The Graduates

One play in his junior year stands out in his memory. Against Oklahoma State, a pass deflected by a teammate floated into his hands—"I don't know how I got it, but I got it and I went with it"—and in order to make it to the State goal he outran a swift back for 57 yards.

After that, he said, the attention that Nebraska football players get began to come to him, too. "Too much attention?" he was asked. "How can you get too much? I liked it," he said. When his senior season was over, he was named to a local columnist's 10-year All-Nebraska team. He said it was no small thrill. But there had been others. It was inspiring, he said, to enter a stadium with 68,000 people, all in red, screaming their lungs out for you. And to play under inspired coaches, with equally inspired teammates. But he said when it came right down to it, for John Adkins, it wasn't necessary. He would have been inspired anyway. "My inspiration," he said, "was myself."

Graduation for the University of Nebraska class of '72 was held May 19 at Pershing Auditorium in downtown Lincoln. It was divided into two sessions, morning and afternoon, because the number to be graduated (2,338) was a record. The auditorium is a bulky sandstone and slate building with a large tile fresco over the front entrance. Relatives and friends of the graduates-some of whom rode into town with bumper tags that read WIN IT THREE TIMES, and some of whom ate the Go Big Red Breakfast at the Ramada Inn that morning—filled the auditorium at both sessions.

There was no great solemnity, no particular majesty to the occasion. The graduates moved down the aisles in waves, according to their colleges. Mothers and fathers popped flashbulbs and in the upper reaches of the auditorium fanned themselves against the heat. No radicals or revolutionaries were seen to make a temper.

The various colleges—arts, sciences, teachers and so forth—-rose in groups, were recognized and sat down. Of the special awards given, one for Distinguished Service went to George Sauer of Waco, Texas, a former Nebraska All-America and now a pro football scout, and another. The Nebraska Builder, went to Lyell Bremser for his 33 years of broadcasting Nebraska football games. Praise for Bremser included reference to his "corduroy voice, soft but substantial," his "tremendous enthusiasm" and his "partiality to Nebraska."

Chancellor James Zumberge's remarks to the graduates were brief. He spoke of the tens of thousands of students who had completed study at Nebraska in its more than 100 years of serving the state, and, "for better or worse," told them they would "bear the mark of this institution for life."

Of the 19 football players of the national championship team who were listed as seniors, eight were eligible to receive their degrees. Half that number showed. Defensive Back Jim Anderson, who had a perfect 4.0 average his last semester of play, was already home in Green Bay, Wis., where his father is a mail carrier. His degree would arrive in the mailbox. Larry Jacobson, the All-America tackle with the 3.3 average, was in town but chose to sit by the pool at his apartment.

Bob Terrio was there in his cap and gown, looking no different from any other graduate. His wife and parents watched the ceremony. Phil Harvey, Bill Kosch and Carl Johnson went through the ceremony and then picked up their diplomas in the basement.

Carl Johnson's parents, his grandmother and a girl friend gathered with him afterward for a farewell picture in Memorial Stadium. The grandmother, whose name was Pearl F. Johnson, said it was a particular thrill for her because the day was also her 70th birthday. The orchid corsage, now a couple of days old. was pinned to her coat. "I don't know how much longer this thing's going to last." she said. A friendly by-slander said it would be nice if it lasted forever, like the chancellor said about the mark of the school. She said her late husband, who came West in 1907 to found the building business that Carl's dad inherited, would have been thrilled over Carl's success because he had not gotten past the seventh grade.

The object of her pride, college graduate Carl Johnson, then said it was time to go. With the mark of Nebraska on him. he was heading west and did not want to miss his (light. He had plans to spend the weekend in Las Vegas. To get the kinks out.