Nebraska’s Brook Berringer may be the most well-known back up in college football. He spent most of his college career behind Tommie Frazier save for one season, 1994. But it was that season that made him a Cornhusker legend. With yesterday serving as the 14th anniversary of his death in a plane crash, Berringer is still celebrated by Husker nation.
During his first two seasons in Lincoln, Berringer was the back up to all-world Tommie Frazier. In 1993, the Cornhuskers reached the Orange Bowl, before falling to Florida State for the national title. That season set up another run for the title in 1994 title, but with seven games remaining in the schedule, Frazier had to sit out because of blood clots in his right leg. That’s when Berringer stepped up.
Despite having two collapsed lungs, Berringer took the field with special protection for his chest and started the final seven games of the year. The offense was changed slightly to accommodate Berringer who was more of a passer. During that stretch, he hit 62 percent of his passes for 1,295 yards and 10 touchdowns. Even though Frazier started the national championship game, Berringer made a 19-yard touchdown pass that got the Cornhuskers back into the game, which they eventually won. The back-up’s legendary status was solidified.
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During his senior season Berringer went back to his role as the back-up quarterback. Nebraska won another national title and even though Berringer had just one season of starting under his belt (a partial season at that), he was expected to be taken in the 1996 NFL Draft. Sadly, two days before the draft, Berringer and his girlfriend’s brother died in a plane crash in Raymond, NE. Berringer, an amateur pilot, was flying the plane.
Immediately following the accident, Nebraska canceled an event that was meant to celebrate the ’95 championship. Prior to the next Red-White spring game, the school held a memorial service for Berringer. Over 40,000 fans showed up. One year later a country group, Sawyer Brown, released “Nebraska Song” which was an ode to Berringer and written before his death. The band’s first public performance of the song was on the campus of the University of Nebraska during the Nebraska State Fair.
One final tribute to Berringer that will last in perpetuity is a life-sized bronze statue of the quarterback standing alongside his coach, Tom Osborne. The statue stands outside the entrance of the Nebraska football team’s athletic complex.
yeah…this was such a sad story…when I think of college athletes dyin I always think of Chris Street
He will be forever young.