The 1994 Orange Bowl a 1993–1994 college football bowl game was played on January 1, 1994, for the national championship. This 60th edition to the Orange Bowl featured the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the Florida State Seminoles. Florida State came into the game 11-1, and ranked first in the nation. Nebraska came into the game undefeated at 11-0, and with a number 2 ranking. Despite their unbeaten record, the Huskers were underdogs by as much as 17½ points before the game.

The first quarter of play featured great defense, as no points were scored, though Nebraska had an apparent touchdown on a punt return called back due to a clip. Florida State's Scott Bentley provided the first points of the contest, after he kicked a 33 yard field goal to open up a 3-0 lead. Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier got the Huskers back on track, after he fired an errant pass that was tipped into the hands of wide receiver Reggie Baul. The touchdown gave Nebraska a 7-3 lead. With only 29 seconds left in the first half, Bentley drilled a 25 yard field goal to bring the Seminoles to 7-6, which was the halftime score.

With 12:30 left in the third quarter, Florida State's running back William Floyd gave the Seminoles a 12-7 lead when he scored on a 1 yard touchdown run. Florida State went for two on the ensuing PAT, but failed, and the score remained 12-7. Later in the third, FSU added another Bentley field goal to increase the lead to eight.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips scored on a 12 yard touchdown run. The Huskers attempted a 2-point conversion which would have tied the game, but failed, and trailed 15-13. The Huskers would hold the Seminoles and take over the ball late, driving to the FSU 10 yard line before stalling out. Byron Bennett kicked a 27 yard field goal with just 1:18 remaining on the clock to give the Huskers a slim 16-15 lead.

Aided by a kickoff out of bounds, FSU took over with excellent field position at their own 35 yard line. FSU's Heisman trophy winning quarterback Charlie Ward drove the Seminoles all the way to the Nebraska 3 yard line. The Huskers held and forced Bentley to kick his fourth field goal of the night, which was good, and FSU led 18-16 with just 21 seconds remaining.

Florida State players and coaches went wild on the sidelines, and were penalized for excessive celebration, costing them 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff. As a result, the Huskers were able to get a decent return and began their final possession at their own 43 yard line.

As time ran down, Frazier hit tight end Trumane Bell for a 29 yard gain to the FSU 28 yard line. The clock ticked down to 0:00, setting off more chaos on the FSU sideline, complete with the compulsory Gatorade bath given to FSU coach Bobby Bowden.

However, referee John Soffey ruled that Bell was down with 1 second left on the clock, and ordered the field cleared, allowing Nebraska placekicker Byron Bennett an opportunity to kick the game winning field goal. But the 45 yard kick sailed wide left, preserving the 18-16 win for the Seminoles.

Aftermath[link]

Florida State had finished the season number 1 in the nation to claim their first national championship, just ahead of the only team to beat them in 1993: Notre Dame. Notre Dame had lost on a last second field goal to #15 Boston College in their last home game of the season, just a week after they defeated the Seminoles. B.C.'s triumph opened the door for Florida State to challenge undefeated Nebraska for the national crown. The win was Bobby Bowden's first championship, and left Nebraska coach Tom Osborne still searching for his first.

The Huskers had exceeded everyone's expectations by playing the highly-favored Seminoles right to the wire, and used the loss as motivation for their 1994 campaign, which was entitled "Unfinished Business". During spring and fall practice prior to the 1994 season, the scoreboard at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium was set to show Nebraska leading Florida State 16-15 with 1:16 remaining on the clock, which was the last point at which Nebraska had taken the lead. Nebraska would defeat Miami in the Orange Bowl to win the national championship.

Bobby Bowden continued to coach Florida State until the end of the 2009 season when he announced his retirement. He won a second national title in 1999, defeating Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl.

External links[link]

• http://web.archive.org/web/19991006021018/omaha.com/Bigred/Barfknecht010294/0,1859,,FF.html

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The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009. The Orange Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl, are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl (first played 1902, played annually since 1916). The Orange Bowl is a member of the Bowl Championship Series.

