CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: OrangeAfroMan on November 28, 2020, 12:27:55 AM
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If you had to peg a year when UNL went from not being an "option team" to being one, what year would it be?
I know it was a gradual thing, but if you had to, what year would you say?
In '77, as soon as Farragamo left?
In '78, w/ Sorley at QB?
in '79, w/ Quinn/Hager sharing time?
After that?
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Anyone? Please?
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1981, my freshman year, Senior Mark Mauer started at QB the first 3 games. Loses to Iowa and Penn State put Osborne on the hot seat.
During the 2nd half of the 4th game vs Auburn, Soph. Turner Gill was called upon by Osborne to lead the comeback.
the rest was history. Obviously Osborne ran option in 78, 79, and 80. 1981 the Huskers beat the Sooners, but with Mauer playing a great game because Gill was injured.
Osborne went with more option QB to try to beat the Sooners. Many of those games were poor weather for the passing game and running the QB instead of passing seemed to work.
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What FF said. Thats THE moment, despite a lot of flirting with a variety of things the preceding 3 or 4 years. I know I have a Mike Babcock book or two. And TOs autobiography that I could dig up to better refresh recollections on that period.
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I didn't follow the Husker offense that closely before going to school there in 81.
the pitch to the I-back running to the corner was always the base play, before and after 81, but much more true option after Gill ran it so well.
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In '77 and '79, they predominantly played 2 QBs. One had no rushing stats, the other had okay rushing stats. Do any of you remember there being a "running QB" and a "passing QB"?
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1977 Garcia at QB had rushing stats of 45 attempts 112 yards gained, 69 yards lost, 43 net
the other QB in 77 was Sorley 57 attempts rushing, 246 gained, 66 lost, 180 net
they both had similar number of attempts passing
so not really one of the other running and/or passing
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in 79 Quinn might have grabbed the starting job.
Quinn had more attempts running and passing
Hager had 91 pass attempts but only 33 running attempts for 37 yards net. Not the better runner, and his passing stats were not good
I don't think it was a QB that could run like the Belldozer and a passer that couldn't run
Osborne has always liked a QB run element to the offense, puts pressure on the defensive safeties to be responsible and not cheat to help others
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okay, thanks guys