nebraska gator bowl guide

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1 nebraska gator bowl guide table of contents Introduction (1-6) 2008 Game by Game in Pictures Gator Bowl Matchup Brief Breakdown Media Schedule/Travel Itinerary... 6 Nebraska Notes (7-26) Nebraska Gator Bowl Notes Coaches & Staff (27-40) Head Coach Bo Pelini Defensive Coordinator Carl Pelini Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson...31 Assistant Coaches Football Support Staff Athletic Director Tom Osborne Athletic Administration/Football Support Groups University Administration/Nebraska Board of Regents Huskers (41-78) 2008 Honors & Awards...42 Gator Bowl Depth Chart Gator Bowl Alphabetical & Numerical Rosters Joe Ganz Nate Swift Marlon Lucky Todd Peterson...51 Zach Potter...52 Matt Slauson Ndamukong Suh Pierre Allen & Prince Amukamara Larry Asante & Shukree Barfield Chris Brooks, Jaivorio Burkes, Wes Cammack & Mike Caputo...57 Austin Cassidy & Quentin Castille Nick Covey, Jared Crick, Major Culbert & Alfonzo Dennard...59 Phillip Dillard, Curenski Gilleylen, Thomas Grove & Eric Hagg Mike Hays & Roy Helu Jr...61 Alex Henery, Will Henry & Jacob Hickman Ryan Hill, Menelik Holt & Mike Huff D.J. Jones, Marcel Jones, Colton Koehler & Adi Kunalic Blake Lawrence, Thomas Lawson, Zac Lee & Mathew May Mike McNeill, Marcus Mendoza & Terrence Moore Armando Murillo & Lydon Murtha Matt O Hanlon & T.J. O Leary Niles Paul & Clayton Sievers Mike Smith & Ty Steinkuhler Hunter Teafatiller & Rickey Thenarse...71 Lance Thorell & Dan Titchener Mason Wald, Latravis Washington, Adam Watson & Jake Wesch Anthony West, Keith Williams & Patrick Witt...74 Tyler Wortman & Dreu Young Additional 2008 Nebraska Cornhusker Head Shots Review & Statistics (79-103) 2008 Nebraska Statistics Nebraska Game by Game Recaps Big 12 Conference Statistical Rankings Nebraska Bowl History & Records ( ) Nebraska Bowl Game Records Recaps of Nebraska s 44 All-Time Bowl Games Nebraska Bowl Game History & Breakdown gator bowl media guide credits The Nebraska Gator Bowl Media Guide was written by Media Relations Director Keith Mann, Assistant Directors Matt Smith and Jerry Trickie and interns Amil Anderson and Jeremy Foote. Editing assistance provided by Director of Operations Jeff Griesch and Administrative Assistant Vicki Cartwright. Cover design by Design Specialist Annie Wood. Photos by Athletic Department Photographer Scott Bruhn. The book was printed by the University of Nebraska Printing Services. Cost of the Gator Bowl Media Guide is $10.

2 2009 konica minolta gator bowl 2008 nebraska game by game highlights game 1 game 2 game 3 Nebraska 47 Western Michigan 24 Nebraska won its season opener for a nation s best 23rd consecutive season in the first home game for Head Coach Bo Pelini. NU scored the first 17 points of the game and led at the half, while totaling 483 yards and holding WMU to eight yards rushing. Nebraska 35 San Jose State 12 An 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Niles Paul was the first of three fourth-quarter scores that turned a tight contest into a runaway. The Husker defense also added a score in the game, as Ndamukong Suh scored on a 49-yard interception return. Nebraska 38 New Mexico State 7 Joe Ganz helped Nebraska build a 35-0 lead by running for a touchdown, throwing for another score and catching a TD pass. Ganz joined a pair of Heisman Trophy winners as the only Huskers to gain the touchdown trifecta. NU ran up 553 yards of offense, including 330 on the ground. game 4 game 5 game 6 Virginia Tech 35 Nebraska 30 Head Coach Bo Pelini suffered the first loss of his career when the Huskers late rally came up just short. Mike McNeill caught a first-quarter touchdown pass, but NU trailed late in the third quarter before scoring three touchdowns in 13 minutes to twice pull within one score. Missouri 52 Nebraska 17 On Homecoming, Nebraska lost its conference opener as No. 4 Missouri ended a 30-year losing streak in Lincoln. Marlon Lucky led Nebraska in rushing, as the Huskers were only outgained , but NU was minus-two in turnovers. Texas Tech 37 Nebraska 31 (OT) Nebraska saw its losing streak reach three straight in the Huskers first road game of the year. Trailing entering the fourth quarter, Todd Peterson caught a 17-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime, where No. 7 Texas Tech prevailed. husker football

