huskers-cyclones meet for 84th straight season By Media Relations The Nebraska Cornhuskers welcome the Iowa State Cyclones to Memorial Stadium today for a battle of foes in a longstanding series that dates all the way back to a 12-4 Husker win in Lincoln on Nov. 19, 1896. The Huskers and Cyclones will be meeting for the 104th time this afternoon as the series is the second-longest in Nebraska history. The Huskers have historically dominated the series, as NU leads the all-time series 85-16-2, including a 39-4 advantage inside Memorial Stadium. Nebraska has won 15 straight home games against the Cyclones dating back to a 24-21 Iowa State victory in Lincoln in 1977. The Huskers and Cyclones enter today’s game following drastically different results last Saturday. Nebraska was upset at home by Texas Tech, 31-10, snapping the Huskers’ string of four straight Big 12 wins. Iowa State meanwhile, manhandled the Baylor Bears, 24-10 in Ames. That victory snapped an 11-game Big 12 Conference losing streak for the Cyclones while giving them four wins on the season, doubling their win total from a season ago. Iowa State is 4-3 in 2009, including a 1-2 mark in league play. But despite the losing Big 12 record, the Cyclones have outscored their league opponents 83-75 this year. The 4-2 Huskers have been outscored 43-37 while posting a 1-1 mark in conference action. Nebraska allowed a season-high 31 points in a disappointing 31-10 loss to Texas Senior linebacker Phillip Dillard finished with a career-high 12 tackles, including a Tech last weekend. The Huskers outgained the Red Raiders 285-259, but Tech was career-best four tackles for loss last Saturday against Texas Tech. the more successful team moving the ball when it mattered most. The Red Raiders only crossed their own 40-yard line on four drives all game, but each of those drives resulted in points, including three touchdowns. Nebraska meanwhile had six drives against Texas Tech, including a career-best four tackles for loss. Dillard’s previous cross midfield into Texas Tech territory, but the Huskers only scored on two of those career bests were 11 tackles against Virginia Tech in 2008 and one tackle for loss in drives, including just one touchdown. On its final four drives of the game, Nebraska six different games. drove inside the Red Raider 35-yard line each time - including three trips inside the Allen recorded a career-high two sacks for 10 yards in losses to go along with Tech 15 - but the Huskers came away with only seven points. seven total tackles. The two sacks bettered his previous career high of one sack, Despite allowing 31 points defensively - nearly double its previous season high - while he also added a career-high three tackles for losses and a career-high-tying one there were still several bright spots for the Blackshirts. The Huskers held Texas Tech, quarterback hurry. the nation’s second-most prolific offense, to only 259 yards, less than half of their season average entering the game. Nebraska also recorded a season-high five sacks Wideouts Brooks and Cooper Step Up for 42 yards in losses, which helped the Huskers hold a fifth straight opponent under Although the Nebraska offense struggled while being held to only 10 points last 300 total yards for the first time since 1999. Saturday against Texas Tech, wide receivers Chris Brooks and Khiry Cooper stepped The NU offense was also held to under 300 total yards while producing the fewest up with career efforts that give the Husker offense two more talented targets in the points in a home game since a 7-6 win over Pittsburgh in 2005. But there were bright passing game. Brooks, a senior, caught a career-high five passes for 66 yards in the spots for the offense too, as freshman quarterback Cody Green came off the bench to game, leading the Huskers in catches and yards. Brooks’ previous career best was throw a touchdown pass to redshirt freshman Khiry Cooper that cut the lead to 24-10 three catches for 50 yards against Louisiana-Lafayette. He now has eight catches for with 8:40 remaining in the game. 116 yards in his last two home games. The Huskers would get no closer, however, as Texas Tech drove 54 yards for Cooper, a redshirt freshman, also impressed with a strong second-half performance. a touchdown more than five minutes later to seal the victory. Despite the loss, the Cooper, who is also an outfielder for the Husker team, caught a 13-yard Huskers still control their destiny in the race for a Big 12 title as all six teams in touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for his first career touchdown. Cooper finished the North Division have at least one conference loss on the season after previously the game with three receptions for 23 yards, after entering the game with three career unbeaten Kansas lost at Colorado last Saturday. catches for 32 yards. In fact, only one North team owns a winning record in conference action entering play today. Nebraska has only one home game with a North opponent remaining after Winning the Battle for Field Position today (Kansas State on Nov. 21) placing added emphasis on this afternoon’s meeting. Nebraska has enjoyed better starting field position than its opponents in every