Rivalries are great things. They make a game at the end of a 5 and 6 season seem important, and can even make it memorable. A big win for Nebraska could even save Callahan’s job (I really doubt it, but it could happen). A big win for the Buffs would really change the whole dynamic of this season. It would be a vindication of sorts, as really, most people did not expect the Buffs to do more than get to a bowl game. This season has seen inconsistency as the Buffs yo-yoed back and forth from disappointing performances to memorable ones and back again. We even saw the honeymoon period end for Hawkins with the 55-10 meltdown in boulder against Mizzou. But enough about the season. The season is gone. They playoff for respect is here.
The collective memory of the respective fanbases defines any particular rivalry. The long memories of Nebraska fans makes some of them deny that such a rivalry even exists… I would humbly disagree, and it is apparent that a new generation of Husker fans does think this game is a rivalry game. My memories of this rivalry are very short compared to those of many other Buffs that frequent this site, but so is my lifespan.
I remember the first CU-NU game I ever saw. It was the day after thanksgiving in the year 2000 (ya, start laughing:). I did not even know I was going to attend CU yet, and barely recognized the team (I grew up in Hawaii and was not in high school yet when CU won the national championship, give a guy a break). All I did know was that the guys in red had just gone down by a point and that they were driving for a game winning field goal. I immediately started rooting for the Buffs to stop them. Unfortunately, they were unable to do so and Eric Crouch led the BugEaters to a game winning fieldgoal.
The next year, now that was a bit different. Both teams were in the top 10, with NU #1. This game was my first time attending the rivalry in person. It was incredible. I had been to every game that year, and no game had come close to matching this one in intensity.
My Favorite Moment:Purify’s 39 yard run to open the scoring. It was a sign of things to come, and the stadium just went nuts. Rushing the field and all the other fun stuff was also a good time, but really, that was like the first bite of a cake. Even if you get to eat the rest of the damn thing, its always the best on the first bite:).
What is your favorite moment in the rivalry?

Related posts:

  1. Ahhh, Memories
  2. It’s Nebraska Week!
  3. Excitement Builds