Rich Glover heard the news Monday evening from his home in Jersey City, N.J.
Ndamukong Suh was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Glover's initial reaction: “Wow.”
Glover knows how difficult it is to win Heisman votes as a defensive lineman. He's the last Husker defender to be invited to New York, and one of only three defenders since 1970 to finish top-three in Heisman votes. (Hugh Green finished second in 1980, Charles Woodson first in '97.)
Ask a Husker fan over 50 to name the greatest Blackshirt ever and there's a good chance he says Rich Glover.
Like Suh, Glover earned nationwide fame from a Herculean performance on national TV. Against Oklahoma in 1971, a duel known as the “Game of the Century,” Glover made 22 tackles. That was the “coming-out party,” Glover said.
Said Johnny Rodgers: “It was just like our game here the other night, when Suh made big play after big play.”
The Huskers won the national title in '71, then Glover returned for his senior year and tried to live up to his reputation.
“I had to prepare myself to play every day, every game just as hard. People said, ‘I want to see how good this Rich Glover is. Is he really as good as they say he is?'
“That right there was my challenge.”
Of course, the Huskers had an even bigger star in Bob Devaney's final campaign: Rodgers.
The final game of the '72 regular season featured the three top Heisman candidates: Rodgers, Glover and OU's Greg Pruitt.
Oklahoma won the game, but Rodgers won the Heisman. Pruitt was second, Glover third.
“It was just a great feeling knowing you were one of the top players in the country, knowing you had a chance to win the Heisman,” Glover said.
“D-linemen or O-linemen, if you play just as hard as running backs and wide receivers, you should have the opportunity to be nominated to be the greatest player in college football.”
Glover, 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds when he played at NU, didn't leave college empty-handed. In '72, he took home the Outland and Lombardi awards. He finished the season credited with 100 tackles, including nine for loss. (Suh, in two more games, has 82 tackles, 23 for loss).
“Richie was one of the greatest defensive linemen that we ever had,” Rodgers said. “I think Suh is right up there with the greatest (players) of all time.”
Earlier in Suh's career, Glover wasn't all that impressed. He wanted to see more consistent effort and domination.
Against Texas, Glover got it.
“He really stepped his game up,” Glover said. “If the offense would've played like he played, they would've won.”
A few years ago, Glover assisted Tony Samuel at New Mexico State. Now he's the head coach at Dickinson High in his hometown, Jersey City.
He'll be watching this Saturday, when, just up the road in Manhattan, another Blackshirt beast — the 21st century version of Rich Glover — takes his place in Heisman history.
Suh may not win, but Glover admires him nonetheless.
“I'd like to get the chance to shake his hand,” Glover said.
Contact the writer:
679-9899, dirk.chatelain@owh.com
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