The Orange Bowl hosted the BCS National Championship Game in 2001 and 2005. However, since the 2006 season, the BCS National Championship Game has been a stand-alone event, hosted by the local bowl organization one week following the New Year's Day bowl games (including the Orange Bowl). In other words, under the current BCS format, the Orange Bowl Committee hosted two games in 2009: the 2009 Orange Bowl on January 1 and the 2009 BCS National Championship Game on January 8, both at Sun Life Stadium.

Since 2007 the Orange Bowl has been host to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion unless they are involved in the national championship game and has used the brand Home of the ACC Champion.

The 2012 match-up ended with the West Virginia Mountaineers, which shared the 2011 Big East title, defeating the ACC champion Clemson Tigers 70-33. West Virginia set numerous records in the game, including most points scored by one team in a bowl game in college history.

The game is officially known as the Discover Orange Bowl, since Discover Financial was announced as title sponsor on August 26, 2010 as part of a new four year agreement.^[1] The game had been called the FedEx Orange Bowl from 1989 to 2010, as FedEx sponsored the event during that period. Starting with the 2010-2011 season, ESPN will carry the Orange Bowl, replacing Fox after four seasons.^[2] ABC aired the game from 1999 to 2006, with CBS (1995–1998) and NBC (1964–1994) previously carrying the game.

History[link]

Early roots[link]

In 1890, Pasadena, California held its first Tournament of Roses Parade to showcase the city's mild weather compared to the harsh winters in northern cities. As one of the organizers said: "In New York, people are buried in snow. Here, our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let's hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise." In 1902, the annual festival was enhanced by adding an American football game.^[3]

In 1926, leaders in Miami, Florida, decided to do the same with a "Fiesta of the American Tropics" that was centered around a New Year's Day football game. Although a second "Fiesta" was never held, Miami leaders- Earnest E Seiler, later revived the idea with the "Palm Festival" (with the slogan "Have a Green Christmas in Miami").^[4]

Palm Festival Game[link]

In 1932, George E. Hussey, official greeter of Miami, organized the first Palm Festival Game, predecessor of the Orange Bowl. With Miami suffering from both the Great Depression and the preceding Florida land bust, Hussey and other Miamians sought to help its economy by organizing a game similar to Pasadena's Rose Bowl.

Two games were played in this series at Moore Park in Miami, both pitting an invited opponent against a local team, the University of Miami. In the first game, played on January 2, 1933, Miami defeated Manhattan College 7–0. In the second game, played on New Year's Day 1934, Duquesne defeated Miami 33–7. Duquesne was coached by Elmer Layden one of the Four Horseman of Notre Dame.

These games are not recognized as bowl games by the NCAA because one team was guaranteed a berth regardless of record. However, following the success of these games, backers organized another game for New Year's Day 1935 under the Orange Bowl name. This game, unlike the Palm Festival Games, did not automatically grant a berth to one team, although the University of Miami was again a participant. For this reason, the 1935 Orange Bowl was later recognized by the NCAA as an official bowl game.^[5]

Modern game[link]

The Orange Bowl was played at Miami Field^[6] (located where Miami Orange Bowl was later built) from 1935 to 1937, the Miami Orange Bowl from 1938 to 1996 and 1999, and was moved to its current site, Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, in December 1996. The game was moved back to the namesake stadium in 1999 (which would be the final bowl game ever in the Miami Orange Bowl) because the game was played on the same day the Miami Dolphins hosted an NFL Wild Card Playoff game. Coincidentally, both of those games were aired on ABC.

In 1964, the Texas vs. Alabama Orange Bowl was the first college bowl game to be televised in prime time.^[7]

From 1968, the game usually featured the champion of the former Big Eight Conference. When the Big Eight Conference absorbed four members of the defunct Southwest Conference in 1996, the newly formed Big 12 Conference moved its conference champion tie-in to the Fiesta Bowl. Since 1998, however, with the creation of the Bowl Championship Series system, team selection for the Orange Bowl is now tied into the other three BCS Bowls. From 1998-2005, the game hosted the champion of either the ACC or Big East conferences, unless they were invited to the National Championship game, or if the Orange Bowl itself was hosting the national championship matchup. Starting with the 2006 season, the Orange Bowl has been exclusively tied with the ACC and has used the brand Home of the ACC Champion. As one of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl games, the site of the Orange Bowl also hosts the national championship game one week after the Orange Bowl game; it does so on a four-year rotating basis with the other three BCS games (the others being the Sugar, Fiesta, and Rose Bowls).

