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Cornhusker Anthology - Chapter 1

1890-1899 - The First Decade

May 13, 2006

Nebraska football 1890-1899-
-Before they were Cornhuskers. Before there were seventy thousand screaming fans. Nebraska football was born on a quiet field with no equipment and a rag-tag group of students, civilians and faculty. Most early games were played against teams from local athletic clubs or small schools. But it would not take long before football became a way of life at the University of Nebraska. It was from these humble beginnings that Nebraska football, as we know it today, was born.

What to look for -
-Nebraska's first game ever (1890)including their first scores (they're not what you think).
- Nebraska's first field goal (1897)
- George Flippin(1891-1894), one of the first African-American players in the nation.
- The appearance of "scarlet and cream" (1892) and the first use of the name "Bugeaters" and "Cornhuskers" (1894). - Two Nebraska coaches (Fielding Yost and E.N. Robinson) who would later be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Did you know? -
- Football itself almost died in Nebraska in 1897. After reports of player injuries increased across the country and a player at nearby Doane was killed during a game, the Nebraska Legislature considered a bill in 1897 that would outlaw the game within the state. The bill never made it past a first reading before being dismissed.

From the rule book -
- Scoring values were different during the last decade of the 1800's. Until 1897 a touchdown was worth four points, an extra point kick was worth two points and a field goal was worth five. Beginning in 1898 the value of a touchdown was raised to five points and the extra point kick was dropped to one point. Extra points were done quite differently in the early years. After a touchdown was made, the team would then have to punt out of the end zone, known as a "kick-out" from the spot where the touchdown was made. A player would have to field the kick in the air. He would then try and kick the extra point from that spot. Failing to catch the kick-out meant no extra point attempt.
Check out the full college football rules of the 1890's

Cornhusker Anthology - Chapter 1
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05/16/2006	WOW. I really don't think any more...	Bob Fahnestock
05/18/2006	I lost 200 bucks on Nebraska in the...	John McKeown
05/21/2006	Very nice! I check periodically, and...	Patrick Monaghan
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