Consecutive Losses Rare For NU

First Colorado, and now this

When something bad happens to Nebraska, like a loss, it serves to bring into focus just how good the Huskers are, year after year. Things that can happen to other teams and not be much noticed tend to stand out at NU. Like, losing two games in a row. It had not happened to Nebraska in more than a decade.

Here are some notes, facts and figures in the wake of the Huskers' defeat in the Rose Bowl.

Back-to-back losses: The loss to Miami marked the first time since 1990 that Nebraska lost consecutive games (at Oklahoma and against Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl) and only the 12th time since 1962 that the Huskers lost back-to-back contests.

Points Allowed: The 37 points allowed represented the third-highest total allowed in Nebraska's 40 bowl appearances and the most allowed by a Husker defense since allowing 45 points the 1991 Citrus Bowl. The 99 points allowed over the past two games (62 at Colorado and 37 tonight) is the most allowed in consecutive games since the 1945 season, when NU allowed 61 points to Minnesota (10/6) and 54 to Indiana (10/13). The only other time that NU gave up 100 points in consecutive games came in 1945.

National Title Games: With the Rose Bowl loss, Nebraska dropped to 5-8 in games that have decided at least a share of the national title, ending a streak of three straight wins dating back to Florida State's 18-16 victory over Nebraska in the 1994 Orange Bowl. Since the loss to the Seminoles, NU recorded victories over Miami (24-17 in 1995 Orange Bowl), Florida (62-24 in 1996 Fiesta Bowl) and Tennessee (42-17 in 1998 Orange Bowl) before its loss to Miami Thursday night. NU has played in eight bowl games which have decided the national champion for at least one of the teams since 1990.

Bowl Games: Nebraska extended its NCAA record of bowl appearances to 33 (every year since 1969) with its appearance in the Rose Bowl and have now appeared in 40 bowl games, the fifth-highest total in NCAA history. The Huskers, who had won six of their last seven bowl games, are now 20-20 all time, 2-2 under Coach Frank Solich and 0-2 in the Rose Bowl.

All-time vs. Miami: With the loss, Nebraska falls to 5-5 all-time against Miami, including 2-4 in bowl games, while the Hurricanes' win over the Huskers was UM's first over Nebraska outside the state of Florida. With the loss, Nebraska is 89-92-3 all-time against ranked foes, including 10-8 under Solich. The Huskers also dipped to 1-10 all-time when playing against a No. 1 team.

Largest Crowd in School History: The Rose Bowl attendance of 93,781 marks the largest crowd to ever see Nebraska play, topping the estimated 92,000 that saw Nebraska in its first Rose Bowl appearance in 1941. In fact, counting Thursday's crowd, three of the five highest-attended games in Nebraska history have come in the Rose Bowl.

Turnovers: Nebraska-3 (one interception and two fumbles): Miami-1 (one interception). Nebraska forced the game's first turnover as Keyuo Craver intercepted a Ken Dorsey pass on Miami's second possession. The Huskers did not convert, as Eric Crouch fumbled on the subsequent possession. Miami needed only one play to convert, as Dorsey connected with Andre Johnson with a 49-yard touchdown pass on the next offensive play. In all, Miami converted Nebraska's three turnovers into 14 points. James Lewis' 47-yard return marked the first time Crouch had an interception returned for a score since Oct. 28, 2000, when Oklahoma's Derrick Strait returned an interception 32 yards for a score. Entering the Rose Bowl, NU opponents had only scored 34 points on 25 turnovers, but Miami, which led the nation in turnover margin, converted NU's three turnovers into 14 first-half points.

Quarterback Eric Crouch: The Heisman Trophy winner finished his career with his 17th career 100-yard game and first in a bowl game, carrying 22 times for 114 yards, the second-highest rushing performance in a bowl game by a NU quarterback and the ninth-best bowl total in school history. The senior, who was looking to become the first Nebraska quarterback to win three bowl games since Dave Humm (1972-74), accounted for 176 of Nebraska's total offensive yards and was held without a touchdown for the first time this season and the first time since Sept. 18, 1999, against Southern Miss. Crouch finished his career second on NU's bowl passing charts with 492 yards, completed 5-of-15 passes for 62 yards with an interception. He finishes his NU career with a 35-7 record. His career bowl rushing total was 10 yards short of the career top-five in NU bowl history.

Total Offense: Miami held Nebraska to a season-low 239 total yards, joining Notre Dame (270 yards on Sept. 8.) as the only teams to hold Nebraska under 300 yards. The Hurricanes also held the Husker ground attack to just 197 yards, nearly 120 yards below its nation-leading total of 315 yards rushing per game. I-back Dahrran Diedrick, who had seven 100-yard games this year and lead the Big 12 in rushing was held to 47 yards on 15 carries.

Cornerback DeJuan Groce: The junior turned in the second-longest punt return in Nebraska bowl history with his 71-yard punt return (set up by blocks by Lornell McPherson and Jerrell Pippens) with 14:28 remaining. Groce, who ranked seventh nationally in punt returns at 14.2 yards per return, returned his second punt of the season for a score (also vs. Kansas State). The punt return for a score was the first by a Nebraska player in a bowl game since Bobby Newcombe returned a kick 60 yards vs. Tennessee in the 2000 Fiesta Bowl and the fourth punt return in NU bowl history. Johnny Rodgers holds the NU bowl record with a 77-yard punt return against Alabama in the 1972 Orange Bowl. Groce, finished with 85 yards on three punt returns.

Fullback Judd Davies: The sophomore scored his fifth touchdown of the season, capping an 11-play, 68-yard scoring drive late in the third quarter with a 16-yard touchdown run. He finished with 16 yards on five carries.

Cornerback Keyuo Craver: The senior All-America from Harleton, Texas, turned in the Huskers' first turnover, intercepting a Ken Dorsey pass with 8:59 remaining in the first quarter. It was Craver's fourth interception of the season, eighth of his career and first in a bowl game.

Quick Notes: The last time Nebraska was shut out in a half came at Kansas on Oct. 30, 1999, when the Huskers trailed 9-0 before coming back to win 24-17...the 34 points in the half was the most allowed by the Huskers in the first half in a bowl game, topping the previous mark of 24 allowed three times, most recently the 1991 Citrus Bowl (also against Alabama in the 1966 Orange and 1967 Sugar Bowls)... Miami's Andre Johnson finished the evening with seven catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the Nebraska bowl opponent record for receiving yards which was held by Alabama's Ray Perkins (9-178)...Portis finished with 104 yards, becoming the fourth opposing back to top 100-yards vs. NU this season.

Husker Return Plans: Nebraska will leave Los Angeles Airport at Noon (PST) Friday, returning to Lincoln at 5:30 p.m. (CST)