As It Should Be
18 comments so far
November 27, 2006 by
There are many who lament the loss of Oklahoma as a Thanksgiving weekend opponent. For many years, it determined the conference, if not national, championship. As intriguing as the games against Colorado have been, they lack the same sense of importance. But once the Big 8 grew to become a twelve team conference with two divisions and a championship game, any regular season finale by definition could not have anything more than divisional implications. Now the Huskers face the Sooners in a winner-take-all scenario which feels exactly right.
In the past, the finale versus Oklahoma determined who went to the Orange Bowl. Now instead, it will determine who goes to the Fiesta Bowl. Not a whole lot of difference if you ask me. I'd rather eat Tostitos than use Fed Ex anyway.
Still, there is a kind of emptiness to a season that does not include a game against Oklahoma. If it's fair to refer to the OU-NU series as a rivalry, it's been a rivalry defined by one thing - excellence. OU has Texas and Oklahoma State to get under their skin and talk trash. Those games matter in Oklahoma even if both teams have losing records. But Oklahoma and Nebraska don't share a border and the strength of the rivalry had always been that the games mattered. When Nebraska was embarrasing OU in the mid to late 1990's, I didn't feel the joy of crushing a rival. I felt pity that such a great program could fall so far and perhaps even cheated that the games no longer mattered.
Now, the Huskers and Sooners take the field in a game that will determine the conference championship. While perhaps overdue, it feels just right to me. Let's party like it's 1971.
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Katie Nov 27 06
Great Post Steve!
I know Texas would have been an "easier" draw for us, but hey I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit excited to play Oklahoma.
It will be electric in Arrowhead on December 2nd.
Go Big Red!
Scott Nov 27 06
I couldn't agree with you more, Steve.
Personally, I did not want another game with Texas. They already beat us this year. If we did have a rematch with Texas and did beat them, that would not avenge the earlier loss. It would simply mean that we split with Texas and the season series would be tied at 1-1.
I like the fact we're playing Oklahoma because these are the two hottest teams in the Big 12 right now. Besides, what Sooner fan or Husker fan doesn't like this matchup??? This should be a great game with two great teams and each team boasts fans that have such a great knowledge of this rivalry and college football in general. The fans for these two teams show what being a college football fan is all about.
Saturday night is going to be a fun night.
Go Big Red!!!
Jeremy in Minneapolis Nov 27 06
This is great. NU-OU. Hot damn!
I was at Memorial Stadium for the last Big 8 game ever, fittingly NU-OU (we routed them hard), and remember thinking that it was a shame we'd no longer meet them every year.
Unlike our "rivals" of KSU and CU, I respect and even like the Sooners somewhat. I'm also happy they've escaped their doldrums of the latter stages of the last decade, and this is the best BTCG match-up yet.
I also have a feeling it's going to be a classic, worthy of standing next to the other most memorable NU-OU games. However, I'm not going to pick a winner, because I have no idea. Neither team sticks out to me as a favorite for any obvious reasons.
On a different note, isn't it crazy that there's never been a repeat big XII champ? A run that will continue this year?
Paul in New Orleans Nov 27 06
I am an OU fan and I am very impressed by the respect that is given by NU fans here. Unlike Texas fans whose only reason for existance is to hate OU.
I actually found myself rooting for Nebraska, because they too have a great history and I hate to see them down.
This is the way College Football is supposed to be, OU and NU playing for a conference championship and a major bowl bid!!
Kevin in Oklahoma Nov 27 06
I agree with Paul in New Orleans 100%. I have always respected the program at Nebraska and now have even more respect for them and their fans. Most any site I have ever looked at, the fans just seem to bash their "rival". It is nice to see for a change the respect that rivals should show each other. Sure a little trash talk is good every now and then to get the blood flowing, but all NU fans that have posted here so far are one class act. I know for one thing, I can't wait for Saturday and to get back to the old NU/OU matchup we all loved in years past. Oh and one last thing, BOOMER SOONER!!!!
Grant Nov 27 06
Plus...drinking bear with OU fans is much more fun than with K-sux or CU fans.
GO BIG RED!
Grant Nov 27 06
Of course I meant beer...not bear. We can spell in NU land.
Brooks in Dallas Nov 27 06
Jeremy took the words right out of my mouth, HOT DAMN! I've been a diehard OU fan all my life and saw many great games between these two storied programs in the 70's and 80's. I grew to respect the Big Red over the years and I've always admired Tom Osbourne and I pulled for NU in the 90's during it's national title run. This game finally means something again! Players and coaches for both schools have changed over the years but the historical significance of this great rivalry never did. It just took a little longer to get back to its significance. Good luck Huskers!
BOOMER SOONERS!!
Ralph Nov 27 06
I have been a Husker fan since 1962, the year Devaney showed up in Lincoln and I have followed the programs of OK and Alabama even after these programs relapsed for a while. I too felt bad when OK was not doing well in the mid-1990's. I still feel that way for Alabama and hope that they will come back again. Oklahoma came back and stopped FSU in one of the more satisfying National Championship games that I ever saw. OK and Alabama fans are classy, oh, I guess that we will detest each other come this Saturday at KC, during the game and maybe sometime after, but I know that the winner will be rooting for the looser and vice-versa come the bowl games. Go Big Red! and, why not? Boomer Sooner! Ralph in Atlanta.
