DREAM BOWL 1998

Nebraska Cornhuskers
 13-0, Big XII and Orange Bowl champions, Final Coaches' No. 1

VS.
Michigan Wolverines
12-0, Big Ten and Rose Bowl champions, Final AP No. 1

Jan. 18, 1998
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

Four days have passed since Tom Osborne, Nebraska's head coach of 25 years, coached his team to a 42-17 demolition of the Tennessee Volunteers and a share of the 1997 season's Mythical National Championship. As Dr. Tom is packing his final box in his quickly emptying office, Athletic Director Bill Byrne bursts in.

"Tom," Byrne says harriedly. "It's the Bowl Alliance folks. They want us to play Michigan."

"In the Eddie Robinson Classic? That's great, Bill," the stoic Osborne replies. "But you should be talking to Frank about this, not me."

"No, Tom ... they want to lace 'em up in two weeks. For all the marbles, the undisputed National Championship, at the site of next year's championship game, the Fiesta Bowl. No more lobbying, just football. Michigan has already agreed to it. What do you say?"

"Let's do it, Bill."

Flash forward two weeks. The scene is Sun Devil Stadium. A record crowd of 85,609 is on hand, evenly split between red-clad rooters of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the maize and blue of the Big Ten champ Wolverines. High above the action on the field is today's broadcast crew, which is also split evenly -- ABC's Keith Jackson and CBS's Terry Donahue.

"This ought to be a really belly-whopper of a contest, pardnuh," Keith says. "You've got two great defenses on the field, two schools with great traditions, two great coaches, two great groups of fans. Everything college football should be is here tonight."

Donahue nods. "If Nebraska can find a way to move the football against Michigan's defense, I've got to think they'll win the game," he predicts. "But a lot can happen ... they put the ball on the ground a couple times against Tennessee. We'll just have to see."

FIRST QUARTER

Michigan wins the toss and elects to receive. Nebraska chooses to defend the north goal and take the benefit of what wind there is in the cool Arizona night. As Kris Brown tees up the ball, the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" blares through the public-address system. Brown puts foot into football, and the crowd's roar crescendos.

Anthony Thomas fields the ball at the Michigan 7, eludes one tackler and scrambles forward to the Wolverine 23. First and ten, UM.

On first down, Brian Griese drops straight back to throw. Avoiding the rush of a jacked-up Husker defensive line, Griese swings a screen pass toward Thomas in the left flat. But NU linebacker Jay Foreman reads the play and gets two fingers on the ball, knocking the pass harmlessly to the turf.

"That's what Nuh-brask-uh speed will get you," Jackson says.

"He was open for a second, but that play closed down in a hurry," Donahue says. "Michigan might have trouble moving the ball today. Man this stadium is rocking."

If not the crazed atmosphere, then the Blackshirts' agility definitely has Griese jumpy. On second down, the Michigan QB nearly overthrows a wide-open Jerame Tuman, who is able to stretch for the ball and make a short gain. Third-and-six beckons, and Griese overthrows Tai Streets on a straight fly pattern. The Wolverines go three-and-out to start the Dream Bowl.

Jason Vinson's punt sails 42 yards, and Bobby Newcombe is smothered after picking up only a yard on the return. First down, ten yards to go for Nebraska at its own 32-yard-line. Time for the irresistible force to meet the immovable object.

"Now we're gettin' to the reason people paid the price of the ticket -- $2,000 in some parts of town, I hear," Jackson says. "Let's see if Nebraska's gonna be able to hunker down behind those big trees up front."

Lining up in the Power-I, the Huskers break the Oz-Bone and send freshman Correll Buckhalter into motion to the left. Frost spins to run the option, but barely has time to read downfield before being wrestled to the ground by a host of Michigan tacklers led by defensive end Glenn Steele. As Scott goes down he tries a desperate pitch toward No.30, Ahman Green, but the ball never reaches his trailing pitch-man. Charles Woodson falls on the ball at the 27, and Michigan is suddenly in business.

