[NU Sports] stats (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

> Every solid program has this "backup" guy who may go his whole career without
> a start.  Everyone on the team knows and appreciates his role which is to be
> ready if needed even if you are never needed.

Better example:  Nebraska 1994.  Tommie Frazier went into the hospital
midseason with blood clots (that ruined his NFL chances and cut short 
his attempt at a pro career in the CFL.)

Then his backup, Brook Berringer, went down with a partially collapsed lung
during the Oklahoma State game.

In comes walkon Matt Turman, who then started the Kansas State game the
following week.  While he didn't have a great game (Berringer was able 
to come in for the 2nd half), Nebraska won and Matt will forever be known 
in Husker circles as the Turmanator.  

In 1995 Frazier was healthy again and Berringer sat on the bench most
of the season.

In a fitting cap to his career, Turman came into the Fiesta Bowl game at 
the end of the 1995 season with the Huskers leading 62-24 to take a knee 
at the Florida 3 yard line.  (One Florida fan I know thinks that was a 
bigger slap than if the Huskers had just pounded it in one more time.)

Sadly, Brook Berringer died in an ultralight plane crash a few days 
before he was expected to be about a 4th round NFL draft choice.  There
is a citizenship award at Nebraska in his honor these days as well as 
a Brook Berringer Memorial Scholarship funded by the country group 
Sawyer Brown.  (Brook was also an accomplished musician and a friend
of the group.)

Both of these players made huge contributions coming off the bench.
--
Mike Nolan