A Break From or Return To Relevance
4 comments so far
March 16, 2009 by
The day after Thanksgiving nationally televised match between Nebraska and Colorado has been a tradition since the inception of the Big 12. But for the last couple of years, the buzz generated by that game has paled in comparison to the Border Showdown between Missouri and Kansas one day later. There is little doubt that the 2007 battle between those two schools was one of the most important games for the Big 12 that year. Nebraska v. Colorado was a backseat game to the media, especially ESPN.
The '07 Showdown brought into prominence the idea that the South schools weren't the only ones who could compile nearly undefeated records through a regular season. The buzz around two teams reaching new heights in the same conference, in the same year, was unmistakable. In 2008 the Border Showdown was the difference maker for salvaging a solid finish for KU. Missouri had a few critical tasks on the line: the Tiger's potential outright Big 12 North win, a chance at a January bowl berth, and a better shot at a 10 win season. Just as a last ditch kick attempt sealed the Huskers' fate, so it did for the Tigers.
From 2002 to 2006, out of those four schools, Nebraska or Colorado has had the best overall and conference record. While the Huskers and Buffs did play second fiddle to Kansas State in 2002 and 2003, Colorado had a better conference record in '02 and Nebraska was still in the running for the North title in '03.
It has only been these last two seasons where both Colorado and Nebraska have felt the effects of a series of decisions that left their teams trying to play catch-up, a position that seemed like Cornhusker fans would never see. Of course, as long as the Buffaloes continue this perceived downward slide, the game won't matter in a national spotlight unless Nebraska is upset in its final conference game this year.
2008 was a crossroads for Nebraska and Missouri as both teams ended up with the same conference record, tied for the Big 12 North. Which direction will they go from here? My initial guess is that Nebraska may hold a slight edge, with Kansas potentially overtaking Missouri as a mainstay in the North. I don't see Colorado seriously contending until a new coach takes the reigns.
However, it seems as if ESPN may be betting on the final game on our regular season schedule to count for something next season. Nebraska's Big 12 opener against Missouri is televised nationally on a Thursday night and Colorado has two other national Thursday night games. While that is all well and good, I would love to see a return to a schedule where Nebraska ended up playing the Sooners on TV every year. We can still hope that the CU game can maintain the same level of impact. An improved Colorado is good for the whole conference. To paraphrase KU basketball coach Bill Self discussing the difference between Kstate and Missouri: Oklahoma may be our Rival, but Colorado is our enemy.
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darren Mar 16 09
Regular readers of this site know that I write about Media Matters and Relevance on a very regular basis. It's a pet topic of mine.
I will say this - the CU/NU game is the bedrock for NU's media plan. The game is on *national* TV - not regional, not cable. It is one of the rare times when people in any market see NU an evaluate them. This means pundits and pollsters, recruits and out-of-state zealots. It's over a holiday weekend, when people are home and ready to watch. It's a huge opportunity.
Yes, I miss this being the OU game time slot like crazy. Always will. And the game is better when CU and NU are both good. I fully expect that NU will hold up their end of the bargain. Will CU? Hawkins said "10 wins and no excuses." I assume he's counting NU among those 10. Bring it.
darren Mar 16 09
KU-MU game has been important because they were playing for something (division title, BCS birth, etc). NU and CU were not.
That will change this year, I'm willing to guess.
Without those stakes attached, nobody outside of Missour and Kansas gives two craps about the MU-KU game. And, on a national level, nobody cares about it even when they are playing for something.
NU-CU, UT-A&M and even OU-OSU have much more nation appeal than KU-MU does. Again, national, not regional. Talk radio in KC may blow up that week. But, that's about it.
tom Mar 16 09
Being a Kansas Citian myself, yes, talk radio does blow up. But because the game did matter these past few years, there was some national media attention from ABC, ESPN. I think you're slightly wrong about the apathy towards the KU-MU game. There was not zero interest in the Border Showdown, but it is still not as interesting as NU-CU.
I'm not saying that it will stay that way, all I'm saying is that if the importance of our game doesn't hold up, there is a game waiting to step in from the wings. Nebraska/Colorado better both step up this year.
bnahusker Mar 16 09
A return to relevance can not include bringing in another hired gun like Robert Marve. Big Red doesn't need another Callahan/Keller experiment to break up the TEAM. He's already been suspended for "Team Violations" twice. Thhis needs to be avoided, not only for attitude reasons but, because we found out later that we already had a QB better than Keller ready to go. (Joe Ganz)
Marve might be a great guy and super QB. I have nothing bad to say about him. It is the tactic that I question. If Bo really brings him in, it will show a side that I didn't think that he had, and could sour my view of the program.
GBR Forever!
Bob