With the UM defense exhorting the 40,000-plus blue-clad fans who made the trip to Tempe, Griese gets back to work. A play-action pass toward Tuman bounces off the tight end's shoulder pads, but flags fly as No. 16, Eric Stokes, is called for pass interference on the play. Nebraska has gotten two breaks in the game, both bad.

"Not the way Nebraska wanted to start off this game," Donahue says matter-of-factly.

The spot-foul puts the ball at the NU 24. On first down, the Wolverines try the middle with Chris Howard, who is met by Jason Peter and dropped for no gain. Again, UM tries the middle, this time with fullback Chris Floyd, for short yardage, setting up a third-and-7 at the Husker 22.

Griese rolls out to his right to avoid a linebacker blitz, but is hit by Foreman as he releases the ball. The pass, intended for Streets on a fade, instead lands in the hands of sophomore rover Mike Brown. As a wall forms for the Scottsdale native, Brown makes the most of Griese's gift and rumbles 45 yards to the Michigan 41-yard-line. This time, the Cornhusker defense makes the big play.

"In a National Championship game, you just can't let chances go by the wayside like Michigan did there," Donahue said. "Points are going to come hard today, I think."

Nine minutes remain in the opening quarter. Frost breaks the Husker huddle and hands to Joel Makovicka, who pushes the pile forward for three yards on first down. On second down from the Wolverine 38, Ahman Green gets loose for six yards around the right side to set up a third-and-short.

Resorting to NU's bread-and-butter, Frost spins to run the option again, is met in the backfield by Rob Renes, reverses his field and is barely able to scramble back to the line of scrimmage before being snowed under by Renes and No. 93, Sam Sword. The line-crowding Wolverine defense has obviously practiced for the sprint option and makes another crucial stop.

Kris Brown trots onto the field to attempt a 49-yard field goal with the wind. The Texas native has enough leg on the kick, but hooks it right. The early Nebraska scoring threat goes by the wayside, and the score remains 0-0 with 7:17 left.

"Well, how do you do," exclaims Jackson. "The way this thing's shapin' up, the first team to score might win this thing."

On Michigan's next possession, the Blackshirts come up big again. Griese is sacked on first down for a loss of 13 yards by Grant Wistrom. Streets has a sure 10-yard catch but has the ball jarred loose at the last second on a crushing blow by Eric Warfield. On third-and-23 from its own 19, UM plays it smart and runs a draw. Time to punt again.

This time, Newcombe doesn't get a chance to return the ball. Vinson puts the punt out of bounds at the NU 30 with 6:11 left in the first stanza.

The Huskers come out in the double-wing formation. After faking a trap to Makovicka, Frost flips the ball to Ahman Green, who sprints around left end for 13 yards before being pulled down by a fast-closing Woodson, who makes a spectacular solo tackle on the hard-charging Green. On second down, Frost fakes another give to Joel, then drops back to throw. But Steele and Renes have gotten penetration, and they drop No. 7 for a six-yard loss. On second down from the NU 37, Green plows off tackle for five yards, setting up a third-and-12. Frost dumps a screen to Joel Makovicka, and the big man rumbles for nine yards. But it isn't enough, and the UM defense has held once again.

Kosch's punt sails out of bounds at the Michigan 17, and the field-position battle continues. Taking a page from the Cornhusker playbook, Griese runs a short option to the right and flips the ball to Howard, who outraces the surprised Husker defense for 22 yards.

The Blackshirts regroup. Howard goes off right side on the next play, but is stuffed for a three yard loss. Howard carries again for a short gain before Griese is forced to throw on third and long. Under a heavy rush, he dumps the ball to wideout Russell Shaw, who is popped by Ralph Brown after a one-yard gain. The Big Red fans go crazy.