Game results[link]

+ - Denotes Bowl Coalition Championship game
^ - Denotes Bowl Alliance Championship game
* Denotes BCS National Championship Game
~ Game played at Miami Orange Bowl due to scheduling conflict with NFL playoff game
† Denotes overtime(s)

MVPs[link]

Appearances by team[link]

Appearances by conference[link]

Broadcasting[link]

ESPN are the current rights holders (as of 2011) as part of a four year, US $500 million contract with the Bowl Championship Series and the Tournament of Roses, the owners of the Rose Bowl Game. Prior to that, Fox held the rights to the event (along with the other BCS bowls) since 2007, preceded by ABC (1999–2006 and 1962–64), CBS (1996–98 and 1953–61), and NBC (1965–95). This game, along with the Fiesta Bowl, is one of only two bowl games ever to air on all the "big 4" broadcast television networks in the United States.

The game is also broadcast nationally by ESPN Radio.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• 25°57′27″N 80°14′17″W / 25.957596°N 80.238127°W / 25.957596; -80.238127 - Sun Life Stadium
• 1936 Orange Bowl story
• http://www.wvufootballschedule.net

v t e Bowl Championship Series Conferences ACC Big 12 Big East Big Ten Pac-12 SEC Notre Dame Bowls Fiesta Orange Rose Sugar BCS National Championship Other Controversies Media coverage Mythical national championship Playoff debate Treated as conference champion if ranked in top eight

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Tommie Frazier

Tommie Frazier scrambles away from the UCLA Bruins on Sept. 18, 1993
No. 15
Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1974-07-16) July 16, 1974 (age 37)
Place of birth: Bradenton, Florida
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight: 205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Manatee High School Bradenton, Florida
College: Nebraska
Undrafted in 1996
Debuted in 1996 for the Montreal Alouettes
Last played in 1996 for the Montreal Alouettes
Career history
Montreal Alouettes (1996)
Career highlights and awards
Big Eight Freshman of the Year (1992) Orange Bowl Most Valuable Player (1994) Orange Bowl Most Valuable Player (1995) Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year (1995) Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (1995) Quarterback of the Year (1995) Consensus All-American (1995) Fiesta Bowl Most Valuable Player (1996) Records and statistics Additional accolades

Tommie James Frazier, Jr. (born July 16, 1974) is a former American college and professional football player who was an award-winning college quarterback for the University of Nebraska. Frazier is widely considered to be one of the best players in the history of college football; however, he was hampered by injuries for his entire career.

Frazier led his team to back-to-back consensus national championships in 1994 and 1995, and he remains the only quarterback to have done so since the 1950s. He was also named Most Valuable Player of three straight bowl games that decided the national championship. The 1995 Nebraska football team is considered to have been one of the most dominant in the history of American college football.^[1][2] In a 2006 ESPN.com poll, the results of which aired on SportsCenter, the 1995 Nebraska team was voted the best college football team of all time.

In 1999 Frazier was selected by Sports Illustrated as a back-up quarterback in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team." The starting quarterback was Sammy Baugh and the other back-ups were John Lujack, Roger Staubach and Doug Flutie. Frazier was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers on this 85 man roster; the others being Johnny Rodgers, Rich Glover, Dave Rimington, Dean Steinkuhler and Aaron Taylor.

In 2004, CollegeFootballNews.com named Frazier the #33 player on their list of the Top 100 Greatest College Football Players of All-Time.