But if the Huskers can bounce back from a disappointing loss to Texas Tech like they game this season but one. Through the first six games, Nebraska has had five games did last season - when they won six of their final seven games - it could go a long way where its average starting field position was Average Starting Field Position toward helping NU remain near the top of the Big 12 North standings. its 30-yard line or better. By contrast, Husker Game NU Opp. opponents have had an average starting field FAU N35 F23 Dillard and Allen Post Big Days position beyond their own 30-yard line only once ASU N28 A22 Despite a disappointing 31-10 loss to Texas Tech last in six games. With the NU defense allowing only at Va. Tech N30 V26 ULL N42 L18 Saturday, senior Phillip Dillard and junior Pierre Allen posted 271 yards per game, a long field has not been kind to the opponent this season, which is part of at MU N33 M34 career numbers for the Husker defense. Dillard and Allen TTU N42 T25 made several big plays to limit the Texas Tech offense to the reason why the Huskers rank sixth nationally in 259 total yards, less than half of the 521.5 yards the Red scoring defense. Raiders were averaging entering the game, a total that Today’s Cover Today’s Sponsor ranked second nationally. Today’s cover pays tribute to Husker Today’s corporate sponsor is Saint Together, the duo combined for 19 tackles, two mascots. Pictured on the cover are Elizabeth Regional Medical Center. sacks and seven tackles for loss, as the pair ranked Husker Man, the charicature Harry Husker, first and second on the team in both tackles and a logo and a picture of the tackles for loss. A native of Tulsa, Okla., current Herbie Husker. Dillard recorded a career-high 12 tackles

2009 nebraska cornhusker football l game day program 4 Red Zone Unkind to NU Against Texas Tech three touchdowns and one field goal. Prior to the Red Big 12 Standings (as of Oct. 18) Nebraska showed the ability to sustain drives better Raiders’ success, opponents had only driven into the North Big 12 Overall 1. Kansas State 2-1 4-3 than Texas Tech last Saturday, which led to the Huskers’ red zone eight times in six games, while scoring only 2. Kansas 1-1 5-1 285-259 advantage in total yards. Nebraska’s total- four touchdowns and two field goals. Nebraska 1-1 4-2 yard advantage, combined with the Huskers’ average Colorado 1-1 2-4 starting field position at the NU 42-yard line - 17 yards Defense Limiting Total Yards Allowed 5. Iowa State 1-2 4-3 better than Tech’s average starting position - gave After surrendering 6. Missouri 0-2 4-2 Yards Allowed in 2009 Nebraska plenty of chances to score, but the Huskers 358 yards of total Opponent Yards Allowed South Big 12 Overall struggled to finish its drives. offense to Florida FAU 358 yards 1. Texas 3-0 6-0 With the good starting field position, Nebraska drove Atlantic in the season ASU 274 yards 2. Oklahoma State 2-0 5-1 into Texas Tech territory six times in its 12 possessions opener, the Husker Va. Tech 278 yards 3. Texas Tech 2-1 5-2 - including five of six second-half drives - while the defense has held ULL 222 yards 4. Oklahoma 1-1 3-3 Red Raiders crossed midfield on only four of their 11 every opponent since MU 225 yards 5. Baylor 0-2 3-3 TTU 259 yards Texas A&M 0-2 3-3 possessions, including only once after halftime. Tech, to fewer than 280 however, scored every time it crossed midfield while total yards. The five-game streak of holding opposing 2009 Nebraska Schedule the Huskers came up empty on four of their six drives offenses under 300 total yards is the longest at Date Opponent (TV) Time/Result into Red Raider territory. Texas Tech totaled 266 yards Nebraska since a season-opening five-game streak in Sept. 5 Florida Atlantic (FSN PPV) W, 49-3 on its four scoring drives, while managing only eight 1999. The last time a Husker squad allowed fewer than Sept. 12 Arkansas State (FSN PPV) W, 38-9 yards on its eight other possessions. In fact, on the Red 300 total yards in more than five straight games came Sept. 19 at Virginia Tech (ABC) L, 15-16 Raiders’ eight non-scoring drives, Texas Tech was held Sept. 26 Louisiana-Lafayette (FSN PPV) W, 55-0 in 1996, when NU held its final eight regular-season Oct. 8 at Missouri* (ESPN) W, 27-12 to zero-or-fewer yards four times. opponents under 300 yards of total offense. Oct. 17 Texas Tech (ABC)* L, 10-31 The red zone was a particularly frustrating area Included in the current streak is a pair of games Oct. 24 Iowa State (FSN)* 11:30 a.m. of the field for the Huskers. Nebraska made five against Big 12 foes. The Huskers have held back-to- Oct. 31 at Baylor* TBA trips into the red zone against the Red Raiders and back conference opponents to fewer than 300 yards Nov. 7 Oklahoma* TBA scored on only two of those trips, including just one Nov. 14 at Kansas* TBA of total offense for the first time since was Nov. 21 Kansas State* TBA touchdown. Entering the game, Nebraska had scored the defensive coordinator in 2003. The last time Nov. 27 at Colorado* (ABC) 2:30 p.m. 15 touchdowns while producing points on 19 of its 20 a Blackshirt unit held three straight conference *Big 12 Conference game trips to the red zone. Texas Tech meanwhile scored opponents to fewer than 300 yards of total offense on all four of its trips into the red zone including came during that eight-game streak in 1996. Nebraska Football Facts Team Game Information Season of Football...... 