A documentary about the Nebraska football title teams of the 1990s will not be shown in ESPN's "30 for 30" documentary series, an ESPN spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
The film, which was to document the roller coaster ride of Nebraska's 1994 and 1995 national title seasons was nixed by ESPN for a "variety of reasons."
"ESPN Films always has a multitude of stories in production at any time. While we remain excited about Nebraska football and its dynasty, for a variety of reasons — including timeline issues — we will not be moving forward with this film," an ESPN spokesperson said in a statement.
1620 KOZN was the first to report the news.Â
Nebraska's 1994 and 1995 seasons were filled with off-the-field controversy and on-the-field domination. Over the course of two seasons, Nebraska was 25-0 with bowl wins over Miami and Florida. The 1994 season was head coach Tom Osborne’s first national title, and the 1995 team is often referred to as the best team in college football history.
Meanwhile, the Huskers dealt with a variety of off-the-field troubles, including an assault charge and suspension of Heisman hopeful Lawrence Phillips in 1995. Initially, Osborne kicked Phillips off the team after Phillips’ arrest, but Osborne later controversially let Phillips back into the locker room and instead suspended the running back. Phillips played in Nebraska's Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida to win the 1995 title.
The documentary would’ve likely also dealt with the death of quarterback Brook Berringer, who died in a plane crash after the 1995 season. Berringer was the starting quarterback for most of the 1994 season due to quarterback Tommie Frazier's blood clots. Frazier won back the starting job for the 1995 season and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting.
The documentary's director, Eric Drath, did not immediately return a message from The World-Herald. Drath had said in an interview in February 2016 with WOWT Channel 6 that he was working on a film about the Huskers.
Other ESPN “30 for 30” documentaries about college football have included the Miami Hurricanes football dynasty, the USC football mini-dynasty under Pete Carroll and the NCAA scandal involving SMU’s program.
Photos: History of Husker bowl game front pages
Click the images below to see full-screen versions of each page.
Jan. 1, 1941: Nebraska lost to Stanford 21-13 in the Rose Bowl. The Huskers led 13-7 at one point, but couldn't hang on. "Stanford is a beautiful team," Nebraska coach Biff Jones said. "One of the fastest, smartest I have ever seen."
Jan. 1, 1955: Nebraska lost to Duke 34-7 in the Orange Bowl. The Huskers were outgained in net yardage 370-110, and trailed by a 23-6 margin in first downs.
Dec. 15, 1962: Nebraska defeated Miami 36-34 in the Gotham Bowl. The Huskers' first bowl victory came in Yankee Stadium in Bob Devaney's first season as head coach.
Jan. 1, 1964: Nebraska defeated Auburn 13-7 in the Orange Bowl. "It was true what they said about Nebraska being a big, strong and resourceful football team," Miami Herald sports editor Jimmy Burns wrote after the game. "The Cornhuskers lived up to that reputation here."
Jan. 1, 1965: Nebraska lost to Arkansas 10-7 in the Cotton Bowl. "We played to the best of our ability," Nebraska coach Bob Devaney said. "Maybe even a little above our ability."
Jan. 1, 1966: Alabama defeated Nebraska 39-28 in the Orange Bowl. Nebraska quarterback Bob Churchich, from Omaha, threw what was then an Orange Bowl record-tying three touchdown passes.
Jan. 2, 1967: Alabama defeated Nebraska 34-7 in the Sugar Bowl. It was the worst defeat suffered by Nebraska since Oklahoma topped Bob Devaney’s first Husker squad, 34-6, in 1962. Nebraska quarterback Bob Churchich did set a then-NU passing record with 21 completions.
Dec. 20, 1969: Nebraska defeated Georgia 45-6 in the Sun Bowl. "Nebraska's mean Cornhuskers kicked the Georgia Bulldog to death in the first quarter Saturday," then-World-Herald sports editor Wally Provost wrote. The Huskers had six interceptions and recovered two fumbles in the rout.
Jan. 1, 1971: Nebraska won the national championship with a 17-12 win over LSU in the Orange Bowl. Nebraska had 14 tackles for loss that totaled 107 yards, and held LSU to 51 rushing yards.
Jan. 1, 1972: Nebraska won its second consecutive national title with a 38-6 win over Alabama in the Orange Bowl. The Husker defense set up four touchdowns via three recovered fumbles and an interception.
Jan. 1, 1973: Nebraska defeated Notre Dame 40-6 in the Orange Bowl. The win marked the final game in coach Bob Devaney's career. "A golden era in Cornhuskerdom ended late Monday night in the sauna bath-like heat of the Orange Bowl with the man who made it all possible riding high on the shoulders of his players," The World-Herald's Tom Allan wrote. "And riding even higher in the hearts of all Nebraskans."
Jan. 1, 1974: Nebraska knocked off Texas 19-3 in the Cotton Bowl. Steve Runty, who was playing his final game, waited through a redshirt season and three more years as a substitute before finally getting his chance in the second half against the Longhorns. The Huskers broke a 3-3 tie and outscored Texas 16-0 with Runty under center.
