Wikipedia

1926 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

The 1926 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was an American football team that represented the University of Nebraska in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1926 college football season. In its second season under head coach Ernest Bearg, the team compiled a 6–2 record (5–1 against conference opponents), finished second in the MVC, and outscored opponents by a total of 123 to 46.[1] The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

1926 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record6–2 (5–1 MVC)
Head coach
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1925
1927 →
1926 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Oklahoma A&M $ 3 – 0 – 1 3 – 4 – 1
Nebraska 5 – 1 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Missouri 4 – 1 – 0 5 – 1 – 2
Grinnell 3 – 1 – 1 6 – 1 – 1
Oklahoma 3 – 2 – 1 5 – 2 – 1
Kansas State 2 – 2 – 0 5 – 3 – 0
Iowa State 3 – 3 – 1 4 – 3 – 1
Drake 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Kansas 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Washington University 0 – 6 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

Before the season

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Coach Bearg started his second year with a substantially increased roster, up to 60 players from the 35 players on the 1925 roster. No specific game was recorded as the season's Homecoming game.[2]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 22:00 p.m.Drake*
W 21–0[3]
October 92:00 p.m.Missouri
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
L 7–14
October 162:30 p.m.at Washington University*
W 20–68,000–8,500[4][5][6][7]
October 232:00 p.m.at Kansas
W 20–3
October 302:00 p.m.Iowa State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
W 31–6
November 132:00 p.m.Kansas State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE (rivalry)
W 3–0
November 202:00 p.m.NYU*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lincoln, NE
W 15–715,000[8]
November 253:30 p.m.at Washington*
L 6–1020,469

Roster

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Andrews, Ralph FB
Ashburn, Clifford E
Ayres PLAYER
Beck, Victor FB
Betts PLAYER
Brant PLAYER
Brd PLAYER
Bronson, Willard QB
Brown, John QB
Burnham, Willard E
Busby PLAYER
Carcoski PLAYER
Dailey, Frank HB
Drath, Walter G
Durisch PLAYER
DuTeau G
Fish PLAYER
Gates PLAYER
Grow, Lloyd C
Hecht FB
Holm, Elmer G
Holmes PLAYER
Hooper PLAYER
Howell, Edward FB
Hunt PLAYER
James, Theodore E
Johnson PLAYER
Lawson, Vinton E
Lee, Evard E
Lindell, Don QB

 

Lucas, Leroy T
Mandery, Avard HB
Mandery, Roy E
Marrow, Wallace QB
McMullen, Dan G
Mielenz, Frank HB
Molzen, Cecil G
Morrison, Paul C
Nimmo PLAYER
Oehlrich, Arnold FB
Peaker, Harold QB
Presnell, Glenn HB
Raish, Clarence LG
Randels, Ray T
Reeves, Joe C
Reller PLAYER
Schews PLAYER
Schulz, William G
Shaner, George E
Sprague, Leon E
Staats PLAYER
Stephens, Robert QB
Stiner, Lonnie T
Sturak PLAYER
Voris, Earl HB
Weir, Joe E
Whitmore, Robert G
Wickman HB
Wyatt PLAYER
Zuver, Merle G [9]

Coaching staff

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Name Title First year
in this position		 Years at Nebraska Alma mater
Ernest Bearg Head Coach 1925 1925–1928 Washburn
Leo Sherer Ends Coach 1923 1923–1928 Nebraska
Charlie T. Black Backfield Coach 1926 1926–1930
Bunny Oakes Line Coach 1926 1926–1930
Ed Weir Assistant Line Coach 1926 1926, 1929–1937, 1943 Nebraska
Harold Hutchison 1926 1926 Nebraska

[2][10]

Game summaries

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Drake

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Drake at Nebraska
1 2Total
Drake 0
• Nebraska 21

Nebraska opened the 1926 season by trouncing conference foe Drake in Lincoln, in a game where nearly every player on the large roster found playing time, as the Cornhuskers avenged the surprise loss handed to them by Drake in 1925. This was the last game played between Nebraska and Drake, closing out one of the oldest series in Nebraska football history, dating back to 1898, with Nebraska dominating the matchup 6-2 all-time. [11][12]

Missouri

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Missouri at Nebraska
1 2Total
• Missouri 14
Nebraska 7
  • Date: October 9
  • Location: Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska
See also: Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry

Nebraska stumbled early in the season when Missouri came into Lincoln and shut down the Cornhuskers despite their quick jump to an early 7-0 lead. Those would be the last points scored in the game, as Missouri managed 14 in response. Nebraska produced respectable offensive output over the course of the game, but was unable to create any points for their efforts. Missouri's win helped them chip away at the series lead held by the Cornhuskers, moving them to 5-14-1.[11][13]

