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The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: MarqHusker on September 13, 2021, 12:09:36 PM

Title: Nebraska (0-1, 2-2) at #3 Oklahoma (3-0) Post Game
Post by: MarqHusker on September 13, 2021, 12:09:36 PM
Safe to say the talk, chatter and memories of this series will likely be more compelling than the game on Saturday but really nice to see this game on the schedule again. 

Bummed I can't meet up with a host of OU/N fans I know that are gathering this weekend.    OU fans are some of my favorites to hang with, whether at RRS or this series or other times I've seen OU play in person. 

50 year celebration of GOTC.  Should wear tear aways this weekend.

Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: MarqHusker on September 15, 2021, 02:28:43 PM
my favorite picture of these guys.

Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: Hawkinole on September 16, 2021, 12:50:08 AM
They are in close proximity, but do not appear to be "close to each other."
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on September 16, 2021, 09:11:45 AM
How many times does Oklahoma need to turn the ball over in order for Nebraska to have a chance? 
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 16, 2021, 10:57:50 AM
at least 4, cause the Husker will have at least 2

if the Huskers win the turnover battle by 4, there could be a good chance
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 16, 2021, 02:50:15 PM
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32204968/behind-scenes-stories-oklahoma-nebraska-college-football-greatest-game (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32204968/behind-scenes-stories-oklahoma-nebraska-college-football-greatest-game)

On Thanksgiving Day 1971, Nebraska and Oklahoma achieved "perfection," as reporter Dave Kindred described it in the Louisville Times.

"Sometimes it don't live up to the billing," said Oklahoma halfback Greg Pruitt. "That one did."

Billed as "The Game of the Century," Rodgers' epic punt return for a touchdown -- and Lyell Bremser's indelible radio call -- helped top-ranked Nebraska defeat No. 2 Oklahoma, 35-31, in a classic whose mystique has carried over, well past the life of the rivalry itself. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the game, the Sooners and Cornhuskers will meet again Saturday for the first time since 2010. Their rivalry might effectively be dead. But that game still lives.

"It had everything," said Bill Hancock, who then worked in Oklahoma's communications department before overseeing the Final Four for 13 seasons and becoming the executive director of the BCS and the College Football Playoff since 2009. "A perfect combination of things that made it the biggest game I've ever been associated with, and ever will be associated with."

The showdown featured 17 of the 22 first-team All-Big Eight selections that season and 27 starters who would get drafted into the NFL. The two staffs combined would produce 12 future FBS head coaches, including Barry Switzer, Tom Osborne and Jimmy Johnson.

Oklahoma's wishbone offense averaged 472 rushing yards, an NCAA record that still stands; Nebraska's Blackshirts defense was giving up only six points a game.

That day, 55 million people tuned in to ABC to see what would happen, then a record television audience for a college football game.

The Huskers went on to win a second consecutive national championship that year, crushing Alabama by 32 points in the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma, meanwhile, would go 43-2-1 over the following four seasons, with two national titles.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: OrangeAfroMan on September 16, 2021, 02:52:51 PM
The decrease in ballyhoo about this rivalry has less to do with the lack of it being annual and more to do with one of the programs falling off a cliff.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 16, 2021, 02:54:22 PM
Pregame paranoia
Oklahoma safety John Shelley knew the Nebraska game was different when head coach Chuck Fairbanks shut off the phones in the football dormitory.

"That had never been done before," added Sooners defensive tackle Raymond Hamilton. "He didn't want any distractions."

Fairbanks had reason to worry.

Wylie recalled famed Sports Illustrated reporter Dan Jenkins knocking on his dorm room door to conduct an impromptu interview for the legendary cover story, "Irresistible Oklahoma meets immovable Nebraska." Sooners safety Steve O'Shaughnessy remembered walking outside of the dorm seeing "cameras and microphones everywhere."

According to newspaper accounts, an estimated 100 sportswriters for at least 65 papers from more than 20 states traveled to Oklahoma that week. Hancock said the university actually built a platform inside the press box to add another row of seating, similar to bleachers.


Nebraska head coach Bob Devaney had his share of worries, too. He even made sure the Huskers brought their own food with them to Oklahoma.

"They weren't taking any chances," said Nebraska offensive lineman Mike Beran, "of a little extra Sooner Sauce on there."

Initially, Walden wasn't too concerned about the Blackshirts slowing down Oklahoma.

"We put on a couple games, and we're like, 'We don't know what all the hubbub is about. They're not necessarily that great of a team,'" Walden said. "But the closer the game got, the more frightening their offense was. We had one of the best defenses there's ever been. But the closer the game got, it was more like, 'Oh my god, we won't be able to stop this team!'"

