Nebraska Football: A Historical Kind of Husker Quarterback Battle
3. Vince Ferragamo
A fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, Ferragamo is a fan favorite throughout Husker lore regardless of the date. He most definitely created many a Run The Ball Guy® in his day.
Named a 1977 First-Team All-American by Football News, Ferragamo’s abilities skyrocketed after he transferred from California after two seasons with the Golden Bears.
His 1975 numbers mostly weren’t much to write home about from a passing perspective. He managed 1,153 yards and 12 touchdowns to five interceptions through 12 games.
It was during his senior season that the light turned on and we see what he could do for Mike Riley.
Through 13 games, Ferragamo threw 142 more passes than he did the entire year prior. While technically completing less than the previous season (57 percent versus 58.5), he made those completions count.
He would throw for 1,101 more yards (2,254) and walk away from the season with a 22-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
He had three receivers top 500 yards in Chuck Malito (722), Bobby Thomas (561) and Dave Shamblin (513). Ken Spaeth would also contribute 265 yards to the cause.
It’s important to remember that while all this was going on, Nebraska had three backs tearing it up on the turf. Rick Berns ran for 972, Monte Anthony for 594 and Dodie Donnell for 520.