Frazier was never drafted in the NFL due to a serious blood clot in his left leg, a side effect of Crohn’s disease.^[3]

Personal[link]

Frazier grew up in Bradenton, Florida, and attended Manatee High School. He was an option quarterback at Manatee High School who ran for 1,600 yards and 33 touchdowns, and passed for 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns in his final two seasons. Frazier is married to the former Andrea Stephens, who is originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The couple has a son named Tommie James Frazier III and a daughter named Ava.

Frazier is also a member of Iota Phi Theta fraternity.

Currently, Frazier conducts his own radio show which happens to be named the Tommie Frazier Husker Express Radio Show. The program airs on ESPN 590 AM in Omaha, Nebraska.^[4]

Collegiate playing career[link]

1992 football season[link]

Frazier received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. When he arrived in Lincoln, the Huskers had suffered years of bowl game blowouts.^[5] Head coach Dr. Tom Osborne made a strategic decision to recruit faster players at all positions in the early 1990s to compete with Miami and Florida State in the seemingly annual Orange Bowl matchups. Frazier, a prized blue-chip recruit ranked No. 3 in the country from his high school senior class by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, was the final piece of the puzzle and led the Huskers to four straight New Year's Day bowl games. Reports were Osborne had shed some tears upon receiving the news of Frazier's decision to accept a scholarship from Nebraska.

At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, an 18-year-old true freshman Tommie Frazier joined the Nebraska football team in the summer of 1992 and started off backing up senior Mike Grant. Grant got Nebraska off to a 4-1 start, but an early season 27-14 loss to nationally ranked No. 11 Washington set up for Frazier's chance to take over as the team's starter. And he would become Nebraska's starter at Missouri on Oct. 24 as the Huskers won the game, 34-24.^[6]

The two games that followed up the Missouri win would firmly place Frazier into the minds of college football fans nationwide. Both were night games nationally televised on ESPN, and they were blowout wins showcasing Frazier's talented skill set. The Colorado game on Halloween Day resulted in Frazier destroying a powerful 9-1-1, Kordell Stewart-led Colorado team, 52-7. Frazier passed sparingly going 4-for-12 for 55 yards with two TD passes, but did his damage on the ground rushing 16 times for 86 yards with his option trickery leading the way to 373 team rushing yards for the Huskers.^[7]

The following week, Nov. 7, Frazier showcased his strong arm in a 49-7 win over Kansas. The playaction fake resulted in long touchdown passes of 36 and 46 yards from the true freshman. Frazier finished the game going 6-for-11 passing for 161 yards and three TD passes against the Jayhawks.^[8]

In 1992, Nebraska managed a 9-2 record with Frazier registering seven starts at quarterback. He had a memorable bowl game performance against an outstanding 11-1 Florida State team led by quarterback Charlie Ward, wide receiver Tamarick Vanover, and outstanding linebacker Marvin Jones. On January 1, 1993, the two teams met as Florida State jumped out to a 20-0 lead by the 2nd quarter, but Frazier - who opened up the game in the shotgun formation - responded with two touchdown passes - a 41 yarder to Corey Dixon and a redzone touchdown pass to Gerald Armstrong - to cut FSU's lead to 27-14 which was the final score.^[9]

Frazier's statistics in nine games for the 1992 season included him completing 44-of-100 passing attempts for 727 yards with only one interception while rushing for 399 yards and finishing with 17 rushing and passing touchdowns. He had a longest run of 52 yards against Iowa State on Nov. 14.^[10]

1993 football season[link]

On January 1, 1994 as a sophomore, Frazier kept pace with Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward of Florida State in the FedEx Orange Bowl in a rematch from the season before, but fell just short of leading the Huskers to the national championship because of a last minute drive by Ward and field goal by the Seminoles. Amazingly, Frazier still got his team in position for a game-winning 45 yard field goal attempt. He did this by throwing a perfect 29 yard spiral downfield to his split end Trumaine Bell - leaving just 0:01 left on the game clock. However, the field goal attempt sailed wide left giving FSU an 18-16 win. Frazier was still named MVP of the national title game despite the loss as he was 13-of-24 passing for 206 yards with a 34 yard TD pass while rushing 14 times for 77 yards including a 32 yard run.^[11]

