2002 vs. Troy State: DeJuan Groce

[saluno22]

Just watched this game. Without him, we do not win that night.

Final was 31-16 Huskers. Just 14-10 NU a couple minutes into the 3rd quarter.

Groce had 2 INTs and 2 PR TDs. Toward the end of the game, the Troy State punter was just shanking his punts and Groce didn't even bother moving from his return position.

OWH Game Summary

HuskerMax Full Stats

 

[saluno22]

On the subsequent game (Utah State) now. Former Redskins TE Chris Cooley was their FB, and the Aggies had a 5'9 WR named Gary Coleman (the celebrity of the same name was 4'8; RIP). Former NFL WR Kevin Curtis was also on that team and had a good game (6 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD).

On Nebraska's first possession, Husker radio PxP announcer Jim Rose calls Judd Davies "Daisies".

 

[SeaOfRed75]

Just watched this game. Without him, we do not win that night.

Final was 31-16 Huskers. Just 14-10 NU a couple minutes into the 3rd quarter.

Groce had 2 INTs and 2 PR TDs. Toward the end of the game, the Troy State punter was just shanking his punts and Groce didn't even bother moving from his return position.

OWH Game Summary

HuskerMax Full Stats

People fawn all over DPE in recent times, but damn Groce was something special. Makes me realize how spoiled we were there for awhile with Groce and Joe Walker.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

If memory serves, Groce had a very early and super athletic baddass interception against Miami in '01 that gave me some very short lived false hope we could play with the Canes that night. #oops

 

[WHCSC]

 

[saluno22]

If memory serves, Groce had a very early and super athletic baddass interception against Miami in '01 that gave me some very short lived false hope we could play with the Canes that night. #oops

I think that might have been Keyou Craver.

 

[saluno22]

People fawn all over DPE in recent times, but damn Groce was something special. Makes me realize how spoiled we were there for awhile with Groce and Joe Walker.

I recall Tom Osborne saying once Barron Miles was actually the best punt returner on the team in 1993-1994 or so, but he was so much more valuable as a punt blocking specialist. He was pretty much the reason we won at Okie State in 1993.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

I think that might have been Keyou Craver.

AHHHHH, you are correct!!! Thank you.

 

[saluno22]

AHHHHH, you are correct!!! Thank you.

Had I not just watched that game a couple weeks ago, I wouldn't have known.

We actually played a very good first quarter against Miami in that Rose Bowl. The second quarter, nope.

 

[PeliniTheCrutch]

Had I not just watched that game a couple weeks ago, I wouldn't have known.

We actually played a very good first quarter against Miami in that Rose Bowl. The second quarter, nope.

Yeah that first TD pass from the skinny Miami QB...I think I remember the camera getting jacked up or something...couldn’t believe it until well after it happened.

 

[CatColumbia]

The 2002 team compared to our teams the past 4 years was so much more physical. Kinda depressed me seeing how far away we are from being a team that loves contact.

And Groce was a stud. Difference maker on defense and special teams.

 

[saluno22]

The 2002 team compared to our teams the past 4 years was so much more physical. Kinda depressed me seeing how far away we are from being a team that loves contact.

And Groce was a stud. Difference maker on defense and special teams.

I'm excited for Nebraska to gravitate to mediocrity, and hopefully exceed it. But let's start with mediocrity.

 

[Champs 70-71-94-95-97]

I mean, he was no Santino Panico...

 

[cubsker]

Groce was one of my favorites.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

Forgot how hideous those pants were....

 

[Suhrreal]

Groce is definitely overlooked. Remember his punt return against Texas in I think '02 that should have won us the game. Dude put us at the goal line at the end of the game. Night game in Memorial against Texas. Probably second loudest I heard it in there after Crouch's Heisman TD against OU. Frank dials up Jammal Lord throwing the ball at the goal line and it gets picked. Huge bummer.

Also took back a punt for a TD against Miami in the National Championship game. Outran Miami's speed. He was a special athlete for sure.

 

[saluno22]

Forgot how hideous those pants were....

I hope we never see those and the "car fire" pants from the baseball team ever again.

EDIT: For those who don't know the reference for the baseball game, they debuted these pants ...


... the same day this occurred just beyond the right-field fence ...


This was during Game 1 of a doubleheader at Tempe Diablo Stadium (spring training home of the LA Angels) in Tempe, Arizona, on 17 Feb 2018, an 8-3 win over Washington State. (Game 2 was against UC-Riverside, a 1-8 loss for the Huskers.)

 

[saluno22]

Groce is definitely overlooked. Remember his punt return against Texas in I think '02 that should have won us the game. Dude put us at the goal line at the end of the game. Night game in Memorial against Texas. Probably second loudest I heard it in there after Crouch's Heisman TD against OU. Frank dials up Jammal Lord throwing the ball at the goal line and it gets picked. Huge bummer.

Also took back a punt for a TD against Miami in the National Championship game. Outran Miami's speed. He was a special athlete for sure.

Not only did Frank call that pass play instead of kicking a FG and going to OT, he also had atrocious clock management in those waning seconds IIRC.

What I do recall was how much of a gracious winner Mack Brown was after the game, snapping a long home winning streak, which was started after Texas beat us in 1998 to end a 47 (?) game winning streak. He truly respected our program. As much as some dislike Texas, Mack Brown was always a class act.

 

[huskerhooligansdotcom]

Not only did Frank call that pass play instead of kicking a FG and going to OT, he also had atrocious clock management in those waning seconds IIRC.

What I do recall was how much of a gracious winner Mack Brown was after the game, snapping a long home winning streak, which was started after Texas beat us in 1998 to end a 47 (?) game winning streak. He truly respected our program. As much as some dislike Texas, Mack Brown was always a class act.

Yep. He was always classy, a bit more of a politician than a football coach though. Funny how running a national championship winning coach out of town can come back and bite you. They are still trying to replace him.

 

[Red I 73]

Yep. He was always classy, a bit more of a politician than a football coach though. Funny how running a national championship winning coach out of town can come back and bite you. They are still trying to replace him.

Greedy fans. They are everywhere!

 

[Bugeater]

DeJuan Groce had a MONSTER return against K-State, the crowd got seriously loud when he found his opening and took it to the house.

 

[saluno22]

DeJuan Groce had a MONSTER return against K-State, the crowd got seriously loud when he found his opening and took it to the house.

Yep, that's when the cracks started to show. We beat that .500 KSU team by 10, but they were able to move the ball on the ground pretty well against us. Took a couple timely turnovers in the middle of the second half to gain some separation.