Husker Football: Tommy Armstrong's Numbers Look Familiar

Who’s the best Husker football player whose first name starts with a “t” and ends with an “omm-ee” sound? Please, for the love of all that is holy, tell me that you answered that question with a “Touchdown Tommie all the way!”

If you didn’t (or even if you did), you are now required to watch this video of Tommie Frazier during Nebraska’s evisceration of Florida in the 1996 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl:

With that out of the way, we can move on. Let’s turn our attention to some info that might make Husker fans forget about the pick six against McNeese State, poor throws and brain farts this season.

Believe it or not, Tommy Armstrong is statistically a better quarterback than Tommie Frazier was when he was a sophomore.

Both had their cupcakes to nosh on through four games, too. Frazier had North Texas and Colorado State while Armstrong had Florida Atlantic and Fresno State. Yes, the Cowboys were supposed to be one, too, a fair point.

Here’s how the numbers break down:

Through 11 games, Frazier averaged 105.4 yards through the air, tossing 12 touchdowns while being intercepted four times:

		Passing
Year	G	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	AY/A	TD	Int	Rate
1993	11	77	162	47.5	1159	7.2	7.5	12	4	127.1
Career		232	469	49.5	3521	7.5	8.3	43	11	138.1

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CFB: View Original Table

Armstrong is averaging 221 yards through the air and has thrown for nine touchdowns with three interceptions through four games:

		Passing
Year	G	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	AY/A	TD	Int	Rate
2014	4	52	94	55.3	886	9.4	10.4	9	2	161.8
Career		120	225	53.3	1852	8.2	7.8	18	10	140.0

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CFB: View Original Table

On the ground, you might expect Frazier’s numbers to blow Armstrong’s out of the water. They don’t. Here’s TA4’s stats through Nebraska’s non-conference run this year:

		Rushing	Scrimmage
Year	G	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds	Avg	TD
2014	4	40	354	8.9	2	40	354	8.9	2
Career		107	556	5.2	4	107	556	5.2	4

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CFB: View Original Table

Now, let’s examine No. 15’s from back in the day:

		Rushing
Year	G	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
1993	11	126	704	5.6	9
Career		342	1955	5.7	36

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CFB: View Original Table

That means Frazier averaged 64 yards per game, while Armstrong’s juking and jiving for an average of 88.5.

Before the Kool-Aid gets flowing too copiously, lets take a step back. Realistically, what we’re seeing is only a glimpse of what could be. Frazier put in his time for an entire season. He often got pulled early to spare opponents undue bludgeoning.

Not only that, he was only a part of one of the most prolific rushing attacks ever assembled in college football history.

Clearly, Armstrong will need to put together an impressive resume before he can even approach, let alone exceed the standard that Frazier set as Nebraska’s signal-caller.

Husker Football: Tommy Armstrong’s Numbers Look Familiar

By Timothy Duey | Sep 26, 2014