Milt Tenopir, longtime Nebraska offensive line coach, dies

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Milt Tenopir, who coached some of college football's most dominant offensive lines with Nebraska in the 1980s and '90s, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.

Tenopir's daughter, Kim Lester, confirmed Tenopir's death Monday night.

Tenopir, who retired in 2003, was considered a guru of line play during his 29 years with the Cornhuskers. Twenty-seven of his players went on to sign professional contracts, with 14 selected in the top three rounds of the NFL draft.

Tenopir coached the "Pipeline" lines that paved the way to three national championships in four seasons in the mid-1990s.

Nebraska had six Outland Trophy winners as the best interior lineman in college football under Tenopir.

Tenopir was a fixture at practices since Mike Riley became head coach in 2015, and he had a close relationship with line coach Mike Cavanaugh.