2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Logo of the Nebraska athletic teams 2004–
Big 12 North Division champion
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Record9–5 (6–2 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJay Norvell (3rd season)
Offensive schemeWest Coast offense
Defensive coordinatorKevin Cosgrove (3rd season)
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 2005
2007 →
2006 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North Division
Nebraska x   6 2     9 5  
Missouri   4 4     8 5  
Kansas State   4 4     7 6  
Kansas   3 5     6 6  
Colorado   2 6     2 10  
Iowa State   1 7     4 8  
South Division
No. 11 Oklahoma x$   7 1     11 3  
No. 13 Texas   6 2     10 3  
Texas A&M   5 3     9 4  
Texas Tech   4 4     8 5  
Oklahoma State   3 5     7 6  
Baylor   3 5     4 8  
Championship: Oklahoma 21, Nebraska 7
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill Callahan and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Before the season

While the Huskers lost talented running back Cory Ross and defensive back Daniel Bullocks, they did retain offensive lynchpin Zac Taylor (QB) and talented kicker Jordon Congdon. The team also hoped to play I-back Marlon Lucky (who excelled on kick returns as a freshman) as their starting running back. Terrence Nunn, the top kick-returner in the Big 12 last season, also returned and was intended to be the Huskers' featured receiver.

On defense, the Blackshirts include DE Adam Carriker, among others. The Ruud name returned to Lincoln, with Bo Ruud playing weakside linebacker.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 22:30 pmLouisiana Tech*No. 20FSNW 49–1085,181
September 912:30 pmNicholls State*No. 21
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
W 56–784,076
September 167:00 pmat No. 4 USC*No. 19ABCL 10–2892,000
September 236:00 pmTroy*No. 23
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
FSNW 56–084,799
September 306:00 pmKansasNo. 21
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
FSNW 39–32 OT85,069
October 77:00 pmat Iowa StateNo. 22ABCW 28–1455,338
October 147:00 pmat Kansas StateNo. 21FSNW 21–350,723
October 2111:00 amNo. 5 TexasNo. 17
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
ABCL 20–2285,187
October 282:30 pmat Oklahoma StateNo. 20ABCL 29–4140,108
November 411:00 amMissouridagger
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
ABCW 34–2085,197
November 112:30 pmat No. 24 Texas A&MABCW 28–2785,336
November 242:30 pmColoradoNo. 23
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
ABCW 37–1485,800
December 27:00 pmvs. No. 8 OklahomaNo. 19ABCL 7–2180,031
January 110:30 amvs. No. 10 Auburn*No. 22FOXL 14–1766,777
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP202119232122211720RVRV24231922RV
Coaches Poll222119242122201620RV2522191822RV
HarrisNot released21211916202523222022Not released
BCSNot released172223222023Not released

