Battle of the Big Reds Nebraska vs Oklahoma

you it's a day unlike any other from September to November it's a day when every man woman and child ceremoniously Dawn's familiar attire of red and white anxiously clouds into the gridiron arena witness the excitement and drama of one of the greatest rivalries college football has to offer it's Oklahoma and Nebraska the Battle of the big Reds the first meeting between the Cornhuskers from Nebraska the Oklahoma Sooners would take place in Lincoln in 1912 it was a 13-9 Nebraska victory it would set the stage for a fiercely competitive but cleanly fought conference rivalry through its first 26 meetings in this battle of the big Reds Nebraska dominated with 16 wins to Oklahoma 7 and there were three ties perhaps the greatest thing Jim Tatum did his head coach of the University of Oklahoma was to bring Charles Burnham Club Wilkinson on board as an assistant coach in 1940 singh's coach Wilkinson who makes his home in st. Louis recalls his original football contract with over the first contract I had with University of Oklahoma was a part-time contract to Jim Taylor was a coach and I was under my contract only coaching in the spring and in the fall and after the first spring I knew that I wanted the coach and so I reorganized the Contra I'd changed it so that I was a full-time assistant coach in 1947 this young minnesota was named head coach of the Sooners when Tatum left for the top post at Maryland the great white father as his players called me produced some of the finest teams in college football history in his 17 years he posted 47 straight victories and won three national championships I think that basically discipline is the name of the game if you don't have total disappoint throw discipline on your squad and off the field and on the field you can't go anywhere the 1950 Nebraska Oklahoma battle featured two sophomore halfback to put on quite a show fifty-four thousand fans at Owen field and Norman Oklahoma's own future Heisman winner Billy vessel rushed for 208 yards and scored three touchdown while body rental Nebraska's sophomore All American ran for 81 yards in the first half boosting the Cornhuskers to a 21-14 advantage at halftime the Sooners those 435 second half points only 14 for Nebraska the claim of 4935 victory in 1959 both Wilkinson was it his 13th year at Oklahoma and it compiled a phenomenal record 117 wins 11 losses and 3 times he had 74 straight conference victories and on this Halloween Saturday his Sooners would have take all the Huskers in Lincoln Nebraska head coach with Bill Jennie performer Wilkinson assistant at Oklahoma the Huskers took advantage of a block punt two field goals and a 61 yard punt return lead by 11 with less than seven minutes to go in the game after a Nebraska punt in Oklahoma the ball on their own 41 the Sooners at less than three minutes cover the necessary 59 yards to the goal pass claims and top running up the Sooners to the Husker 27 then with time running up lated Nebraska homecoming crowd erupted as Husker Ron Mead intercepted a sooner pass in the end zone ending not only the suitor drive but their winning streak out 74 conference games it was Nebraska's first victory of Oklahoma in 16 years in the late 1950s and early 60s the Brassica football was in a slump in 1962 after six consecutive losing seasons a talented winning coach from the University of Wyoming was hired to turn the Nebraska program around Michigan native Bob Devaney we guided Nebraska to national prominence and change the direction of corn Husker football forever we knew we had to work hard coach Wilkerson had had championship teams not only Conference champions but national champions for a long while was regarded as the top football coach in the country by most people I believe and we knew that we had to recruit better people to beat Oklahoma and we knew that we had to do a better job of organizing our football program and a better job of coaching Saturday November 23rd 1963 the nation was still in shock over the assassination of President John F Kennedy in Dallas Texas two Sooners were in Lincoln to take on Nebraska at home it would be the last time a bud Wilkinson coach team would face the Huskers Nebraska and Oklahoma both had non-conference losses all their records oh you've only climbed back to the number six spot in the country Nebraska with number 10 no it is fourth down nine and a half yards to go for an Oklahoma first down there it's a Husker 22 yard line page pitches out they're going to throw the ball and they throw complete Oklahoma going in any game you hope the team will respond to everything that has been taught them and the realization that what's on the line and all the rest of it the game is played and then you immediately know how well the plans were executed and the opponent is always involved in that - and the opponent maybe he's a little better than you thought the Sooners of one Bunny conference title but they will be denied here if the Braska holds on this victory the Huskers haven't posted a late win since 1940 when they went to the Rose Bowl Kent McGowen near the goal line touchdown when that final gun sounded to signal the end of the game