2001: The Nebraska Game
Throughout Trojan history, one can point to many games that could be considered the biggest one in Troy’s football history.
Texas A&I. North Dakota State. Portland State. Missouri, LSU. These and countless more can be recognized as THE game that made Troy into the program that it is today. But one actually stands out as the game that changed everything.
On Sept. 1, 2001, the Troy State Trojans ventured to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the famed Cornhuskers. This was the first step on the new path of FBS (then Division I-A) football, and it was a major step.
These Huskers were ranked #4 in the country going into the game. They had already dismantled TCU 21-7 on August 20. This was a Nebraska team that was going places and had the talent to get there.
The Trojans approached the game in typical Troy fashion: ready for a fight. The team did have its work cut out for them. Not only did they have to prepare for one of the best teams in the nation in their first game, but in the offseason leading up to it, they installed a new offense called the “Trojan Spread.”
This new offense (brought in by new Offensive Coordinator John Shannon) would be a more pass-happy, no-huddle offense for the Trojans and would feature four wide receivers and one running back. It was a shotgun set, not dissimilar to the system Tony Franklin brought in for 2006.
The atmosphere of the game was unlike anything a Trojan squad had seen. The crowd numbered 77,812 strong and was easily the largest group of spectators that Troy had ever played before. However, the Trojans were undeterred. They intended on making an impression in their first Division I-A game. Things started off about as well as Troy could hope.
After a 29 yard drive that started on a Husker fumbled punt return, the Trojans took an early lead on the #4 team in America. Lee Walls recovered the Keyuo Craver fumble and three plays later, the Trojans hit paydirt. Demontray Carter scored on a 9-yard run and the Drew Boetler kick put them up 7-0.
Nebraska would respond twice in the first quarter with 1-yard runs from running back Dahrran Diedrick and some guy named Eric Crouch, giving the Huskers a 14-7 lead. The margin grew quickly in the second quarter when Nebraska scored a 20-yard touchdown off the recovery of a Brock Nutter fumble. Huskers back Dahrran Diedrick scored four minutes later on an 11-yard run.
Down 28-7 and with 6:54 left in the half, Troy rallied, finishing off an 88-yard drive in 9 plays. A 20-yard run by Carter and two catches (10 and 22) from LeBarron Black put the team in range. The score came when Nutter threw a pass to wideout Heyward Skipper, who streaked into the end zone for the second Trojan score of the day.
After the half, the Trojan defense forced Diedrick to fumble and recovered it on the Nebraska 19-yard line. This was the perfect chance for the Trojans to mount a comeback and bring the deficit to only 7 points.
After losing a yard on first down, Nutter fired off a pass to Skipper on a post route, looking for a 20-yard touchdown. Unfortunately, the pass was slightly late and Husker Mark Vedral intercepted the errant throw at the 4-yard line, stalling the comeback for the Trojans.
That was the closest the Trojans would be for the rest of the day. After the interception, Nebraska scored twice more, once in the third quarter and another in the fourth. That made the final score of Troy’s first DI-A game 42-14.
The game was not without positives however. This Nebraska squad would end the season playing for the BCS National Championship against Miami. That Crouch guy would also win the Heisman Trophy.
The spread for the game was 53 points, and Troy nearly cut it in half. To say this was a tough game for the Trojans would be a serious understatement, but the Trojans overcame all of this to stay competitive most of the game. When all was said and done for the season, Troy’s 14 points were tied with Iowa State for 5th most against the blistering Husker outfit.
Between sacks and the stout Nebraska run defense, Troy finished with -25 rushing yards compared to the Huskers’ 330. Along with scoring the first D-IA touchdown, Demontray Carter led Troy with 44 yards rushing on 11 attempts.
The Trojans did outpass Nebraska 190-127, with Brock Nutter going 15-36 on the day with one touchdown and two interceptions. Heyward Skipper led Troy’s receiving corps on the day with 81 yards on 4 catches. Combined with his 18 rushing yards, Skipper fell just shy of a combined 100 yard game. LeBarron Black, Chris Day, Demontray Carter, and Jason Samples also racked up double digit yardage through the air.
On defense, 22 Trojans recorded at least 1 tackle. Names familiar to Troy loyalists were all over the field. Jimmy McClain had 4 unassisted tackles out of his 11 total. Naazir Yamini had 8 total and 2 unassisted. Future Troy Legend Rayshun Reed ended the day with 7 total, 5 unassisted. New York Giants Legend Osi Umenyiora had 3 total, 5 unassisted, and current Troy line coach Davern Williams made two total with one unassisted.
Freeman White caught one interception for the Cardinal and Black, while both Vernon Marable and Lee Walls had one fumble recovery each. Punter Roger Ridgeway made the best of the losing effort, booming the ball for 203 yards on 5 punts.
The Trojans left Nebraska battle-tested and ready to continue the D-IA campaign. The next stop would be Murfreesboro, TN to face the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, Troy’s future conference mate and Battle for the Palladium foe.