3 2008 nebraska game by game highlights nebraska vs. clemson game 7 game 8 game 9 Nebraska 35 Iowa State 7 NU won at Iowa State behind a dominating performance by the Blackshirts. Armando Murillo led NU in tackles and recovered a fumble, as ISU totaled an NU opponent seasonlow 218 total yards. NU eclipsed that total in the air (328 yards) and on the ground (220). Nebraska 32 Baylor 20 The Huskers pulled into a first-place tie in the Big 12 North Division standings with a strong finish. Trailing at the half, NU outscored Baylor 15-0 in the final 30 minutes. Nate Swift caught two second-half touchdown passes to become Nebraska s career receptions leader. Oklahoma 62 Nebraska 28 Fourth-ranked Oklahoma used big plays to build a 35-0 lead after the first quarter and Nebraska could not recover. The Husker offense totaled 418 yards, but could not overcome four turnovers. Roy Helu Jr. was a bright spot, rushing for 157 yards and one TD on 16 carries. game 10 game 11 game 12 Nebraska 45 Kansas 35 Nebraska began a strong finish with a win over Kansas. NU rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense and scored on five straight second-half drives. Ndamukong Suh lined up at fullback and caught his first career touchdown pass to ignite a 21-point fourth quarter for the Huskers. Nebraska 56 Kansas State 28 NU won its final road game in convincing fashion, outgaining K-State Joe Ganz rushed for 95 of Nebraska s season-high 340 yards on the ground, while the Blackshirts held a KSU offense ranked in the top 30 nationally in scoring to only two offensive touchdowns. Nebraska 40 Colorado 31 Nebraska scored 13 unaswered points in the fourth quarter to rally for the win. Alex Henery kicked a school-record 57-yard field goal to give NU a two-point lead with 1:43 remaining and Ndamukong Suh returned an interception for a touchdown 48 seconds later to cap the victory. nebraska s 45th bowl appearance

4 2009 konica minolta gator bowl The Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. The Clemson Tigers Huskers Briefly» Record: 8-4» Big 12 Record: 5-3» Home: 6-2, Away: 2-2» Total Attendance: 916,433» Average Attendance: 76,369» Home Attendance: 680,554» Average Home Attendance: 85,071 Offense» Yards Rushing/Game: 173.5» Yards Rushing/Att: 4.6» Passing Yards/Game: 284.8» Passing Yards/Att./Comp.: 3,714/397/276» Total Net Yards/Game: 458.2» Total Net Yards/Att: 6.5» Points/Game: 36.2» Turnover Margin/Game: -.83 Defense» Yards Rushing/Game: 125.8» Passing Yards/Game: 235.7» Total Net Yards/Game: 361.5» Points/Game: 29.2 General Information» Location: Lincoln, Neb.» Population: 248,744» Founded: 1869» Enrollment: 22,000» Football Stadium: Memorial Stadium (1923)/ Tom Osborne Field (1998)» Capacity: 81,067» Surface: Field Turf» Nickname: Cornhuskers or Huskers» Colors: Scarlet and Cream» Conference: Big 12» Chancellor: Harvey S. Perlman, J.D.» Institutional Rep: Josephine Potuto, J.D.» Athletic Director: Tom Osborne» Assistant A.D. for Football: Jeff Jamrog» Media Relations Director: Keith Mann Administration» President: James B. Milliken, J.D. Board of Regents:» Randolph Ferlic, M.D., Omaha» Chuck Hassebrook, Lyons» Howard Hawks, Omaha» Jim McClurg, Ph.D., Lincoln» Bob Phares, North Platte» Kent Schroeder, J.D., Kearney» Bob Whitehouse, Papillion» Charles S. Wilson, M.D., Lincoln Student Regents:» Emily