2004 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

2004 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
2004 Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Conference	Big 12 Conference
	North Division
Record	5–6 (3–5 Big 12)
Head coach	Bill Callahan (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Jay Norvell (1st season)
Offensive scheme	West Coast
Defensive coordinator	Kevin Cosgrove (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium

2004 Big 12 Conference football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
North Division
Colorado xy	4	–	4	8	–	5
Iowa State x	4	–	4	7	–	5
Nebraska	3	–	5	5	–	6
Missouri	3	–	5	5	–	6
Kansas	2	–	6	4	–	7
Kansas State	2	–	6	4	–	7
South Division
No. 3 Oklahoma xy$	8	–	0	12	–	1
No. 5 Texas %	7	–	1	11	–	1
Texas A&M	5	–	3	7	–	5
No. 18 Texas Tech	5	–	3	8	–	4
Oklahoma State	4	–	4	7	–	5
Baylor	1	–	7	3	–	8
Championship: Oklahoma 42, Colorado 3
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2004 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Bill Callahan and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. This was Nebraska's first losing season since 1961.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	6:00 pm	No. 12 (I-AA) Western Illinois*	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	PPV	W 56–17	77,471	^[1]
September 11	11:00 am	Southern Miss*	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	ABC	L 17–21	77,887	^[2]
September 18	11:00 am	at Pittsburgh*	Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA	ABC	W 24–17	40,133
October 2	6:10 pm	Kansas	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)	PPV	W 14–8	77,637
October 9	6:10 pm	at Texas Tech	Jones SBC Stadium Lubbock, TX	TBS	L 10–70	52,954
October 16	1:05 pm	Baylor	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE		W 59–27	77,881
October 23	1:10 pm	at Kansas State	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS (rivalry)		L 21–45	52,234
October 30	11:00 am	Missouri	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)	FSN	W 24–3	77,616	^[3]
November 6	1:00 pm	at Iowa State	Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA (rivalry)		L 27–34	45,022
November 13	6:00 pm	at No. 2 Oklahoma	Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry)	FSN	L 3–30	84,916
November 26	11:00 am	Colorado	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)	ABC	L 20–26	77,661
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[4]

