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Nebraska beats Clemson 26-21 in Gator Bowl
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| Omaha World-Herald/Alyssa Schukar Nebraska's Quentin Castille tiptoes to stay in bound after Clemson's Michael Hamlin ended his fourth quarter run in NU's win over Clemson in the Gator Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers (No. 93) trails. |
By Terry Douglass
terry.douglass@theindependent.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As Nebraska players and coaches hugged and celebrated on the field following Thursday’s 26-21 come-from-behind victory over Clemson in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, evidence of emotion was everywhere.
On the podium after accepting the Gator Bowl trophy, the feelings of Cornhuskers’ head coach Bo Pelini — a man who had attended his father’s funeral services just five days earlier — were obvious as he praised the perseverance of his team. The strong bonds that have formed were also evident as Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson embraced quarterback Joe Ganz and came away with tears in his eyes.
Yes, this one was sweet for the Huskers.
“It’s a fun way to finish the season off,” said Pelini, whose team has won six of its last seven games, including four straight. “I said going in I thought it was a really big game for our program because we have some momentum going right now.
“I told the seniors last night and talked also about it today that you can put some more cement on that foundation that we’ve laid, and that keeps the momentum going.”
With the help of the hard-fought victory over Clemson, Pelini said there’s plenty of excitement inside the program.
“They are starting to believe and starting to show how good they can be as a football team,” Pelini said. “It is fun to see. I just got to keep that going. Pick up the torch the seniors left and keep running with it.
“The resolve of this team showed again today.”
That would probably rank as a colossal understatement.
Nebraska (9-4) trailed 14-3 at halftime and 21-10 with 10:06 to play in the third quarter before rallying to tie the program’s biggest comeback in a bowl game. Somehow, the Huskers managed to overcome three crucial turnovers that resulted in all three touchdowns for Clemson (7-6) at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
Ganz had a dreary first half. During the first two quarters he was just 9-of-21 passing for 103 yards with an interception and a fumble returned 28 yards by Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel for the first score of the game. Ganz, however, finished 19-of-36 through the air for 236 yards and two TDs to earn most valuable player honors.
“It just took us a little bit too long to settle in and get our feet under us,” Ganz said. “But once we did, we played really well.”
Trailing 14-3, Ganz got Nebraska off to a quick start in the second half. His 36-yard completion to Todd Peterson set up a 17-yard scoring pass to Nate Swift, whose impressive grab in the corner of the end zone cut Clemson’s lead to 14-10.
“That’s one of my all-time favorite catches, for sure,” Swift said. “You’re in your senior bowl game and to catch a TD was great. That will be a big memory for me.”
After Nebraska’s Niles Paul mishandled a punt return, the Tigers quickly answered on Cullen Harper’s 41-yard TD pass to Jacoby Ford to extend the lead to 21-10. But on the ensuing possession, Quentin Castille broke off a 58-yard run to set up Ganz’s 19-yard scoring pass to Peterson, who bulled his way into the end zone and cut Nebraska’s deficit to 21-17 with 7:54 left in the third quarter.
The Huskers then used a pair of 28-yard field goals by Alex Henery to take a 23-21 lead heading into the final quarter. An interception by linebacker Blake Lawrence set up Nebraska’s first field goal and a blocked punt by Rickey Thenarse led to the second.
Clemson had an apparent touchdown taken away with 12:11 remaining in the game as the officials’ call on the field was reversed by the replay official. Nebraska backup quarterback Patrick Witt, subbing for Ganz for one play after he was shaken up, appeared to fumble. The loose ball was carried into the end zone by cornerback Byron Maxwell.
The Huskers dodged a bullet, however, as TV replays showed that Witt’s knee was down before he fumbled, giving Nebraska the ball back and taking away the apparent Clemson score.
Leading 26-21 after Henery’s Gator Bowl-record fourth field goal — a 22-yarder with 5:20 to play — Nebraska’s defense needed to make one final stand.
Clemson converted a key fourth-and-4 play on a 16-yard pass from Harper to Ford. Harper’s 17-yard pass to Aaron Kelly then gave the Tigers a first-and-goal at the Nebraska 10-yard line with under two minutes to play.
However, Nebraska defensive back Eric Hagg came up big on consecutive plays to get Clemson’s drive off schedule. Hagg broke up a first-down pass attempt and then sacked Harper for a 16-yard loss back to the Huskers’ 26.
Clemson had two more shots to win it, but C.J. Spiller couldn’t hang on to Harper’s pass over the middle in the end zone on third down. On fourth down and with no timeouts remaining, Harper threw incomplete behind Ford.
That put Nebraska’s offense in victory formation and the celebration was on.
“This was huge,” Nebraska senior guard Matt Slauson said. “This was my last collegiate game. I couldn’t be more stoked right now. I’m just in awe. That was an amazing game by both teams and I’m so happy that we came out on top.”
That happiness possibly helped alleviate some of the sadness Nebraska’s football family has dealt with in recent days. The Huskers wore black decals on their helmet with the initials “AP” to honor Anthony Pelini — the father of Bo Pelini and Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini.
“Coach Pelini has been such an inspiration for us and a great guy and great coach that we thought it would be fitting to honor his dad and Carl’s dad in this last game,” Ganz said. “We thought it would be right to honor him with our play.”
Nebraska senior linebacker Tyler Wortman said Bo Pelini has consistently reminded the Huskers that “he has our backs.” On Thursday, Wortman said the players wanted to return the favor.
“We said to them, ‘We’ve got your back,’ and we’re going to show it right here,” Wortman said. “We told them the night before the game that we were going to wear the decal in memory of their dad and it seemed to mean a lot to them.”