Bob Devaney and his big red team at Hendon bud Wilkinson his final loss as a collegiate coach bud set a standard of excellence with intense preparation and solid implementation of basics Wilkinson's teams won national titles in 1950 1955 and 1956 his resignation meant the end of an era the few thought would ever be close to being duplicated again and I had utmost respect for bud Wilkinson he was an excellent coach and he didn't beat him very often some sometimes you'd be his team but she wouldn't be but Wilkinson he was a fine fine coach and left very few stones unturned on his way to many many victories by the time of the 1970 season rolled around Bob Devaney Big Red Machine was primed and ready for action while forth years sooner coach Chuck Fairbanks was still smarting from - for lost seasons not to mention a 4414 pasting at the hands of Nebraska the year before en route to Bob Nevada's first national championship Nebraska hast the Sooners 2821 well it is the most intense football rivalry that I have been personally involved in I know our recognizing Michigan is an assistant coach with Michigan Michigan State was a tremendous rivalry but since I've been a head coach there's no rivalry that has equaled that of the Oklahoma Nebraska series the two finest teams of the nation Nebraska undefeated right number one Oklahoma unbeaten ranked number two it was a game that captivated the interest of the entire country it was no exaggeration at this 60 minutes of hand to hand full body contact was build the game of the century jerry taggi Johnny Rogers Jeff Kinney at Rich Glover for just a few of the pieces in the Arsenal Nebraska had aimed at the suitors for the 1971 showdown the suitors sported some pretty impressive names of their own way of Jack buildin great crew Steve a cop and Durland more it was a game that was in doubt right until the whistle blew for the end of the game with the gun went off but it was a game that was probably played more offensively than either coach thought it would be and probably offensively it didn't look quite as good the final score Nebraska 35 Oklahoma 31 the game of the century had lived up to all of its advanced belly brahbrah was a guy who had a real genius I think for getting the most out of players you know he had a good sense of when to when to lighten up and when to work him hard and he was a very good at delegating authority he didn't try to didn't try to do everything he gave you a job to do and let you do it and and I was good people person he related well to coaches and the players and certainly he can't argue with the success he had he was tremendous coach over long period of time Bob Devaney and his elite squad would go on to defeat Hawaii and Alabama to cap a perfect 13 and Oh season bringing home Nebraska's second national championship in as many years final rankings found the Big Eight with a one-two-three punch with Nebraska Oklahoma and Colorado leading the nation in 1972 oh you avenge the Nebraska loss from the previous year winning 1714 in Lincoln evolved a twin counted three other constants victories had to be forfeited due to the play of an ineligible freshman quarterback the 1972 season was history and so was chuck bear man Bob Devaney left his coaching post to become Nebraska's athletic director their talented young successors would emerge to produce some of the most powerful and dominating teams in the nation Barry Switzer took the reins at Oklahoma and never looked back Nebraska named Devaney Protege Tom Osborne Switzer and Osborne polar opposites yet each possessing the talent drive and coaching ability to create championship teams from 1973 to 1988 their team either one out light or tied to the big eight championship and one or both teams ended up ranked in the nation's top ten 15 out of those 16 years during that period of time I believe Nebraska and Oklahoma were probably the two winningest programs in the country and a lot of consistency I think both schools have recruited well one factor I think that has led to that consistency has been continuity and coaching if you if you don't turn coaches over every three four years you have continuity and recruiting and you're able to maintain a pretty consistent level of performance so I think we were fortunate to to have that type of continuity during that period of time the Texas game was always when I first arrived that was the game for the Alumni recruiting logistics made that the game for fans and coaches but Nebraska game because of their great tradition and their building with Bob Devaney and Tom Osmond building one of the perennial powers in college football and with Texas declined somewhat their valleys and troughs they experienced for several years then I think the nebraska game became the gain on oklahoma schedule and replaced texas barry switzer suitors top the Cornhuskers from 1973 through 1977 on their way to winning back-to-back national championships in 1974 and 1975 1978 it was late in the season when the Sooners visited Lincoln for their yearly reunion o u9 and o was ranked number one in the nation the Huskers only blemish in an otherwise perfect season was a night game against Alabama in Birmingham on September 