The 1903 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1903 college football season. The team was coached by fourth-year head coach Walter C. Booth and played their home games at Antelope Field in Lincoln, Nebraska. They competed as an independent.[1]
Nebraska went undefeated for the second straight season, setting a new program record with 22 consecutive victories. One newspaper of the time wrote "Nebraska occupies a unique position in western football. Too strong to find fearful competitors, the Cornhuskers can almost weep with Alexander the Great because they have no more teams to conquer."[2]
In their sixth exhibition meeting, the Lincoln high schoolers managed to put points on the board against the Cornhuskers for the first time, remarkably ending Nebraska's run of 10 straight shutout victories. Unsurprisingly, though, the University put up more, and pushed the perfect series record to 6-0.[6]
Grand Island[]
Grand Island at Nebraska
1
2
Total
Grand Island
0
• Nebraska
64
Date: September 26
Location: Antelope Field, Lincoln, NE
Nebraska amassed nearly 800 yards of offense against Grand Island in the first meeting between the schools, the tenth straight shutout by the Cornhuskers defense.[6][7]
Nebraska faced South Dakota for the first time in four years, dominating the Coyotes.[6][7]
at Denver[]
Nebraska at Denver
1
2
Total
• Nebraska
0
10
10
Denver
0
0
0
Date: October 10
Location:Denver, CO
Nebraska had 685 yards of offense to Denver's 15 in the first meeting between the schools. Frequent turnovers and a muddy playing surface likely prevented the Cornhuskers from scoring more than ten points.[6][7]
Haskell[]
Haskell at Nebraska
1
2
Total
Haskell
0
• Nebraska
16
Date: October 17
Location: Antelope Field, Lincoln, NE
Game attendance: 3,000
Nebraska dominated Haskell in the 100th game in NU history. Some historical records mention this as the first game in which a Nebraska mascot appeared, in this case a bulldog wearing a scarlet and cream blanket, though records suggest NU may have used a white bull terrier painted half red as a mascot as far back as 1893.[6][7]
After three years without facing the Hawkeyes, Nebraska traveled to Iowa City for the first time. Nebraska's 14-game shutout streak ended after a fumble and penalty allowed Iowa to punch in a touchdown from NU's 2-yard line. Nebraska still won the game for its 18th straight victory.[6][7]
Kansas presented the stiffest challenge of the season for the Cornhuskers, who did not score until minutes remained in the game. That touchdown was enough to win as NU shut out the Jayhawks 6–0.[6][7]
Nebraska managed just 58 yards in a scoreless first half, but the Cornhuskers produced 276 yards and 16 points in the second half to defeat the Fighting Illini.[6][7]