Roster and coaching staff

2004 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
QB	`7`	Jordan Adams	So
WR	`27`	Willie Amos	Sr
G	`71`	Jake Andersen	Sr
OL	`65`	Greg Austin	So
WR	`38`	Brandon Biodrowski	Sr
WR	`19`	Andy Birkel	So
OL	`59`	Brett Byford	RFr
OL	`62`	Andy Christensen	Fr
QB	`12`	Joe Dailey (C)	So
QB	`15`	Beau Davis	Fr
OT	`67`	Darren DeLone	Sr
WR	`26`	Dan Erickson	RFr
OL	`78`	Mike Erickson	Sr
OT	`77`	Seppo Evwaraye	Jr
WR	`28`	Isaiah Fluellen	So
OL	`79`	Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas	Jr
QB	`13`	Joe Ganz	Fr
QB	`17`	Garth Glissman	Jr
QB	`6`	Ryan Goodman	Fr
IB	`30`	Tierre Green	RFr
OL	`73`	Jared Helming	Jr
TE	`11`	Matt Herian	Jr
TE	`42`	Sean Hill	RFr
IB	`9`	David Horne	Jr
OL	`61`	Mike Huff	Fr
RB	`32`	Brandon Jackson	Fr
WR	`31`	Joel Jackson	Sr
TE	`47`	Dusty Keiser	Sr
WR	`89`	Tyler Kenney	So
G	`75`	Brandon Koch	Jr
FB	`45`	Steve Kriewald	Sr
IB	`36`	Thomas Lawson	Fr
WR	`10`	Mark LeFlore	Jr
OL	`74`	Newton Lingenfelter	So
OL		Chris Loos
OL	`64`	Kurt Mann	So
WR	`5`	Shamus McKoy	Jr
WR	`18`	Mike McLaughlin	Jr
FB	`33`	Grant Miller	So
QB	`8`	Zach Miller	RFr
TE	`81`	Josh Mueller	RFr
WR	`84`	Grant Mulkey	So
OL	`76`	Lydon Murtha	Fr
WR	`83`	Terrence Nunn	Fr
WR	`24`	Jack O'Holleran	Sr
WR	`80`	Santino Panico	Fr
OL	`54`	Chris Patrick	RFr
WR	`21`	Todd Peterson	Fr
TE	`85`	J.B. Phillips	RFr
OL	`56`	Gary Pike	Jr
WR	`2`	Ross Pilkington (C)	Jr
IB	`25`	Kade Pittman	RFr
OL	`69`	Nick Povendo	Sr
IB	`4`	Cory Ross	Jr
IB	`37`	Mike Sampogna	Fr
TE	`48`	Andy Sand	RFr
WR	`14`	Matt Schroeder	Jr
TE	`83`	Chris Septak	Sr
TE	`88`	Clayton Sievers	Fr
QB	`16`	Mike Stuntz	Jr
WR	`87`	Nate Swift	Fr
OL	`57`	Cory Timm	So
FB	`41`	Dane Todd	So
WR	`20`	Kiffin Wigert	Sr
WR	`3`	Ben Zajicek	Sr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DT	`96`	Titus Adams	Jr
CB	`16`	Cole Biodrowski	Jr
DE	`48`	Adam Blankenship	Fr
SLB	`34`	Stewart Bradley	So
LB	`40`	Lance Brandenburgh	Fr
CB	`21`	Titus Brothers	RFr
DT	`65`	Chris Bryant	So
SS	`14`	Daniel Bullocks	Jr
FS	`20`	Josh Bullocks (C)	Jr
FS	`36`	Dan Burrow	Sr
DE	`90`	Adam Carriker	So
LB	`11`	Ira Cooper	Sr
CB	`6`	Donald DeFrand	Jr
SS	`46`	Ben Eisenhart	RFr
FS	`15`	Tyler Fisher	Jr
SS	`18`	Travis Gingery	RFr
DT	`99`	Brandon Greeson	So
DB	`26`	Cortney Grixby	Fr
CB	`29`	Kellen Huston	Sr
LB	`49`	Adam Ickes	Jr
DT	`95`	Nathan Krug	Jr
CB	`35`	Chris LeFlore	RFr
LB	`52`	Tyler Lueck	Fr
DE	`89`	Kevin Luhrs	RFr
DT	`50`	Jeff McBride	Sr
LB	`13`	Corey McKeon	RFr
CB	`1`	Lornell McPherson	Sr
DE	`44`	Jay Moore	So
DE	`55`	Wali Muhammad	Jr
DT	`58`	Danny Muy	Fr
DE	`56`	Trevor Neemann	RFr
DT	`63`	Matt O'Shea	Jr
DE	`86`	Andy Poulosky	RFr
LB	`53`	Mitch Reeves	So
DE	`85`	Thomas Rice	RFr
SS	`24`	Brandon Rigoni	So
CB	`30`	Joey Robison	Jr
LB	`51`	Bo Ruud	RFr
LB	`38`	Barrett Ruud (C)	Sr
FS	`8`	Andrew Shanle	So
SS	`23`	Shane Siegel	Jr
LB	`54`	Chad Sievers	Sr
DT	`66`	Le Kevin Smith	Jr
DE	`43`	Ty Steinkuhler	Fr
DT	`74`	Brandon Teamer	So
DE	`5`	Benard Thomas	Sr
SS	`25`	Blake Tiedtke	Jr
CB	`3`	Fabian Washington	Jr
LB	`91`	Tyler Wortman	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
PK	`22`	Sandro DeAngelis	Sr
PK	`27`	David Dyches	So
P	`90`	Tyler Kester	RFr
P	`37`	Sam Koch	Jr
PK	`91`	Eric Lueshen	RFr
PK	`92`	Jared Nielsen	RFr
LS	`94`	Jake Peetz	RFr
P	`97`	Dan Titchener	Fr
PK	`98`	Jake Wesch	Fr

Head coach

Bill Callahan
   1st season
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Benedictine

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Jay Norvell
   1st season as OC/QB coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Iowa
Kevin Cosgrove
   1st season as DC/LB coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: UW-Oshkosh
John Blake
   1st season as DL coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Oklahoma
Bill Busch
   1st season as OLB coach
   5th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Nebraska Wesleyan
Scott Downing
   2nd season as TE/ST coach
   5th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Sterling
Phil Elmassian
   1st season as Sec coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: William & Mary
Turner Gill
   1st season as WR coach
   13th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Nebraska
Randy Jordan
   1st season as RB coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: North Carolina
Dennis Wagner
   1st season as OL coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Utah
Michael Christianson
   1st season as Special Assistant coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Western Oregon
Dave Kennedy
   1st season as S&C coach
   8th year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Nebraska
Aaron Stamn
   1st season as GA coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Minnesota Mankato
Dan McLaughlin
   1st season as GA coach
   1st year at Nebraska
   Alma mater: Bellevue College

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: January 16, 2011

Depth chart

Defense

FS
Josh Bullocks
Andrew Shanle
⋅

WILL	MIKE	SAM
Chad Sievers	Barrett Ruud	Stewart Bradley
Mark Brungardt	Ira Cooper	Bo Ruud
⋅	⋅	⋅

