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Kelvin Clark was an outstanding prep tackle in Odessa, Texas, with a 6-foot-4 frame. But he was reportedly 215 pounds as a college freshman in 1974 with a 40-yard dash time of 5.1 seconds. He did what so many other players – especially linemen – did during the Osborne era: He poured himself into Epley’s weight training program and worked on his technique with line coach Milt Tenopir. As a 230-pound sophomore, Clark played behind Bob Lingenfelter,* an All-Big Eight pick and honorable mention All-American. By his junior year (1977), Clark was up to 250 pounds and was starting at tackle.

As a senior in 1978, Clark had bulked up to 275, most of it pure muscle. He was voted “Weightlifter of the Year” by his teammates. His time in the 40 was down to 4.85 seconds. Clark was the left tackle on a line that helped Nebraska gain 501 yards of total offense, 337 yards rushing, and score 38 points per game. Tom Osborne beat Oklahoma for the first time in 1978, with Clark making excellent blocks on both of Nebraska’s touchdowns.

Clark was All-Big Eight and a consensus All-American. After the season, Osborne said Clark was “possibly the best offensive lineman ever to play at Nebraska.” Sure, that was said prior to the careers of Nebraska’s Outland Trophy-winning linemen, but it is still some high praise.

Dan Lanphear

Zach Wiegert - #72
The anchor of the vaunted “Pipeline” offensive line, he was a dominating tackle. Coming into the 1994 season, Wiegert had already earned All-Big Eight twice, as well as second team All-America honors in 1993. But his 1994 season was special: a unanimous All-American, winner of the Outland Trophy, finalist for the Lombardi, and recipient of a first-place vote for the 1994 Heisman Trophy (he finished tied for ninth). Wiegert had 113 pancake blocks in 1994 en route to winning national lineman of the year honors by UPI and the Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio).


Wiegert played in 46 career games, starting 37 straight at right tackle. He allowed just one sack in his career. In 2022, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Wiegert was a second-round draft pick and played 12 years in the NFL. But as Wiegert told Paul Koch, he would have remained a Cornhusker for much longer: “If they would’ve paid my rent and gave me as much food and beer that I wanted, I would have played there until I couldn’t play anymore.”




In the 1995 Orange Bowl, Miami players – especially the defenders – talked a lot of trash. Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, even Bob Marley’s son Rohan ran their mouths for most of the game … except for the final drive of the fourth quarter.

After Tommie Frazier runs for 25 yards on third-down option keeper, Wiegert motions emphatically for a first down four straight times.

The 1995 Orange Bowl timeout with 3:14 left. 


There’s a famous picture taken during a timeout with 3:14 left in the game. The Pipeline is standing, ready to play. Sapp and other members of the Miami defense are on a knee, trying to catch their breath. What the picture doesn’t show is Wiegert clapping back, asking why the Hurricanes aren’t talking anymore.

Greatest Husker to wear 71: Dean Steinkuhler, Offensive Guard, 1979 – 1983

(Dean is a friend of mine)

By his junior year, 1982, he was starting next to center Dave Rimington. Not surprisingly, Nebraska ran for an average of 394.3 yards per game. Heck, Tom Osborne could have called nothing but fullback dives and quarterback sneaks and the Huskers would have run for 325.

In 1983, Steinkuhler was the anchor for an offensive line that paved the way for the Scoring Explosion offense. Nebraska averaged a ridiculous 401.7 yards rushing and 52 points per game. He was a first-team All-American and won the Outland and Lombardi Trophies, the 13th player to sweep the awards.

Steinkuhler was the second overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft,* the highest ever for a Nebraska lineman. His #71 jersey was retired in 1984. In 1999, he was named to the Sports Illustrated “All-Century” team.



Tom Osborne called the fumblerooski three times during his legendary career. But the scenario in which Osborne called this one, in the 1984 Orange Bowl against Miami, is almost impossible to comprehend. Midway through the first quarter, his No. 1-ranked, undefeated team was losing 17-0 to the No. 5 Hurricanes. The high-flying Scoring Explosion offense was sputtering. Nebraska was in the red zone and desperately needed a touchdown.

Facing third-and-five from the Miami 19, who did Osborne want to touch the ball? Not Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. Not wingback Irving Fryar, who would be the No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. Quarterback Turner Gill – one of the best to ever play the position at Nebraska – technically did touch it … barely. He dropped on the ground behind his offensive line. There it awaited the 270-pound Steinkuhler, who scooped it up, chugged around the end and rumbled toward the end zone.


NBC announces Don Criqui and John Brodie – along with their cameramen, director and millions watching on TV – had no idea what happened. In the live shot, you can see Steinkuhler pick the ball up and run around the left end, but the camera follows Gill as he and Rozier execute a perfect option fake to the right. The camera whips to the goal line as big Dean crashes in over a defender.

Criqui calls the touchdown, then says, “Now we’re going to see how it happened, ’cause I don’t know.”

On the play, there are a million things that can go wrong. Footballs are notoriously unpredictable objects when they are dropped. One of his teammates could have accidentally kicked it. An alert defender could have jumped on it or warned his teammates. An unprepared ref could blow the play dead. And so on…


Yet, the ball passes perfectly from center Mark Traynowicz to Gill, who barely touches it. It drops straight down, bounces once and nearly comes to rest as Steinkuhler scoops it up. I cannot begin to imagine the number of times this play was run in practice to give Osborne the confidence to call it on third-and-five, down 17 points. If it fails, Nebraska is likely getting blown out and the “can’t win the big one” criticisms reach dangerous levels.

Thankfully, an offensive lineman was there to save the day.

PJ Wilkins, a transfer from Ole Miss, will wear #71 this year, after Riley Mahlman wore it for 5 seasons. This is Cole Van Lanen - a very good player and maybe the best to wear #71 (so far).