent signee of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Phillip Dillard, 2010 4th–round pick of the New York Giants
• Joe Ganz, 2009 free agent signee of Washington Redskins
• Cody Glenn, 2009 5th–round pick of the Washington Redskins
• Eric Hagg, 2011 7th–round pick of the Cleveland Browns
• Roy Helu, 2011 4th–round pick of the Washington Redskins
• Alex Henery, 2011 4th–round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles
• Ricky Henry, 2011 UFL 1st–round pick of the Hartford Colonials
• D.J. Jones, 2011 UFL 6th–round pick of the Omaha Nighthawks
• Marlon Lucky, 2009 free agent signee of Cincinnati Bengals
• Lydon Murtha, 2009 7th–round pick of the Miami Dolphins
• Matt O'Hanlon, 2010 free agent signee of Carolina Panthers
• Niles Paul, 2011 5th–round pick of the Washington Redskins
• Todd Peterson, 2009 free agent signee of Jacksonville Jaguars
• Zach Potter, 2009 free agent signee of New York Jets
• Matt Slauson, 2009 6th–round pick of the New York Jets
• Mike Smith, 2011 UFL 5th–round pick of the Omaha Nighthawks
• Ty Steinkuhler, 2009 free agent signee of New York Jets
• Ndamukong Suh, 2010 1st–round pick of the Detroit Lions
• Nate Swift, 2009 free agent signee of Denver Broncos
• Barry Turner, 2010 free agent signee of Detroit Lions
• Keith Williams, 2011 6th–round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers

References

1. Merrill, Elizabeth (January 13, 2003). "Huskers Show Off Staff". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
2. Kaipust, Rich (December 1, 2003). "Pelini Is Interim Coach; 'Ready' for Challenge". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
3. Nebraska vs. Michigan State 2003 - HuskerMax
4. Nebraska Football Coach Profile: Bo Pelini
5. "Football - 2008 Schedule/Results". University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Athletics. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
6. "The Blackshirts Are Back!". Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
7. "Blackshirts help Nebraska beat Clemson". Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
8. "The Red, White, Green and Vanilla Husker Spring Game". Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
9. "2008 Husker Honors". Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.