It turns out Dylan Raiola has even more allies in Husker football team history as a true freshman starter at the quarterback position.

Last week we told the story of Ted Kenfieldthe starting player in Nebraska’s 1943 season opener against Minnesota and four other games that season.

Gulp! We missed something: in two of the three games in which Kenfield did not start, two other true freshmen were favored: Walt Wilkins (against Kansas) and Morris Galter (vs. Missouri). The only non-freshman starter in 1943 was about a decade older than the other three: Clark Beaver, a 27-year-old married man with a leg injury that made him a 4F military reject.

The following season, 1944, saw at least two true Husker freshmen each start at least one game (but not the season opener) as QB: Bill Betz And Ed Gradoville.

That’s at least nine Nebraska quarterbacks who started as true freshmen, more than double what we’ve been led to believe. Any more? Feel free to dig around and report back.

Regardless of the growing numbers, one thing seems safe to say: When Raiola takes the field against UTEP on Saturday, he’ll be just the second true freshman in the post-World War II era to start for the Huskers at quarterback in a season opener. It will be interesting to see if the TV commentators get it right.

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