As the first quarter begins to wind down, Nebraska takes the ball at its own 33 following the punt. Out of the double-wing, Frost pitches to Shevin Wiggins, who gets a block from Lance Brown and scoots for nine yards off the right side. Green takes the next handoff eight more yards and a first down at midfield. A frenetic, sloppy, defense-dominated first quarter comes to a close.

End of First Quarter: 
Nebraska 0, Michigan 0 

SECOND QUARTER

On first and ten from the 50, Frost gives up the middle to Makovicka, who gets very short yardage. Second and nine. The give is to Green, who is hit in the backfield and dropped for a two-yard loss.

"We have to get them off our backs," Osborne says into his headset to Solich. "Let's cut things loose."

Osborne calls a 41 option pass, and Frost makes him glad he did. Green trailing close behind, Scott prances along the line on an apparent option. But No. 7 suddenly pulls up and floats a wobbling pass toward No. 88, Sheldon Jackson, who makes a fingertip grab over Jones. Jackson stumbles forward and lands at the Michigan 22. The 29-yard pitch-and-catch has Nebraska knocking on the door!

"There's that big-play capability that Nebraska has! Don't be fooled -- they run the ball with ruthless efficiency, but Tom Osborne attacks defenses very aggressively through the air, too," Donahue said.

The coach isn't through yet, though. He sends speedy freshman Bobby Newcombe in for Lance Brown and instructs the school's quarterback of the future to run a hitch-and-go. Newcombe lines up wide left, drawing coverage from Marcus Ray.

The Wolverines blitz a pair of linebackers, and Frost is forced to throw the ball early. But the lightning-quick Newcombe jets past Ray and nabs the ball along the left sideline for an 18-yard gain before his momentum carries him out of bounds. First and goal, Nebraska.

"Terry, this Newcombe kid is really sumthun," Jackson says. "And he's only nineteen!"

On the next play, Frost takes the snap from Heskew, and gets a perfect block from Makovicka. No. 7 is racing around right end toward the Wolverine end zone, but Woodson gets a piece of Frost's shoelaces and knocks the big quarterback off his stride. Frost's momentum, however, carries him forward, and Scott lands amid the blue-and-yellow colored turf. Paydirt! With three minutes gone in the second quarter, Frost's magnificent five-yard run has put the first points on the Dream Bowl scoreboard!

Brown tacks on the extra point, and the Cornhusker fans roar their approval. As the Big Red backers clap in unison to "There is No Place Like Nebraska," the Wolverine defense shrugs off the field shaking their helmets back and forth. All is right in the Husker universe. Nebraska 7, Michigan 0.

"That was good old fashioned power football, with a nice dose of play-action passing," Donahue says. "They executed very well on that last drive."

But this game is far from over, and Michigan coach Lloyd Carr knows it. He inserts Woodson, the Heisman winner, into the game on offense. The Husker defense is particularly cognizant of No.2 running in motion on first down from the UM 20, but the give is to Howard instead. No. 8 rumbles through the Blackshirt secondary and isn't brought down before he reaches midfield.

Griese then drops to throw, and finds Shaw along the left sideline for 17 more yards. Suddenly, the slow-motion Michigan has kicked it into high gear and is at the Nebraska 33.

Floyd carries to the 30 on first down before being met by Eric Johnson and Foreman. Griese fires incomplete in Streets' direction, but finds his favorite target on third down for six yards. After UM comes up a yard short on the measurement, Carr decides to send in the field goal unit and break the ice. Chandler has enough leg to get the 40-yarder through the sticks, and the Wolverines answer Nebraska's score with one of their own. Nebraska 7, Michigan 3.

After Joe Walker returns the ensuing kickoff to the NU 29, Frost and Co. go back to work. On a 34 fullback trap, Makovicka pops for 14 yards. First and ten at the 43. Green is then met in the backfield by Steele but bounces off the tackle, pushing forward for a gain of four. Frost carries on the option for three on second down, but Makovicka is held just short of a first down the next play by Sword and Renes at the Michigan 48. Kosch comes in to punt once again.

