Jerry Murtaugh Season 1970

Honors & Awards

• Signed Free Agent Contract with New England Patriots
• 1971 Hula Bowl and Coaches All America Game
• 1970 First-Team All-American (AP, Football News, Walter Camp)
• 1970 Second-Team All-American (Central Press Captains, UPI)
• 1970 Big 8 Player-of-the-Year (UPI)
• 1970 First-Team All-Big 8 (AP,UPI)
• 1970 Nebraska Lineman Player-of-the-Week (USC, KansasState)
• 1969 Sun Bowl Outstanding Lineman
• 1969 First-Team All-Big 8 (AP, UPI)
• 1969 Nebraska Lineman-of-the-Week (USC)
• 1968 Honorable Mention All-Big 8 (AP)

As of 2007 Murtaugh is ranked forth in the Husker record book for most tackles in a season in with 132. Murtaugh now ranks second in career tackles as he was knocked off by Barrett Ruud.

1970 (Senior)
Named to the Playboy Magazine and Football-New pre-season All-America squads, rated as one of the top linebackers going into his senior year and Murtaugh showed why earning All-America and All-Big 8 honors. Murtaugh also earned Big 8 Player-of-the-Year from UPI.

Murtaugh was a defensive force all year for the Blackshirts. Behind Murtaugh the Huskers led the Big 8 Conference in both rushing defense and scoring defense and finished second in total defense. The Huskers only gave up 145.0 yards per game on the ground and 306.8 total yards overall. The Husker offense didn’t have much to worry about as they scored 37.2 points a game while the defense held the opposition to only 16.1 yards per game.

In the National Championship game against LSU Murtaugh led the way with nine total tackles as LSU was only able to muster 51 yards on the ground. The Huskers would win their first ever National Championship 17-12 over the Tigers.

1969 (Junior)
Two-year starter and unanimous All-Big 8 pick in 1969. Murtaugh was voted Outstanding Lineman-of-the-Game in the Sun Bowl for his great play and leadership that helped sock the Georgia Bulldogs 45-6.

Murtaugh broke Wayne Meylan’s total tackles in a season record in 1969 with 126. Murtaugh had 73 assisted tackles, 53 unassisted tackles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.

The Huskers bounced back from an opening game loss to USC to shutout Texas A&M 14-0 in the second game of the year. Murtaugh and the Blackshirts held the Aggies to only 171 total yards of offense. The Blackshirts led the Big 8 Conference in both total defense, only allowing 253.3 yards per game, and scoring defense, only giving up 11.3 points per game.

1968 (Sophomore)
Busiest tackler on the 1968 squad, Jerry flashed to stardom as a sophomore. Tough, quick athlete who could really hit, Murtaugh logged 36 unassisted tackles and 63 assisted tackles for a total of 99 tackles, which led the team. Murtaugh not only made tackles, he also broke up five passes on the year. Murtaugh also tied for third on the team with six tackles behind the line for 38 yards in losses.

Before Nebraska (Omaha North)
Football star at Omaha North for Coach Leonard Bond. Was a State wrestling champion and also played baseball for the Vikings.

Personal
Physical Education Major in the Teachers College. Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Murtaugh.

Year	UT	AT	TT	TFL	R	BK	PBU	PI
1968	36	63	99	6-38	0	0	5	0
1969	53	73	126	2-8	1	0	3	2
1970	80	62	142	0-0	0	0	3	3
Total	169	198	367	8-46	1	0	11	5