Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium: The Fourth Decade, 1953-62

Husker football was stuck in neutral or worse. But then along came Bob Devaney.

This 10-year span in Memorial Stadium, much like the one before it, saw Cornhusker football failing to maintain anything more than sporadic success. But this time, there was light at the end of the tunnel, and it was no mere glimmer.

Coach Bill Glassford survived a player rebellion after the 1953 season and got Nebraska to the 1955 Orange Bowl with all-conference players Bob Smith at fullback, Charles Bryant at guard and Don Glantz at tackle.

After Glassford’s exit from coaching and Pete Elliot’s one-and-done stint in ’56, Bill Jennings delivered five seasons marked by listless losses and the occasional upset win — including one of the biggest in program history.

Jennings struggled despite having the services of three of Nebraska’s longest-tenured pro players: Ron McDole, Mick Tingelhoff and Pat Fischer. Jennings’ Huskers were particularly inept on offense: One game in four was a shutout loss.

Then came Bob Devaney. His arrival in 1962 came on the heels of a dismal 20-season stretch for Nebraska: Just one major-college team lost more games than the Huskers from 1942 through 1961.

Devaney immediately flipped that script, starting with a 9-2 debut season. Point production soared, and former Jennings players suddenly were enjoying a winning brand of football. A sold-out stadium quickly became a given. And so it would go for many decades to come.

For a sampling of Memorial Stadium games from this 10-season span, scroll past the facts box below.