That season - 1993, Frazier led Nebraska to an 11-1 mark and rushed for slightly more than 1,000 yards when his sack yards are removed and the bowl performance against Florida State is added. The option quarterback had nine rushing touchdowns and recorded a longest run of 58 yards. Frazier completed right at 50 percent of his passes as a sophomore if a 5-of-17, 57 yards passing performance in a snow storm against Oklahoma on Nov. 26 is removed from his accumulative passing statistics' totals. A wind chill of minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded that day.^[12] Frazier passed for 1,159 yards on 77-of-162 passes with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games.^[13] His longest pass play was a 60 yard strike to Corey Dixon against Colorado on Oct. 30, 1993.

Remarkably, Frazier, with help from reserves Brook Berringer and Matt Turman, would put together three straight undefeated regular seasons from 1993 to 1995, but none of this would have been possible if he had not put forth the fine individual performance at UCLA when the Husker signal caller completed 13-of-19 passes for 145 yards with an 11 yard TD pass - as he did just enough to help Nebraska escape, 14-13, on September 18, 1993.^[14]

1994 football season[link]

The following year was trying for Frazier as he battled a blood clot in his leg which held him out of the second half of the season. He had a remarkable start that year giving him much Heisman Trophy consideration in the early part of the season as on Aug. 28, 1994, Frazier exploded on West Virginia in a Husker win, 31-0. That game, Frazier finished 8-of-16 passing for 100 yards with an 11 yard TD pass and ran 12 times for 130 yards while scoring on touchdown runs of 25, 27, and 42 yards.^[15]

All of the early season successes of 1994 came to end for Frazier when on Sept. 24, he began experiencing difficulties in the calf of his right leg - which was the result of blood clotting. Nebraska beat Pacific, 70-21, but Frazier played sparingly completing 1-of-2 passes for 26 yards as this game would be the last he would play in for the regular season.^[16]

The rest of the season resumed as dropback passer Berringer, I-back Lawrence Phillips, wingback Abdul Muhammad, offensive tackle Zach Wiegert and the talented Blackshirts picked up the slack. Without Frazier, the Nebraska defense rose to the occasion on Oct. 29, 1994 when a splendid 11-1 Colorado team, led by Kordell Stewart and Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam, came to Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska won the contest, 24-7.^[17]

The Huskers got back to the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 1, 1995 with a 12-0 record and played the third-ranked Miami Hurricanes (10-1) for a shot at the national championship. In the game, coach Osborne started Frazier but then pulled him for backup Brook Berringer after a botched deep throw into the endzone on Nebraska's initial drive resulted in a turnover. All momentum had shifted Miami's way as the Hurricanes led by as much as 17-7 early in the 3rd quarter. In the fourth quarter and trailing, 17-9, Nebraska's offense had clearly stalled even though Berringer had succeeded in completing a 19 yard TD pass to tightend Mark Gilman midway through the 2nd quarter.

With only seven minutes left in the game, Osborne went back to Frazier, his starting quarterback. Frazier responded with two touchdown drives giving Nebraska its 24-17 victory. The tired Miami defense led by defensive tackle Warren Sapp and linebacker Ray Lewis could not keep up with the Nebraska option as fullback Cory Schlesinger scored from 15 and 14 yards out off Frazier's fake of the option play as the Huskers celebrated their first national title since 1971 and the first of coach Osborne's career. Frazier was once again named MVP as he was 3-for-5 passing for 25 yards and ran the ball seven times for 31 yards including a 25 yard option keeper - performing to this level after not having played in a game for three months.^[18]

1995 football season[link]

In 1995, Frazier was finally healthy and led the Huskers on a dominating march through the college football landscape. Despite always having great arm strength, Frazier was never known for his passing accuracy. Frazier consistently improved his passing - particularly when throwing touch passes - and by his senior year completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and a pass efficiency rating of 156.1.^[19]

Frazier's finest game passing that year came in the form of a 44-21 victory on Oct. 28 at Boulder, Colorado where he threaded the needle against a 10-2 Colorado Buffaloes team by completing 14-of-23 passes for 241 yards which included two touchdown passes and one of those covering 52 yards to wingback Clester Johnson.^[20] This game also gave Frazier much consideration for the Heisman Trophy. However on Dec. 2, Ohio State's running back, Eddie George, wound up winning the award while Frazier finished as the runner-up.