SS
Daniel Bullocks
Shane Siegel
⋅

CB
Fabian Washington
Cortney Grixby
⋅

DE	DT	DT	DE
Benard Thomas	Le Kevin Smith	Titus Adams	Adam Carriker
Jay Moore	Jeff McBride	Brandon Teamer	Wali Muhammad
⋅	⋅	⋅	⋅

CB
Lornell McPherson
Kellen Huston
⋅

Offense

WR
Ross Pilkington
Willie Amos
Z Grant Mulkey Matt Schroeder

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Mike Erickson	Brandon Koch	Kurt Mann	Jake Andersen	Seppo Evwarye
Darren DeLone	Greg Austin	Gary Pike	Jared Helming	Nick Povendo
⋅	⋅	⋅	⋅	⋅

TE
Matt Herian
Dusty Keiser
J.B Phillips

WR
Terrence Nunn
Mark LeFlore
⋅

QB
Joe Dailey
Ryan Goodman
⋅

RB
Cory Ross
Tierre Green
Brandon Jackson

FB
Steve Kriewald
Dana Todd
⋅

Special teams
PK Sandro Deangelis
P Sam Koch
KR Tierre Green Brandon Jacson
PR Santino Panico
LS \

Game summaries

Western Illinois

Western Illinois at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Western Illinois	0	3	14	0	17
• Nebraska	14	28	7	7	56

Date: September 4
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game start: 6:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 77,471
TV announcers (PPV): Dave Armstrong (Play-by-Play), J. C. Pearson (Color), & Steve Taylor (Sideline)

Southern Miss

Southern Miss at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Southern Miss	6	3	6	6	21
Nebraska	0	3	14	0	17

Date: September 11
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game start: 11:10 a.m. CST
Game attendance: 77,887
TV announcers (ABC): Gary Gerould (Play-by-Play), Ray Bentley (Color), & Vince Welch (Sideline)

Pittsburgh

Nebraska at Pittsburgh [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Nebraska	10	14	0	0	24
Pittsburgh	7	3	0	7	17

Date: September 18
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
Game start: 11:00 a.m. CST
Game attendance: 40,133
TV announcers (ABC): Brent Musburger (Play-by-Play), Gary Danielson (Color), & Jack Arute (Sideline)

Kansas

Kansas at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Kansas	2	3	3	0	8
• Nebraska	0	7	7	0	14

Date: October 2
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game start: 6:10 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 77,637
TV announcers (PPV): Dave Armstrong (Play-by-Play), J. C. Pearson (Color), & John Kelly (Sideline)

Texas Tech

Nebraska at Texas Tech [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska	0	3	7	0	10
• Texas Tech	7	14	21	28	70

Date: October 9
Location: Jones SBC Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
Game start: 6:10 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 52,954
TV announcers (TBS): Ron Thulin (Play-by-Play), Charles Davis (Color), & Craig Sager (Sideline)

Baylor

Baylor at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Baylor	3	0	21	3	27
• Nebraska	7	24	7	21	59

Date: October 16
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game start: 1:05 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 77,881

Kansas State

Nebraska at Kansas State [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska	7	7	7	0	21
• Kansas State	14	10	14	7	45

Date: October 23
Location: KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas
Game start: 1:10 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 52,234

Missouri

Missouri at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Missouri	0	3	0	0	3
• Nebraska	3	7	7	7	24

Date: October 30
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game start: 11:00 a.m. CST
Game attendance: 77,616
TV announcers (FSN): Joel Meyers (Play-by-Play), Dave Lapham (Color), & Jim Knox (Sideline)

Source: ESPN

Iowa State

Nebraska at Iowa State [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska	0	7	13	7	27
• Iowa State	10	14	10	0	34

Date: November 6
Location: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, Iowa
Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 45,022

Oklahoma

Nebraska at Oklahoma [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska	0	0	0	3	3
• Oklahoma	3	20	7	0	30

Date: November 13
Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Game start: 6:10 p.m. CST
Game attendance: 84,916
TV announcers (FSN): Kevin Eschenfelder (Play-by-Play), Gary Reasons (Color), & John Rhadigan (Sideline)

Colorado

Colorado at Nebraska [box score]

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Colorado	10	10	6	0	26
Nebraska	0	7	0	13	20

Date: November 26
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Game start: 11:10 a.m. CST
Game attendance: 77,661
TV announcers (ABC): Terry Gannon (Play-by-Play), Terry Bowden, Tim Brant (Colors), & Suzy Shuster (Sideline)

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** — = Not ranked
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Harris	Not released				—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released
BCS	Not released							—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

After the season

Nebraska finished tied for 3rd place in the Big 12 North Division and tied for 7th conference-wide, with a final record of 5–6 (3–5), its first losing season since 1961. Head Coach Bill Callahan's overall career record was established at 5–6 (.455) and 3–5 (.375) in conference. Nebraska did not play in a bowl game for the first time since 1968, ending their consecutive bowl streak at 35.