"You just can't be predictable against a defense with these kinds of guns," Jackson says.

Jesse hangs a high, hanging kick into the desert night, and Charles Woodson settles under it at the Wolverine 9-yard-line. Eluding a tackle by Lance Brown, No.2 slips past the first wave of Husker coverage men at the UM 20. Eric Johnson nips at the Heisman winner's heels, but Woodson regains his balance in time to avoid yet another tackle. Hitting full stride at the Michigan 46, Woodson blows past Kosch, the last line of defense for Nebraska, and races the rest of the way untouched for a score. As he passes, the Michigan sideline erupts and Keith Jackson lets a famous "Whooaaaa Nellie!" fly. Michigan's magnificent cornerback has just put them in the lead! Michigan 10, Nebraska 7.

Suddenly, as strains of "Hail To The Victors" swirl around Sun Devil Stadium, the shell-shocked Huskers find themselves down by three and lining up to receive the ensuing kickoff. Following another solid return by Walker, Nebraska sets up shop at its own 31 with just under six minutes remaining in the half. Osborne calls for a wingback reverse to Newcombe, who is met rudely by Woodson, who is now really flying all over the field. Loss of four.

Frost drops straight back to throw, but can't find anyone to throw to. Scott finally tucks the ball down and takes off with the ball, eluding one tackler before being driven to the turf by Sword. It's third and six from the 35.

Expecting the pass, Michigan drops its linebackers and defensive backs. But Frost gives to Green on an isolation play, and No. 30 follows Makovicka for seven yards to the 42 yard line. First down, Nebraska, with less than five minutes remaining.

Kenny Cheatham catches a screen pass from Frost on the next play, then drives forward for a short gain. Frost carries on the inside option to the 45, and suddenly it's third down again. Frost drops back to throw, but Renes blows through his block and pounds Frost, jarring the ball loose. An alert Green dives on the pigskin at the 45. After a brief respite, the mighty Wolverine defense flexes its muscles in the face of the Nebraska offense.

This time, Kosch kicks the ball out of bounds. With 3:47 left in the half, the Wolverines get the ball back at their own 14 yard line.

Griese fakes the give to Howard, pumps once, and fires a long ball toward Tai Streets. Streets, a good five inches taller than Ralph Brown, snags the ball as he falls down at the Michigan 49. The 12-0 Wolverines can do no wrong. Anthony Thomas, giving Howard a breather, carries for seven on the next play, and suddenly the Husker defense is on its heels.

On second and short, Floyd bulls forward for the first down before being met by Foreman and Grant Wistrom. The clock goes under two minutes.

Griese drops back, but is flushed from the pocket. He takes off running, then slides down after a gain of six to the Husker 30. The clock continues to run. A pass toward Tuman is knocked away by Johnson, followed by a Howard for four yards. It's third and six from the Cornhusker 24.

Sensing a chance to give his team more points before halftime, Carr sends in a deep post play, with Streets to be the first receiver to hit. Brown, however, has him covered like a glove, forcing the senior quarterback to dump the ball off to Anthony Thomas. The youngster slips past a tackler at the 20, pushes over another at the 10, and stumbles the rest of the way before landing in the promised land. Touchdown! Michigan, needing a score before halftime, gets just what they need. The extra point is perfect, and with only 47 seconds left before halftime, the once-raucous Husker fans are quiet as church mice. Michigan 17, Nebraska 7.

"They're just playing Big Ten football, Keith," Donahue says. "Pound, pound, pound, then -- pop, touchdown. Nebraska has to be careful here that the game doesn't get away from them."

Walker again gets a nice return, setting up the Cornhuskers at their own 34. Osborne, however, is content with letting the clock run out. He runs Green for six, and Frost keeps for a short gain to end the half. For the first time since the Missouri game, his Cornhuskers trail as they head to the locker room.

Halftime Score: 
  Michigan 17,  Nebraska 7

Go To The Second Half!