2nd Nebraska was leading 1714 but the Sooners were on the move the final moments of 1978 crimson war will be embedded in the minds of big red fans and the coaches forever we thumb nine times a day we lose six fumbles we only lose 17 to 14 in Lincoln but we're going to win the fall and Billy makes a great run to the three yard line we're going to be first in gold three and one up a minute to go again and fumble the football but Nebraska's victory was bittersweet right now what has happened is it with Georgia getting beat the tide is like hitting beats upwards Alabama Penn State more unlikely as don't go to Sugar Bowl and play Alabama now what it does to us it does it's the Orange Bowl is meeting right now in an executive meeting they're considering I don't know the possibility of taking us or probably more likely to ask us to come play Nebraska again in Orange Bowl January 4 1979 the Orange Bowl was full of red as the Sooners and the Huskers met for the revenge you it was a game of pride for both teams but as the New Year's Day angel those suitors paint the orange ball prize defeating Nebraska 31 rivalry is intense and emotional as Nebraska and Oklahoma's is the level of respect shared by the coaches along with a good sense of humor the years 1980 we played in Lincoln and it's what we call the taco Bowl we'd accept to play in the Sun Bowl and Nebraska said no usually when school teams are playing for the big championship they tie up two bowls and the loser goes the other and the winner the noise Bowl obviously but they didn't want to tie it with the Sun Bowl they were going orange your bust the night before and the day we arrived town they have on billboards of all the restaurants since Switzer to El Paso Sooners love Mex Tex so what happens he's doing his live TV show I did a spot back to the station here in Oklahoma City and and I asked the stagehand I said what's going on over there and they said well Bob Dixon come in and do his live television show he does every Friday night his predictions show 30 minute show and I said hey buddy go get me a sack of tacos down here this Taco Bell and I would go over and talk to dick Jana who does the show I've known for years does Tom Rosburg show and Bob show out of Lincoln and I said dick let me do this let me hide behind the stage and Bob comes on I want to walk up and give him a sack of tacos we hope to give it the very switcher in case Barry didn't get to go to the Orange Bowl he could eat the pineapple instead of the tamales that they served on there now Paso well ready that was a thing thanks very much for being here I guess we pulled out all wait a minute here I guess he's the person here sherry hey appreciate an apple but I've got a couple of tacos for you Bob hey one of the greatest coaches in the country and it's great to be here with us here Thank You Mattel yeah wherever we go were well fed yeah very that was one of the probably the top show of that kind that I had that's why the number-one Joe I've asked him if he couldn't come back when I was doing that more often you you the suitors a two-touchdown underdog surprise the hostage 2117 Hey listen up always say something it won't say something man haha got a game next week I gotta back up everything said that won't know one thing are they any good Mexican restaurants in my Roscoe defeated the suitors in 1981 82 and 83 with big names and big plays from a host of talent that included Heisman winner and two-time all-american Mike Rozier Dave Remington won the Lombardi in 81 and 82 then passed it on the teammate Dean Stein cooler in 83 while all-american irving fire was winging his way through defenders on the way to a big eight championship during that time the suitors came up short on the scoreboard saw the likes of half fact stand off Busta Rhymes San Francisco named Steve sue Tulsa blue chipper Spencer Tillman and you can forget young powerhouse from Philadelphia Mississippi named Bacchus Dupree 1984 Oklahoma was rebuilding and Nebraska was again very very tough returning 53 Letterman after a first quarter bubble gave the suitors possession deep in Nebraska territory it took seven planes for Oklahoma to go on top seven nothing Huskers even the score in the second quarter with an 84 yard drive capped by a one-yard dive and tailback Jeff Smith oh you quarterback Danny Bradley connected with Busta Rhymes for 31 yards a Bradley 26 yard - what are you on the Nebraska 12 on fourth down Tim Lasher was perfect on a 32-yard field goal attempt oklahoma squad led ten seven sooner senior Brian Hall came up with the biggest defensive play in his collegiate career as he stalked Husker Jeff Smith on a tremendous sooner goal line stand late in the game holding on to a three-point lead and very deep in their own territory the Sooners were forced to punt a dandy 57 yarder fielded by Nebraska's Smith but oh you freshman Richard Dillon struck the ball Jeff hate recovered for Oklahoma Danny Bradley booked the Sooner red cherry on the top as he raced for 29 yards and scored the final touchdown of the day the victory snapping a three-game losing streak for the Sooners Nebraska came to Norman for the 1985 contest ranked second in the nation undefeated