Roster and coaching staff

2006 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
OL 65 Greg Austin Sr
OL 66 Cruz Barrett Fr
WR 1 Chris Brooks So
OL 59 Brett Byford Jr
WR 82 Wes Cammack RFr
OL 62 Andy Christensen So
QB 15 Beau Davis So
WR 26 Dan Erickson Jr
FB 47 Paul Farino RFr
QB 12 Joe Ganz So
TE 39 Dan Glassman Fr
IB 34 Cody Glenn So
OL 75 Victory Haines Jr
WR 7 Frantz Hardy Jr
WR 9 Will Henry Fr
TE 11 Matt Herian Sr
OL 67 Jacob Hickman Fr
TE 86 Sean Hill Jr
WR 4 Menelik Holt Fr
OL 61 Mike Huff So
IB 32 Brandon Jackson Jr
OL 73 D.J. Jones Fr
QB 5 Sam Keller Sr
FB 40 Colton Koehler RFr
RB 36 Thomas Lawson So
OL 74 Newton Lingenfelter Sr
IB 20 Marlon Lucky So
OL 50 Kurt Mann Sr
TE 44 Mike McNeill Fr
TE 81 Josh Mueller Jr
OL 76 Lydon Murtha So
OL 77 Carl Nicks Jr
WR 83 Terrence Nunn Jr
FB 45 Will Otto Sr
OL 54 Chris Patrick Jr
WR 17 Todd Peterson So
TE 85 J.B. Phillips Jr
OL 69 Jordan Picou Jr
WR 16 Maurice Purify Jr
OL 79 Chad Roark Fr
FB 48 Andy Sand Jr
OL 70 Matt Slauson So
WR 87 Nate Swift So
QB 13 Zac Taylor (C) Sr
TE 89 Hunter Teafatiller So
FB 41 Dane Todd Sr
OL 68 Keith Williams Fr
IB 27 Kenny Wilson Jr
TE 49 Dreu Young Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 7 Jordan Adams Jr
DL 95 Pierre Allen Fr
CB 1 Zackary Bowman Sr
LB 34 Stewart Bradley Sr
LB 40 Lance Brandenburgh Jr
DB 21 Titus Brothers Jr
DE 90 Adam Carriker (C) Sr
LB 45 Nick Covey RFr
DL 94 Barry Cryer Sr
DB 6 Major Culbert Fr
DL 54 Ola Dagunduro Sr
LB 52 Phillip Dillard So
DB 46 Ben Eisenhart Jr
CB 28 Isaiah Fluellen Sr
S 30 Tierre Green Jr
CB 2 Cortney Grixby Jr
DE 80 David Harvey RFr
DT 96 Brandon Johnson Jr
DB 25 Andre Jones Jr
DL 89 Kevin Luhrs Jr
DE 63 Ben Martin Fr
LB 13 Corey McKeon Jr
DE 44 Jay Moore Sr
DB 33 Matt O'Hanlon RFr
LB 50 Mark O'Shea Sr
LB 15 Steve Octavien Jr
DE 98 Zach Potter So
DE 86 Andy Poulosky Jr
DE 85 Thomas Rice Jr
FS 24 Brandon Rigoni (C) Sr
DL 55 Craig Roark RFr
LB 51 Bo Ruud Jr
S 8 Andrew Shanle Sr
LB 88 Clayton Sievers So
DE 97 Mike Smith Fr
DL 43 Ty Steinkuhler So
DL 93 Ndamukong Suh RFr
CB 18 Tyrell Spain Jr
DB 3 Rickey Thenarse Fr
DE 99 Barry Turner So
S 4 Adam Watson Fr
DB 22 Anthony West Fr
CB 9 Bryan Wilson Jr
LB 53 Tyler Wortman So
DB 23 Corey Young Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
LS 56 Justin Baumgartner Fr
LS 52 Bryan Benzel RFr
PK 29 Jordan Congdon So
PK 94 Zach Egger Fr
P 19 Tyler Kester Jr
LS 55 Nathan McBride RFr
LS 82 T.J. O'Leary So
P 91 Michael Such Fr
P 97 Dan Titchener So
PK 37 Jake Wesch So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Jay Norvell
       3rd season as OC/QB coach
       3rd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Iowa
  • Kevin Cosgrove
       3rd season as DC/LB coach
       3rd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: UW-Oshkosh
  • John Blake
       3rd season as DL coach
       3rd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Oklahoma
  • Bill Busch
       3rd season as ST/S coach
       7th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska Wesleyan
  • Phil Elmassian
       2nd season as CB coach
       3rd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: William & Mary
  • Ted Gilmore
       2nd season as WR coach
       2nd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Wyoming
  • Randy Jordan
       3rd season as RB coach
       3rd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: North Carolina
  • Dennis Wagner
       3rd season as OL coach
       3rd year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Utah
  • Shawn Watson
       1st season as TE coach
       1st year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Southern Illinois
  • Dave Kennedy
       3rd season as S&C coach
       10th year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Nebraska
  • Keith Heckendorf
       1st season as GA coach
       1st year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: St. Cloud State
  • Jon Osterhout
       1st season as GA coach
       1st year at Nebraska
       Alma mater: Sacramento State

