Dave Feit's Greatest Huskers by the Numbers: 53

Dave Feit is counting down the days until the start of the 2025 season by naming the best Husker to wear each uniform number, as well as one of his personal favorites at that number. For more information about the series, click here. To see more entries, click here.

Greatest Husker to wear 53: Randy Schleusener, Offensive Guard, 1977 - 1980

Honorable Mention: Hugh Rhea, Fay Russell

Also worn by: Carl Ashman, Adna Dobson, Robert Hill, Joe Johnson, Bob Oberlin, Thad Randle, Matt Shook, Anthony Thomas, Tom Thomas, Cody Volk, Tyler Wortman, Bill Ziegelbein

Dave's Fave: Gabe Fries, Linebacker, 1998 - 2002 / Matt Hunting, Linebacker, 1994 - 1996 / Matt Shook, Center, 1998 - 2001

In the 1971 Game of the Century between Nebraska and Oklahoma, Tom Osborne and Barry Switzer were the offensive coordinators for their respective teams. Osborne's I-formation attack scored 35 points that day, four more than Switzer's wishbone.

In 1973, both Switzer and Osborne became head coaches. Switzer dominated the early rounds, winning 27-0, 28-14, 35-10, 20-17 and 38-7 in their first five meetings.

Before the 1978 game, Tom Osborne was interviewed by ABC. Coach, what are your thoughts about playing OU?

"Every game against the Sooners takes on a great deal of importance for us," Osborne said on the telecast. "I think a lot of the people in Nebraska have narrowed it down to almost a one-game season where you can do pretty well, but if you don't beat Oklahoma, you've had a bad year. So, naturally, there's a lot of heat on us to win."

Osborne was 54-15-2 (.775) as Nebraska's head coach when he said those words.

The pressure to beat the Sooners and get back to the championship ways of the Devaney era was a big reason why Osborne gave serious consideration to becoming Colorado's head coach.*

*Osborne was offered the Colorado job - and a sizable pay raise - a few weeks after the 1978 OU game. Osborne and his wife, Nancy, went to Boulder in December 1978 to meet with CU officials and consider the offer. Colorado had a lot to offer: more money, less pressure to win, and Osborne - an avid fisherman - would have enjoyed the mountain streams.

In the end, Osborne declined the offer. He realized that success only boosts expectations, which would increase the pressure - and decrease his fishing time. Money is nice, but it was never a core motivator for Osborne, who often shared his raises with his staff.

Most importantly, he could not imagine coaching against his former players.

So, yeah… there was a little bit of pressure in 1978 to beat Oklahoma for the first time since the Game of the Century, even if the Sooners came in as the No. 1 team in the country.

The 1978 game is one of the greatest games in school history. The 99th consecutive sellout crowd is still mentioned as one of the loudest ever, despite it being an 11 a.m. kickoff in weather that - in a words of ABC's Keith Jackson - was "cold enough to make a brass monkey clank, I'll tell you that." John Ruud's punishing hit on an Oklahoma kickoff is likely in the five most-watched Husker highlights. Another big hit - Jeff Hanson on Heisman winner Billy Sims - caused a fumble that secured a 17-14 win.

Billy Sims carries the ball during the 1978 Nebraska-Oklahoma game. | Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images

It is the only time Nebraska has beaten a No. 1-ranked team in Memorial Stadium. Randy Schleusner, a sophomore guard from Rapid City, played on special teams.

Osborne's reward for finally knocking off the Sooners? A rematch with them in the Orange Bowl after the Missouri Tigers upset NU in the regular-season finale. Nebraska lost the rematch 31-24.

So it was for Osborne against Switzer. He had to work for everything he got and often felt the need to dig into his bag of tricks for an edge. Late in the 1979 game, NU was trailing 17-7 and was facing third-and-14 from the OU 15. Osborne called his first fumblerooski, where the quarterback took the snap and placed the ball on the ground for a guard pulling to the side opposite of the play fakes being carried out by the backs.*

*The fumblerooski did not come from the football genius brain of Tom Osborne. The Huskers were watching film of a Texan they were recruiting and saw the play.

Randy Schleusener provides protection for quarterback Jeff Quinn during the 1980 Sun Bowl. | Nebraska Football Media Guide

Randy Schleusner, now a starting guard, scored a touchdown on the fumblerooski to make it a 17-14 game. Nebraska would get two more possessions in the last three minutes of the game, but a Jeff Quinn interception and a turnover on downs sealed Nebraska's fate. The 1980 game, another one-score loss, would be decided by another Osborne nemesis: Sooner Magic, as Buster Rhymes scored with 56 seconds left in the game.

The 1979 and 1980 teams both finished 10-2 and ranked in the top 10. But Nebraska fans do not look as fondly upon those teams as some of the others in Osborne's tenure - mainly because they did not beat Oklahoma. That's a shame, because they were good teams with great players.

Randy Schleusener was an excellent guard on those Nebraska teams at the end of the 1970s. He was a team captain as a senior in 1980 and earned All-Big Eight and All-America honors. Equally impressive in the classroom, Schleusner was a two-time academic All-American and a winner of the prestigious NCAA Today's Top Eight.

He was a ninth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, but he never played in the NFL. Instead, he chose to come back to school to earn his medical doctorate. He is a practicing spinal surgeon in his native Rapid City, South Dakota.

After the 1980 game, Osborne was now 1-8 against Switzer, but the tide was about to turn.

***

Author's note:

In lieu of highlighting a singular favorite, I'm choosing to have a little fun.

As we learned at #55, walk-on linebacker Matt Hunting is the first Husker player to "throw the bones" by making an X with his forearms. Jason Peter took it from the practice field to the Memorial Stadium turf.

