Sept. 29, 1962

Bob Devaney never had a losing season in five years coaching at Wyoming, but he faced a real challenge after taking the Nebraska job in 1962. The Cornhuskers had had six straight losing seasons, including a 3-6-1 record the year before.

Nebraska learned early it had made the right decision in hiring Devaney, when the coach took his team to Ann Arbor, Mich., in the season’s second game and upset the heavily favored Michigan Wolverines.

Fullback Bill Thornton scored two touchdowns, and quarterback Dennis Claridge completed 6 of 12 passes for 89 yards, including a fourth-and-8 strike to Dick Callahan for a first down late in the fourth quarter. Thornton scored on the next play, and Nebraska won 25-13.

More than 2,500 fans welcomed the Huskers home at the airport that night, and the win landed Nebraska at No. 19 in the UPI coaches poll. Better yet, Nebraska won its first six games en route to a 9-2 season, which included a 36-34 victory against Miami in the Gotham Bowl.

— Jeff Korbelik