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: January 16, 2011

Depth chart

Game summaries

Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Louisiana Tech 0 1000 10
Nebraska 7 14721 49

Nicholls State

Nicholls State at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Nicholls State 0 007 7
Nebraska 14 141414 56

USC

Nebraska at USC [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 3 007 10
USC 7 777 28

Troy

Troy at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Troy 0 000 0
Nebraska 14 141414 56

Kansas

Kansas at Nebraska [box score]
1 234OTTotal
Kansas 0 109130 32
Nebraska 17 7087 39

Iowa State

Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 7 1407 28
Iowa State 0 707 14

Kansas State

Nebraska at Kansas State [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 7 770 21
Kansas State 0 030 3

Nebraska won their 800th football game with a win over Kansas State on October 14, 2006. Only four teams have won 800 or more games: Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, and now Nebraska.

Texas

Texas at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Texas 3 1306 22
Nebraska 7 0013 20

The Cornhuskers entered the game against the 2006 Texas Longhorn football team ranked 16th in both human polls and 19th in the computer rankings, for a total BCS ranking of 17th. Coming into the game, Texas was the third-winningest program in college football, with 800 wins. Nebraska was fourth, having won their 800th game the previous weekend vs Kansas State. Only four teams have won 800 or more games: Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, and now Nebraska. The game marked the first time for Texas to face an 800-win program since Texas broke through the 800-win barrier. The 2006 football season also marked the first time for four 800-win programs to face off against each other, with Notre Dame and Michigan having played each other earlier in the season.

In terms of winning percentage, Texas ranked third at 71.52% while Nebraska ranked seventh at 70.57%. The Cornhuskers claimed five national championships on top of Texas' four. The environment at Lincoln has been considered one of the most hostile for an opposing team, due in part to the noise of the crowd.[citation needed]

Austin American-Statesman columnist Kirk Bohls predicted that Nebraska might pull off an upset against the Longhorns. Among the reasons he gave were that "Texas isn't a great running team (only a good one).." that "Texas' pass defense is very suspect..." and that Longhorn kicker Greg Johnson had only kicked one field goal all year. Bohls also speculated that Nebraska might have more motivation because "Texas has had Nebraska's number for a while, ... [Texas] knocked off the Huskers in the inaugural Big 12 football championship game at St. Louis to deprive Nebraska of a shot at another national title in 1996." In 1998, freshman quarterback Major Applewhite led the Longhorns to a victory over the seventh-ranked Cornhuskers, snapping their 47-home game winning streak. They also ended the Cornhuskers new streak at 26 in 2002. Coming into the 2006 game, Texas was the only team in the Big Twelve Conference with a winning record vs. Nebraska, with a 6–4 lead. Texas leads the series 5–1 since the formation of the Big 12, and they are 4–1 against Nebraska since Mack Brown came to Texas.

Prior to the game, the betting line in Las Vegas casinos was Texas by 5 ½ points. The game set a new stadium attendance record crowd of 85,187, the 280th consecutive sell-out at Nebraska. The game featured 36-degree temperatures, winds out of the north at 20 miles per hour, rain, and snow flurries.

Texas got the ball to start the game and Quan Cosby returned the kick-off to within the Nebraska 10 yard line. The Longhorns were unable to score a touchdown and had to settle for a field goal. Nebraska scored a first-quarter touchdown. Texas scored 14 points in the second quarter, but kicker Greg Johnson had one of the two extra points blocked, so the score at half-time had Texas ahead 16 to 7. Johnson also missed two field goals during the game. Neither team scored in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Nebraska took a 20–19 lead with 4 minutes 54 seconds left in the game. After Texas was forced to punt, Nebraska only had to run out the clock to ensure victory. Nebraska ran a passing play on third down and NU receiver Terrence Nunn picked up the first down but fumbled the ball. The fumble was recovered by Texas safety Marcus Griffin at the Nebraska 44 yard-line with 2:17 left. Colt McCoy led the Longhorns through the snow flurries to the Nebraska 5. With less than a minute remaining, and the Horns facing fourth down, Texas needed a field goal to win.