Matt Hunting's name consists of a noun (mat) and a verb (hunting). Hunting wore #53 during his career, as did players like Gabe Fries and Matt Shook, whose names are also comprised of a noun and a verb.

With thousands of Husker players come thousands of names, many of which share the same spelling (or approximate pronunciation) as common nouns, verbs and adjectives. I thought it would be fun see if I could work at least 53 names (from a variety of uniform numbers) into a piece… I quadrupled that goal.

Other than the beginning of sentences, every capitalized word is the first or last name of a former Nebraska football player.

Husker players come in all shapes and sizes. Players both Young and Olds, Huge and Small, Syncere and Ruud, Swift Denslow have played for the big red team.

When coaches are recruiting, they will often look for a Manley Mann with Goodspeed, Bloodgood, and strong Eisenhart. Somebody Abel and Armstrong, not a Wichmann. In recruiting, things like Lipps, Knuckles and Butts aren't that important. Let's be honest: nobody will care if the nose tackle's DePooter is a little Chubba.

Prospective players have come from all across the Nation. Small Townsend Urban settings - even a Beach out West by the Seaman. Coaches will turn over every Broadstone on Overstreet to find a Guy who can Startzer.

Nebraska defensive end Freedom Akinmoladun. | Bruce Thorson-Imagn Images

They've have hailed from cities like Austin, Cleveland, Dallas, Demoine, Houston, KC and Orlando. They've recruited internationally in Rome, London*, Frantz and Copenhagen, but have yet to find a Dane to train.

*"GBR" stands for go big red, right? Not necessarily! Across the pond, it refers to jolly old England, were the English say things like "Helu gubnah!" and talk about King Charles and other members of the Royal family like Prince William and Harry, the Earl, the Dukes, and any other Lord or Knight that lives in a big Kastl with multiple Loos.

But, here in the land of Freedom, where you are a Freeman (or woman), we say "Bullocks!" to all that Britt bull.

Nebraska fans love their in-state walk-ons too, from places like Grant, Norris, Arnold, Ashton, Bennett, Brock, Cody, Craig, Duncan, Wayne, Gordon and so many Moore.

The university offers numerous fields of study, which is important as most athletes go pro in something other than sports. Huskers have gone on to become a Baker, Banker, Butler, Carpenter, D.J., Farmer, Mason and Painter. Those interested in management can become a Leader in their Jobes, like a Foreman, Dean or Chancellor. There's no such thing as a bad Jobman. Even a Carr Parker can Turner a nice Proffitt.

***

Adrian Martinez, aka 2AM | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

A downside of working on this countdown series all Day and Knight Long, (often, until 2AM) is that I Constantine have player names Stuckey in my brain (or Brian, as my transposing* Hand has been known to Spellman).

*Typos are a big concern for me. It's important to distinguish between Callihan and Reilly (players) and Callahan and Riley (coaches). Ensuring I have the correct Bo, Boe, Beau, or Beaux is enough to make my head go Boerboom. Frankly, it's a lot of Bowman.

No matter where I go or what I do, I cannot stop thinking about past players like Octavius McFarlin, Nico Ottomanelli and 2002 walk-on running back Nanfwang Mutfwang. It's no Goodman.

Nebraska linebacker Eric Martin. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

I thought a Walker in the Forrest would make me feel like a Newman, but it was too Rainey. I took the kids to the zoo, but I saw were former players. Martin, Herron, Peacock and a Stalbird in the Byrd aviary. The aquarium had Fish, the Fyn of a Shark, a Pike, even a Bushee Beaver hiding in his Burrow.

Maybe a meal will help. I know the Best restaurant where they grill Huge steaks from a Steer, juicy Franks, or a delicious Strasburger,* with Fries or house-made potato Chip from the deep Fryar. Nebraskans certainly know how to Cook a Cobb of Cornwell. A side of Rice - or in some old-school steakhouses, a dish of Righetti - works too. I like to go at Noonan have a Hardy Feist. Pass the Saltsman.

*Always be sure to Givens the wait Stafford a lot of Grace. Nobody wants a Spitzenberger.

After a meal, I often like to enjoy a nice slice Opie, like a Custard, Appleget, or some kind of Sauer Barry (I recommend the Mooberry, Faulkenberry or Stansberry!) with a Graham cracker crust. Some like a cup of Coffey, but I'm okay to Drinkwalter.

The best part of eating out is that you don't have to wash a Dishman. To me, that makes it Worthy of the Price.

Are you feeling Fullman?

***

You might think this Post is not Worthy of your time, and prefer I tell a Story about football.

Suh me.

Sorry, that was Ruud. Here's one you Will Treu-ly Love, even though the final score was not Closman.

Nebraska linebacker Bo Ruud. | Bruce Thorson-Imagn Images

Nebraska once had a 102-0 Victory over Creighton, where they beat Ajay like a Drum. It is a Shamus that no Staats exist. I'd love to know if there was a Sack, Punt Block, a Lott of Luck, or if an ancestor of Barrett Pickering did the kickering.

Speaking on which, the boys in Red kicked their Clete squarely into some Blue Jay Butts. It was a Goodwin that gives me a bigger Rush of Joy than a Ty would. That's no Lyman.

***

I have had a Major Ball Hunting through my List for names to Flippin to these puns. But all of this Utter silliness has given me a thirst for a Beveridge. I could go for Decoldest Frosty Brew, a Little Mead, or - if I'm feeling a little Winey - a glass of Redwine that tastes fresh from Devine. Does anybody know a good Weinmaster? Noa?

On second thought, I'm trying to be Goodman. Just give me a McCann of Poppe.

Thank you for reading to my Spielman.

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