Until the Campbell era, the 1992 ISU-Nebraska game was the highlight of my Cyclone Fandom.
The Clones were 3-6 going into that game and 29 point underdogs. The weather was reasonably good for mid-November, meaning we couldn’t count on a blizzard to slow down the Husker offensive attack, which had been averaging 438 yards/game and trampled 8th ranked Colorado (52-7) and 13th ranked Kansas (49-7) the preceding two weeks.
So, as the game opened with the Cyclones putting together some impressive, time-consuming drives culminating in Ty Stewart field goals, no one seemed overly excited about it. We’d all seen Iowa State put up a good first half fight against superior opponents, only to fade with the afternoon sun. And when Nebraska freshman phenom Tommy Frazier completed a 15-yard first half touchdown pass underneath a defender’s arms …
while falling backwards, many Cyclone fans began planning their trip to the Welch Avenue bar district.
But then something odd happened…or didn’t happen. The expected Cyclone fold failed to materialize. After clawing to a 12-10 halftime lead, the offense came back out and put together several more solid drives and, aided by a timely unsportsmanlike conduct call against Nebraska on a 3rd and long sack, held the ball for several more minutes. The defense kept making stops and preventing big plays. Normally, you’d expect a fumble deep in Cyclone territory on the ensuing drive or an 80 yard touchdown run by the other team.
One cannot overestimate the cumulative psychological effect of Cyclone fullback Chris Ulrich’s carries in this game. With bulldog alacrity, he consistently turned 1 yard into 3, 3 yards into 6, 5 yards into 8. While not stellar numbers, they helped move the chains, chew up the clock, and keep the Frazier highlight reel on the sidelines. More importantly, his every struggling, surging step incrementally raised the spirit of the Cyclone faithful; always moving forward, holding onto the ball, getting first downs, holding the lead well into the second half….against Nebraska!
Ulrich's success gaining yards between the tackles required the Nebraska defense to shift more players towards the center of the field, leaving fewer players outside the tackles. This threat perception set the stage for what one ISU Media Guide dubbed “the run heard round the world.”
After a scoreless 3rd quarter and another inexplicable defensive stop by Iowa State, the Nebraska punter kicked a 61 yard punt that went into the south end zone, putting the Cyclones at their own 20 yard line with 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Stung by Ulrich’s earlier runs and eager to get a 3-and-out, the Nebraska defense had as many as 8 players in the box. Cyclone quarterback Marv Seiler took the snap and faked a hand off to Ulrich up the middle, who was immediately tackled by three Nebraska players, making a big pile that slowed down other pursuing Huskers. With these defenders conveniently pre-occupied, the option play continued to the right. Seiler held the ball and turned up field…..
There are times in your life when the seconds seem like hours...
When the flow of time slows to a crawl as if to accentuate a new revelation.
They are the times that the many years of gathering hopes and dreams trapped forever behind a dam of frustration finally cascade through the valley when the levee breaks,
when wrongs are at last righted,
when every knee bows,
every tongue confesses
and the years’ accumulated aggravations flash away in a glorious lightening strike from the heavens….
The sight of ungainly, third-string QB Marv Seiler rambling 78 yards down the sideline, while 8 future NFL players run in molasses behind him seems like a divine appointment. For that brief, shining moment, God used the humble of college football to shame the wise. Brought down at the Nebraska two yard line, Seiler’s run unleashed a torrent of rapturous jubilation from the Cyclone faithful.
In an exclamation point to this electric, world-stopping moment, the very next play was a dive up the middle of Nebraska’s stunned defense. Ulrich plunged the ball over the goal line and a dagger into the Huskers’ chances for a comeback. At last, the Big Red Dragon would be slain.
Total domination by the Cyclones - until they got to the Red Zone. At least, they made their FGs. Great game plan by ISU and perfectly executed + Nebraska was flat as a pancake.
