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Clash of Titans
Games featuring a future Hall of Fame coach on each sideline.
January 1, 1971: Orange Bowl - #2 Nebraska vs #8 LSU
Bob Devaney vs Charlie McClendon
It Was a Fumble!
With the NCAA allowing an eleventh game in the regular season, the 1970 LSU Tigers, the Southeastern Conference champions ranked #5 in the Associated Press final poll, finished 9-2 to earn a bid to the Orange Bowl to play 10-0-1 Nebraska, the Big Eight champions ranked #3 in both the AP and Coaches poll.

Charlie McClendon's LSU teams almost always featured a strong defense, and the '70 Tigers were his best, especially against the run. For the second straight year, the LSU defense, led by three all-SEC players, DT John Sage, LB Mike Anderson, and All-American DB Tommy Casanova, allowed only one opponent to reach the 100y mark in rushing. In his two years on the varsity, Casanova had played some offense as well as defense. Called "an athlete of infinite grace," Tommy intercepted seven passes, returned punts for 491y and kickoffs for 334y as well as rushing for 302y. McClendon described him as "one of the most gifted athletes I ever had. There's no question he could have been an All-America running back and really could've jazzed up our offense. But I needed him more on defense."

Bob Devaney's ninth Nebraska team completed an undefeated season with the only blemish being a 21-21 tie at Southern California in the opening game. Devaney rotated two junior quarterbacks – Van Brownson and Jerry Tagge – in every game. Nevertheless, led by sensational sophomore RB Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, a future Heisman Trophy winner, the Cornhuskers averaged 37.2 ppg. They hung 51 points on Kansas State, 54 on Iowa State, and an amazing 65 on Oklahoma State.
Featured Player: Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers
Johnny Rodgers was born into poverty to a 14-year-old single mom. He grew up in North Omaha, an area beset with poverty, drugs, dropouts, crime, and violence.
At age 13, he accidentally shot a kid in the stomach. At 14, he was stabbed in a fight. That same year he ran away for months to Detroit. By age 16, he had fathered two boys with two different girls.
He suffered from severe ashtma. One time he was wheezing so bad, he thought he was going to die. His mother ran with him to the bus stop to take him to the hospital.
As he started school, his grandfather got a job with a major Omaha meat packer. That allowed his family to move to a better part of town where his mother met and married a construction worker.