The night before the game, Walden was up with Nebraska defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin in the lobby of the hotel until 3 or 4 in the morning, worrying and drinking coffee.

"Nobody could go to bed," said Kiffin, father of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. "Because we were all thinking about the game the next day."

Earlier that evening, the Nebraska players had gone out to see a movie. But as they were arriving at the theater, the Sooners were leaving, creating a few awkward, tense moments.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: CWSooner on September 16, 2021, 07:41:03 PM
Tulsa World
'This was Celtics-Lakers, Cowboys-Redskins for the last time' -- a tribute to OU-Nebraska 2010, the rivalry's least appreciated game
Guerin Emig Sep 16, 2021 Updated 5 hrs ago

(https://i.imgur.com/82I4pNR.jpg)
Oklahoma celebrates after defeating Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 4, 2010, by a score of 23-20. It was the final Big 12 Championship game before Nebraska left for the Big Ten.

The night of the last Oklahoma-Nebraska football game, OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was 48 hours from becoming head coach at Indiana. He kept getting peppered with Indiana questions after the Sooners’ 23-20 Big 12 championship game triumph.

He kept bringing everyone back to what had just happened.

“I mean, this was a big game. This was Celtics-Lakers for the last time. Or Cowboys-Redskins,” Wilson said from Cowboys Stadium (AT&T hadn’t bought naming rights from Jerry Jones yet). “We needed this game for the school, for the program, for the state. There’s a lot of tradition. So we threw a lot of eggs in the basket.”

For the conference, Kevin. You had to beat the Huskers for the Big 12 Conference that night in Arlington, Nebraska having decided to bolt the Big 12 for the Big Ten the previous June.

Dave Sittler got it just right in his Tulsa World column on OU’s much-needed victory.

“Oklahoma did the other nine remaining schools in the Big 12 proud ...” Sittler wrote, noting Colorado had joined Nebraska in the June mutiny. “... Denying Nebraska the opportunity it had lusted for all season — to thumb its nose at the Big 12 on its way out the door.”

So much drama, and yet that game tends to get lost in OU-Nebraska lore. Ironic, isn’t it? The last one is often a forgotten one?

Maybe it’s the numbers.

The Sooners were No. 10, the Huskers No. 13. A far drop from 1-vs.-2 in the Games of the Century of 1971, 1987 and 2000.

Maybe it’s the postscript.

The Sooners didn’t play in the Orange Bowl for national glory after beating Nebraska in 2010; they played in a nondescript Fiesta Bowl against UConn. The Huskers wound up losing to Washington in the Holiday Bowl later that December.

Maybe it’s the locale.

Cowboys Stadium was climate-controlled. This wasn’t the classic late November “football weather” of Norman or Lincoln. This wasn’t Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, site of the frozen 2006 OU-Nebraska Big 12 title game.

That one had a wind chill befitting this rivalry. It had some Sooner Magic that fit in, too, thanks to the 99½-yard third-quarter touchdown drive launched by Paul Thompson’s third-and-10 strike to Jermaine Gresham from deep in his end zone.

So 2010 isn’t even the superior OU-Nebraska Big 12 championship game.

It is still underappreciated. It still has its moments.

Cameron Kenney’s back-to-back catches to get OU out of a third-and-23 hole on the go-ahead scoring drive. Kenny Stills’ 49-yard touchdown grab to start OU’s rally from a quick 17-0 deficit. Travis Lewis’ end-zone interception and two fumble recoveries to give the Sooners a shot.

Lewis did another linebacking No. 28 justice that night. Remember OU great George Cumby being everywhere at once to thwart the Huskers in 1979?

Stills honored previous heroic No. 4s, whether Elvis Peacock at Nebraska in ’76, Buster Rhymes at Nebraska in ’80, Jamelle Holieway at Nebraska in ’86 or Malcolm Kelly in Kansas City in ’06.

And comebacks? Everyone remembers OU’s rally from down 14-0 in 2000.

Again, this was 17-0.

Maybe it’s that Jimmy Stevens kicked a 27-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter for the winning points. Pales a little compared to Tim Lashar’s ’86 game-winner at the gun in Lincoln.

Maybe it’s that the two backs with the longest runs were OU’s Roy Finch and Nebraska’s Roy Helu Jr. Not exactly Billy Sims and Mike Rozier.

So Dec. 4, 2010, wasn’t a legendary night of football.

It was still keepsake worthy.

“It’s really fitting that here it is, our last time in the conference together, to have one more go at it,” OU coach Bob Stoops said the week of the game. “It’s exciting for everybody.”

Turned out to be a heck of an exciting game.

“Beating Nebraska like this, in this game? Are you kidding me?” Stoops said after the fact. “This is as good as it gets.”

