No Wonder They Hate Us
3 comments so far
November 25, 2006 by
Put yourselves in the shoes of a CU fan Friday. You’re on the road in a series in which the road team has won four straight. After surrendering a touchdown on your opponents opening drive, you gut out a drive that includes overcoming a first and 30 down and distance situation. After forcing a turnover and missing a long field goal and then holding a potent Husker offense to three and out on another, you have them settling for a long field goal attempt of their own. What happens? An NU fake that gives the Huskers seven points on a pass to the defensive end. Ouch.
But the Buffs hang tough and turn a Brandon Jackson fumble into seven more points and a tie game. Then they force another three and out for the Husker offense and appear ready to take command, when things start to go bad. An offensive pass interference (a penalty that is seldom called) turns a first down into second and twenty-three. Maurice Purify, blood relative of beloved CU running back Bobby Purify, then starts to take over with two impressive catches along the sideline for forty-one yards. The Buffs then get called for interfering with Zac Taylor on another trick play and Brandon Jackson does the rest. Nebraska 21, CU 14. Doh!
The Buffs are forced to punt and force a punt. They’re still in the game. The NU pooch punt pins the Buffs at the one-yard line (a close call by the officials). On the first play, CU running back Mell Holliday is tackled for a safety. Oh come on!
The Buffs now need two scores and have to kick to Nebraska. The Huskers drive to the CU forty but are stopped for no gain on third and one. They line up with Tierre Green in the backfield and Zac Taylor begins to walk off as if he’ll call time out to talk to the coaches. Suddenly, there’s a direct snap to Green, who speeds to his right - first down, Nebraska. The Huskers then convert a third and thirteen to Frantz Hardy and hit Brandon Jackson for a touchdown on a play where a Husker receiver picks off the CU defender assigned to cover Jackson. If I’m a CU fan, I’m now going to be sick.
After the Buffs are stopped twice Nebraska drives to the CU 17, they elect to run the ball on fourth and three. First down NU. Three plays later Kenny Wilson scores with 23 seconds remaining in the game. Now that’s just cruel.
There have been plenty of heartbreaking losses (and blowouts) that the Buffs have suffered at the hands of Nebraska. But in a game that could to some degree save a lost season, the Buffs got tricked, shortchanged, and finally embarrassed. If you didn’t hate Nebraska already CU fan, no doubt you do now.
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Jon Johnston Nov 25 06
It was a thing of beauty, wasn't it?
What struck me was how well we executed all the trick plays. Obviously, we practiced them for a while.
darren Nov 25 06
Steve,
Just a great post. Wow, I had no idea you were so empathetic. ;-) I almost feel for the Buff fans...oh, wait, no I don't.
Okay, seriously, that last TD by Wilson had to feel like a punch in the gut. Kind of symbolic the way Wilson blasted the CU defender 3 yards deep in the end zone. I give Coach Hawkins credit for saying it was "our (CU's) job to stop them" on that drive. He took the high road on that. Other coaches might not have.
Steve Nov 26 06
Thanks D,
I had almost a guilty feeling watching Nebraska run so many trick plays against a 2-9 team. It just seems mean. Hawkins looked almost in tears after the fake to Turner. Then again, what a great way to host the last batch of recruits and what a great way to answer Hawkins trash talk.