1982 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1982 edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers
, and the Clemson Tigers
.
Clemson, coached by Danny Ford, came into the game unbeaten at 11-0 and ranked #1 and was attempting to win its first national championship. Nebraska had started the 1981 season poorly, but then caught fire and steamrolled their way through the remaining eight games to emerge at 9-2 and a solid #4 in the polls. Earlier in the day, #2 Georgia and #3 Alabama had both lost, theoretically opening the door for Clemson or Nebraska to claim the national title with a victory.
Clemson scored first on a 41 yard field goal by Donald Igwebuike
to take a 3-0 lead. Nebraska then went to their bag of tricks, as running back Mike Rozier
threw a 25 yard halfback pass to Anthony Steels for a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead. Donald Igwebuike kicked a 37 yard field goal to pull Clemson to 7-6. Following a Nebraska fumble, Cliff Austin scored on a 2 yard touchdown run as to give Clemson a 12-7 halftime lead.
The third quarter was all Clemson, as Homer Jordan
threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Perry Tuttle
and then added another Igwebuike field goal, this time a 36 yarder, and Clemson led 22-7.
In the fourth quarter, Roger Craig scored for the Huskers on a 26 yard touchdown run. Following a penalty on the first two-point try, Craig then scored from the eight on a two-point conversion attempt which closed the margin to 22-15.
The Huskers would get the ball back, but more penalties would ultimately kill the drive and force them to punt the ball back to Clemson, who managed to hold possession of the ball for the bulk of the last six minutes and would secure its first and only national championship.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
, and the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
.
Clemson, coached by Danny Ford, came into the game unbeaten at 11-0 and ranked #1 and was attempting to win its first national championship. Nebraska had started the 1981 season poorly, but then caught fire and steamrolled their way through the remaining eight games to emerge at 9-2 and a solid #4 in the polls. Earlier in the day, #2 Georgia and #3 Alabama had both lost, theoretically opening the door for Clemson or Nebraska to claim the national title with a victory.
Clemson scored first on a 41 yard field goal by Donald Igwebuike
Donald Igwebuike
Donald Amechi Igwebuike is a former Nigerian kicker of American football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He is the fourth place all-time scorer for the Buccaneers with 416 overall points...
to take a 3-0 lead. Nebraska then went to their bag of tricks, as running back Mike Rozier
Mike Rozier
Michael Rozier is a former American collegiate and professional football running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. He was born in Camden, New Jersey. Mike and his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, reside in South Jersey and together they have one son. Mike has two other children who reside in...
threw a 25 yard halfback pass to Anthony Steels for a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead. Donald Igwebuike kicked a 37 yard field goal to pull Clemson to 7-6. Following a Nebraska fumble, Cliff Austin scored on a 2 yard touchdown run as to give Clemson a 12-7 halftime lead.
The third quarter was all Clemson, as Homer Jordan
Homer Jordan
Homer Jordan is a former American football quarterback. He was the starting quarterback for the Clemson Tigers 1981 National Championship team. He was also a member of the Cleveland Browns in 1987.-College career:...
threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Perry Tuttle
Perry Tuttle
Perry Tuttle is a former Clemson football standout in the early 1980s. His career continued into the National Football League and Canadian Football League...
and then added another Igwebuike field goal, this time a 36 yarder, and Clemson led 22-7.
In the fourth quarter, Roger Craig scored for the Huskers on a 26 yard touchdown run. Following a penalty on the first two-point try, Craig then scored from the eight on a two-point conversion attempt which closed the margin to 22-15.
The Huskers would get the ball back, but more penalties would ultimately kill the drive and force them to punt the ball back to Clemson, who managed to hold possession of the ball for the bulk of the last six minutes and would secure its first and only national championship.
External links
- http://www.huskerpedia.com/games/1981/12clemson.html