Awards

^[5]

Award	Name(s)
All-America 3rd team	Barrett Ruud
All-Big 12 1st team	Barrett Ruud
All-Big 12 2nd team	Josh Bullocks
All-Big 12 honorable mention	Daniel Bullocks, Mike Erickson, Matt Herian, Kurt Mann, Cory Ross, Le Kevin Smith, Fabian Washington

NFL and pro players

The following Nebraska players who participated in the 2004 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.^[6]

Name	Team
Titus Adams	New York Jets
Stewart Bradley	Philadelphia Eagles
Daniel Bullocks	Detroit Lions
Josh Bullocks	New Orleans Saints
Adam Carriker	St. Louis Rams
Sandro DeAngelis	Calgary Stampeders
Mike Erickson	Berlin Thunder
Seppo Evwaraye	Carolina Panthers
Joe Ganz	Washington Redskins
Cortney Grixby	Carolina Panthers
Brandon Jackson	Green Bay Packers
Sam Koch	Baltimore Ravens
Jay Moore	San Francisco 49ers
Lydon Murtha	Detroit Lions
Terrence Nunn	New England Patriots
Chris Patrick	New York Giants
Todd Peterson	Jacksonville Jaguars
Andy Poulosky	Sioux City Bandits
Cory Ross	Baltimore Ravens
Barrett Ruud	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bo Ruud	New England Patriots
Andrew Shanle	Chicago Bears
Le Kevin Smith	New England Patriots
Ty Steinkuhler	New York Jets
Nate Swift	Denver Broncos
Fabian Washington	Oakland Raiders

References

^ Sipple, Steven M. (September 5, 2004). "A Passing Grade". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 1F. Retrieved January 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Worst Coast scenario: Dailey, NU teammates know they gave this one away". Lincoln Journal Star. September 12, 2004. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Sipple, Steven M. (October 31, 2004). "Special Forces". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 1E. Retrieved November 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Football – 2004 Schedule/Results". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
^ 2004 Husker Honors
^ "All Time NFL Huskers". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.

[1] Sipple, Steven M. (September 5, 2004). "A Passing Grade". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 1F. Retrieved January 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[2] "Worst Coast scenario: Dailey, NU teammates know they gave this one away". Lincoln Journal Star. September 12, 2004. Retrieved September 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] Sipple, Steven M. (October 31, 2004). "Special Forces". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 1E. Retrieved November 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Football – 2004 Schedule/Results". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics. Retrieved May 13, 2009.

[5] 2004 Husker Honors

[6] "All Time NFL Huskers". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.

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[6]


1	11:14	NEB	Sandro DeAngelis 41 yard field goal	NEB 3–0

2	14:46	MIZZ	Joe Tantarelli 39 yard field goal	Tied 3–3

2	9:42	NEB	Adam Ickes 16 yard blocked punt return (Sandro DeAngelis kick)	NEB 10–3

3	1:34	NEB	Cory Ross 15 yard run (Sandro DeAngelis kick)	NEB 17–3

4	2:56	NEB	Cory Ross 86 yard run (Sandro DeAngelis kick)	NEB 24–3

Nebraska Cornhuskers football
Venues	Lincoln Park (1891–1892) M Street Park (1892–1896, 1908–1909) Antelope Field (1897–1907) Nebraska Field (1909–1922) Memorial Stadium (1923–present)
Rivalries	Colorado Iowa Iowa State Kansas Kansas State Miami (FL) Minnesota Missouri Oklahoma Wisconsin
Games	Bowl games 1922 vs. Notre Dame 1959 vs. Oklahoma 1971 vs. Oklahoma ("Game of the Century") 1982 vs. Penn State 1997 vs. Missouri ("Flea Kicker") 2001 vs. Oklahoma ("Black 41 Flash Reverse")
Culture and lore	History (under Tom Osborne) Herbie Husker Lil' Red "Dear Old Nebraska U" "Hail Varsity" "Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A." "Sirius" Blackshirts Cornhusker Marching Band Fumblerooski I formation Option Sellout streak Team Jack Tunnel Walk
People	Head coaches All-Americans College Football Hall of Fame inductees Honors and awards NFL draftees Starting quarterbacks Statistical leaders Yearly statistical leaders
Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold