Inhistoric: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Network Message: 50% Off: CBS/SB Nation Fantasy Baseball

Throwback Uniforms: Nebraska Cornhuskers (1962)

31512_nebraska_throwbacks_football_medium

On September 26, 2009, the University of Nebraska celebrated their 300th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium, extending what had already been an NCAA record. Their opponent on this important date: the Lousiana-Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns (a team in desperate need of an acronym). Nebraska knew months in advance that this game would be No. 300, so they commemorated the achievement by wearing throwback uniforms from 1962 -- the year the streak first began.

But could the Rajin' Cajuns spoil the Cornhuskers' fun and knock off the 25th best team in the country? Read on!! (The answer was no by the way)

Star-divide

34222_la_lafayette_nebraska_football_medium

The Cornhuskers' streak began on Nov. 3, 1962 with a 16-7 loss to Missouri. 47 years of consecutive sellouts is mighty impressive, though it makes sense when you think about it. Not only does Nebraska not have a professional sports team, but the Huskers have long been one of the best teams in the country. In other words, if you lived in Nebraska, and you liked sports, college football was really the only option.

34181_la_lafayette_nebraska_football_medium

Nebraska wore a replication of their 1962 home uniforms. 1962 was also the first year Bob Devaney coached the team. Devaney was the Huskers' coach until 1972, and led them to a pair of national championships (one undisputed, one shared with Texas). Devaney stepped down in '72 to focus on his duties at the athletic director and named Tom Osborne, his offensive coordinator, as the new coach of the team. The rest, as they say, is history.

34177_la_lafayette_nebraska_football_medium

In 1962, Nebraska defeated Miami, 36-34, in the final edition of the Gotham Bowl. The game was played at Yankee Stadium and was discontinued the following season due to low attendance. Too bad. Gotham Bowl is way cooler sounding than all the other commercially-sponsored holiday bowls.

34237_la_lafayette_nebraska_football_medium

To nobody's surprise, the Cornhuskers made quick work of the Rajin' Cajuns. Nebraska triumphed, 55-0, and gave the record crowd of 86,304 something to smile about. Of the Cornhuskers' 300 straight sellouts, they won 261 of them. 39 home losses over the course of 47 years -- that's not too shabby.

Overall:

There ain't a whole lot goin' on with the Huskers uniforms: all-white pants, all-red shirt, curvy numbers, white helmet, and numbers on the side of the helmet. But you know what they say: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Sure, there are prettier jerseys out there, but the old Nebraska duds look fine for what they are. They're pretty much the same things the team wears now, so what does that tell you?

Final Grades:

Classic Nebraska home uniform: C

Photos taken by Nati Harnak, AP Photos

0 recs  |  Comment 1 comment

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

This is Inhistoric, the ultimate resource in what happened on this day in sports history. To find out all you need to know about the site, click here for the FAQ.

Start posting on Inhistoric »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Doc-octavio_small
The Members of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame
08-_the_author_small
Reggie Jackson's Summer of '69
08-_the_author_small
Celebrating the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics
08-_the_author_small
Campy: More than Just a Bat Slinger
Small
Mark McGwire Starting to Use Steroids in 1989

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Slam_small ZombieMonta