Today we continue our offseason exploration of Nebraska football. If you missed the prior post, you’ll find a link to it down below. Nebraska finished its third season with mixed results once again. Despite finishing 2-2-1, they only managed to win a single game – the season opener against Illinois.
In its fourth season, Nebraska hired its first permanent head coach – Frank Crawford at a salary of $500 in addition to room and board. Frank hailed from New Hampshire and played college football at Yale. His first head coaching job was at Michigan in 1891. He also coached a year at Baker before landing at Nebraska. He even played quarterback in at least one game during his tenure. The assistant coach from the prior season, Charles Thomas also remained on the staff.
Despite having played in-state rival Doane five times in its first two years, the Bugeaters didn’t play them at all in 1892. The rivalry picked up in 1893, however, as it was Nebraska’s opening season opponent. They continued to dominate the series with a 28-0 win in Lincoln. This time they had a new home at M Street Park. Located at 23rd and M Streets near present-day Lewis Ball Field.
Interestingly, Crawford played his former team from the season prior – Baker- in its second game. Also in Lincoln, the game ended in a 10-10 tie. One newspaper account claimed that Nebraska was denied a win due to the Baker fullback who also served as umpire. On two different occasions, he undeservedly awarded the ball to his team after fouls.
For its third game they played Denver Athletic Club in what was described as a literal slugfest. It resulted in a forfeited after players from Denver walked off the field in protest of a penalty. Despite the game being tied 4-4, the game was called and Nebraska was named the victor.
Nebraska played each of its Western Interstate University Football Association (WIUFA) opponents to end the season. First, up was their first-ever game against Missouri. As you may recall, the two teams were scheduled to play each other in 1892 only to have Missouri forfeit due to the presence of Flippin. Nebraska ended up losing this game in Kansas City by a margin of 30-18.
In its second conference game, Nebraska came out flat and squandered a scoring opportunity when they were at the 10-yard line. They ultimately lost to Kansas in Lincoln 18-0.
In its final game of the season, Nebraska would play its Missouri River rival Iowa for the third time. Having lost it first game against Hawkeyes in 1891, the Bugeaters played them to a draw in 1892. Nebraska held off an Iowa comeback and walked away victorious in its third attempt. They won the game played in Omaha 20-18.
Nebraska improved from the season prior with a 3-2-1 record though they won just a single game in-conference. With plenty of work to do, its head coach would come back for the 1894 season.
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In case you missed the last post in this series
Nebraska Football Part II – The 1891 Season
Today we continue our offseason exploration of Nebraska football. If you missed the prior post, you’ll find a link to it down below. After Nebraska finished its inaugural season with a 2-0 record, its unofficial coach Dr. Langdon Frothingham left for a new job at the Veterinary College of Dresden. While the team didn’t have…
Nebraska Football Part I – The Beginning
To help make these dark days without Husker football a little bit brighter, I am starting a series on Nebraska football. This will be different than what I did in-season where I explored the history of a conference or historical rival. This will focus on a particular coach, season or maybe even an entire decade.…
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