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Remembering one of the most memorable plays in Husker history
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Eric Crouch's touchdown reception against Oklahoma
helped in his bid for the Heisman Trophy in 2001.
It's a play that will go down as one of the best in Husker history. Back in 2001 Oklahoma had recently emerged once again as a national power, bringing back the importance of one of the biggest rivalries football has ever seen between them and Nebraska. Now anyone with any knowledge of the history of college football knows what the past has been like for the Huskers and the Sooners. Some of the best games ever played were between the two schools. The sporting world went as far as to labeling the 1971 match up as "The game of the century."
Well back in 2001, the Huskers and the Sooners were at it yet again. Oklahoma was the defending national champs and ranked as the top team in the country. Nebraska was stuck at the number two spot and looking to get back into the national championship picture yet again. Though the game was certainly a defensive battle, it was a play on offense by the Big Red that stole the show.
The play was called "black 41 flash reverse pass." While the name might not sound familiar to fans, the play itself definitely will. With the Huskers leading 13-10, Eric Crouch lined up behind center, waiting to execute one of the biggest play his career. As soon as Crouch got the snap he handed off to running back Thunder Collins who was coming in motion on the play from left to right. The play immediately looked similar to a run Collins has just several plays earlier. However, as nearly the entire Sooner defense swayed toward Collins, he tossed the ball to receiver and third string quarterback Mike Stuntz, who was running the opposite direction. Just when the play looked to be a reverse, Stuntz cocked his arm back and threw.
Personally, I was so caught up in the moment, I was anxious to see what receiver the ball was being intended for, not realizing who snuck out of the camera's view. As Stuntz let the ball release from his hand with what appeared to be a perfect spiral, a Husker uniform with the number seven was seen streaking down by the sideline. It was in fact quarterback Eric Crouch who sprinted under the ball, made the catch and out ran the Sooner defense the final 40 yards to the end zone The gutsy play essentially sealed the game for the Huskers.
The Big Red went on to win the game 20-10 and snatch the number one national ranking from their long time rival. While the season didn't end up the way Husker Nation had hoped with back-to-back blowout losses to Colorado and then Miami in the Rose Bowl, the play is still one of the most memorable in team history. In fact, ESPN Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin recently rated the play at the seventh most memorable moment in conference history. The article even shows reactions from the players that were directly involved with the memorable moment.
Also on Griffin's list thus far was the combination of Alex Henrey's school record breaking 57 yard field goal and Ndamukong Suh's interception return against Colorado last season. There are also a few not so great Husker moments themselves, but I prefer not to rehash those kind of moments. After all, it has been a decade since the team's last conference championship.
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