THE NEBRASKA 100

Upon Glenn Presnell's death at age 99 in September 2004, the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartan Historical Society was touting him for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The former Nebraska player and coach remains one of the National Football League's most underrated stars.

He shared single-wing backfield duties with Hall of Famer Dutch Clark as the Detroit Lions won the 1935 NFL title. The Historical Society quoted Presnell as saying he was coach Potsy Clark's go-to guy:

"We'd get the lead and Potsy would always turn to me and say, 'Get in there, Glenn, and hold 'em.'"

As a player, Presnell always got the job done.

As a senior halfback at Nebraska in 1927, he led the nation in total yards.

The two-time all-pro, who also kicked and played defense, led the NFL in scoring in 1933 for the Portsmouth Spartans -- the forerunners of the Lions.

In 1934, his 54-yard field goal beat Green Bay 3-0. The kick stood as a league record for 19 years.

An assistant coach at Kansas and Nebraska, Presnell was the Huskers' head coach during a 3-7 season in 1942. He served in the Army in World War II, then served as football coach and athletic director at Eastern Kentucky before retiring in 1974.

He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

-- John Rodino