Dec. 31, 1974: The Huskers defeated Florida 13-10 in the Sugar Bowl. Mike Coyle, a kicker from Omaha, connected on a 37-yard field goal with 7:12 remaining to tie the game before making the 39-yard game-winner with 1:45 left in the game.
Dec. 26, 1975: Arizona State defeated Nebraska 17-14 in the Fiesta Bowl. Dan Kush, son of ASU coach Frank Kush, was given playing time after his mom "threatened" the coach. It worked, as the kicker connected on three field goals, including the game-winner from 29-yards out with 4:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Dec. 30, 1976: Nebraska defeated Texas Tech 27-24 in the Astro-Blue Bonnet Bowl. Husker defensive lineman Ron Pruitt stripped the ball from Red Raider quarterback Rodney Allison in the closing seconds, and Reg Gast recovered to clinch the NU victory.
Dec. 19, 1977: Nebraska defeated North Carolina 21-17 in the Liberty Bowl. Randy Garcia, filling in for the injured Tom Sorley, threw two touchdowns in the final 11 minutes as the Huskers overcame a late 17-7 deficit.
Jan. 1, 1979: Oklahoma topped the Huskers 31-24 in the Orange Bowl. The Sooners lost six of nine fumbles in the initial go-round between the two squads, but only put one on the ground this time.
Jan. 1. 1980: Nebraska lost to Houston 17-14 in the Cotton Bowl. With 12 seconds remaining, the Cougars capped a 66-yard drive with a touchdown pass from Terry Elston to Eric Herring, which was deflected by NU cornerback Ric Lindquist.
Dec. 27, 1980: Nebraska beat Mississippi State 31-17 in the Sun Bowl. The Bulldogs didn't cross midfield until the third quarter.
Jan. 1, 1982: Clemson defeated Nebraska 22-15 in the Orange Bowl to claim the national championship. Roger Craig's 26-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion in the fourth quarter cut the Tigers' lead from 22-7, but NU couldn't finish the comeback.
Jan. 1, 1983: Nebraska defeated LSU 21-20 in the Orange Bowl. The Cornhuskers overcame six turnovers and fought back from a 17-7 deficit.
Jan. 2, 1984: Nebraska lost to Miami 31-30 in the national championship game. Nebraska went for a two-point conversion with 48 seconds remaining, but couldn't convert.
Jan. 1, 1985: Nebraska topped LSU 28-10 in the Sugar Bowl. LSU quarterback Jeff Wickersham threw for 212 yards in the first half, but the Huskers held him to just nine in the second half.
Jan. 1, 1986: Nebraska lost to Michigan 27-23 in the Fiesta Bowl. The Huskers had more rushing yards (304-171), more passing yards (66-63), more return yards (20-3), more time of possession (32:01 to 27:59) and a better ratio of third-down conversions (7 of 17 to 4 of 14), but also had four turnovers to Michigan's none.
Jan. 1, 1987: Nebraska defeated LSU 30-15 in the Sugar Bowl. Nebraska quarterback Steve Taylor threw for 110 yards, ran for 63 more and had two total touchdowns as NU extended its streak of top-10 finishes to 17 seasons.
Jan. 1, 1988: Florida State topped Nebraska 31-28 in the Fiesta Bowl. Nebraska I-back Tyreese Knox’s fumble at the Florida State 3-yard line kept the Huskers from turning a 28-24 lead into an 11-point edge with 6:58 left in the game, and FSU quarterback Danny McManus finished a 97-yard, game-winning drive with a 15-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal.
Jan. 2, 1989: Miami knocked off Nebraska 23-3 in the Orange Bowl. The lone field goal marked NU’s lowest point total in 135 games, stretching back to a season-opening 20-3 loss to Alabama in 1978.
Jan. 1, 1990: Florida State defeated Nebraska 41-17 in the Fiesta Bowl. Seminole quarterback Peter Tom Willis completed 25 of 40 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns. "I'm a little bit embarrassed," NU coach Tom Osborne said.
Jan. 1, 1991: Georgia Tech defeated Nebraska 45-21 in the Florida Citrus Bowl. The 45 points tied the most allowed by an Osborne-led Husker team with NU's prior a game, a 45-10 loss to Oklahoma.
Jan. 1, 1992: Nebraska lost 22-0 to Miami in the Orange Bowl. The Huskers hadn't been shutout in 221 games, which spanned over 19 seasons. The last time NU failed to score was a 27-0 loss to Oklahoma in 1973.
Jan. 1, 1993: Florida State defeated Nebraska 27-14 in the Orange Bowl. The victory marked FSU's eighth-straight bowl win, while NU extended its bowl losing streak to six.