Zimmer, Nebraska-Lincoln» Tim Hrusa, Nebraska-Kearney» Lucas Seiler, Nebraska-Omaha» Curtis McKnight, Nebraska-Medical Center Nebraska Schedule and Results (8-4, 5-3 Big 12) Date: Opponent: Television: Results: Att: AP Rank* AP Rank^ Aug. 30 Western Michigan FSN PPV W, ,485 RV/-- RV/-- Sept. 6 San Jose State FSN PPV W, ,146 RV/-- RV/-- Sept. 13 New Mexico State FSN PPV W, ,821 --/-- RV/-- Sept. 27 Virginia Tech ABC L, ,831 RV/RV RV/21 Oct. 4 Missouri# espn L, ,372 RV/4 RV/25 Oct. 11 at Texas Tech# FSN L, ,449 --/7 RV/8 Oct. 18 at Iowa State# Versus W, ,794 --/-- RV/-- Oct. 25 Baylor# Versus W, ,104 --/-- RV/-- Nov. 1 at Oklahoma# ESPN L, ,212 --/4 RV/2 Nov. 8 Kansas# FSN PPV W, ,486 --/RV RV/RV Nov. 15 at Kansas State# FSN PPV W, ,444 --/-- RV/-- Nov. 28 Colorado# ABC W, ,319 RV/-- RV/-- Jan. 1 vs. Clemson$ CBS Noon RV/-- RV/-- #-Big 12 Conference Game; $-Konica Minolta Gator Bowl *-AP ranking entering the game; ^-Current AP Ranking Final 2008 Big 12 Conference Standings No. North conf. Overall No. South conf. Overall t-1. Missouri t-1. Oklahoma t-1. Nebraska t-1. Texas Kansas t-1 Texas Tech t-4. Colorado Oklahoma State t-4. Kansas State Baylor Iowa State Texas A&M conference champion; Big 12 Championship Game: Oklahoma 62, Missouri 21. Husker Quick Stats Rushing g Att. Yards YPC Net YPG Long TDs Roy Helu Jr., IB Marlon Lucky, IB Quentin Castille, IB Joe Ganz, QB Passing g Att-Cmp-Int Pct. Yards YPG TDs Eff. Rating Joe Ganz, QB , Receiving g no. Yards YPR YPG Long TDs Nate Swift, WR Todd Peterson, WR Mike McNeill, TE Menelik Holt, WR Roy Helu Jr., IB Marlon Lucky, IB Tackles g ut tot tfl-yds Sacks-Yds PBU Int.-Yards Ndamukong Suh, DT Larry Asante, SS Pierre Allen, DE Matt O Hanlon, FS Zach Potter, DE Ty Steinkuhler, DT Team Comparison Nebraska (8-4) Clemson (7-5) Category average Natl. Rank average Natl. Rank Rushing Offense th th Passing Offense th rd Total Offense th st Scoring Offense th nd Rushing Defense th th Passing Defense th th Pass Eff. Defense th th Total Defense th th Scoring Defense rd th Net Punting th rd Punt Returns th th Kickoff Returns th th Turnover Margin -.83 t-105th st Sacks 2.50 t-25th th Tackles for Loss th st Bold indicates a mark which ranks in nation s top 25 husker football

5 64th Annual konica minolta gator bowl Clemson Schedule and Results (7-5, 4-4 ACC) Date: Opponent: Television: Results: Att: AP Rank* AP Rank^ Aug. 30 at Alabama ABC L, ,097 9/24 --/4 Sept. 6 The Citadel W, ,000 RV/-- --/-- Sept. 13 NC State# RAYCOM W, ,500 RV/-- --/-- Sept. 20 SC State W, ,000 23/-- --/-- Sept. 27 Maryland# RAYCOM L, ,500 20/-- --/-- Oct. 9 at Wake Forest# ESPN L, ,988 --/21 --/-- Oct. 18 Georgia Tech# ESPN L, ,500 --/RV --/14 Nov. 1 at Boston College# ESPNU W, ,863 --/RV --/RV Nov. 8 at Florida State# ABC L, ,013 --/24 --/RV Nov. 15 Duke# RAYCOM W, ,000 --/-- --/-- Nov. 22 at Virginia# RAYCOM W, ,979 --/-- --/-- Nov. 29 South Carolina ESPN2 W, ,500 --/RV --/-- Jan. 1 vs. Nebraska$ CBS Noon --/RV --/RV #-ACC Game; $-Konica Minolta Gator Bowl *-AP ranking entering the game; ^-Current AP Ranking Final 2008 ACC Standings No. Atlantic Conf. Overall No. Coastal Conf. Overall t-1. Boston College t-1. Virginia Tech t-1 Florida State t-1. Georgia Tech t-3. Clemson t-3. North Carolina t-3. Maryland t-3. Miami t-3. Wake Forest Virginia t-3. NC State Duke conference champion; ACC Championship Game: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12 tiger Quick Stats Rushing g Att. Yards YPC Net YPG Long TDs James Davis, RB C.J. Spiller, RB Passing g Att-Cmp-Int Pct. Yards YPG TDs Eff. Rating Cullen Harper, QB , Receiving g no. Yards YPR YPG Long TDs Aaron Kelly, WR Jacoby Ford, WR Tyler Grisham, WR C.J. Spiller, RB Tackles g ut tot tfl-yds Sacks-Yds PBU Int.