Ex-Husker quarterback Claridge, a mainstay under Devaney, dies at age 76

Former Nebraska center Lyle Sittler (left) talks with running back Roy Helu (10) and former teammate Dennis Claridge as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) greets 1962 teammates Dwain Carlson and Willie Paschall at Hawks Championship Center in 2009.Former Nebraska quarterback great Dennis Claridge, who guided the Huskers to an Orange Bowl triumph following the 1963 season, has died at age 76 following a 3½-year battle with cancer.

A mainstay in the Nebraska program’s rise under the late Bob Devaney, Claridge also guided NU to a 36-34 victory against Miami in the 1962 Gotham Bowl -- the program’s first bowl triumph in history. He was the starter when Nebraska's ongoing streak of sellouts…