Despite 4-8 Record, Frost, Nebraska Show Meaningful Progress in Year One

It was over in a blink of eye, but the Nebraska Football season, and the first year of the Scott Frost era,
ended exactly 76 days after it started. It included another 4-8 record, plenty of heartbreak, and plenty of
hope. This season was unlike any other in school history. It began in the rain with the first game being
cancelled due to weather, and ended on a rainy day in Iowa City with Nebraska having back to back
losing seasons for the first time since 1961.

As anticipated as this season was, it certainly did not fail to deliver. The action got going the Sunday
after Fall Camp ended, when backup quarterback Tristian Gebbia announced he was transferring from
the program, leaving very little depth at the position behind the starter. The starter was going to be true
freshman Adrian Martinez, the first true freshman to start a season at quarterback for Nebraska in
program history.

The week after the opener was cancelled due to weather, the Huskers opened the season against old
rival Colorado. The Huskers fell behind 14-0, led 21-17 at the break, but lost 33-28 because of a dumb
penalty and some bad luck. That sequence would set the tone for the rest of year. Nebraska lost to Troy
24-19, Michigan 56-10, Purdue 42-28, and Wisconsin 41-24. Against Purdue, Nebraska committed 11
penalties for 136 yards, Frost ripped his team in the postgame presser, calling it the most undisciplined
team in the country. Many players transferred after that game, including starting running back Greg Bell.
Nebraska had played much better against Purdue and Wisconsin, and after an 0-5 start, it looked like
Nebraska was finally going to win its first game of the year against Northwestern. The Huskers led 28-14
in the fourth quarter and 31-21 with 3 minutes left. Nebraska somehow lost that game 34-31 in
overtime, and Nebraska was 0-6. Frost was speechless after the game. The Huskers played like they
were 6-0, not 0-6 the following week against Minnesota, they opened a 28-0 on the Gophers. But
Minnesota closed to within 28-22 in third quarter. The following Nebraska possession was the most
important drive of this season, and maybe the Frost era.

If Nebraska had blown a 28-0 lead and dropped to 0-7, there is a chance Frost would have lost most of
his players, many supporters of the team, and the program would be a complete mess. With Minnesota
now only down 6, panic swept through the Memorial Stadium crowd, as Martinez and the offense took
the field. 4 plays, 76 yards, and 1:12 later, the Huskers were in the endzone, and led by two possessions
again. The Huskers cruised the rest of the way, winning 53-28, and getting their first win of the year.
After winning a glorified scrimmage against Bethune Cookman, Nebraska headed to Columbus to take
on Ohio State. Nebraska had every opportunity to win that game, but ultimately fell to the Big Ten
champions 36-31. After beating Illinois 54-35, Nebraska played Michigan State on a senior day to
remember. In a blizzard, the Spartans led 6-0 heading to the fourth quarter. Nebraska scored three field
goals, and held Michigan State scoreless in the final period to win a memorable game 9-6. At 4-7,
Nebraska had nothing but pride to play for as they packed their bags and headed to Iowa City for a Black
Friday clash against Iowa. Iowa had beaten Nebraska 3 years in a row and it certainly looked like they
were going to make 4, when they lined up for a short field goal up 28-13 late in the third quarter.
Inexplicably Iowa elected to fake a field goal instead of going up three possessions, and the Huskers
sniffed it out, and stopped the Hawkeyes. On the ensuing drive Nebraska faked a punt on fourth and
three from their own 9 and converted. From there Nebraska rallied and tied the game at 28 with 3:22
left. Iowa then converted a 4th and 8 in the final minute and won on field goal as time expired to deliver
Nebraska one more kick in the gut.

It is clear Nebraska and Frost made significant progress in rebuilding this program during the second half
of this season. The Huskers won 4 of their final 6 games, with the two losses coming by 5 at league champions
Ohio State, and by 3 at Iowa, a team that blew out Nebraska in 2016 and 2017. Senior wideout
Stanley Morgan became the first receiver in program history to reach 1,000 yards in one season. Senior
running back Devine Ozigbo became Nebraska’s first 1,000 back in 4 years. Martinez accounted for the
most total offense of any freshman in the country, and 16th most overall, during the regular season.
Martinez did that despite playing only 11 games, and going against 2 of the top 10 defenses in the
country. Sophomore JD Speilman only played in 10 games due to injury but still had 818 yards for the
year. Freshman running back Maurice Washington also had a big second half to the season, nearly
hitting 500 all-purpose yards for the second half of the year.

Even though Nebraska again only managed to win four games this year, there are lots of reasons for
optimism heading into 2019. Martinez is obviously a special quarterback and if he can stay healthy he is
going to have a legendary career in Lincoln. Even though Morgan and Ozigbo are now gone, Speilman
and Washington certainly can fill the holes that need to filled. The defense needs to improve over the
offseason, and it probably will, the question will be how much. Next year’s schedule is much easier than
the gauntlet Nebraska just played, as the Huskers get Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Iowa all
at home, and the crossovers are against Ohio State, Indiana and Maryland.

If nothing unforeseen happens in the offseason, Nebraska could win 10 or 11 games next year, and
should the favorite to win the Big Ten West and play for the Big Ten Championship for the first time in 7
years.