120th National Championships...... 5 Today’s game marks the second straight Big 12 After Gene Chizik and the Cyclones went 0-8 in Back-to-Back National Championship Seasons...... 2 Conference home game for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. league play last year, Iowa State has been much more Undefeated Seasons...... 11 NU enters this afternoon’s contest with a 4-2 overall competitive in 2009 under first-year head coach Paul Perfect Seasons...... 9 record, including a 1-1 mark in Big 12 play after falling Rhoads. Despite a 1-2 Big 12 record, the Cyclones Total Conference Championships...... 43 to Texas Tech last weekend, 31-10. Iowa State comes have come close to two more victories, falling by one Big 12 Conference Championships...... 2 into the game with a 4-3 record, including a 1-2 mark point to Kansas State in Kansas City on Oct. 3 and All-Time Games Played...... 1,200 All-Time Record...... 821-339-40 (.701) in league play following a 24-10 win over Baylor last losing by five at 15th-ranked Kansas the following National Ranking in All-Time Wins...... 4th Saturday in Ames. Saturday despite driving inside the KU 35-yard line with All-Time Bowl Appearances...... 45 The Cyclones’ victory over Baylor snapped their one minute remaining. National Ranking in Bowl Appearances...... 5th 11-game losing streak in Big 12 Conference games. Rhoads is 4-3 in his first season at ISU. Rhoads All-Time Bowl Record...... 23-22 But Iowa State still has not defeated a North Division guided Iowa State to a win in the season opener, Home Games Played...... 651 opponent since the second-to-last game of the 2007 snapping the Cyclones’ 10-game losing streak and ISU Home Games Record...... 496-136-20 (.776) season, a 31-28 victory over Colorado. ISU has not finished non-conference play with a 3-1 record with its Memorial Stadium Games Played...... 497 won on the road in Big 12 play since a 42-14 win at lone loss coming to undefeated Iowa. Memorial Stadium Record...... 371-113-13 (.760) Texas A&M in 2005. The Cyclones’ last road victory Nebraska and Iowa State are meeting for the Consecutive Home Winning Seasons...... 40 over a Big 12 North opponent came in a 37-23 win in 104th time today, as the series is the second-longest Consecutive Home Sellouts*...... 302 2004 at Kansas State. in Husker history. NU leads the all-time series 85-16- All-Time Record in October...... 343-129-19 (.718) While Iowa State is riding the momentum of last 2 (.835), including an 11-2 advantage in the Big 12 weekend’s win over Baylor, the Huskers saw their four- era (1996 to present). In Lincoln, the Huskers lead the Individual College Football Hall of Fame Players...... 14 game conference winning streak snapped with last series 49-6-0, including a 39-4-0 edge at Memorial College Football Hall of Fame Coaches...... 6 Saturday’s loss to the Red Raiders. Nebraska had won Stadium. Iowa State has not won in Lincoln since a 24- All-Americans...... 106 six of its last seven league games prior to the setback 21 win in 1977. Overall, NU has won four straight in the CoSIDA Academic All-Americans*...... 98 and the Huskers will look to get back on the winning series and 28 of the last 31 meetings. NCAA Top Eight Award Winners*...... 9 track this afternoon. After losing to Texas Tech last Today’s game is being televised nationally by Fox Winners...... 3 season, Nebraska won six of its final seven games, Sports Net. A condensed replay of the game will most Walter Camp Award Winners...... 3 including a Gator Bowl win over Clemson and four Big likely be available early next week on FSN (check local Maxwell Trophy Winners...... 1 12 victories to earn a share of the North Division title. listings for date and time). Each of the Huskers’ first Outland Trophy Winners*...... 8 Husker Head Coach Bo Pelini is in his second year seven games this season has been televised. Lombardi Trophy Winners...... 4 at Nebraska in 2009 and owns a 14-6 career record, Today’s game is also being carried by the Husker Butkus Award Winners...... 1 including a 6-4 record in Big 12 games. Pelini is 1-0 Sports Network. Fans in and around Memorial Stadium Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winners...... 1 against Iowa State, after posting a 35-7 win in Ames last can get all the pregame news, live game action and Davey O’Brien Award Winners...... 1 Rimington Award Winners...... 1 season that marked the fewest points a Pelini team has postgame coverage here in Lincoln on 1400 AM KLIN. Retired Jerseys...... 16 allowed in a Big 12 game. As the Huskers’ defensive Today’s game also marks Red Cross Day at Retired Numbers...... 2 coordinator in 2003, Pelini guided the Blackshirts to a Memorial Stadium. Fans can donate money to the Red All-Conference Selections...... 494 shutout of the Cyclones, marking NU’s last shutout of Cross and its charitable efforts outside of the stadium. *Total leads the nation a Big 12 opponent.

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