in conference play looking for their sixth consecutive big 8 title but the sinners had plans of their own on their second possession Oklahoma backed up to their own 12 yard line true freshman quarterback Jamel Holloway option left but then handed to tight end Keith Jackson auto-reverse yards later Jackson was celebrating in the endzone then Nebraska reached into their bag of tricks result of perfectly executed 52-yard reverse put them inside the Sooner 10 however Oklahoma's defense led by senior nose guard Tony Casillas sophomore linebacker Brian Bosworth wasn't willing to give up that last six yards for Nebraska to score those Sooners added to their points in the second and third periods while the Huskers were unable to put anything on the boy with less than a minute to go in the game Nebraska defensive tackle Chris Bateman received a sooner fumble with open arms and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown it was too little too late final score oklahoma 27 nebraska 7 the Sooners with the wand represent the big aiding the Orange Bowl on January 1st 1986 of tremendous performance by the Sooners in the victory over Penn State while home Maurice what two third national championship as a suitor head coach Oklahoma and Nebraska have never had a controversial issue really publicly involved in this ballgame the media handled it right the players and the coaches handled this game line so this was a contest that brought mutual respect from both universities both football organizations so that's something I was proud of and I think there they were - in typical big red battle fashion for Saturday in November 1986 was a nail-biter to the finish Nebraska scored first midway through the opening quarter marching 85 yards in 13 plays the suitors played keep-away with a drive of their own quarterback Holloway took it in himself and after the extra point it was 7 off a second quarter vehicle gave the Huskers just a hair of breathing room they took the lead and momentum into the dressing room at halftime ten seven four minutes into the third period braska added to their lead but quarterback Steve Taylor targeted rod Smith with a perfect area Cornhuskers 17 Sooners 7 a 22 yard field goal early in the fourth quarter pull the Sooners within a touchdown four minutes ten seconds is all the time remaining on the clock it was a very long 94 yards down the field just for the Sooners to cross the goal for a possible time Oklahoma almost stopped themselves a signal caller Holloway fumbled on a fourth down play from the Sooner 15 however a facemask penalty against Nebraska proved to be deadly the penalty gave a first down in new life to the Sooners quest for the goal line Holloway proved his passing abilities by nailing Karl cavitus and Derek Shepherd right on the money bombs All American Keith Jackson's takeaway catch at the goal line and lasher's extra point put the score back at square one 17 Oh with a minute 22 left in the game Nebraska received the kickoff but could move the ball and was forced to punt 50 seconds and County Oklahoma fans were praying for a little sooner magic or at least a small miracle backed up on their own 37 Holloway scrambled for eight then made contact with Jackson it took it to the Husker 14 as millions of big red fans on both sides hello there press o you pay sticker Tim Lasher calmly and accurately set a 31-yard ur through the uprights the final oklahoma 20 the Braska 17 I think just this has been a very clean hard-fought series and I think that's one of the reasons I think it could be class as the outstanding Series in the country but I think the point but I don't think there's any series where the the two teams are playing for as much every time they play November 24 1987 it was billed as the game of the century to both Oklahoma and Nebraska entered the contest undefeated the sellout crowd at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium was the largest ever recorded most of those in attendance and watching on TV both the winner of this the probably play for the national championship the Huskers scored first with an impressive 84 yard drive in 10 plays the Sooner defense tightened up and denied Nebraska pushed down on the next six possession throughout the first half Oklahoma move the ball offensively with ease but two couples on interception and a missed field goal kept the visitors off the scoreboard at halftime the Nebraska seven Oklahoma nothing things changed in the second half the Switzer Brigade came out as if they were on a mission early in the third quarter super Ricky Dixon intercepted a Steve Taylor pass and returned it to the Husker thirteen two plays later Anthony Stafford took the pitch and easily covered the 11 yards to the goal line the point after was good that was the last time the game would be tied in the final minutes of the third quarter Oklahoma had the ball on their own 35 like a rocket Patrick Collins took the option made one of those standing tingling run and raced down the sideline and score those suitors had other scoring opportunities but we're playing with turnovers the Huskers fought hard but were unable to score the final Sooners 17 Cornhuskers 7 1988 matchup