Bob Devaney
November 23rd 1968 - Getting destroyed 47-0 by Oklahoma giving Bob his 2nd straight four loss season. It was also the second straight year of missing a bowl game. It also ushered in the rise of Tom Osborne's influence on the offense beginning in 1969.
Tom Osborne
January 1st 1991 - The Florida Citrus Bowl blowout. Completely outplayed and dominated, the Huskers wilted at the end of the season by dropping the last 2 games by a total of 90-31. Doubt started creeping in if Nebraska football was starting to become irrelevant. The Bowl game blowouts, the low year end ranking, had many fans worried. This loss was a watershed moment and we know how the program responded after.
Frank Solich
November 23rd 2001 - The Boulder meltdown. While many could and should point to several games in 2002 or 2003 as rock bottom. This loss was so devastating, it can't be overtaken. This was the loss that began a downfall. This was the loss where Husker swagger died. This was the loss that exposed Frank Solich and his program's decay.
Bill Callahan
October 9th 2004 - One COULD point to several games in the disaster of 2007 as the end, but this game pretty much shaped what was to come under Bill Callahan. This loss finished what Frank Solich started in the 2001 Colorado game. It also sent an early message that the Callahan years were gonna be a tough ride. This was the most embarrassing loss I've ever seen. While the blowouts of 2007 were bad, this one was worse in that we had really never seen a Husker team be so outplayed, outcoached and out talented on one night to an inferior program.
Bo Pelini
November 15th 2014 - Bo Pelini did in fact forget how to stop the run. Melvin Gordon ran for over 400 yards...IN 3 QUARTERS...IN BAD WEATHER! The Husker outright quit in this game and the loss effectively showcased exactly how Bo Pelini handled adversity. His failures oozed to the team he was supposed to lead. This loss was a slap in the face to even the most casual of Husker football fans.
Mike Riley
November 25th 2016 - Iowa 40 Nebraska 10. I hesitated to bring Riley into this since he is still building his program. But if you are gonna point to a low point in his young tenure, here it is. While some could point to the Purdue loss in 2015. Ryker Fife having to start didn't help. This game however showcased everything the Huskers battled early in the Mike Riley era. Poor QB play, slow defenses, wrong players for Mike Riley's system. Let's hope it never gets lower than this for Mike Riley!
November 23rd 1968 - Getting destroyed 47-0 by Oklahoma giving Bob his 2nd straight four loss season. It was also the second straight year of missing a bowl game. It also ushered in the rise of Tom Osborne's influence on the offense beginning in 1969.
Tom Osborne
January 1st 1991 - The Florida Citrus Bowl blowout. Completely outplayed and dominated, the Huskers wilted at the end of the season by dropping the last 2 games by a total of 90-31. Doubt started creeping in if Nebraska football was starting to become irrelevant. The Bowl game blowouts, the low year end ranking, had many fans worried. This loss was a watershed moment and we know how the program responded after.
Frank Solich
November 23rd 2001 - The Boulder meltdown. While many could and should point to several games in 2002 or 2003 as rock bottom. This loss was so devastating, it can't be overtaken. This was the loss that began a downfall. This was the loss where Husker swagger died. This was the loss that exposed Frank Solich and his program's decay.
Bill Callahan
October 9th 2004 - One COULD point to several games in the disaster of 2007 as the end, but this game pretty much shaped what was to come under Bill Callahan. This loss finished what Frank Solich started in the 2001 Colorado game. It also sent an early message that the Callahan years were gonna be a tough ride. This was the most embarrassing loss I've ever seen. While the blowouts of 2007 were bad, this one was worse in that we had really never seen a Husker team be so outplayed, outcoached and out talented on one night to an inferior program.
Bo Pelini
November 15th 2014 - Bo Pelini did in fact forget how to stop the run. Melvin Gordon ran for over 400 yards...IN 3 QUARTERS...IN BAD WEATHER! The Husker outright quit in this game and the loss effectively showcased exactly how Bo Pelini handled adversity. His failures oozed to the team he was supposed to lead. This loss was a slap in the face to even the most casual of Husker football fans.
Mike Riley
November 25th 2016 - Iowa 40 Nebraska 10. I hesitated to bring Riley into this since he is still building his program. But if you are gonna point to a low point in his young tenure, here it is. While some could point to the Purdue loss in 2015. Ryker Fife having to start didn't help. This game however showcased everything the Huskers battled early in the Mike Riley era. Poor QB play, slow defenses, wrong players for Mike Riley's system. Let's hope it never gets lower than this for Mike Riley!
