THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nebraska coach Bob Devaney is carried off the field after Nebraska defeated Oklahoma 35-31 in 1971.

FOOTBALL

Devaney's tenure gave life to modern Husker era

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On a cold, gray afternoon the last week of 1961, Carl Donaldson was dispatched to the Lincoln airport.

MODERN ERA OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL

1972-1981: Winning ways turn to growing pains Osborne, a long-time assistant for Devaney, took over and struggled. He fell victim to Sooner Magic in '76. He flirted with termination in '77 and considered leaving for Colorado a year later. Even when Osborne finally beat Oklahoma in '78, he had to play OU again in the Orange Bowl the Sooners won easily. By October 1981, things were looking bleak. NU was unranked for the first time in 12 years. Then Osborne handed the keys to sophomore Turner Gill. Conference, national titles: 4/0 Winning Pct: .781 (93-25-3) Best team: '78 Worst team: '77 High point: Jim Pillen's fumble recovery in '78 Low point: Buster Rhymes' last-minute touchdown in '80 Best players: Johnny Rodgers, Rich Glover, Willie Harper, Junior Miller, Dave Rimington Defining moment: Osborne receives the news that NU has to play OU again in '79 Orange Bowl

1982-1991: Falling short on the national stage With Gill at quarterback, NU never lost a Big Eight game 21-0, including three wins over Oklahoma. But heartbreaks to Clemson in 1981, Penn State in '82 and Miami in '83 cost Osborne national titles. By '84, the Sooners were beating NU again. Was Osborne ever going to get over the hump? Season after season, the Huskers started strong, but finished weak. From '86 to '93, they lost seven straight bowl games, six against Miami and Florida State. Nebraska had the size and strength to compete, but not the speed. Conference, national titles: 5/0 Winning Pct: .847 (102-20-1) Best team: '83 Worst team: '90 High point: Winning at OU 7-3 in '88 Low point: Losing Citrus Bowl 45-21 Best players: Turner Gill, Mike Rozier, Irving Fryar, Dean Steinkuhler, Neil Smith Defining moment: The failed 2-point conversion in Miami

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Devaney's tenure gave life to modern Husker era