Jan. 1, 1994: Nebraska lost 18-16 in the national championship to Florida State. With one second left, senior kicker Byron Bennett hooked a 45-yard field goal to the right, which marked the Huskers' seventh straight bowl loss.
Jan. 1, 1995: Nebraska claimed the national championship with a 24-17 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl. Fullback Cory Schlesinger scored two touchdowns in the final eight minutes. Miami had one last gasp, but Kareem Moss intercepted a pass to clinch the title for Nebraska.
Jan. 2, 1996: Nebraska claimed its second consecutive national championship by defeating Florida 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl. Tommie Frazier ran 16 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 6 of 14 passes for 105 yards and another score.Â
Dec. 31, 1996: Nebraska won its third consecutive bowl game by defeating Virginia Tech 41-21 in the Orange Bowl. The victory gave NU its fourth straight season with 11 victories.
Jan. 2, 1998: Nebraska won its third national title in four seasons by defeating Tennessee 42-17 in the Orange Bowl. The Huskers entered the game neck-and-neck with Michigan to claim the national title. Said defensive tackle Jason Peter: "Don't give it to Michigan because they haven't seen the national title in 45 years. Give it to us because we're the best team in the country."
Dec. 30, 1998: Nebraska lost to Arizona 23-20 in the Holiday Bowl. The Huskers suffered their first four-loss season since 1968. Three of those losses came after NU held a fourth-quarter lead.
Jan. 2, 2000: Nebraska defeated Tennessee 31-21 in the Fiesta Bowl. The Volunteers closed to within three points after trailing 14-0, but the Huskers landed the final blow with touchdown drives of 96 and 99 yards.
Dec. 30, 2000: Nebraska pummeled Northwestern 66-17 in the Alamo Bowl. Twelve Huskers contributed to Nebraska's Alamo Bowl-record 476 rushing yards. Dan Alexander led the way by closing his career with 240 yards and two touchdowns on 20 rushes.
Jan. 3, 2002: Nebraska was "blown away" by Miami in the national championship. The Hurricanes won 37-14. When coupled with Nebraska's prior loss to Colorado, it marked the first time NU had lost back-to-back games since 1990.
Dec. 27, 2002: Nebraska had 40 straight winning seasons until it lost 27-23 to Mississippi in the Independence Bowl to finish 7-7. Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning finished with 313 yards through the air.
Dec. 29, 2003: Nebraska beat Michigan State 17-3 in the Alamo Bowl. Senior quarterback Jamaal Lord threw for a career-high 160 yards and Cory Ross ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries.
Dec. 28, 2005: Nebraska defeated Michigan 32-28 in the Alamo Bowl. The Huskers rallied back after trailing 28-17 in the fourth quarter.
Jan. 1, 2009: Bo Pelini won nine games in his first year as Nebraska's coach by defeating Clemson 26-21 in the Gator Bowl. With the Tigers at the NU 10-yard line, the Husker defense stepped up. Nebraska batted down a pass, pushed Clemson back 16 yards with a sack and forced back-to-back incompletions to clinch the game.
Dec. 30, 2009: Nebraska defeated Arizona 33-0 in the Holiday Bowl. Nebraska limited Arizona’s pass-happy attack to 109 yards and six first downs, pitching its first postseason shutout, the first in 14 years of Big 12 bowl-game history and the first in Holiday Bowl history.
Dec. 30, 2010: Washington topped Nebraska 19-7 in the Holiday Bowl. The Huskers defeated the Huskies 56-21 earlier in the season, but 12 penalties helped stall the NU offense.
Jan. 2, 2012: South Carolina defeated Nebraska 30-13 in the Capital One Bowl. The Huskers had just 64 total yards of offense in the second half, along with nine penalties — including four on one drive — five sacks, a missed field goal and an ejection of cornerback Alfonzo Dennard.
Jan. 1, 2013: Nebraska lost 45-31 to Georgia in the Capital One Bowl. NU led 24-23 at halftime and took a 31-23 lead after a long touchdown drive to start the third quarter, but a controversial fumble by Ameer Abdullah swung the momentum in Georgia's favor.
Jan. 1, 2014: Nebraska won the Gator Bowl by defeating Georgia 24-19. Quincy Enunwa was on the receiving end of the longest play in Husker history, a 99-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Tommy Armstrong.
Dec. 27, 2014: Nebraska lost 45-42 to USC in the Holiday Bowl. The Huskers faced fourth-and-three with under three minutes left, but a a jet sweep pitch pass to De'Mornay Pierson-El with Ameer Abdullah as a lead blocker came up short.
Dec. 26, 2015: Nebraska won the Foster Farms Bowl by defeating UCLA 37-29. The Huskers trailed 21-7, but ran their way back in the game. NU totaled 326 yards and four touchdowns on 62 carries split between nine players.
Dec. 30, 2016: Nebraska lost to Tennessee 38-24 in the Music City Bowl. The Volunteers outgained the Huskers 521-318 and NU failed to sack elusive Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs.Â
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