Johnson had already missed three kicks (two field goals and an extra point) and he told Coach Brown late in the game that his leg was tightening up. Brown looked to walk-on sophomore Ryan Bailey to give the Longhorns the win. Bailey had made only 10 kicks as a high-school kicker from Anderson High School in Austin, Texas and he had never attempted a kick for the Longhorns. The trip at Nebraska was only the second time he had ever been included in the travel roster, which is limited to 64 players. Before the kick, Brown told him "You're the luckiest guy in the world. You've got a chance to be Dusty Mangum on your first kick." Mangum had scored the game-winning field goal as time expired to lift the Longhorns to victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the 2005 Rose Bowl.

Before Bailey could attempt the kick, Nebraska's coach attempted to "ice the kicker" by using his coach's challenge to have the officials review the preceding third-down play. The play was reviewed and allowed to stand as an incomplete pass, as called on the field. Brown gave Bailey a swat on the helmet and Bailey jogged onto the field and calmly made the kick. Nebraska had time for two shots at the end-zone but both passes were broken up, and Texas won the game by 2 points, 22–20.

The win was Texas' 16th straight road game victory, extending a school record, and 19th consecutive win in conference play. The latter streak is the second longest in the country, following the conference game winning steak of USC. The game was the first time for Colt McCoy to lead the Longhorns to a come-from-behind victory in the fourth quarter.

The Longhorns had several injuries during the game. Defensive starters Derek Lokey and Robert Killebrew both had to leave the game due to leg injuries. Cornerback Tarell Brown was seen limping badly after the game and kicker-punter Greg Johnson aggravated a previous injury on his fourth-quarter field goal.

Former Longhorn quarterback Vince Young was on the sidelines for the first time since going to the NFL and he went to the Longhorn locker room afterwards to congratulate the team on the win. Representatives from the Fiesta Bowl, the game that normally takes the Big 12 Conference champion, were also on hand.

There had been media speculation that Nebraska and Texas would win their respective conference divisions to play again in the Big 12 Conference Championship.[citation needed] This possibility was echoed in post-game interviews as both teams voiced respect for the other. Texas coach Mack Brown said, "Nebraska is back, For them to keep coming back and back and back – they made big plays throughout the game to put themselves in a position to win." He continued, "As soon as they back away from it, they'll see that their program is back on track, one of the best in the country. And they'll be excited about a chance to go play somebody in (the Big 12 championship game). Hopefully, if we can keep playing, it might be us." Nebraska cornerback Cortney Grixby said of Texas, "They kept their composure. That's the mark of a champion. And that's what they are."

Oklahoma State

Nebraska at Oklahoma State [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 10 1306 29
Oklahoma State 0 20021 41

Missouri

Missouri at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Missouri 0 677 20
Nebraska 10 1707 34

Texas A&M

Nebraska at Texas A&M [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 7 1407 28
Texas A&M 7 3314 27

Colorado

Colorado at Nebraska [box score]
1 234Total
Colorado 7 070 14
Nebraska 7 7716 37

Oklahoma

Nebraska vs Oklahoma [box score]
1 234Total
Nebraska 0 700 7
Oklahoma 14 070 21

Called "The Battle of the Big Reds", the rivalry between the University of Oklahoma and Nebraska University was one of the most heated contests of the old Big Eight Conference. Played every Thanksgiving weekend for 71 years (from 1927 to 1998), this contest produced many memorable games; including the Game of the Century in 1971. The rivalry has cooled somewhat since the creation of the Big 12 as Bill Callahan's Nebraska Cornhuskers and Stoops's Oklahoma Sooners now split a home-and-home two of every four years.

This is only the fourth time that the teams have met at a neutral site. The last time was the 1979 Orange Bowl where the Sooners won 31–24. Oklahoma holds the lead in the all-time series 42 to 37 with 3 ties and has never lost to Nebraska on neutral turf (one 7–7 tie in 1919 in Omaha). Bob Stoops is 3–1 against Nebraska and has a two-game winning streak; Callahan has never beaten Oklahoma.