As good as OU-Nebraska gets is 1971, 1987 and 2000, we all know, with a whole scroll of high honorable mentions. The 2010 Big 12 championship game is in there somewhere. We just have to search a while.

That’s too bad. It was only 11 years ago.

It was too dramatic and contested to be misplaced so quickly.


Another reason why we don't remember that game very well is that the OU QB was Landry Jones, Sam Bradford's successor.  He's OU's all-time career passing leader, and it isn't even close, because he started for most of four years.  He's got the second-highest season total (behind Bradford) and the second-highest game total (behind Mayfield).  But he threw "Landryceptions" and he fumbled more than a few times.  And he didn't measure up to Bradford as a winner.  It's easy to be picky about your QB when his predecessor won the Heisman.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 16, 2021, 09:46:01 PM
Maybe it’s the locale.

Cowboys Stadium was climate-controlled. This wasn’t the classic late November “football weather” of Norman or Lincoln. This wasn’t Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, site of the frozen 2006 OU-Nebraska Big 12 title game.


I was in Arrowhead for that one
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: Hawkinole on September 16, 2021, 10:53:42 PM
How many times does Oklahoma need to turn the ball over in order for Nebraska to have a chance?
Twice as much as Nebraska, so I am going to say, "six times."
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: Hawkinole on September 16, 2021, 11:01:49 PM
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32204968/behind-scenes-stories-oklahoma-nebraska-college-football-greatest-game (https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32204968/behind-scenes-stories-oklahoma-nebraska-college-football-greatest-game)

On Thanksgiving Day 1971, Nebraska and Oklahoma achieved "perfection," as reporter Dave Kindred described it in the Louisville Times.
We were celebrating T-Giving at Uncle Jack's house at his farm; my mom's brother. A few years ago mom told me how they were so poor; grandma didn't drive; she would walk with the 4-kids into town 3-miles each way to buy groceries, and hoping a neighbor would offer them a ride.
Uncle Jack married a farmer's daughter (she's now over 90). Jack died 26 years ago; we combined part of his name and part of my wife's name to form Jaclyn and named our daughter 6-months later. I loved Uncle Jack. He had the friendliest blue eyes that smiled at you.
I remember watching this crazy T-Giving game you refer to, with guys dressed in red and white, and it was a big game as far as I could tell as my older cousins were hootin' and hollerin'; and it wasn't even the Hawkeyes. I knew quite a bit about football. I was 14.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: MarqHusker on September 17, 2021, 12:41:46 AM
My parents were living in OKC at the time of this game, my older brother was 2 months old.    My Dad said he went for a car ride at halftime and said he didn't see another car on the road.   
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: Hawkinole on September 17, 2021, 12:58:47 AM
My parents were living in OKC at the time of this game, my older brother was 2 months old.    My Dad said he went for a car ride at halftime and said he didn't see another car on the road. 
Which of the two "he's" didn't see another car???? 
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: ELA on September 17, 2021, 04:09:30 PM

Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-1, 2-1) at #3 Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)
NOON - Norman, OK - FOX
I think we all wish we could have that Illinois game back for Nebraska.  While it probably wouldn't change my opinion of the Huskers, it might at least give this renewed rivalry a little more juice.  Considering the first try at renewing an old Big 8/12 ended with a pair of losses to Colorado, the Huskers would like to start this series off on a better foot.  It's a series of wild swings.  The Huskers started 16-3-3 through 1942; then Bud Wilkinson swung things to the Sooners, winning 16 straight from 1943-1958.  After a period of evenness, Oklahoma retook command, winning 9 of 10 from 1972-1980, before Nebraska went 12-5 over the next two decades (with 4 of Oklahoma's wins coming consecutively in the mid 80s), and winning the 7 games prior to Bob Stoops arriving in Norman.  After Nebraska's last great team in 2001, the Sooners closed the rivalry winning 5 of 6.  How can Nebraska slow down the Oklahoma offense?  They can't, but if it looks like it did against Tulane, it may stop itself.  Spencer Rattler threw two costly interceptions, and the offensive line looked uncharacteristically like a total mess.  Granted they still scored 40 points.  So, assume Nebraska's defense is at least somewhat better than Tulane's, but will Rattler make not only a similar number of mistakes, but similar in terms of costliness?  If not, that's probably a wash, and Oklahoma is still going to put up 40+ points.  The Sooners defense isn't great, but the line is, and Nebraska has struggled mightily in the passing game.  Adrian Martinez is running as well as he ever has, and Frost has a balanced stable of running backs, with four guys averaging over 4 carries per game.  But Oklahoma can generate a ton of pressure with just 4, and for all of the possible issues with Oklahoma's secondary, if the Sooners can get by bringing just four, I don't like the chances of Martinez throwing into seven man defenses.
OKLAHOMA 41, NEBRASKA 24

Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: Cincydawg on September 17, 2021, 05:03:34 PM
I saw an older gent coming into our building today wearing a Nebraska T shirt, so I said "Hey, OU tomorrow, right?"