Frazier teamed up with Phillips, Aaron Taylor, Ahman Green, Damon Benning, Clinton Childs, Jeff Makovicka, Chris Dishman, Aaron Graham, Matt Vrzal, Eric Anderson, and Steve Ott that season to form one the most punishing rushing attacks in college football history, setting an NCAA record for averaging 7.0 yards per rushing attempt. The Huskers averaged 399.8 rushing yards and 52.4 points per game. Frazier's regular season statistics had him completing 92-of-163 passes for 1,362 yards with four interceptions and rushing 97 times for 604 yards with 14 touchdowns. He was never sacked during the entire season. Frazier's longest pass play was a 76 yarder to split end Reggie Baul against Oklahoma State on Aug. 31.^[21]

The Huskers finished the regular season undefeated at 11-0 and were matched with the also undefeated Florida Gators (12-0) in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 1996. Nebraska defeated coach Steve Spurrier's Fun 'n' Gun juggernaut by the score of 62-24, and Frazier garnered his third straight national championship game MVP award. He finished with 16 rushes for 199 yards while completing 6-of-14 passes for 105 yards which included a 16 yard TD pass to Phillips.^[22] The highlight of the game came on what appeared to be a short yardage routine option play sweeping to the right sideline - which happened in the closing seconds of the 3rd quarter. Frazier ran the play with the decision to keep the ball and turned upfield. The result was several exhausted defenders hanging onto and clinging to Frazier as, one by one, each defender fell off - a total of seven broken tackles. The last defender was Florida's cornerback Fred Weary as Frazier kept his balance and raced 75 yards down the sideline to paydirt in what was the longest run of his career. Sports Illustrated named it one of college football's greatest plays.^[23]

At the conclusion of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, there was a postgame celebration that involved a large gathering at midfield. CBS' reporter Michele Tafoya had a microphone and was asking coach Osborne a series of questions. She then turned to Frazier looking for his response. "Oh listen, I had a great career at Nebraska," Frazier explained with gratitude as he gave back to the Cornhusker fan base. "There is no better way to end it; I want to thank all the fans for all the support, and I want to thank all my teammates - most of all important, I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ above, because without him, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything I have."

Professional playing career[link]

Frazier had a good start at setting himself up for the 1996 NFL Draft by winning the MVP award for his 34-18 victory in the East-West Shrine Game which was nationally televised on ESPN on January 13, 1996.^[24] After the college all-star football game, West Coach Terry Donahue said there was no doubt Frazier improved his stock with his performance. "I think he came here with all kinds of doubts," the former UCLA head football coach added. "This game really helped him and somebody is going to invest in him. I am really high on him. When I did the Fiesta Bowl, I said the guy was the most dangerous player in college football and I mean it more now. This guy's dangerous. He's great." Frazier finished that afternoon going 11-for-20 passing for 163 yards and rushed six times for 33 yards while scoring on a five yard keeper and throwing a 52 yard touchdown pass to teammate Kevin Jordan with 5:57 left in the contest.

The East-West Shrine Game showcased Frazier's skill set for the many NFL scouts that were in attendance. Unfortunately, leading up to the NFL Scouting Combine, Frazier started experiencing more problems with blood clots. Results from recruiting analyst Forrest Davis' publication had Frazier listed at 4.50 seconds in the 40 yard dash coming out of high school, and his test results at Nebraska from 1992-1995 had been very similar. However, Frazier's performance in late February 1996 at the NFL Scouting Combine was reported as being pedestrian-like by the Atlanta Journal Constitution from its March 3, 1996 edition.

As a result of the combination of many factors - primarily health issues, Frazier was not drafted in the NFL. However, the Montreal Alouettes from the CFL went after the rights to acquire Frazier away from the NFL as he was still a free agent option for the many NFL franchises. Montreal succeeded and began making offers to Frazier as early as May 1996.

