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Virginia Tech 21
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MVP performance
ends I-back’s career on
a high note.
Bt Mitch Sherman
Senior Reporter
MIAMI —- Damon Benning’s list
of career honors reads much more
quickly than many of his senior-class
teammates', but no Comhusker over
shadowed Benning in his final Ne
braska game.
Benning entered the Orange Bowl
on New Year’s Eve with a goal of
emerging from the shadow that had
covered him since the day he became
a Husker in August 1992.
Starting only the sixth game of his
career, the fifth-year senior I-back
quadrupled his career postseason
yardage total, leading Nebraska to a
41-21 win over Virginia Tech.
“It’s the ending I wanted,” said
Benning, who ran for 95 yards and two
touchdowns on 15 attempts against the
nation's fifth-ranked rush defense. “I
skipped a few chapters in between, but
the ending is good. I’m satisfied, and
I’m happy for my team and the pro
gram.” , .
• Injuries, Which hampered Benning
repeatedly throughout his NU career,
ironically paved the way to his star
iom in Miami. Top I-backs Ahrnan
Green and DeAngelo Evans practiced
little in the weeks leading up to the
Grange Bowl, leaving Benning and
Jay Sims as the Huskers' two healthy
runners.
“I can’t be happier for Daihon,^
Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost said.
“He’s had some ups aid downs, just
like the rest of us this year. For his
last game to end like this is great. I
think he’s going to make somebody a
great NFL back.”
Early in his career, Benning waited
behind Calvin Jones and Lawrence
Phillips before Green emerged in 1995
and Evans arrived this year, stealing
the spotlight from the 5-foot-ll, 215
pound Omaha Northwest graduate. -
Benning finished his career with
1,562 yards, 23rd all-time on the
Husker charts. In three previous bowl
games, he ran nine times for26 yards.
“There were times when I could
have been bitter,” Benning said.
“There were actually some times when
I was bitter. But as I Matured and as I
grew, 1 found a way to channel some
of ftat negative energy.” ^ ^
Twice in the Orange Bowl,
Benning’# pasitive l^gy put Ne
braska ahead, by 10 points. With the
Huskcrs leading 17-14 midway
through the third quarter, he bolted up
the middle for 33 yards to cap a 74
yard drive. Benning scored again near
the end of the quarto*, gi ving Nebraska
a 31-21 lead.
“There was a lot riding on this
game,” said Benning, NU’s most valu
able player in the Orange Bowl, “more
than people thought Even though it
Please see BENNING on 12