Former Nebraska football Heisman Trophy winner was honored by his high school in Omaha just ahead of this season's Husker opener. Quarterback Eric Crouch had part of 144th Street near his alma mater, Millard North High School, renamed in his honor.
Omaha Mayor John Ewing joined Crouch's former teachers and coaches, including former Mustangs coach Fred Petito, to celebrate the street naming.
Former Nebraska football great gets home town honor
Crouch attended Millard North from 1993 to 1997. He was a Gatorade High School Player of the Year for the state of Nebraska in 1996. He ran for 1,277 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 543 passing yards and five touchdowns. He also caught the eye of then head coach Frank Solich who took him under his wing and saw that he had the talent to put up incredible numbers in the right system.
The former quarterback played at the University of Nebraska from 1997 to 2001. In 43 games, he ran for 3,434 yards and 59 touchdowns while throwing for 4,481 yards and 29 touchdowns with 25 interceptions.
He also won the 2001 Heisman Trophy over Florida's Rex Grossman, Miami's Ken Dorsey, and Oregon's Joey Harrington. That season, he ran for 1,115 yards and 18 touchdowns while throwing for 1,510 yards, seven touchdowns, and ten interceptions. While his passing numbers were never great, he often took over a game with his feet and led the Huskers to the National Title game, though NU was pummeled by Dorsey's Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl.