Frazier and true freshman

[Captain Nick]

I repeat Mike Grant was never the same after his injury. He lost his composure and confidence both. We really did not get to see the QB Osborne recruited except his freshman year for the freshman team. If you saw any of those games you would know what I was talking about!

Agreed.

And yeah, Veland was named the starter in the spring before Frazier arrived. Don't remember exactly when the injury happened though.

EDIT: Just looked it up and Veland was named the starter when Mike Grant broke his collarbone two weeks before the spring game.

 

[kaz36]

I repeat Mike Grant was never the same after his injury. He lost his composure and confidence both. We really did not get to see the QB Osborne recruited except his freshman year for the freshman team. If you saw any of those games you would know what I was talking about!

I remember going to a couple freshman games and thinking that Grant was going to be the next Turner Gill. He looked great in those freshman games and then was never the same after the injuries.

 

[bigboxes]

Thanks for th info guys. Late 80’s-93 is kind of these weird overshadowed/forgotten years that you don’t here a lot about. Outside of Shields and Alberts you don’t hear a lot about the ‘legends’ and the stories.

Don't forget the "we-backs", Derrick Brown and Calvin Jones.

 

[Captain Nick]

Since we're already gabbing about former quarterbacks....I've been watching some old games on YouTube lately and I forgot (or maybe just didn't realize it at the time) what an absolute cannon Steve Taylor had. Maybe not the most accurate of all time but I've never seen anyone chuck it further with both feet flat on the ground. It's really kind of a bizarre thing to watch.

 

[GretnaShawn]

Don't forget the "we-backs", Derrick Brown and Calvin Jones.

This is a great example. I’ve heard of them. I don’t know exactly when they played, more of a rough idea. I don’t know of a highlight of them (I’m sure I’ve seen one in a highlight mashup, but could not pick them out). They are somewhat ‘forgotten’ to me as a guy in his early 30’s.

 

[huskerfan66]

Correct me if I am wrong but Grant had an injury early in his career that kind of pushed him back. I remember there was a lot of hype around him. I believe he was around for the old freshman football days, correct? I remember people raving about Grant's arm strength and how he could throw the ball a mile. I believe his injury kind of caused him to be a little affraid. He was from Frazier home town.

Also, Mickey Joseph was a star recruit. I remember being 8 years old and people saying "we got Mickey" and everyone believed he was going to be the next great husker QB.

I'll never forget the 1990 Baylor game and Grant & Joseph were splitting QB duties and Corso said at half time of that game, "when your playing 2 QBs at the same time, it means you don't have a good enough QB to win the Job". That stuck with me until this day and seems pretty accurate.

Freshmen football went by the wayside after the fall of 83 I believe. Thanks NCAA.

 

[Cedric]

Freshmen football went by the wayside after the fall of 83 I believe. Thanks NCAA.

NCAA had nothing to do with it. Get a clue.

 

[kidofSN]

In February of 1991, Nebraska announced it would discontinue its freshman-junior varsity program, in anticipation of an NCAA reduction in the number of allowable football assistants, a cost-cutting measure that went into effect for the 1992 season. Soon after, the Big Eight Conference passed a rule prohibiting freshman-junior varsity teams, also to cut costs.

Here is the official word!

 

[bigboxes]

This is a great example. I’ve heard of them. I don’t know exactly when they played, more of a rough idea. I don’t know of a highlight of them (I’m sure I’ve seen one in a highlight mashup, but could not pick them out). They are somewhat ‘forgotten’ to me as a guy in his early 30’s.

I understand the age thing. You have no memories of that time. I am the same when it comes to NU's first couple of NCs. I want to say that I saw the Huskers play in 1970/1971, but was just too young. Back to you, those Huskers teams of the era you talk about were good. Sometimes very good.

 

[Row80]

Freshmen football went by the wayside after the fall of 83 I believe. Thanks NCAA.

I understand the age thing. You have no memories of that time. I am the same when it comes to NU's first couple of NCs. I want to say that I saw the Huskers play in 1970/1971, but was just too young. Back to you, those Huskers teams of the era you talk about were good. Sometimes very good.

I was born in 1959, so I was 10 and 11 when Devaney won his two National Championships. I don't remember paying attention until the 71 season. I believe that people born about 1955 were born at the perfect time to be a Nebraska football fan. (Or start paying attention/understanding a few years before I did).

I remember sitting cross-legged on my bed, with a box radio, listening to the first game of the 72 season (UCLA) at 11pm. I could not believe it when we missed the field goal that would have won the game. I had never experienced a Nebraska football loss before then. It was kind of like the day you realize your dad isn't superman.