Johnny Rodgers
But Johnny didn't get along with his stepfather. So he often took shelter at his grandparents' house. Other times, he just roamed the streets, shooting craps to make some money.
At age 14, he ran away with an older boy to Detroit in a 1951 Chevy. But life wasn't much safer there. A girl led him to an ambush, where he was attacked by a boy wielding a knife. He fended off the knife but was cut by the girl with a razor.
Ultimately the juvenile authorities back home caught up with Johnny and brought him back to Omaha where he moved in with his grandparents. He now had a more stable home environment, but to get from his grandparents' house to Horace Mann Junior High, he had to go through a rough neighborhood that was ruled by a street gang. He wasn't a member of a gang, but that didn't exempt him from possible peril. He walked in the middle of the street and, if gang members saw him, he ran like hell. If he did have to stand and fight, he had the scars to prove it. He had a knife plunged into the back of his shoulder, leaving a two-inch scar. "I didn't start fights," he recalled, "but I seldom lost fights."
He could easily have landed in prison or in the morgue. But sports would provide his salvation.
He first played football at age 13 for a Boys Club team in Omaha's midget league. Playing quarterback, he took a team that had finished last in the city league the previous year to the 1964 championship game.
He went out for football when he started at Omaha Technical High School as a sophomore. Johnny impressed the coach right away when he did twice as many pushups as everyone else.
The first time Rodgers carried the ball in a varsity game, he ran 60y for a touchdown. His youtful experience dodging gang violence made tacklers whiff right and left. Soon Johnny began to see a future for himself in college and pro football.
By his senior year, 5'9" 155lb Johnny was rewriting the record book in Omaha's Metro Conference. He set new standards for career touchdowns, career touchdown receptions, and longest touchdown run.
His head coach stayed on him to keep his grades up so he could get a college scholarship. He proved to be an intelligent student who started high school as an average student but ultimately graduated third in his class.
He became the most highly recruited high school athlete from Omaha in years. His most frequent visitors were Nebraska coach Bob Devaney and his assistant Cletus Fischer. Eventually, Devaney took over Rodgers' recruitment himself.
In an attempt to escape Nebraska's harsh winters and play for a glamorous school, Johnny's first choice was Southern California. "I had no interest in talking to Bob," Rodgers said later. "Nebraska wasn't on my radar at all."
As another example of sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, USC pulled its offer of a scholarship because Rodgers lacked a geometry credit that the school required for admission. So Johnny turned to Nebraska, just 53 miles from Omaha.
Rodgers played wingback on the Cornhuskers' freshman team, leading it in every offensive category. The next year, it took only a few practices before he moved up to a wide receiver slot on the varsity's first offensive unit.
As a receiver that year, he averaged 19.0 yards per reception and 6.1 yards per rushing attempt as a wingback.
When the Cornhuskers arrived in Miami, QB Tagge explained Nebraska's game plan as "keeping LSU off balance. We want to run when they think we're going to pass, and pass when they think we're going to run." He praised the Tigers. "They do a good job of disguising the defensive secondary. You never really can tell whether they're in a man-to-man or a zone defense, and if it's a zone, it's hard to tell what type. That means the passer … has less time to spot his primary and secondary receivers."
McClendon's Tigers had beaten three straight undefeated bowl opponents – Texas in the 1963 Cotton Bowl, Arkansas in the '66 Cotton Bowl, and Wyoming in the '68 Sugar Bowl. Could they extend that streak to four?
By the time the Orange Bowl kicked off in the evening, the Cornhuskers had added incentive but also added pressure. Notre Dame knocked off #1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and Stanford upset #2 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. That opened the door for #3 Nebraska, a touchdown favorite, to win the national championship.
Before the kickoff, Devaney was presented the biggest telegram ever delivered by Western Union. It was 1,400' long, nearly the length of five football fields, and contained thenames of 46,200 fans who paid 15 cents each to have their names attached to a message: "Congratulations and best wishes to the finest coaching staff and players in America. You are No. 1 with us. We are very proud of you. Go Big Red!"
The Game
A record crowd of 80,699 and millions more watching on NBC saw a game billed as the irresistible force, Nebraska's offense averaging over 400y per game, versus the immovable object, LSU's rushing defense, #1 in the nation for the second straight year.
First Quarter
Speedy Johnny Rodgers returned the kickoff 27y on the polyturf to the 39. QB Jerry Tagge came out throwing, flipping to TE Jerry List for 16y. After two runs netted only a yard, DT John Sage broke through to nail Tagge for a 12y loss and force a punt.
LSU suffered a setback on their first offensive series when leading rusher Art Cantrelle, who had personally outgained nine of 11 opponents, sprained his ankle and was lost for the evening. Chris Dantin filled the gap admirably and would finish as the game's leading rusher with 79y. Finding the beefy Huskers' forward wall a tough nut to crack, LSU went three-and-out.

L: Jerry Tagge, R: Van Brownson
From the LSU 47, Tagge tried a bomb to List, but Casanova and fellow DB Craig Burns broke it up. After a motion penalty, Tagge hit SE Guy Ingles for a 13y gain that fell 2y short of the first down. So Jeff Hughes punted into the end zone.
With the Cornhuskers stuffing the ground game, LSU QB Buddy Lee, playing with an injured thumb, completed a 16y pass to TE Jay Michaelson. Two plays later, the 6'4" junior quarterback from Zachary LA connected with WR Andy Hamilton, the national leader with 22.3 yards per catch, at the Nebraska 43. But Dantin fumbled, and DT Dave Walline pounced on the pigskin at the 44.

