The Nebraska Corn Huskers only held two spring practices before the quarantine took place. This left fans wondering what the 2020 spring game could be. Only one Spring Game has been cancelled in the last 70 years, and that was in 2012 due to the weather. However, Nebraska Athletics decided to put the Red and White against each other in a virtual spring game featuring legends from Corn Husker past.

This is not the first Spring Game to feature former Corn Huskers, However.  The first Nebraska Spring Game in 1950 saw a matchup between the current Varsity team against a squad of alumni. In the game, the Alumina took the early lead in the first quarter leading at the half 7-0. However, the Varsity team was able to comeback ending the game in a tie of thirteen points a piece. Varsity and Alumina have only competed ten times with Varsity winning eight out of the ten games. 

The first Nebraska Spring Game of the Red Team and the White Team was in 1954. The Red Team and White Team are two teams consisting of players on the current team. They are named Red and White because they are the school colors. The coaches determine the teams. The inaugural Red Team took the lead in the first quarter 7-0 but, in the second quarter, the White Team took the lead 19-7. The White Team would hold onto the lead winning 25-14. In Red v. White games, the Red Team lead the series winning 43 out of 59 games (excluding the 2020 virtual game). 

Due to the COVID-19 quarantine, Nebraska’s Spring Game was held online, via video game. The gameplay was recorded in advance for less chances of technical difficulty. Prior to the game, former defensive lineman Steve Warren sung the National Anthem, the Cornhusker Marching Band performed the fight song over Zoom, the cheerleaders performed a “Husker Power '' chant and a Tunnel Walk video with Nebraska’s landmarks was played. Commentary was provided by radio duo Greg Sharpe and Matt Davidson. Davidson and Sharpe had fun commenting on these tough circumstances. A Twitter poll prior to the game asking fans which team they were rooting for shows that these teams were tough to choose as White won the pre-game poll by 2%. The first half of the game was played through a virtual simulation while in the second half Nebraska players, Cam Taylor-Britt and Wan’Dale Robinson, were in control of the game.

In the first quarter, both teams brought strong defences leaving the White team to score a field goal with 5:32 left in the quarter. The Red Team’s first score was after a turnover play  and at the 1:57 mark, Mike Rozier ran the ball into the endzone. Red led the first quarter 7-3.

The second quarter kicked off with a field goal from the Red team in the first minute of play and another field goal with 10:09 left in the half increasing their lead 13-3. The White Team was able to comeback scoring their first pair of touchdowns of the game on a seven-yard run by Ahman Green and a go-ahead 12-yard reception by Matt Herian, giving the White Team a lead of 17-13. The Red team was able to respond with a major run play ending with Tommie Frazier scampering 15 yards into the endzone for the second lead-change in the quarter  The Red tema also ended the half after a fumble from the White Team with a Rozier running two yards to score a touchdown. Red led at the half 27-17.   

At halftime, one of the best moments of Nebraska Spring games was played starting with the 2013 Spring Game where young Jack Hoffman who battles brain cancer runs a 69-yard touchdown for the Red team, the crowd and both benches celebrating. Following Hoffman was an interview with legendary coach Tom Osbourne where he talked about plans for this coming season along with the 1995 Spring game because they won the 1994 National Championship along with playing highlights from the Spring game. Then, Offensive Running Back Will Shields (1989-92) led a Healthy Husker Pledge. Also, past Husker players who have passed away since last April were remembered. Halftime ended with Husker fans’ social media posts being honored for how they spent their 2020 Spring Game.

In the third quarter, the White Team was able to score a field goal with 11:25 to bring the score to 20-27 the Red Team. The Red Team responded with a touchdown of their own at 8:06 with a fakeout run by Frazier with almost eight minutes left in the quarter, increasing their lead by seven. White was able to score a minute later with Standly Morgan Jr. making a big play with a 60 yard reception bringing the score 27-34 Red. The Red Team scored with 4:19 left in the quarter with Rozier stepping into the endzone increasing their lead at the end of the quarter 41-27. 

In the fourth quarter, White was able to score within a minute of play with Green stepping into the endzone making it a one-score game. Despite a reversal call on a catch, the Red Team was able to score with a 38-yard reception by Irving Fryar increasing the Red Team lead 48-34. With just under ten minutes left in the game, the Red Team was able to kick a field goal, increasing their lead by three. After a recovery fumble, the White team’s Tyler Reed scored a touchdown with 7:11 left to play in the game making it a ten point game in the Red Team favor. The Red team responded with Kenny Bell scoring with a ten yard reception with three minutes on the clock. The Red Team missed the extra point, making their lead 16. The White team was able to make it an eight point game with less than two minutes left on the clock with Green running a two-yard run and the two-point conversion caught by Johnny Rogers. With a minute to go, White had possession of the ball and they were able to score with Rogers making a 22-yard reception in the endzone. In order to tie, White needed a two-point conversion. White ran the same play as the last two-point conversion and succeeded. The game was tied at 57 points a piece at the end of the game, causing the game to go into overtime. 

In overtime, White was able to kick a field goal and take back their lead 60-57. However, the Red team threw an interception and the White team won 60-57 in overtime. The livestream ended with Husker players Cam Taylor-Britt and Wan’Dale Robinson who played the virtual game in the second half thanking the fans. Overall, 25,000 Husker fans watched the game across multiple platforms. 

If you would like to watch the rebroadcast, you can find it over on Huskers.com but it’s still unsure what the 2020 college football season will look like but, it is good to know that Husker Nation can still celebrate the game while social distancing. To stay up to date with CHS Anchor News, follow us on Twitter and Instagram at CHS Anchor News along with checking our Fusfoo page. I’m Libby Wurdeman. CHS Anchor News.