CU, Nebraska 'stand alone'

With nothing much at stake, old rivals still savor winning

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 24, 2006 at midnight

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LINCOLN, Neb. - The stakes unquestionably have been higher, with both teams over the years occupying niches at the upper end of college football's annual graph - sometimes simultaneously.

This year, though, finds the Nebraska Cornhuskers once again casting a downward glance at the Colorado Buffaloes, who have spent the entire 2006 season gazing upward at almost everyone.

But while today's CU-Nebraska game (1:30 p.m. MST, KMGH-Channel 7) won't determine the Big 12 Conference's North Division champion (the Cornhuskers settled that two weekends ago), or the Buffs' bowl destination (for all intents and purposes, that was settled by CU not winning until mid-October), don't bet on this being a bland afternoon in Big Red Country.

Over the past two decades, this series has moved beyond docile to hostile, with today promising to underscore that shift.

With an eye on the conference championship game (Dec. 2, Kansas City, Mo.), the Cornhuskers are striving for a momentous send-off in the final home game for 18 seniors. Further momentum generated today would be welcome when the Huskers face either Texas or Oklahoma at Arrowhead Stadium.

CU, meanwhile, is hoping to send itself into a laborious offseason with a second consecutive victory - that passes for promise in a fall like this - and a win over its rival. Defeating the North champ would be nice, but it does not consume the Buffs.

"It's kind of interesting," CU defensive tackle George Hypolite said. "They know they've clinched the North, they know they're going to the Big 12 championship. But I think this game supersedes (that). . . .

"Somebody in my high school said, 'You beat your rival, you have a winning season; you lose to your rival, you have a losing season.' Even if we were fighting for the North championship (today), I think this game stands alone. We're Colorado, they're Nebraska."

Winning would allow Nebraska to complete its first unbeaten November (3-0) since 1999 - the last season the Cornhuskers advanced to the Big 12 championship game.

With two wins this month after closing October with consecutive losses, Nebraska also has climbed back into the Top 25 (No. 23).

Pushing the Huskers out provides some motivation for CU senior guard Brian Daniels. While he wasn't ready to say a win would salvage the season, he said, "It would sure make me feel better to go out on top and wreck Nebraska's Top 25 standing. (Winning) there would go a long way in alleviating some of the pain from this year."

In truth, it goes deeper than that. A win against its first ranked opponent in 14 tries would allow CU to avoid becoming only the third team to lose 10 games in 117 years of football at the school. He might not say it, but coach Dan Hawkins isn't keen on having that statistic slapped on his CU resume.

This is Hawkins' first foray into Lincoln, but he doesn't enter unaware of the rivalry.

"Oh, sure, (because) of the particular day it's played on (the day after Thanksgiving)," Hawkins said. "You usually have the opportunity to watch it. But it was always tough to watch because usually you're still playing.

"So it's not like we sat down with a bag of chips and were able to watch it. We would catch it coming and going."

CU's chances at winning for a third consecutive time in Memorial Stadium (the road team has won the past four games) depend on the early effectiveness of quarterback Bernard Jackson and the defense's ability to slow Nebraska's running game.

Jackson has grasped more of the offense and has directed it more efficiently over the past month. But this is his first start in Lincoln, a proving/burial ground for CU quarterbacks.

Jackson's formula for coping?

"Just trying to keep guys humble - as well as myself," he said, noting he and his offense were focused enough in late September to take a 13-0 lead at Georgia before falling 14-13.

"Everybody knows what we're capable of, so I don't think I have to do too much talking," he said. "We just have to go out and execute. I'm sure that will quiet (Nebraska fans) up pretty fast.

"We'll be able to do some things we want to do early. Hearing them quiet is a good thing for us. That's the biggest thing for us - to out-shock them. We have to come out and make some big plays."

Keeping the Cornhuskers from doing the same falls on a Buffs defense that has slipped in stopping the run. CU has yielded 100-plus yards rushing to each of its past four opponents, and Nebraska averages 182.6 on the ground (430.9 overall).

"They're a lot more diverse (this year), and that's a reason for their success," Hypolite said. "They run out of a lot of different formations; that challenges a defense to stay on the same page."

Maintaining, or usually bumping up, the focus during Nebraska week is common at CU. Hypolite contended the Buffs have been focused for every Saturday this season, but he conceded,

"There's probably been a lot more fire and passion (this week) when we step onto the field.

"That comes from knowing who we're playing and the history. Basically, this program was built on beating Nebraska."

Or in this case, rebuilt. The Buffs know it would be a start.

Colorado at Nebraska

• The game: 1:30 p.m. MST today, Memorial Stadium (81,067 capacity), Lincoln, Neb.

• The records: CU is 2-9 overall, 2-5 in the Big 12 Conference; No. 23 Nebraska is 8-3, 5-2.

• The series: Nebraska leads 45-17-2, including 23-8 in Lincoln.

• TV/radio: KMGH-Channel 7; KOA-AM (850).

• Who's favored: Nebraska by 14.

• Key injuries: CU: DT Jason Brace (concussion) and ILB Marcus Burton (fractured tibia) are doubtful. DT Marcus Jones (concussion) and DT Taj Kaynor (stinger) are probable. CB Terrence Wheatley (concussion) is day to day. Nebraska: CB Zackary Bowman (knee) is out.

Five key questions

1 How will CU quarterback Bernard Jackson react to his first start in Memorial Stadium, in front of 81,000-plus Cornhuskers fans?

2 Can the Buffs build on the offensive efficiency displayed in their 33-16 win against Iowa State on Nov. 11?

3 Did last weekend's open date stymie either team?

4 Is CU's defense capable of slowing Nebraska's potent running game?

5 In a season where the game means nothing in the Big 12 standings, which team still benefits from the series' ramped-up intensity?

brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5466

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