SWIFT'S SUCCESS

Redshirted freshman Nate Swift caught four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. The four receptions give him 42 for the season, the third-highest total in school history. Johnny Rodgers has the top two totals, 55 in 1972 and 53 in 1971. Swift's six touchdown catches are the most since 1992, when tight end Gerald Armstrong caught seven touchdown passes.

Swift's touchdown came on a post pattern, good for 21 yards. "It was wide open," said Swift, who acted as if he were running a corner pattern then cut back inside.

"Actually, we knew we were going to be wide-open on that play."

Swift also had a key pass break-up, on the play before his touchdown catch. Sophomore Terrence Nunn threw the pass, on an end-around play, and Swift prevented Colorado cornerback Lorenzo Sims from intercepting. "We really thought they were going to bite on that," Swift said of the trick play. "They didn't, and he (Nunn) kind of threw a little duck up there, and I had to come back and swat it down."

Swift said "it might have been pass interference (on him). I'm glad they didn't call it."

And yes, he did play defensive back in high school.

ROSS THE RECEIVER

Senior I-back Cory Ross was limited to 13 rushing yards on seven carries, but he was the game's leading receiver, with nine catches for 129 yards and the first touchdown. The nine catches broke his own single-game record for a running back, eight against Iowa State earlier this season, and gave him 40 for the season. Jeff Kinney is the only Cornhusker running back to catch more in a season, 41 in 1969.

Ross is tied with Irving Fryar (1983) for fifth on Nebraska's single-season list. Nunn is seventh on the list with 19 receptions, after catching four for 27 yards against the Buffaloes.

Among the game's most unusual plays was a lateral pass from Taylor to Ross and back to Taylor, who completed a forward pass to Ross for a 25-yard gain.

That wasn't exactly how the double-throwback play was designed. Taylor was supposed to pass to Nunn, but he was covered so Ross improvised, running to the right and calling for the ball.

"It looked like it was a designed play," said Ross.

FIRST-TIME STARTERS

Senior Jared Helming and sophomore Chris Patrick started for the first time in their careers, Helming at offensive left guard and Patrick at offensive left tackle. During a Monday news conference, coach Bill Callahan praised Helming and suggested that he might have a future as a developmental NFL player.

Helming rotated throughout the game with senior Brandon Koch and junior Greg Austin.

"We played four quarters together," said Helming. "We knew what had to be done today, and we came out ready to do it. We were just so pumped up for this game, and then the incident at the 50-yard line combined with the tenacity of these fans, it just added to the fuel of our team."

Helming was an honorary captain, along with Ross and strong safety Daniel Bullocks.

ON FURTHER REVIEW

Callahan said he was "very disappointed" by the incident at the 50-yard line. "I'm just happy our kids kept their composure. I don't know if the league or commissioner will do anything about that."

BURGER KING GUY

The sellout crowd of 54,841, the third-largest in Folsom Field history, was unruly, or at least some of those in it were. A Burger King look-alike came running out of the south stands and onto the field during the first half. "I was pointing him out to the ref, and he blew the whistle," Swift said. "That was crazy."

The Burger King look-alike was apprehended after he got into the stands.

Even crazier was the officials' decision to clear out two student sections, after plastic water bottles were repeatedly hurled onto the field, beginning early in the second quarter.

The game was delayed with 10:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, when the officials made the decision. Stadium security began clearing the sections as play resumed.

"The fans here are crazy," said Swift.

Colorado coach Gary Barnett fell short of criticizing the rowdy students. "They probably felt the same frustration that all of us felt today, and they just had some things they could throw," he said. "They're just a microcosm of what we were feeling inside as well, and we just couldn't do anything about it."

NO TIME LEFT

Nebraska led 20-3 at halftime, but it might have led by more. The Cornhuskers gained possession at the Colorado 49-yard line with 53 seconds remaining when strongside linebacker Adam Ickes intercepted a Joel Klatt pass. With no timeouts remaining, Taylor ran for 8 yards and then 3 yards, then threw an incomplete pass, intended for Nunn. On second-and-10 from the Colorado 38-yard line, Taylor passed to Grant Mulkey for 34 yards and a first down at the 4-yard line. With the clock stopping on a first down play, with 2 seconds remaining, Nebraska hurried to the line of scrimmage, and Taylor downed the ball. But the 2 seconds elapsed, much to Callahan's displeasure.