Why I Love This Series
13 comments so far
November 28, 2008 by
Husker fans disagree about whether or not Colorado is worthy of being called Nebraska's rival. Regardless, it's been one heck of an exciting series. Once again the two teams delivered a nail-biting, probability-defying gem that will be remembered by fans for a long time.
Look at the stats sheet (without the score) and you'd think the Huskers cruised in this one. They outrushed the Buffs by over 100 yards and outgained them by a similar margin. They were plus two in turnovers. They held the ball for nearly 40 minutes and only punted once to CU's three times. But big plays by Colorado turned a mismatch into a dogfight and the Huskers nearly found themselves losing a heartbreaker at home.
Instead, it was the Buffs that had their hearts broken.
The Huskers fell behind early after giving up two long touchdowns in just four offensive plays by CU. They fought back and seemed to be in control when a fake field goal gone awry knotted the game at 24-24 just before halftime. From there, the Huskers continued to move the ball, but struggled to finish drives. Three trips to the red zone yielded just six points. With under two minutes, the Huskers needed a 57-yard Alex Henery field goal on 4th and 25 to take a 33-31 lead. The Blackshirts took over and Ndamukong Suh iced the game with a interception return for a touchdown.
There were a number of great storylines from this game. Roy Helu gutted out a 25-carry classic netting 166 yards despite sustaining a rib injury in the second half. With Marlon Lucky out of the game, the Huskers appeared one-deep at running back. Here's hoping both Lucky and Helu get healthy in time for the Gator Bowl.
Joe Ganz had a good game but not a great one. He left the field after his last offensive series thinking he'd cost his team the game by taking a fifteen-yard sack. After carrying the team much of the year, he deserved to be bailed out by his teammates.
After a season marred by penalties, this was a game where the refs kept the laundry off the field. Only 5 penalties were called in the game, all in the second half, I believe. That made this game all the more watchable.
But the lesson for Bo Pelini - have faith in your kicker. If Henery had been given a chance to kick a 53-yard field goal in the closing minutes of the first half instead of running the ill-advised fake, the Huskers might have been up two scores at the half and cruised to an easy victory. Thankfully, Bo came around and gave Alex the opportunity to win the game. Among the reasons to be excited for the Gator Bowl and for next year, is that Henery can make a kick like that with the game on the line.
The Buffs may not have a nationally respected program these days, but their games with Nebraska are seldom boring. There were five straight nail-biters from 1996-2000, all won by NU, and all by less than a touchdown. The 1999 contest was won in overtime after CU missed a chip shot field goal that would have won it at the end of regulation. The 2000 game ended with a 39-yard field goal by Josh Brown as time expired to give Nebraska a two-point victory after they fell behind with a minute remaining. The games since that time haven't been as close, but they've been interesting.
The 2001 game shocked the Husker nation as the Buffs rollled up 62 points. The 2003 game seemingly saved Frank Solich's job (only to see him fired the next day). The 2004 game kept Nebraska from going bowling and probably ended Joe Dailey's career at NU after he threw four interceptions. In 2005, the Huskers "Restored the Order" with a 30-3 upset in Boulder and in 2006 Bill Callahan emptied seemingly every trick play in the book as the Huskers rolled. A year ago, the Buffs put the final nail in Callahan's coffin and kept the Huskers home for the holidays. Today, the Huskers returned the favor.
Maybe it's not a rivalry, but it's sure fun to watch.
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Greg Morrow Nov 28 08
I mean, you still need a fake FG in the repetoire. Maybe the no look flipper could uh, open other things up in the future.
Honestly, I really don't have a problem with their program. Not even with their coaches, who seemed a touch arrogant, when referring to the Huskers, in the past. And I only "interact" with their fans, when they venture into Nebraska boards.
The '99 game tops it for me. Alexander was priceless, then the missed FG. The '00 game is another favorite, for Barnett's reaction after Crouch and Newcombe matriculated the ball right down the field in hurry up mode, before Brown kicks the winner. I remember a Colorado linebacker bending over and bawling right then, but I took no pleasure in that.
But yeah, Steve, they give you their best. I'm not sure how much the "Slausenator" and Joey's comments fed into it. They should leave that to the more practiced....
It came down the longest FG in Nebraska's history, a history with some fine kickers. Colorado probably wins this, if played in Boulder, though the dynamic changes, when you remove and replace factors. They exposed our walkon rich back 7, but it's still satisfying that the walkons were a major factor in it, especially Wortman. Thorell will just get better and better.