This is the first time the two teams have met in the Big 12 Championship Game to determine the Big 12 Conference champion. Nebraska played in the championship game three of the first four years, winning in 1997 and '99, but had not made it back since. Oklahoma missed the first four games but represented the south four of the next six years, topping the conference in 2000, '02, and '04. Oklahoma has both the most appearances in the championship game (5) and conference titles (3) of any team in the Big 12.

Nebraska received the ball to start the game but Maurice Purify fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Oklahoma recovered the ball at the Nebraska 2 and scored a touchdown to take the lead 7–0 with 48 seconds expired off the clock. It was the fastest score in Big 12 Championship Game history. With 5:35 left in the first quarter, Oklahoma executed a touchdown pass to Malcolm Kelly to go up 14–0.

With 4:37 left in the first half, Nebraska's Zac Taylor threw a touchdown pass and the extra point shaved Oklahoma's lead to 14–7, which was still the score as the game went to half-time.

At the start of the half, Oklahoma started with the ball but were unable to advance, as Nebraska recorded their first quarterback sack of the game and caused Oklahoma to go three-and-out and punt. Later in the third quarter, Oklahoma used 11 plays, 3 minutes and 21 seconds, to go 99 yards and score a touchdown with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

With 8:53 left in the game, Nebraska threw what was almost a touchdown pass, but Nick Harris made a diving catch to intercept the ball in the end-zone for a touchback. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, so Oklahoma won the game 21–7. It was their fourth Big 12 Conference football championship, which is the most for any team in the conference (Nebraska and Texas each have two).

Auburn (Cotton Bowl Classic)

Nebraska vs Auburn [box score]
1 234Total
Auburn 7 730 17
Nebraska 7 700 14

If Nebraska had won the Big 12 Conference Championship Game, they would have gone to the Fiesta Bowl. Since they lost, they went to the Cotton Bowl Classic; the Big 12 Conference announced before the Championship Game that the loser would receive a Cotton Bowl Classic invitation. The Cotton Bowl Classic was played on New Year's Day.

After the season

Awards


Award Name(s)
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Zac Taylor
Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Adam Carriker
All-Big 12 1st team Zac Taylor, Adam Carriker, Dane Todd, Bo Ruud, Brandon Jackson
All-Big 12 2nd team Maurice Purify, Jay Moore, Matt Slauson, Marlon Lucky
All-Big 12 honorable mention Stewart Bradley, Brett Byford, Cortney Grixby, Corey McKeon, Andrew Shanle, Kurt Mann, Greg Austin, Tierre Green
All-Big 12 Freshman 1st team Ndamukong Suh

NFL and pro players

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 2006 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.

Name Team
Zackary Bowman Chicago Bears
Stewart Bradley Philadelphia Eagles
Adam Carriker St. Louis Rams
Joe Ganz Washington Redskins
Cody Glenn Washington Redskins
Cortney Grixby Carolina Panthers
Brandon Jackson Green Bay Packers
D.J. Jones Omaha Nighthawks
Marlon Lucky Cincinnati Bengals
Jay Moore San Francisco 49ers
Lydon Murtha Detroit Lions
Carl Nicks New Orleans Saints
Terrence Nunn New England Patriots
Steve Octavien Kansas City Chiefs
Chris Patrick New York Giants
Todd Peterson Jacksonville Jaguars
Zach Potter New York Jets
Andy Poulosky Sioux City Bandits
Maurice Purify Cincinnati Bengals
Bo Ruud New England Patriots
Andrew Shanle Chicago Bears
Matt Slauson New York Jets
Mike Smith Omaha Nighthawks
Ty Steinkuhler New York Jets
Nate Swift Denver Broncos
Zac Taylor Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Keith Williams Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Wilson Sioux City Bandits

This page was last updated at 2023-12-25 01:06 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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