Through all the turmoil and grief of the past week and a half, Peterson said Bo Pelini kept everything in check in the program.
“He has put us first and that’s what we love about him,” Peterson said. “That’s why we wanted to play for him and that’s why we want to do that for him.”
For the gesture — and the victory — Pelini said he was pleased.
“It means a lot — it really does,” Pelini said. “It was a difficult week.”
On the podium after accepting the Gator Bowl trophy, the feelings of Cornhuskers’ head coach Bo Pelini — a man who had attended his father’s funeral services just five days earlier — were obvious as he praised the perseverance of his team. The strong bonds that have formed were also evident as Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson embraced quarterback Joe Ganz and came away with tears in his eyes.
Yes, this one was sweet for the Huskers.
“It’s a fun way to finish the season off,” said Pelini, whose team has won six of its last seven games, including four straight. “I said going in I thought it was a really big game for our program because we have some momentum going right now.
With the help of the hard-fought victory over Clemson, Pelini said there’s plenty of excitement inside the program.
“They are starting to believe and starting to show how good they can be as a football team,” Pelini said. “It is fun to see. I just got to keep that going. Pick up the torch the seniors left and keep running with it.
“The resolve of this team showed again today.”
That would probably rank as a colossal understatement.
Nebraska (9-4) trailed 14-3 at halftime and 21-10 with 10:06 to play in the third quarter before rallying to tie the program’s biggest comeback in a bowl game. Somehow, the Huskers managed to overcome three crucial turnovers that resulted in all three touchdowns for Clemson (7-6) at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
Ganz had a dreary first half. During the first two quarters he was just 9-of-21 passing for 103 yards with an interception and a fumble returned 28 yards by Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel for the first score of the game. Ganz, however, finished 19-of-36 through the air for 236 yards and two TDs to earn most valuable player honors.
“It just took us a little bit too long to settle in and get our feet under us,” Ganz said. “But once we did, we played really well.”
Trailing 14-3, Ganz got Nebraska off to a quick start in the second half. His 36-yard completion to Todd Peterson set up a 17-yard scoring pass to Nate Swift, whose impressive grab in the corner of the end zone cut Clemson’s lead to 14-10.
“That’s one of my all-time favorite catches, for sure,” Swift said. “You’re in your senior bowl game and to catch a TD was great. That will be a big memory for me.”
After Nebraska’s Niles Paul mishandled a punt return, the Tigers quickly answered on Cullen Harper’s 41-yard TD pass to Jacoby Ford to extend the lead to 21-10. But on the ensuing possession, Quentin Castille broke off a 58-yard run to set up Ganz’s 19-yard scoring pass to Peterson, who bulled his way into the end zone and cut Nebraska’s deficit to 21-17 with 7:54 left in the third quarter.
The Huskers then used a pair of 28-yard field goals by Alex Henery to take a 23-21 lead heading into the final quarter. An interception by linebacker Blake Lawrence set up Nebraska’s first field goal and a blocked punt by Rickey Thenarse led to the second.
Clemson had an apparent touchdown taken away with 12:11 remaining in the game as the officials’ call on the field was reversed by the replay official. Nebraska backup quarterback Patrick Witt, subbing for Ganz for one play after he was shaken up, appeared to fumble. The loose ball was carried into the end zone by cornerback Byron Maxwell.
The Huskers dodged a bullet, however, as TV replays showed that Witt’s knee was down before he fumbled, giving Nebraska the ball back and taking away the apparent Clemson score.
Leading 26-21 after Henery’s Gator Bowl-record fourth field goal — a 22-yarder with 5:20 to play — Nebraska’s defense needed to make one final stand.
Clemson converted a key fourth-and-4 play on a 16-yard pass from Harper to Ford. Harper’s 17-yard pass to Aaron Kelly then gave the Tigers a first-and-goal at the Nebraska 10-yard line with under two minutes to play.
However, Nebraska defensive back Eric Hagg came up big on consecutive plays to get Clemson’s drive off schedule. Hagg broke up a first-down pass attempt and then sacked Harper for a 16-yard loss back to the Huskers’ 26.
Clemson had two more shots to win it, but C.J. Spiller couldn’t hang on to Harper’s pass over the middle in the end zone on third down. On fourth down and with no timeouts remaining, Harper threw incomplete behind Ford.
That put Nebraska’s offense in victory formation and the celebration was on.
“This was huge,” Nebraska senior guard Matt Slauson said. “This was my last collegiate game. I couldn’t be more stoked right now. I’m just in awe. That was an amazing game by both teams and I’m so happy that we came out on top.”
That happiness possibly helped alleviate some of the sadness Nebraska’s football family has dealt with in recent days. The Huskers wore black decals on their helmet with the initials “AP” to honor Anthony Pelini — the father of Bo Pelini and Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini.
“Coach Pelini has been such an inspiration for us and a great guy and great coach that we thought it would be fitting to honor his dad and Carl’s dad in this last game,” Ganz said. “We thought it would be right to honor him with our play.”
Nebraska senior linebacker Tyler Wortman said Bo Pelini has consistently reminded the Huskers that “he has our backs.” On Thursday, Wortman said the players wanted to return the favor.
“We said to them, ‘We’ve got your back,’ and we’re going to show it right here,” Wortman said. “We told them the night before the game that we were going to wear the decal in memory of their dad and it seemed to mean a lot to them.”
Through all the turmoil and grief of the past week and a half, Peterson said Bo Pelini kept everything in check in the program.
“He has put us first and that’s what we love about him,” Peterson said. “That’s why we wanted to play for him and that’s why we want to do that for him.”
For the gesture — and the victory — Pelini said he was pleased.
“It means a lot — it really does,” Pelini said. “It was a difficult week.”
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