-Yards Kavell Conner, LB Michael Hamlin, S Chris Clemons, S Brandon Maye, LB DeAndre McDaniel, LB Nebraska and Clemson Statistical individual Leaders natl. Avg./ N natl. Avg./ Category nu Player Rank Game CU Player Rank. Game Rushing Roy Helu Jr. 68th 67.0 James Davis 83rd 60.4 Marlon Lucky NR 47.0 C.J. Spiller t-95th 55.6 Passing Efficiency Joe Ganz 14th Cullen Harper 51st Total Offense Joe Ganz 13th Cullen Harper 73rd Receptions Per Game Nate Swift t-61st 5.0 Aaron Kelly t-55th 5.1 Todd Peterson t-68th 4.8 Jacoby Kelly NR 4.2 Receiving Yards Per Game Nate Swift 43rd 75.8 Aaron Kelly NR 54.0 Todd Peterson 92nd 57.5 Jacoby Kelly NR 49.8 Interceptions Ndamukong Suh NR.17 Michael Hamlin t-5th.50 Zach Potter NR.17 Chris Chancellor t-39th.33 Six tied NR.08 Crezdon Butler t-92nd.25 Punting Dan Titchener NR 39.4 Jimmy Maners 52nd 40.5 Punt Returns Nate Swift t-8th 14.8 C.J. Spiller 48th 9.1 Kickoff Returns Niles Paul 49th 23.9 C.J. Spiller 10th 27.9 Field Goals Alex Henery t-42nd 1.2 Mark Buchholz t-35th 1.3 Scoring Alex Henery t-34th 8.0 Mark Buchholz 83rd 6.8 Sacks Ndamukong Suh t-86th.46 Brandon Maye NR.17 Zach Potter t-86th.46 Jarvis Jenkins NR.17 Shukree Barfield NR.33 Rashaad Jackson NR.17 Tackles for Loss Ndamukong Suh t-66th 1.0 Ricky Sapp t-91st.95 Bold indicates a mark which ranks in nation s top 25 nebraska s 45th bowl appearance Dabo Swinney Head Coach nebraska vs. clemson Tigers Briefly» Record: 7-5» ACC Record: 4-4» Home: 5-2, Away: 2-3» Total Attendance: 824,940» Average Attendance: 68,745» Home Attendance: 550,000» Average Home Attendance: 78,571 Offense» Yards Rushing/Game: 120.5» Yards Rushing/Att: 3.6» Passing Yards/Game: 218.8» Passing Yards/Att./Comp.: 2,626/363/231» Total Net Yards/Game: 339.3» Total Net Yards/Att: 5.3» Points/Game: 25.5» Turnover Margin/Game: -.17 Defense» Yards Rushing/Game: 127.6» Passing Yards/Game: 167.3» Total Net Yards/Game: 294.8» Points/Game: 16.6 Michael Hamlin Safety General Information» Location: Clemson, S.C.» Population: 11,939» Founded: 1889» Enrollment: 17,585» Football Stadium: Memorial Stadium (1942)/ Frank Howard Field (1974)» Capacity: 80,301» Surface: Grass» Nickname: Tigers» Colors: Burnt Orange and Northwest Purple» Conference: ACC» President: James F. Barker» NCAA/ACC Representative: Larry LaForge» Athletic Director: Dr. Terry Don Phillips» Associate A.D. for Football: Andy Johnston» Media Relations Director: Tim Bourret Coaching Staff:» Head Coach: Dabo Swinney» Overall Record: 4-2» Record at CU: 4-2» Assistant Coaches: Brad Scott, David Blackwell, Mike Dooley, Billy Napier, Andre Powell, Chris Rumph, Jeff Scott, Ron West, Daric Riley, Ryan Sulkowski

6 2009 konica minolta gator bowl 2009 konica minolta gator bowl Gator bowl information Konica Minolta Gator Bowl One Gator Bowl Boulevard Jacksonville, FL Phone: (904) or BOWL Fax: (904) Media Contact: Cheri O Neill, Vice President cheri@gatorbowl.com travel plans The Huskers will fly from Lincoln to Jacksonville on Friday, Dec. 26, and return to Lincoln following the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 via charter. nebraska practice facility University of North Florida 4567 St. John s Bluff Road, South Jacksonville, FL Nebraska will practice at North Florida Dec nebraska team hotel Sawgrass Marriott Resort 1000 PGA Tour Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Phone: (904) Nebraska media relations University of Nebraska Media Relations Staff members in attendance for the 2009 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl will include Media Relations Director Keith Mann (Dec. 26-Jan. 1), Assistant MRD Jerry Trickie (Dec. 26-Jan. 1) and staff photographer Scott Bruhn (Dec. 30-Jan. 1). A media relations staff member will be at practice each day and at most media functions during the team's stay in Jacksonville. General information on the 64th annual gator bowl Home/Visiting Teams: Gator Bowl Web Site: Nebraska Web Site: Clemson Web Site: Stadium: Clemson/Nebraska GatorBowl.com Huskers.com