Washington University

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Nebraska at Washington University
1 2Total
• Nebraska 20
Washington University 6

This game amounted to a win for both teams. Nebraska scored the points to carry the outcome in their third conference game of the season, while the Washington Bears were pleased to have scored points at all against conference heavyweight Nebraska. Although the Washington Bears and Nebraska Cornhuskers had shared the same conference since 1907 (except for 1919-1920 when Nebraska was an independent), this was only the second game played between these programs. It was also the last, with a split final record of 1-1 after accounting for Nebraska's loss to the Bears back in 1918. [11][14]

Kansas

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Nebraska at Kansas
1 2Total
• Nebraska 20
Kansas 3

After a slow start where Nebraska was only able to come up with a single score in the first half, the Cornhuskers pulled away to notch another conference win for the year, and padded their series lead over Kansas to 22-9-2. [11][15]

Iowa State

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Iowa State at Nebraska
1 2Total
Iowa State 6
• Nebraska 31
  • Date: October 30
  • Location: Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

The Cornhuskers scored first early on in the opening minutes of the game, but a lost Nebraska fumble not long after made it look like a battle was forming up. Iowa State capitalized on the turnover for what would be their only score of the day, as the Cornhuskers eventually rolled up 31 points to secure their fourth win of the season. The Cyclones slid further behind in the series, to 4-16-1. [11][16]

Kansas State

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Kansas State at Nebraska
1 234Total
Kansas State 0 000 0
• Nebraska 0 030 3
  • Date: November 13
  • Location: Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

The Kansas State Aggies gave Nebraska the biggest battle of the season, perhaps emboldened by nearly winning against the Cornhuskers in 1925 for the first time prior to settling for a tie that year. Somehow the Cornhuskers were able to hang onto the game and fight back. Repeatedly, Kansas State attempted field goals which were summarily blocked by Nebraska, and the Cornhuskers themselves were frequently on their heels and forced to punt out of trouble. Nebraska managed one field goal in the third quarter, which was the only score of the game for either side. Kansas State was sent back to Manhattan in disappointment and still winless against the Cornhuskers in eleven tries. [11][17]

New York University

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New York University at Nebraska
1 2Total
New York University 7
• Nebraska 15
  • Date: November 20
  • Location: Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, Nebraska

New York University, in their first ever game against Nebraska, drew first blood with an early touchdown, but the game was controlled by the Cornhuskers for the rest of the contest as Nebraska closed out the last home game of 1926 with a win. [11][18]

Washington

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Nebraska at Washington
1 2Total
Nebraska 6
• Washington 10

Reciprocating for last year, the Cornhuskers traveled to Seattle to play there for the first time. Both teams had been waiting for this rematch of the 1925 game which had ended in a 6-6 tie. With the Huskies barely holding a four-point lead in the final minutes, Nebraska marched down the field in a series recorded as one of the best ever to date put together by the Cornhuskers. As the seconds ticked away, Nebraska arrived at the Washington 8-yard line with a first down. On their fourth subsequent attempt to steal the win, time ran out as Nebraska's last effort fell short at the 3. Washington sent Nebraska home with their victory denied, and was left holding a tenuous 1-0-1 lead in the series. [11][19]

After the season

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Coach Bearg's second season was an improvement over 1925, as Nebraska finished 2nd in the conference, and his career record improved to 10-4-2 (.688). The program's overall record was nudged slightly upward to 207-71-19 (.729), while Nebraska's conference winning percentage all-time remained unchanged at 45-7-5 (.833).

References

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  1. ^ "1926 Nebraska Cornhuskers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 252)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  3. ^ John Bentley (October 3, 1926). "Nebraska Rips Way to Opening Triumph". Sunday State Journal. pp. 1A, 9A – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Washington Play Nebraska". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. October 16, 1926. p. 4. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  5. ^ Goldstein, J. Walter (October 17, 1926). "Nebraska Eleven Beats Washington, 20-6". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 1S. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  6. ^ Goldstein, J. Walter (October 17, 1926). "Heavy Nebraska Eleven Wears Down Washington, Score 20-6 (continued)". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 2S. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  7. ^ Johnson, Willis E. (October 17, 1926). "Washington Loses Second Conference Game to Nebraska, 20 to 6". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 12. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  8. ^ "Nebraska smears New York U.'s unbeaten eleven". The Lincoln Star. November 21, 1926. Retrieved February 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Nebraska Football 1926 Roster". University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletics Department. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  10. ^ "Nebraska head coaches". HuskerMax. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "the 1920s". HuskerMax. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  12. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 255)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  13. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 256)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  14. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 257)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  15. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 258)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  16. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 259)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  17. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 260)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  18. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 261)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  19. ^ "1927 Cornhusker - University of Nebraska Yearbook (Page 262)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
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