1983 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1983 edition of the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers
, and the LSU Tigers
.
The game suffered from poor attendance due to riots in the Miami area as well as the game having no impact on the national championship, since No. 2 Penn State defeated No. 1 Georgia earlier in the day in the Sugar Bowl. LSU began the season 7-0-1, but lost in November to heavy underdogs Mississippi State and Tulane to come in 8-2-1 and ranked #13 by the AP and UPI polls. Nebraska was 11-1 and ranked #3 in both polls, but they had been denied a chance to play for the national championship due to a controversial 27-24 loss at Penn State early in the season.
Nebraska forced a three and out, and then scored easily on their first possession, capped by a 5 yard touchdown run by fullback Mark Schellen to take a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the game, and the heavily favored Huskers looked as if they would put the Tigers away early. But then a series of miscues turned the game on its head.
Toby Williams intercepted a Tiger pass at the Husker 7, to thwart a promising LSU drive. But the Huskers fumbled the ball right back to LSU on the very next play from scrimmage, and Dalton Hilliard
scored from the 1 to tie the game at 7.
Nebraska drove to the LSU 15 before fumbling again, then inexplicably fumbled a third time after forcing LSU to punt. Turner Gill then threw an interception. The Tigers took advantage with a second Hilliard 1-yard touchdown run, and Nebraska found itself trailing 14-7 at halftime after committing four turnovers on four consecutive series.
Halftime provided no relief for the mistake-prone Husker offense, with a missed field goal on the opening drive of the second half, followed by yet another fumble. LSU converted the latest Husker error into a 28 yard Juan Bentanzos field goal, which gave them a 17-7 lead.
On the very next series, Nebraska managed to hold onto the football and went on a 12 play, 80 yard scoring drive, capped by an 11 yard swing pass from Turner Gill
to Mike Rozier
which pulled the Huskers within three at 17-14.
Gill then finished off a 7 play, 47 yard drive with a QB sneak early in the fourth to put the Huskers ahead 21-17. Another miscue, this time a dropped pass on a fake field goal, prevented the Huskers from extending their lead.
LSU managed to get a 49 yard field goal from Bentanzos late following an interception (Nebraska's sixth turnover of the night), but they could not get the ball back again, and the Cornhuskers held on to win 21-20.
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 LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are the athletic teams of Louisiana State University. They participate in the NCAA's Division I, in the Southeastern Conference. It fields teams in 14 varsity sports . Its official team nickname is the Fighting Tigers and the school mascot is Mike the Tiger...
.
The game suffered from poor attendance due to riots in the Miami area as well as the game having no impact on the national championship, since No. 2 Penn State defeated No. 1 Georgia earlier in the day in the Sugar Bowl. LSU began the season 7-0-1, but lost in November to heavy underdogs Mississippi State and Tulane to come in 8-2-1 and ranked #13 by the AP and UPI polls. Nebraska was 11-1 and ranked #3 in both polls, but they had been denied a chance to play for the national championship due to a controversial 27-24 loss at Penn State early in the season.
Nebraska forced a three and out, and then scored easily on their first possession, capped by a 5 yard touchdown run by fullback Mark Schellen to take a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the game, and the heavily favored Huskers looked as if they would put the Tigers away early. But then a series of miscues turned the game on its head.
Toby Williams intercepted a Tiger pass at the Husker 7, to thwart a promising LSU drive. But the Huskers fumbled the ball right back to LSU on the very next play from scrimmage, and Dalton Hilliard
Dalton Hilliard
Dalton Hilliard is a former professional American football running back for the New Orleans Saints from 1986-1993. He played his entire NFL career for the Saints and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1989...
scored from the 1 to tie the game at 7.
Nebraska drove to the LSU 15 before fumbling again, then inexplicably fumbled a third time after forcing LSU to punt. Turner Gill then threw an interception. The Tigers took advantage with a second Hilliard 1-yard touchdown run, and Nebraska found itself trailing 14-7 at halftime after committing four turnovers on four consecutive series.
Halftime provided no relief for the mistake-prone Husker offense, with a missed field goal on the opening drive of the second half, followed by yet another fumble. LSU converted the latest Husker error into a 28 yard Juan Bentanzos field goal, which gave them a 17-7 lead.
On the very next series, Nebraska managed to hold onto the football and went on a 12 play, 80 yard scoring drive, capped by an 11 yard swing pass from Turner Gill
Turner Gill
Turner Hillery Gill is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach at Kansas from 2010-2011, and was one of 11 African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision at the time of his hiring.-College:Gill graduated from Arlington Heights High...
to 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...
which pulled the Huskers within three at 17-14.
Gill then finished off a 7 play, 47 yard drive with a QB sneak early in the fourth to put the Huskers ahead 21-17. Another miscue, this time a dropped pass on a fake field goal, prevented the Huskers from extending their lead.
LSU managed to get a 49 yard field goal from Bentanzos late following an interception (Nebraska's sixth turnover of the night), but they could not get the ball back again, and the Cornhuskers held on to win 21-20.
External links
- http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=185&SPID=41&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=151