Buddy Lee sacked.
Nebraska quickly moved into Tiger territory. Tagge found List for 17y. Then Jerry got 13 on a draw play. HB Joe Orduna carried for the first time, gaining a first down at the 22. After an incompletion, Tagge was on target to List to the eight. Following another errant pass, Sage dropped Tagge for a 7y loss. On third down, a pass to Johnny Rodgers gained only five. So Paul Rodgers booted a 26y field goal. Nebraska 3 LSU 0 (2:41)
The Tiger offense didn't stay on the field long. Larry Jacobson blasted Lee on first down, causing a fumble that DE Willie Harper recovered on the 15. This time, the Cornhuskers would not be denied their touchdown. Orduna swivel-hipped to the three, then knifed over on the next play. Nebraska 10 LSU 0 (2:06)
Sophomore Bert Jones took over at quarterback for LSU, but the Tigers went backwards thanks to a 16y sack. To make matters worse, Wayne Dickinson's punt went off the side of his foot for only 28y to the LSU 39. However, the Cornhuskers could not take advantage of the excellent field position. Nebraska 10 LSU 0
Second Quarter
The Tigers again went backward against the "Blackshirts" defense. So Dickinson punted from the end zone. After signaling for a fair catch, Rodgers fumbled the ball, and G Jimmy Elkins was Johnny-on-the-spot at the LSU 40. However, nothing came of the turnover except improved field position. When the Cornhuskers regained possession, Devaney sent in Van Brownson at quarterback. On third down, he tried his first pass, but senior DB Bill Norsworthy made his sixth interception of the season at the LSU 43. The Tigers managed to pick up one first down on a 16y screen pass to third-string TB Del Walker, but two plays later, SE Al Coffee, the SEC record holder in both the 220 and 440 sprints, was trapped for a 12y loss.

Following an exchange of punts, LSU finally got on the scoreboard. Lee completed a 22y pass to Hamilton to the 48. After a 5y penalty, Buddy hit Hamilton twice more for 17 and six to the 34. Lee kept twice for four and 11, then passed to Andy again to the 10. But DE Willie Harper changed the momentum by dumping Lee for a 10y loss. An incompletion brought in Mark Lumpkin for a successful 36y field goal try. A flag had Tiger hearts skipping a beat, but the call was defensive holding. McClendon elected to keep the points. Nebraska 10 LSU 3 (0:54)

Third Quarter
LSU looked like a different team as they drove from their 20 to a second field goal. Dantin burst through a big hole at right tackle for 25y. On third down, the Tigers got a break when interference on a pass to SE Gerald Keigley put the ball at the Nebraska 32. Chris zipped for another 17, then slipped and lost two. Lee kept for nine before throwing incomplete on third down. So Lumpkin booted a 25y field goal. Nebraska 10 LSU 6 (11:43)
Nebraska seemed determined to run the ball more after an almost even run-pass ratio in the first half. They moved from their 20 on five straight runs by Orduna and Tagge and were about to cross into Tiger terrain when Norsworthy snared his second pick of the evening to give LSU possession on the UN 48. On second down, Lee fired to Hamilton to the 36. But a short run and two incompletions brought in Dickinson, who punted into the end zone.
Nebraska moved smartly into LSU territory, the big gainer being a 26y pass to Rodgers who eluded LB Lloyd Frye. Tagge then kept around right end to the 41. But that's as far as the Big Red got, and Hughes punted out of bounds at the nine. Jones, called the "Ruston Rifle," threw long to his cousin Hamilton incomplete at midfield. Walker burst up the middle to the 25 only to have the gain erased by a clipping penalty. On the next snap, Walker got loose again for a first down at the 21. But the Tigers soon had to punt. Tagge ripped off 11 on a keeper, but that would be the longest gain of the possession.
With Lee at the controls, LSU moved 75y to take the lead. On third down, Buddy fired down the middle to Hamilton, who caught the ball on his knees at the 46. Then Lee ran a keeper for just a yard but 15 was added for piling on. Buddy again threw low down the middle, this time to Ken Kavanaugh Jr., who made a diving catch at the 26. Lee found Al Coffee open behind the secondary for a touchdown on the last play of the period. Lumpkin's PAT try failed. LSU 12 Nebraska 10

