Omaha Exploration

Last November, I wrote about the University of Nebraska’s first ever football game in 1890. The game was played in Omaha against the YMCA. Back then they beat the ‘Y’ 10-0 under head coach Langdon Frothingham whom came to Nebraska from Harvard.

Today we take a look at the series between Nebraska and Colorado. The two teams first played each other in 1898. Coming into that season, Nebraska known as the Bugeaters had won three straight Western Interstate University Football Association (WIUFA) championships. After that the conference dissolved causing Nebraska to spend the next decade as an independent.

Heading into the Colorado game, the Conhuskers had a record of 6-2. Its only losses were to the KC Medics and Drake. Its wins were against Hastings, Iowa State, Tarkio, William Jewell, Missouri and Kansas.

The game was tied at halftime, however, Nebraska came back to win behind a powerful rushing attack led by Left HB Raymond Benedict and Right Halfback Harry Follmer and FB C. W. Erwin. Nebraska won the game in Boulder 23-10.

Nebraska went on to beat Denver Athletic Club 11-10 two days later in Denver. They finished the season with a 5-6 loss against Iowa in a game played in Council Bluffs. The team finished 8-3 under the guidance of Head Coach Fielding H. Yost. Yost left Nebraska after just one season but won six national championships on his way to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Since then Nebraska has gone on to dominate the series with a record of 49-21-2. The two teams played annually every year starting in 1948. That came to an end after Nebraska moved to the Big Ten in 2011. Colorado has owned the series of late having won the last three matchups in 2023, 2019 and 2018. Nebraska’s last win came as a member of the Big XII in 2010.

Nebraska Coach Matt Ruhle and Colorado Coach Deion Sanders.

Hopefully the Huskers can put an end to the three game losing streak tonight. Go Huskers!

Tell me if you like these sports histories. If so, I’ll try to incorporate more of these. If you don’t, let me know that too.

Until next time, keep exploring!

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