 

[kidofSN]

It was much different being a Husker fan back in the 60's. TV games numbered 2 or 3 for the season if lucky. Add the bowl game to get to 3.
I remember bits and pieces of the 63 and 64 seasons. First season I can recall in entirety is the '65 season. I cried and felt bad for days following the Orange Bowl loss to 'Bama. I have hated Alabama football ever since with a white hot passion. Yes that was 54 years ago. I have never forgotten how I felt. I felt that way about most losses for years. I dislike that somehow as losses added up it still hurt but not to the point of almost being sick as I was for many years of my life. The Devaney years were almost pure joy except '67 and '68. I was pleasantly surprised when TO took over and success continued.

As a kid I did not get to attend many games. I was lucky enough to witness quite a few freshman games. When I read there was not freshman team in the late 80's I wondered who I was watching then. Guess it was the ghosthusker frosh team. Mike Grant was terrific as a frosh. As I stated however he was injured later and never had his good game or form return!
It was a shame because he was a good one and showed himself very well in all his froehmen games!

 

[huskerfan66]

NCAA had nothing to do with it. Get a clue.

Wrong

 

[saluno22]

I thought Tony Veland was expected to start that year, but got hurt in fall practice.

Just long, old foggy memories.

This article supports your thought that Veland was battling for the #2 QB job behind Grant with Berringer in fall practice before breaking his collar bone.

EDIT: Looks like Veland got some action at QB in 1992 and 1993: Stats

 

[kidofSN]

The NCAA did not force it to happen. Actually the Big 8 had more to do with it. Just like you claiming the info about the frosh team was not correct . There are still JV teams. Not very many but the NCAA did not stop freshman teams or JV teams. They did rule that freshmen were able to play varsity and then most the teams disbanded their frosh teams. However the NCAA never outlawed freshmen or JV teams!

 

[huskerj12]

Thanks for posting those videos, fascinating to see footage of that era since I was barely alive! haha

 

[Captain Nick]

EDIT: Looks like Veland got some action at QB in 1992 and 1993: Stats

Wow! I have zero recollection of that. But you're right. He scored a touchdown against North Texas.

 

[Captain Nick]

If anyone wants to watch maybe the best 15 minutes of football ever check out the first quarter of the 88 Okie State game.



EDIT: I should have said maybe the best 15 of HUSKER football ever. Sanders and Gundy not so much. Lol

 

[TFrazier]

If anyone wants to watch maybe the best 15 minutes of football ever check out the first quarter of the 88 Okie State game.

View embedded media

What a great game to watch in person and to witness Barry Sanders do his thing...truly an amazing athlete!! Ken Clark was phenomenal as well!!

 

[bomber89]

Since we're already gabbing about former quarterbacks....I've been watching some old games on YouTube lately and I forgot (or maybe just didn't realize it at the time) what an absolute cannon Steve Taylor had. Maybe not the most accurate of all time but I've never seen anyone chuck it further with both feet flat on the ground. It's really kind of a bizarre thing to watch.

Steve had a cannon he just never had the confidence to pitch it on options.







yes, that a dig that he was a ball hog. I just seem to remember he very seldom pitched it. Might be unfair, might be wrong. Just how i remember it.

 

[Dean Pope]

I was six in ‘92, so forgive my ignorance. Was Mike Grant any good?

I would compare Mike Grant to Cody Green. Both were hyped coming in and neither proved to be particularly great at anything. Solid, but unspectacular.

 

[schuele]

Steve had a cannon he just never had the confidence to pitch it on options.
yes, that a dig that he was a ball hog. I just seem to remember he very seldom pitched it. Might be unfair, might be wrong. Just how i remember it.

I always felt Taylor would have benefited greatly from the shotgun, which NU never used until after he was gone. He seemed to struggle dropping back and never looked comfortable in the pocket. Had a nice career anyway, but I really think the shotgun would have helped him.

 

[SC_'sker]

I would compare Mike Grant to Cody Green. Both were hyped coming in and neither proved to be particularly great at anything. Solid, but unspectacular.

Cody wasn't even solid and never showed the potential that Grant did before the injuries.

 

[Dean Pope]

Cody wasn't even solid and never showed the potential that Grant did before the injuries.

Yeah, maybe. But Cody was hyped like Grant and if you look at the actual results Grant came up with it's a pretty close comp in my mind. Grant was criticized heavily too back in the day.