New head coach Stiehm arrived in Lincoln and took over a program with only 17 players on the roster to start the year, however nine of those returners were veteran starters of previous seasons.
Schedule
Roster
Anderson, ArthurG
Chauner, WalterE
Elliott, E.B.C
Frank, ErnestHB
Frank, OwenHB
Gibson, J.P.FB
Harman, DeweyRT
Hornberger, EvansG
Lofgren, GusE
Pearson, MonteT
Potter, HerbertQB
Purdy, LeonardHB
Russell, RichardHB
Shonka, SylvesterLT
Swanson, CaesarLG
Warner, LeonQB
Coaching staff
Game summaries
Kearney State
New Coach Stiehm came out of the box swinging, scoring nearly as many points as were posted in Nebraska's previous game to end the prior season. Unlike the closing against Haskell in 1910, however, coach Stiehm played backups and substitutes to help establish the starters for the season and yet still piled up an astonishing 117 points, just 2 points shy of the 119-0 record set the year before and resulting the Cornhuskers outscoring their opponents 236-0 in the previous two games. This was the only time Kearney State would face off with the Cornhuskers.
The Cornhuskers met the Kansas State squad for the first time in what would in later years become something of a grudge match between conference foes if not a full blown rivalry, but at this time Kansas State was not in the conference with Nebraska. Coach Stiehm treated Kansas State as he did Kearney State, as a tuneup game to test position players out. Much like the previous week, the Cornhuskers dominated their opponent with another lopsided shutout victory.
Minnesota
Minnesota again snatched a victory from Nebraska, extending the futility of the Cornhuskers yet again. Nebraska failed to capitalize on their successes, having outgained Minnesota in rushing, passing and kicking, and fell farther behind the Golden Gophers in the series to 1-9-1.
Missouri
Putting aside the annual disappointments in Minnesota, the Missouri contest was Nebraska's 8th straight shutout victory. This series was renewed after a nine-year interruption, and opened the Cornhuskers' Missouri Valley conference slate to start them out 1-0, and 9-3 against the Tigers all-time.
Nebraska was understandably feeling confident, having outscored its opponents 473-57 since the beginning of the previous season, with only the losses to Minnesota in each year marring the record. Iowa State had not landed Nebraska back on their home turf in Ames since 1899, and pounced on an unprepared Cornhuskers squad to surprise them by scoring first and holding Nebraska to a 6-6 tie by the end of the day. Iowa still lagged behind Nebraska in the series, though, at 3-8-1.
Doane
Doane came into Lincoln for what was becoming an annual road trip loss for their program, and this one was more of the same. Coach Stiehm used the Doane game as another tuneup match, utilizing substitutes and resting starters on the way to the shutout victory and padding the series lead to 15-2. With wins against both in-state rivals for the year, Nebraska recorded their eighth state championship.
Kansas
Kansas was dealt a 0-29 defeat on their home field, considered among the most decisive defeats for the Jayhawks of that time. Nebraska finished their league slate undefeated and improved their record over Kansas to 10-8.
Nebraska concluded its 1911 season with a 6–6 tie against Michigan. The game was the second meeting between the two programs. Michigan won the first game, 31-0, in 1905. Nebraska won the Missouri Valley Conference championship the week before the Michigan game. Two of Michigan's stars, Stanfield Wells and Miller Pontius, were unable to play in the Nebraska game. Five days before the Nebraska game, the Detroit Free Press quipped that Michigan could claim the world championship of injuries, having had more injuries in 1911 than ever before in the program's history. After a scoreless first half, each team scored a touchdown in the third quarter. Frederick L. Conklin blocked a Nebraska punt, recovered the ball, and ran 30 yards for a touchdown. The Chicago Daily Tribune wrote: "Conklin broke through, blocked it, turned like lightning and sped without interference across the goal line for Michigan's first touchdown." Nebraska responded on the next drive with two long end runs that took the ball to Michigan's eight-yard line. From there, Nebraska halfback Purdy ran for the touchdown. The New York Times called the game "the hardest contest ever witnessed on Nebraska Field."
After the season
The Cornhuskers' program total improved to 123-46-10, while the conference overall record improved to 7-2-2. Nebraska and Iowa State were named co-champions of the Missouri Valley conference.