On balance, it's another "dubya." Another contribution by Colorado, to Nebraska's all time 4th place standing, nationally.
Thanks, for that...
tom Nov 28 08
This game surpassed the 2000 Colorado game as the greatest, most anxious, exciting sporting event that I have ever personally attended. At the end of the game, I had forgotten all my stresses, work stuff, and general complaints in my life to bask in the glow of an emotional victory that my team was somehow able to pull out of thin air. That, my friends, is exactly why college football is the greatest sport in the history of the world.
darren Nov 29 08
Excellent thoughts Steve. Amazing game, great series. Legends were made Saturday - Henery, Suh, Helu - and it makes it fun to be a Husker fan. And, it suuuucks to be a CU fan today.
Another reason why this is a great series...it is on national TV. All my Husker home boys, flung far and wide, got to watch this on regular TV. And, how many times have readers of this site had to put up with me begging for a "return to relevance" for NU? At least 4... Well, Saturday helped because NU won a competitive and fun game in front of millions of relatively non-partisan fans on ABC. That matters. Having the studio guys give NU some dap for their 8-4 season helps too.
Scott Nov 29 08
I'll admit I didn't think we had a chance once Ganz got sacked at the end. Most teams probably wouldn't have had the same result and I thought for sure we would be 7-5 after that.
This is why the games are played. It's not about point spreads, talent, injuries, or anything like that. It's about lining up and playing. Hats off to CU for showing up and doing what they had to do to almost win that game. It could have gone either way. I'm glad we came out on top.
I kept thinking about the environment and attitude before and after the game and how that must have looked to potential recruits. I'll be anxious to hear about that in the days to come. Hopefully this can be a springboard for some great thimgs to come in the future.
HuskerDeck Nov 29 08
Enjoyed this article Steve and am thrilled with the way won, I was really upset with Watson's play calling in the red zone. It seemed if the only play he knew to call was the run to the left side and to me showed no imagination at all. Also where was Mendoza with all his speed when Helu got banged up? Just wondering.
The ole Swede and Husker in South Arkansas
Bart Nov 29 08
I stood totally stunned for about 10 seconds in my alloted 18 inches of space. Exchanging high five and hugs with friends as well as some total strangers. It maybe the best ending to a game I have seen in person. I am still a little sick to my stomache. You keep going to the games because you are a fan and hope you never miss a chance to witness a game like this one.
Bill in Iowa Nov 30 08
This was a game where the Colorado coaching staff showed that they prepared well for us during the extra week. I think we were out-coached this time around. HuskerDeck, I agree with you, I thought Watson went to the same plays way too many times. I don't know why we played so conservative and didn't try to stretch the field as much. I mean we hit McNeil early on the fly route early, but after that it seemed like the play calling got a bit conservative.
Don Nov 30 08
I thought the Huskers were way overconfident going into the game. For some reason they were not taking Colorado seriously and I figured it would be a close game. I am glad to see that they had the talent to overcome that and squeak out a victory. I hope the players learn from this.
sweet D Nov 30 08
What a bonehead play that fake FG was? It was successful against Kansas (in which national sportscaster did not realize). They had time to scout that play well. At least, come up with a couple of them.
When we beat OU next year, you have find a way to move the game to Thanksgiving week. That's the better rivalry I think.
JBling22 Nov 30 08
You guys are Fing crazy... First Marlon gets all the runs, then you say say HELU should get all the runs, now that HELU is getting all the runs and doing good, you ask were is Mendoza ... I thought you guys were pushing for a single running back??? 3 Backs is just stupid talk makes me sick...Fresh Legs great, but if someone was running like HELu was give him the damn ball, same goes for Quentin or Marlon...
HuskerDeck Nov 30 08
JBling22 -- I was just asking about Mendoza when Helu was banged up and not playing, not to replace him, I just thought it would be a nice change of pace from Castille.
JBLING22 Dec 01 08
Im sorry HuskerDeck, I need to read a little closer next time.. Its just that I actually heard things similar around, and it drove me crazy.........
omarhuskerfan Dec 02 08
The thing is that Mendoza still can't pick up a blitz. Thus you don't play him. It was a good game and great for a guy in the desert who hasn't seen a full game on TV all year. I'm excited for 1 Jan
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