Rex To Texas

We knew Plano’s Rex Burkhead could run. We’ve seen examples that he can catch (despite the fact he botched an easy screen that was mistakenly ruled a fumble on the field.) But in the final Big 12 regular season game ever in Memorial Stadium, Burkhead’s arm helped rid an angry Husker nation of some horrible memories in Nebraska’s 45-17 pasting of the Colorado Buffaloes.

A week after the Wildcat was caged and never set free, the scheme featuring Burkhead in the starring role showed its full array of weapons as Burkhead rushed and threw out of the formation. In his first TD pass (a 26 yarder to Brandon Kinnie), Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson dusted off a play not seen since the days of Marlon Lucky when Burkhead took the handoff sweeping left and tossed a beautifully lofted aerial for a 17-3 lead at the end of the first half.

It was Burkhead’s second TD, this time out of the Wildcat that had the stadium buzzing. A designed pop pass was immediately snuffed out, so Burkhead reversed field and swept left. As CU beared down on him, Kyler Reed appeared open in the endzone. The sophomore quickly switched hands and improvised a four yard toss that extended the lead to 31-3 and effectively ended Colorado’s already fleeting chances to gain bowl eligibility.

Rex Burkhead Postgame Audio
 

Meanwhile there was Cody Green, another sophomore who went out and played for the seniors, saying afterwards that he enjoys the opportunity to help his elders go out the right way. Green responded with an efficient 10/13 passing with none of the errant throws that marred earlier appearances. There was still the frustrating tendency to run zone read, but minus one fumble, the plays didn’t cripple Husker drives. Instead, the Huskers scored 7 out of 11 times they touched the ball and despite having three drives inherited by turnover in the short-field, the Green-led offense had six drives of 8 or more plays. It was their most efficient day sans big play since the Oklahoma State game and it was just the tonic the Huskers needed to smear the last tumultuous week from the memory banks.

Cody Green Postgame Audio
 

This was just the kind of day Bo Pelini needed after he was skewered by the media for his explosions on the Kyle Field sidelines; handed a frustrating penalty-filled defeat and called onto the carpet by both his supervisors. We’ll never know the nature of those conversations with Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Athletic Director Tom Osborne, but even if handled gently it was still the last thing Pelini wanted to be doing in the hours after a loss that had all the markings of a season-changing event.

So, just as he proclaimed Monday that he has his players’ backs, the players returned the favor in-kind with the kind of offensive and defensive toughness that fits a coach with his personality. The reward? A return trip to Dallas to make up for treasure lost one year earlier.

Ironic that in a year defined by Texas-inspired bitterness that a Texan would lead the way.

Nebraska/Colorado Statistics

A Pair Of Thanks, For A Pair Of Bills

For the last 14 years, Nebraska fans have convinced themselves that there has only been one, true rival for Nebraska. At one time, the rest of the nation agreed with them. In 1987, Nebraska and Oklahoma was voted the top rivalry in all of college football by readers of USA Today beating Michigan-Ohio State.

But unlike the annual tilt between Buckeyes and Wolverines, NU/OU was not meant to stand the test of time. The formation of the Big 12 opened the door to ending the annual post-Thanksgiving battle and Oklahoma was all too eager to walk through the opening.

That’s right, folks. Oklahoma killed this rivalry. They chose not to help Nebraska in fighting for crossover games or designated rivalry games. They chose to fix their gaze southward and worry more about Texas. It is partially understandable. OU and Texas already had an established rivalry, as well as an in-state battle of Bedlam so why carry on a third?

Into the breach stepped two programs who desired to be what Nebraska already was and two men who knew they needed to target that program if they were to challenge in the newly formed conference.

Of course, Colorado’s Bill McCartney had already painted his enemy a bright red with declaration of a rivalry with Nebraska in 1982. Husker fans scoffed. You don’t designate rivals, you develop them. So, Coach Mac did just that. He used that hatred to build a program and in 1986, 1989 and 1990 he beat that “rival”, he wrested away a crown that had been the exclusive property of Nebraska and Oklahoma and he made people in Nebraska take notice.

Meanwhile, down in Manhattan another Bill started his own revival. But while Bill Snyder wouldn’t paint the Husker game red on the schedule or make bold statements of rivalry, Kansas State’s newfound bravado and confidence irked Nebraskans who got used to marking off the KSU game as a “W” before the season started. Wildcat fans responded by thumbing their noses at the establishment and instead of selling their tickets to Husker fans, keeping their stadium as purple as possible and making for less-than-welcome visits to the Little Apple.

Nebraskans will still say that NU-CU and NU-KSU are not rivalries, but actions would many times speak louder than words. It annoyed Husker fans when Buff and Wildcat alike would talk smack and stand up to the neighborhood bully. NU fans would not hesitate to share stories of abusive behavior dished out by hosting Coloradans and Kansans. Oh, and the games were certainly more intense with the former have-nots getting their share of scalps from the Big Red.

While neither game would ever match the intensity of The Game or The Iron Bowl or the Red River Shootout, it sure felt more like a rivalry and it was the closest thing Nebraska ever had to a rivalry in the 14 year history of the Big 12.

So as Nebraska says goodbye their former league, thanks go out to Bill McCartney and Bill Snyder. At least you made the stay interesting.

In Nebraska, assistant coaches are far more celebrated than in most places. Part of that is because of our intense passion to know everything about everybody who wears the Husker uniform. The other is thanks to Tom Osborne’s insistence that assistant coaches rotated turns on the “Talk to Tom” radio show back in the day. We learned about colorful personalities who carried through the Devaney years like John Melton and Cletus Fischer and Mike Corgan and those who came up through the Osborne years like Milt Tenopir, Charlie McBride and George Darlington.

But largely hiding in anonymity was a former Nebraska high school coach who was brought to NU to help coach offensive line and tutor kickers. Dan Young was not a larger-than-life personality. He spoke with a slow drawl and his line assignment was pass protection, something NU did not do much of in those years. Yet there were a number of his linemen who went on to do plenty of pass blocking in the NFL.

In July, Coach Young was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He would visit Memorial Stadium one last time during the Texas game. He would pass from this earth the day before Thanksgiving.  He was neither the most excitable person nor the most outspoken but in many ways Dan Young represented the quiet poise and leadership that Nebraskans relate to most.

Never underestimate the resiliency of a Pelini. For the no-nonsense duo, this was a week to forget. Bo’s sideline antics, Carl’s postgame scuffle and the most active “Official Statement From…” that we have ever seen from the University Sports Information department.

Bo Pelini Postgame Audio 


Frankly, it should have been a large enough distraction to make Friday a very dramatic afternoon, especially with the way Colorado had been riding a wave of Brian Cabral-inspired momentum. But it didn’t. The tone was set early by the defense and the offense scored its earliest 10 points since the Missouri game.

Oh, and did we mention that the Huskers were without their starting QB, top wide receiver and their top running back was supposed to be limited in action?

If the Brothers Pelini lost some national respect last week, they should have at least earned some of it back this week. Some will say that the Huskers win was motivated by last week’s screw job at the hands of the officials, but there is far more to it than that. Remember, Taylor Martinez “left the team.” The distractions were everywhere, yet the Cornhuskers appeared as focused as the squad that smeared K-State, ran past Oklahoma State and smothered Mizzou.

Say what you want about circumstances and quality of opposition, this sour apple week turned pumpkin pie delicious in a pretty short period of time.

It takes leadership to do that.

Comments and questions can be directed to the writer (who is looking forward to hosting a return trip to Dallas - click here for more) Send your emails to jbishop@klin.com.