Video Spotlight: Johnny Rodgers to Frosty Anderson in the ’73 Orange Bowl

Nebraska’s 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers finished his college career in style in the Huskers’ 40-6 triumph over Notre Dame in the 1973 Orange Bowl.

Switched to I-back from wing-back, Rodgers produced five of Nebraska’s six touchdowns that day despite suffering from the flu. He gained 84 yards rushing with three touchdowns on 15 carries, caught three passes for 71 yards, including a 50-yard scoring catch, and then threw this 52-yard touchdown pass to Frosty Anderson.

Recalled Anderson: “We knew he was a good thrower. But when I looked back into that black Miami sky, it was one of the most perfect balls I can remember. I was just thinking, “Don’t drop this.”

“I wanted to go for the bomb,” Rodgers told the media afterward. “I didn’t fool around with those short, dinky passes. We knew it would work so why not go for the big one.”