LINCOLN — Missouri has always had Kansas, and Nebraska used to have Oklahoma.
Though Missouri-Nebraska doesn’t have quite the same ring, passions run as deep as any other rivalry when these teams get together.
They have taken turns making and breaking each other’s seasons in more than a century’s worth of hard-hitting games. Today figures to be no different when the Tigers (7-0, 3-0), ranked No. 6 in the BCS standings and No. 7 by The Associated Press, and the Cornhuskers (6-1, 2-1), ranked No. 14 in the BCS standings and in the AP poll, play for control of the Big 12 North.
Adding some zest to this one is the fact that it’s the last football game between the two before Nebraska heads to the Big Ten - the same league Missouri had hoped to join during the summer’s conference realignment.
“I just know growing uparound it, and committing to Nebraska, how much Missouri fans want to beat Nebraska every year and how much they dislike Nebraska,” said Huskers linebacker Will Compton, from Bonne Terre, Mo. “It’s all in fun.”
The players aren’t especially fond of each other, either.
Back in 1982, Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill was knocked unconscious. In 1979, I-back Jarvis Redwine claimed a knee injury was the result of Missouri players intentionally diving at his legs. Two years ago, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel said a Nebraska player spit on him.
Nebraska fans, not to mention Missouri fans, will never forget the 1997 “Miracle at Missouri” game. Matt Davison’s diving end-zone catch of a ball popped into the air off teammate Shevin Wiggins’ foot tied the game on the last play of regulation. Nebraska won in overtime and went on to win a split national championship in Tom Osborne’s last year as coach.
In 1978, James Wilder ran for 181 yards and four touchdowns in a Missouri victory that dashed the second-ranked Huskers’ national championship hopes.
From 1949-69, 16 of the games were decided by 10 points or less, and one or both of the teams were usually ranked. The Huskers lead the series 64-35-3, mostly on the strength of a 24-game winning streak that did nothing to endear them to Missouri fans.
“I feel there’s a big brother/ little brother sentiment there,” said Missouri graduate David Singleton, 32, of Las Vegas. “There is an air of arrogance, condescension about Nebraska fans.”
Singleton attended last week’s 36-27 victory over then-BCS standings leader Oklahoma. He said that victory means nothing if the Tigers don’t beat Nebraska.
“This is the last shot, last chance,” Singleton said.
Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert is coming off back-toback 300-yard passing games and will be going against one of the nation’s top secondaries.
Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez has amassed huge rushing statistics, but he’s yet to prove he can move the ball with consistency against a top defense. The Tigers are fifth in the nation in scoring defense (13.1 points per game) and are allowing just 114 yards a game on the ground.
“We’re halfway in the season and it’s time to step it up a little bit more,” Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith said. “A lot of teams get overconfident when they get ranked and once they beat a couple of teams.We’re still hungry.”
Tigers Coach Gary Pinkel said his players have a chemistry unlike any of his previous teams.
“Our team is better than it was three weeks ago, and we keep improving,” he said. “Every coach wants his team to do that. Every week you play in this league, every game gets bigger and bigger.”
Sports, Pages 23 on 10/30/2010