Mike Fultz Season 1976

Honors & Awards

• Drafted in 2nd Round by the New Orleans Saints (34th Overall)
• 1976 First-Team All-American (UPI, Football News, Sporting News, Walter Camp)
• 1976 Honorable Mention All-American (AP)
• 1976 First-Team All-Big 8 (UPI, AP)
• 1975 First-Team All-Big 8 (World-Herald)
• 1975 Second-Team All-Big 8 (AP, UPI)
• 1974 Big 8 Sophomore Defensive Player-of-the-Year (UPI)

As of 2007 Fultz is tied for No. 40 on the Husker career tackle chart with Willie Harper and Eric Johnson.

1976 (Senior)
Selected to four 1976 All-America teams (UPI, Football News, Sporting News, Walter Camp). The strongest player on the ’76 squad, Mike was a terror to opposing offensive lines and teamed with Ron Pruitt to give the Huskers what was probably the best pair of defensive tackles in the country.

Fultz was in on 66 tackles (36 unassisted) and recovered three fumbles. The Blackshirts came through big against Colorado in the fifth game of the season as the Buffaloes were stopped short of pay dirt after reaching the Husker four-yard line. Dave Butterfield broke through to block the eventual field goal try and the Huskers would win 24-12. The following game in Lincoln against KansasState, the Fultz and the Blackshirts would hold the Wildcats to a school record minus 45-yards rushing; the Wildcats would only get 81 total yards on the day in a 51-0 loss to the Huskers. Against Kansas State Fultz would lead the Huskers in tackles with ten and also record a tackle behind the line for a 19-yard loss. In the final regular season game of the year in Honolulu, Hawaii the Blackshirts held the Rainbows to 205 total yards and only let them cross midfield twice. The Rainbows only managed one score on a third quarter 43-yard field goal, the Huskers would go on to win the game 68-3.

For his achievements the New Orleans Saints made Fultz the first Nebraska player drafted in the 1977 draft, picking the native of Lincoln 34th overall in the second round.

1975 (Junior)
Was in on 54 total tackles, including 31 unassisted, and wrapped up opponents 13 times behind the line for a loss of 57 yards.

In a 16-0 shutout over Kansas, Fultz and the Blackshirts held Kansas’ wishbone offense and quarterback Nolan Cromwell to only 121 yards rushing and 177 total yards. Cromwell was held to just 62 yards on 19 carries. In the Huskers next game the Blackshirts had to save the day for the Huskers as the Oklahoma State Cowboys tried to score three times from inside the Husker five yard line in the last minute of play, but thanks to fine defensive plays the Huskers held on 28-20. In the Huskers forth shutout of the year in a win over IowaState, 52-0, the Blackshirts held IowaState to 202 total yards.

1974 (Sophomore)
As a sophomore starter, Fultz was named by United Press International as the Big 8’s Sophomore Defensive Player-of-the-Year. In Nebraska’s 56-0 shutout of Kansas in Lawrence the defense held the Jayhawks to just four first downs, 143 total yards, intercepted two passes and recovered one fumble. Eight straight times in 1974 the Blackshirts held a team scoreless through three quarters (Northwestern, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State).

Fultz ended the season with 60 total tackles, 31 unassisted. Fultz was second on the team in tackles for loss (8 for 32 yards) behind senior John Lee who had 11 tackles for 58 yards in losses.

Before Nebraska (Lincoln High School)
All-State football player and state champion shot putter in 1973 at Lincoln High.

Personal
Industrial Arts Major in Teachers College while at Nebraska, born Jan. 28, 1954 to Mrs. Connie Fultz.

Year	UT	AT	TT	TFL	R	BK	PBU	PI
1974	31	29	60	8-32	2	0	0	0
1975	31	23	54	13-57	1	0	0	0
1976	36	30	66	8-45	3	0	1	0
Totals	98	82	180	29-134	6	0	1	0