Frazier signed a contract with the Alouettes on July 15, 1996 and became a backup quarterback behind starter Tracy Ham and top reserve Jim Kemp. Frazier only played in one game on August 30 in which his team lost to the Ottawa Rough Riders, 17-6.^[25] Frazier came off the bench in the 4th quarter of this contest and completed 6-of-17 passes for 55 yards.

However, his brief professional football career came to an end with a life-threatening scare. On September 4, 1996, Frazier was admitted to Montreal General Hospital because of pneumonia.^[26] He was put on blood thinners as a precaution because of two previous blood clots in his right leg while at Nebraska and after Frazier spit up blood the day he was hospitalized. It would take Frazier two weeks to recover as he was released from the hospital on Sept. 17. It was after this that Frazier decided to give up football and try other options in life.

Coaching career[link]

Frazier served as assistant football coach at Baylor University and as assistant director of athletic development at Nebraska. At Baylor, Frazier joined the coaching staff, led by head coach Kevin Steele, as a graduate assistant and worked with the quarterbacks in 1999.^[27] Frazier was quickly promoted to a full-time position and became Baylor's running backs coach from 2000 to 2002. This assignment he and Steele inherited was tough considering the Bears' lack of success as Baylor had suffered through three losing seasons in a row going 8-25 from 1996-1998. Steele's record was 9 wins, 36 losses, and 0 ties while Frazier was an assistant. Steele was fired on Nov. 3, 2002 as Baylor finished 3-9 that season.

In 2005, Frazier became the 32nd head football coach for the Doane College Tigers located in Crete, Nebraska, and he held that position for two seasons, 2005 and 2006. His coaching record at Doane was 3 wins, 17 losses, and 0 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2007 season, this ranks him 22nd at Doane in total wins and 33rd at Doane in winning percentage (.150).^[28]

Records and statistics[link]

• Record as starter (33-3)
• National championships (2)
• Big Eight Conference championships (4)
• former University of Nebraska school record for total offense, career (5,476 yards)
• former University of Nebraska school record for touchdown passes, career (43)
• former University of Nebraska school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, season (14)
• former NCAA record for rushing yards in a bowl game by a quarterback (199)
• former University of Nebraska school record for total offense in a bowl game (304 yards)
• longest touchdown run in a bowl game (75 yards)

Notes - Statistics from the wikitable include bowl game performances.

Additional accolades[link]

• Football Writers 1995 First Team All American
• Walter Camp 1995 First Team All American
• Associated Press 1995 First Team All American
• United Press International 1995 First Team All American
• AFCA 1995 First Team All American
• Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year 1995
• TD Club of Columbus Quarterback of the Year 1995
• Sport magazine Top 10 Players of the Century
• Heisman Trophy Runner-Up - 1995
• ESPY's College Football Play of the Year - 1996 - Nebraska's Tommie Frazier's TD scramble in Fiesta Bowl

References[link]

Additional sources[link]

• Strong Arm Tactics: A History and Statistical Analysis of the Professional Quarterback
• T. Frazier
• VHS recording of CBS Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 1, 1996
• Phil Steele's 1995 College Football Preview, Volume 1 (magazine)
• Bob Schaller's "Touchdown Tommie - The Tommie Frazier Story"
• Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1995 Edition, Volume 19 (magazine)
• Sports Illustrated Presents - College Football '95 - Premier Edition (magazine)
• Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1994 Edition, Volume 18 (magazine)
• Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1993 Edition, Volume 17 (magazine)
• Athlon Football - Nebraska & the Big Eight - 1992 Edition, Volume 16 (magazine)
• Lindy's Big Eight Football Annual / 1992, Volume 6 (magazine)
• The Washington Post - "Frazier Shows Off Arm for Scouts", Jan. 14, 1996 (newspaper)
• USA Today "East-West Shrine Game" (box score), Jan. 13, 1996 (newspaper)
• Atlanta Journal Constitution, March 3, 1996 edition (newspaper)

External links[link]

• Tommie Frazier at the College Football Data Warehouse