Al Coffee catches touchdown pass to put LSU ahead.
Fourth Quarter
Nebraska began from the 33 after fielding the bouncing kickoff. Tagge said after the game that Devaney told him to "run anything I wanted." But the coach added that he didn't necessarily have to throw deep. "We thought we could beat them deep," Tagge said, "but it didn't work out that way." Jerry overcame an offside penalty on the next play by rolling left for 13y to the 48. Then came the play that still irks Tiger fans. Orduna ran straight ahead into a pile of players. He lost the ball, and LSU recovered. But somehow Nebraska retained possession. Did a premature whistle blow before the fumble? Replay showed Orduna lost possession before reaching the ground.
After a 5y pass to FB Dan Schneiss, Ordona flew around left end only to be tripped by Casanova at the 37. A quick flip to Rodgers gained almost 10. Tagge sneaked to the 25 to move the chains. DE Buddy Millican made a nice play on the next snap, jumping up to keep Tagge from passing, then tackling him for a gain of just two. I-back Jeff Kinney circled out of the backfield into the cleared out zone in the middle to take Tagge's pass to the five. After Kinney gained two, Tagge sneaked twice, reaching the ball over the goal on the second one. Nebraska 17 LSU 12 (8:50)

Two views of Tagge's touchdown
The Tigers gained two first downs on Lee's third-down pass to Coffee to the 27 and two runs by Dantin that put the ball on the 39. But three straight incompletions not only brought on the punt team but also sent Lee to the bench with an injured elbow. Sophomore sensation Harper continued to be LSU's nemesis as he broke through and got a hand on Dickinson's punt, which went sideways out of bounds at the LSU 43. After the game, Dickinson said that Harper did not touch the ball, and Coach McClendon echoed that sentiment. However, the officials didn't call roughing the kicker because Harper was blocked into the punter.

Willie Harper deflects Wayne Dickinson's punt.
With an excellent chance to add to their lead, Nebraska converted two third downs. Tagge rolled left and, with multiple Tigers in his face, flipped to List for a first down at the 25. Then Orduna ran twice behind All-American LT Bob Newton for a first down at the 13. Just when LSU's chances seemed hopeless, Sage smacked Orduna, causing a fumble. This time it counted when MLB Richard Picou recovered at the 13 with 4:09 on the clock.

With Jones back under center, Danton gained five before Bert hit Keigley, who stepped out of bounds for a first down at the 26. Knowing LSU had to pass, Nebraska brought pressure and sacked Jones twice. What play do you call on third-and-30? For Jones, it was a no brainer. Throw to your cousin, who stepped out of bounds at the 38. First down! Then a quick out pattern to Hamilton gained six. But that man Harper struck again, taking the ball from Jones as he wrestled him down to give Nebraska possession at the 43 with 1:15 showing.

Tagge fell down intentionally, and LSU used a timeout. Kinney gained four before another timeout. For some reason, Tagge ran an option play and it backfiredc. DE Arthur Davis knocked the ball loose, and Millican recovered with 0:52 on the clock. Escaping pressure, Jones threw downfield to Hamilton, but Bob Terrio intercepted at the 38. Taking no more chances, Tagge fell down twice more to run out the clock.
FINAL SCORE: NEBRASKA 17 LSU 12
Nebraska's 132 rushing yards were the most anyone gained on LSU all season. Also, the Cornhuskers scored two rushing touchdowns against a team that allowed only two all season.
Devaney's players carried him on their shoulders to midfield to shake hands with Coach McClendon. All the Cornhuskers had their hands raised with one finger extended in celebration of the expected top ranking in the final polls.
Postgame
McClendon said, "They were a head taller than us, and we found it hard to find the ball." He added, "Chris Dantin played a fine game for us, but it sure is a shame your #1 tailback is out after two plays. … I just felt like if we could have been able to do anything, anything at all in the first half, it would have been a little different situation. If I had to lose, though, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. He's a real fine man and fine coach. Don't you think I'm happy with losing, though. That hurts." Mac also said that the strength of the Nebraska quarterbacks was "unbelievable. We were all over them several times and just couldn't bring them down."
LSU LB Mike Anderson felt that eight days of regimentation in Miami Beach affected the Tigers' performance. "It was a change from what LSU had done before when a more relaxed approach was taken. It wasn't much of a fun trip, and I think our performance showed it."
Devaney felt his squad had a strong claim to be #1. "I think even the Pope would vote us No. 1." He also praised the Tigers. "LSU is … a very good team. I would have to classify them with Southern Cal, which tied us earlier in the year." Big Red FB Schneiss bragged, "We ran on them. That's something nobody else could do all year."
Nebraska finished #1 in the final AP Poll, and LSU finished #7.
References
Devaney: Birth of a Dynasty, Henry J. Cordes (2014)
LSU Bowl Games: A Complete History, Neal Golden (2021)