Nebraska

In the following blog, it is not my intent to bash or belittle Nebraska in any way, shape, or form. This blog is about reflecting on Nebraska and their college football team throughout the years from my perspective.

As a kid, my earliest recollections of Nebraska's football team was that they won all the time and they won big. Scores like Nebraska 60 Iowa State 0 were annual events.

By the time I got to college, Nebraska was still good. I think they won like 9 games a season for 40 years in a row...wow. My senior year at Texas, my biggest gripe with Nebraska was that the two schools would not get to play each other after being ranked #1 and #2 for the entire 1983 season. The irony of that season was that both teams lost their final game and Miami won the National Title.

When I moved to Colorado, I was introduced to the rivalry between CU and Nebraska. These teams clearly did not like each other. Texas was now playing Nebraska fairly regularly, with the introduction of the Big XII conference in 1996. The games between the two schools were very competitive, but Nebraska's teams weren't nearly as dominant as they once were.

I actually watched some Nebraska games with a Nebraska alumni group in Fort Collins. I enjoyed the enthusiastic support for Big Red. Unfortunately, Nebraska was on the short end of some USC beat downs in those games. The Nebraska fans thought I was alright until they found out I was a Texas fan, then they just tolerated me.

From their perspective, Texas was a team that halted their 47 game home winning streak, somehow won the first Big XII Championship game against them, and basically beat them 6 out of the last 7 games the two teams played.

I have some Nebraska fans that are neighbors across the street. In the recent past, when I would see them it was always "tough loss last Saturday, you guys are getting closer." Face it, they hate me, but are polite enough to humor me to my face.

Last season the two schools met in the Big XII Championship game and there was some controversy. Texas was heavily favored going into the game and ended up escaping with a win on a last second field goal. The clock keeper screwed up and ran the time out on the clock prematurely and Texas was blamed for getting a homer call that put them into the BCS title game. All nonsense.

Reality was that Suh had a monster game that cost Colt McCoy the Heisman Trophy. Texas won the game because a kid kicked a field goal. The .01 second myth is just hype and motivation for this years team. I don't blame them. Texas used the same motivation when they lost to Texas Tech via one Michael Crabtree. The guy made a play and we lost. As did Nebraska.

So here we are. Nebraska is leaving the Big XII. Texas (The Big XII) is charging them for leaving early. Bad blood, sure. Will it affect the game? You betcha. Big Red Nation is angry. They want revenge. They just might get it too.

Nebraska has an exciting running quarterback with a nickname. Texas has an awful team that they have been trying to hide for the past 5 games. It is not the best combination if you are a Texas fan.

But, they will play on Saturday. This game will be the last scheduled game between the two schools. So, we have come full circle, back to the day when we wanted to play each other to prove it on the field, but won't be able to.

Whoever makes the most plays will win the game on Saturday and I have a feeling nobody will be blaming the clock keeper this time.