He didn't quite catch what i said at first but then turned back as he passed and said "Oh yeah!".

So maybe I made his day a bit, tomorrow might be sadder.

When I say "older", obviously it means pretty old, I just had a Bday myself.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: Abba on September 17, 2021, 06:51:27 PM
I saw an older gent coming into our building today wearing a Nebraska T shirt, so I said "Hey, OU tomorrow, right?"

He didn't quite catch what i said at first but then turned back as he passed and said "Oh yeah!".

So maybe I made his day a bit, tomorrow might be sadder.

When I say "older", obviously it means pretty old, I just had a Bday myself.
Are you sure he didn't think Ohio U?  Their cheer is Oh yeah!  OU!
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: CWSooner on September 18, 2021, 05:54:28 PM
Are congratulations in order for a defeat?  If so, then congratulations to the Huskers.  Apparently, someone forgot to tell them that they were big underdogs.

I hope that Fearless and all the other Nebraska fans had a great time in Norman.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: MarqHusker on September 18, 2021, 08:33:40 PM
OL a big issue for Nebraska, to say nothing of the special teams.   OU quietly has RB depth issues.  Either player issues,  injuries or transfers,  seem a little thin.  Rattler made enough plays and Nebraska had enough mistakes and penalties.   

Smoking hot it appeared.   
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: CWSooner on September 19, 2021, 12:05:17 PM
OL a big issue for Nebraska, to say nothing of the special teams.  OU quietly has RB depth issues.  Either player issues,  injuries or transfers,  seem a little thin.  Rattler made enough plays and Nebraska had enough mistakes and penalties. 

Smoking hot it appeared.
Martinez had a lot of time to pass, so the Husker OL at least looked effective in pass-protection.  Most of Nebraska's penalties were in its first possession, and on the OL.  After that, they settled down for the most part.
OU has two running backs on scholarship.  There were 8 at the start of spring practice.  Since then, two were dismissed and are awaiting trial for a drug-related violent crime, two exited via portal thinking they wouldn't see PT, and two have been injured.  I hope that's the reason we are passing the ball when, situationally, we should be running it.
OU got a highlight-film pick on the 4-yard line midway through the 4th quarter, but it was on a 4th-and-long play.  We would have gained 20 yards of field position had our DB just knocked it down.  As it was, we went 3-and-out and punted it right back to Nebraska, giving the Huskers a short field for the TD that was their final score.

Seems that, aside from the game, the "reunion" aspect was a big success for all involved.  Scott Frost was quoted in the Omaha paper saying that he has always rooted for OU to win every game but one.  That's how a multitude of OU fans my age--including my wife and me--have always felt about Nebraska.

We'll have to get a weather report from Fearless, but I understand that it was hot indeed.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 20, 2021, 07:24:13 PM
it was hot, but not unbearable

sitting in the southeast corner, the sun was at my back early on

and ice cold beer was served in the stadium, the two seats on my left side remained empty, that helped a bit with the heat

the Sooner fans were very welcoming hosts, didn't see or hear anything disrespectful.  Good people

I heard more Texas Sucks chants than Nebraska sucks - I played along to be friendly

I had a great time and the game turned out much better than I expected - good excitement until the end 
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 20, 2021, 07:27:43 PM
O-line play is just plain bad

there were times with pass protection was good, but 5 sacks for 28 yards vs a kid that can run that well is just plain bad

the punter and KO guy did well, but ya gotta be able to kick an extra point

amazed that the huskers got 3 points out of the first possession with about 5 penalties.

once again, penalties, mistakes, missed assignments, bad O-line work
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 20, 2021, 07:36:05 PM
It was almost like the 1970s Huskers showed up, except they brought along the 1950s o-line.

Tad Stryker
HuskerMax/All Huskers
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: CWSooner on September 20, 2021, 10:55:18 PM
O-line play is just plain bad

there were times with pass protection was good, but 5 sacks for 28 yards vs a kid that can run that well is just plain bad

the punter and KO guy did well, but ya gotta be able to kick an extra point

amazed that the huskers got 3 points out of the first possession with about 5 penalties.

once again, penalties, mistakes, missed assignments, bad O-line work
And yet Martinez often had plenty of time to pass.  And he completed passes on many of those chances.
Title: Re: Nebraska at Oklahoma, retro Game week
Post by: FearlessF on September 21, 2021, 08:35:35 AM
the pass protection was better than the running game

often had time to throw, other times not enough time and running for his life

hopefully the young o-line is getting better week to week.  We need a guard to emerge and take the starting spot