SoonerWilson Nov 27 06
What a great game to look forward too! As a diehard and devoted SOONER, I have the utmost respect for Nebraska. Four years ago, during the Alabama vs. OU game in Norman, my cousin had a friend attend the game with us who was from Nebraska and she even wore her Husker shirt all over the stadium and not once did anyone give her a hard time. It's way nice to see the respect between both teams and fans. This is the game both teams and both sets of fans have been waiting on for 10 years and I believe it's going to be just as good (if not better) than all of us can imagine. So elated and totally ecstatic Texas doesn't go this year... the SOONERS and the Huskers are the two hottest and best teams in the Big XII... looking forward to a great game Huskers... GO BOOMER SOONERS!
Josh Nov 27 06
I grew up despising the Sooners because my beloved Huskers lost so many heartbreaking games to them (during the Jamel Holloway, Keith Jackson, and Brian Bosworth days). Then, when Oklahoma went through their "rough" years in the 1990's, I actually missed the close, nail-biting games. I really respect Coach Stoops and staff. Seldom do they get outcoached. Plus, they are a class act. So.....as I've eluded to, my "old" feelings towards the Sooners have changed. In fact, I was upset when they got ska-rood at Oregon earlier this year. Now, I can honestly say that I like them and root for them. Except, of course, when they play the Huskers!!!
Good luck Sooners. I'm looking forward to a barn-burner in Kansas City!!
Josh
P.S. And, as much as I love the Huskers, I'm also a realist. That said, if Nebraska doesn't wrap-up and bring Patrick, Peterson, etc. to the ground instead of trying to arm tackle and strip the ball it could be a long night for the Huskers!!
Bob Nov 27 06
No burnt ornage in the title game! OU Rocks, and the Huskers ROLL! The greatest fear I have this weekend is the Northern Big Red having somebody..........ANYBODY catch a punt. May the Spirit of the Living JR Superstar shine down on Arrowhead Saturday night, and have the ghost of Lyle Bremser tear 'em loose from their shoes! GO HUSKERS!
ChicagoBears Nov 28 06
OU: 21 Nebraska: 17
How can it get any better than an OU/NU matchup. It'S been to long coming. What a great game to look forward too! I have the upmost respect for Nebraska football and their fans. Last year Stoop even himself stated when asked who had he best fan's (other than OU) and he stated WITHOUT hesitation it had to be Nebraska. I miss OU not playing Nebraska every year. What a nailbitting game that was to look forward to. This game is not different, just like old times. I believe this game is the best of the conference title matchup this weekend. GO OKLAHOMA!!!!.
Jonathan Nov 29 06
Wonderful article and I certainly share the sentiments of the readers so far. This is exactly as it should be. It is a window into the glory days of old and hopefully to come. I agree - we respect NU down here. The OU-NU rivalry, unlike OU-UT and OU-OSU was never based on hatred, just passion and competitiveness. (OSU is kind of a semi-rivalry, btw, I mean they've only won 16 out of 101 games). Most NU fans are classy too, and I respect that. And, yes, I do cheer for NU when they're not playing OU.
BTW, haven't you guys started to hate UT yet? Doesn't their burnt orange make you sick? I guess we've had to put up with them longer than you guys - give it time and you'll hate them too.
jason Nov 29 06
I love it! I'm so excited I can't concentrate on anything! I've been waiting for this for such a long time, and now I'm stuck out here on the east coast with no one to talk to about it.
The break-up of this game was the biggest tragedy in the history of college football. The last NU-OU game I went to was in Norman, and we won by nearly 50 points. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I couldn't wait for Oklahoma to get back on track. I also have always rooted for Oklahoma outside of the Nebraska game. Then just as they were getting their stride back, we fell apart. Now it's time to replace the Osborne-Switzer days with the Callahan-Stoops days. Now that we're back, you guys down in Oklahoma are going to have to take care of those Texans so we can make this happen every year again!
And yes, we all hated UT from the beginning. I actually went to college in Dallas and had to deal with the UT fans the whole time OU was down and out. They all think the UT-OU game is the biggest rivalry just like the Colorado fans think the CU-NU game is. I was in Denver this summer getting grilled about why we don't consider them our rival, and the guy asked me if we beat Oklahoma but lost to Colorado would we consider it a better season than the other way around? No question about it! In the words of Tom Osborne after beating Colorado 52-3, "I think the rivalry is right back where it should be!"
These are still the two greatest programs in the history of college football, and the Oklahoma fans are the only equals we have around the country. I miss the old days of oranges flying on the field the day after Thanksgiving. I guess we're going to have to stalk up on tortillas for Saturday!
Good luck on Saturday Sooners! Here's to a great game! It's gonna be a cold one.......and then good luck in the Cotton Bowl!
(Too bad whoever wins this gets the worse bowl opponent. Whoever loses gets to go show the SEC who's really in charge!)
SoonerInKorea Nov 30 06
Good Luck Huskers!! As has been mentioned, NU fans are a class act. You guys must be pretty confident to be throwing so much praise around though (snicker). I'm figuring the Sooners will put about half a hundred on you, but I do miss the rivalry. (The bowl matchup for the winner is a tragedy. Whoever goes to the Fiesta better not lose to Boise State.. That would be the worst thing of all!!) REPRESENT in BOTH bowls!!
SoonerSteve Dec 01 06
All OU and NU fans should petition the Big XII to mix up the "divisions" and let OU play NU every year... around Thanksgiving like in the Big 8 days!
If Bob W from NFM is out there Merry Christmas! I'll be looking for you on ABC!
Boomer Sooner and Go Big Red!
OU by 3
Jason Dec 01 06
Hi Sooner Steve,
It turns out that some OU and NU fans have already started the petition.
Check it out here.