found both Nebraska and Oklahoma literally season non-conference losses but on this very wet cold afternoon the big 8 title and a trip to the Orange Bowl we're still up for grabs it was a horrible day to play offensive football and of course our our defense had worked all year against the wishbone and and I think we probably did a good a job on the wishbone that day as we've ever done and an Oklahoma I think had a good team we had a good team that day but that was one of the worst weather conditions that we've ever played in and usually you think that the weather and Lincoln would be worse than in Norman but I think on that day that was one of the worst we ever played in on the first series the bastard quarterback Steve Kerr led an 80-yard Drive the squirrel what would be the only touchdown of the game two Husker passes were intercepted by OU's Scott gone but the Sooners were unable to turn them into points the third quarter was more of a battle against the elements than the opponent a suitor pass intended for Eric Ross is intercepted by a Nebraska on the very next play Oscar I back can pluck foam above all and Scott garl a lovely recovered for the Sooners senior kicker Tim Lasher connected on a 29 yard field goal the Sooners were trailing by four but the fourth quarter was a series of punts neither team able to add to the final score Nebraska 7 Oklahoma 3 Nebraska had broken a four-game losing streak in the series and sooner leader Barry Switzer would never coach a regular season football game for Oklahoma again well Barry Switzer was one hell of a football coach and I think I need a great guy I like Barry I like him very well I think he's a fine person and very may take a little different pattern and life and say like Tom but he was a very excellent football coach when he was coaching tremendous coach and I think Barry as a person to inspire young man get him ready for one game was just tremendous at that and very if he was beaten you know you know buddy wants to beat he didn't want to be but yet he didn't do a lot of squawking and and crying and saying why or giving excuses and that he he took the meeting and he come back he was tougher to beat another time I didn't use an excellent football coach and I like very very much as a person 1989 was a to test new oh you head coach Gary games as the suitors headed for Lincoln to face the 6th ranked Cornhuskers after recovering an early sooner fumble Nebraska quarterback Gary Gutowski punched it in from the 8th put the Huskers on the boy it took less than a minute for you to strike back thanks to a spiral from quarterback Steve Collins - arthur guess Nebraska scored on its next two possessions led at the end of the first quarter 22 to 7 11 second quarter points over sooner to within 7 at halftime the store Nebraska 25 Oklahoma 18 in the third quarter - quick Cornhusker touchdown virtually sealed the coffin for the students it was Nebraska's data shine final score Nebraska 42 Oklahoma 25 I think Tom modren is the best football coach in the country right now I mean that very sincerely not just because he here at Nebraska but he's had such tremendous record 1990 marked the 71st battle of the Big Reds it was an ideal 67 degrees with a slight breeze and for the first time in 28 years winner this game was not in the running to capture or share the big 8 championship title but it was still Nebraska versus Oklahoma and for the seniors on both sides of the field it was a chance to end the regular season on a winning note the Sooners were prohibited from postseason play so this contest was like their bowl game you five minutes into the first quarter brass goose starting quarterback Mickey Joseph suffered a deep thigh laceration as he slid into the sooner bench he was out for the rest of the game nebraska but the only first quarter points on the board with a 30-yard field goal but from there on it was a day sooner fans welcomed with open arms OU's first possession of the second quarter turned into an impressive 86 yard Drive which resulted in seven points bubbles and interceptions not only stopped Husker drives but were converted into quick sooner points before half-time Nebraska then capitalize on a cinema state beginning of the second half Tyrone Leggett recovered a gun D fumble Oscar's touched out an extra point close the scoring gap a little but not for long strong defensive play from the suitors caused costly Husker turnovers more than once in the spirit of two channels Tom Osborne's Cornhuskers never gave up but it was a hungry Oklahoma team that took the Otters in the 1990 big red ball in North the vital Oklahoma 45 Nebraska 10 looking ahead now to the 21st century there is no doubt that this conference rivalry between Oklahoma and Nebraska will continue to provide sports fans with a rollercoaster of emotions kickoff to the final gun no other collegiate rivalry has produced greater excitement more intensity or truer respect than the Battle of the big red you you you

Channel: bmboldt

Views: 19,808

Rating: 4.8823528 out of 5

Keywords: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Huskers, Football

Id: xRon6YJsTIo

Length: 42min 5sec (2525 seconds)

Published: Sun Jan 17 2016