ClemsonTigers.com Jacksonville Municipal Stadium nebraska media policies and practice procedures All of Nebraska's football practices are closed to the media and the public. Practice reports following each of Nebraska s practices in Jacksonville will be ed and posted on Huskers.com. Still photographers and videographers are welcome to shoot the stretching and an additional few minutes of practice as indicated below, but will be asked to leave after the allotted time is up. Please wait to being shooting until instructed to do so by media relations staff. Please refer to the schedule below for player interviews. Please contact the NU Media Relations staff to arrange other interviews. On practice days marked (post-practice interviews), media must contact MRD with player and coach requests. There will be no phone interviews available from the bowl site, unless pre-arranged before departing for Jacksonville. All times are subject to change and are Eastern time, unless indicated. tentative schedule for nebraska in jacksonville Day Date Event Time Location/Notes Fri. Dec. 26 Departure Noon (CST) Team departs Lincoln via charter Arrival 4:30 p.m.* (EST) Team charter arrives at Jacksonville International Airport 5:20 p.m.* Team buses arrive at Sawgrass Marriott Resort Coach Pelini, 3-4 players available in lobby for brief interviews upon arrival (10 minutes) Team Event 6:30-8 p.m. CSX Players Welcome Party, Dave & Busters Sat. Dec. 27 Practice 9:30-11:30 a.m. Open through individual period to shoot Coach Pelini, requested players and assistants available after practice for interviews Sun. Dec. 28 Practice 9:30-11:30 a.m. Open through individual period to shoot Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson, Defensive Coordinator Carl Pelini, requested players and assistants available after practice for interviews Team Event 2-4 p.m. Adventure Landing Players Outing Mon. Dec. 29 Team Event 7 a.m. FCA Breakfast, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Practice 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Open through individual period to shoot Coach Pelini, requested players and assistants available after practice for interviews Team Event 11 a.m.-noon Wolfson Children s Hospital Visit Approximately 12 players from each school Keith Mann Media Relations Director Cell Phone: Jerry Trickie Assistant MRD Cell Phone: media headquarters Hyatt Regency Hotel 225 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, FL Hotel Phone: (904) Note: Press conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency on Wednesday, Dec. 31. clemson headquarters Jacksonville Omni Hotel 245 Water Street Jacksonville, FL Phone: (904) Assistant A.D./Sports Information: Tim Bourret Associate Sports Information Director: Brian Hennessy Tues. Dec. 30 Practice 9:30-11:15 a.m. No media availability at start of practice Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson, Defensive Coordinator Carl Pelini available following practice Team Event 3-5 p.m. Team visit to Jacksonville Zoo Wed. Dec. 31 Press Conf. 11-Noon Press conference at Hyatt Regency Hotel 11-11:30 a.m. Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney and Tiger players 11:30 a.m.-noon Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini, QB Joe Ganz, WR Nate Swift, DE Zach Potter Luncheon Noon Gator Bowl Coaches Luncheon and Hall of Fame Induction Walk-Thru & Time TBD Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (closed to media) Team Photo Thurs. Jan. 1 Kickoff 1:10 p.m. Nebraska vs. Clemson Press Conf. Post-Game Coach Pelini and requested players Departure 6:30 p.m.* (EST) Team Charter Departs Jacksonville 9:30 p.m.* (CST) Team Charter arrives in Lincoln *-Approximate times Please note all practice times are subject to slight changes. Practice time changes will be distributed to the media via when possible. husker football