October 23, 2001 ON THE HUSKER MENU: THE BOOMER SOONERS. BCS #1 Oklahoma storms into Lincoln for Saturday showdown with BCS #2 Nebraska. Is there something big going on in Lincoln this Saturday? Well, duh. Let’s call it huge. OU vs. NU. Sooners vs. Huskers. #1 vs #2. Okies vs. Cornheads. No matter how you say it, it’s going to be a weekend to remember in Lincoln, as Oklahoma and Nebraska add another chapter to their storied rivalry. The Huskers and Sooners will kick it off at 11:12 a.m. Central, and you can catch it live on ABC-TV. It will be broadcast nationwide, but MissingNebraska.com recommends you head out the Husker game-watch location nearest you to cheer on the Huskers. The teams come in rated number 1 and 2 in the just-released, first-of-the-season BCS poll, with OU at number 1 and the Huskers nipping at their heels in second position. Oklahoma is (7-0, 4-0) Nebraska is (8-0, 4-0). It is the eighth time Nebraska and Oklahoma have been rated in the top 3 when facing off. So much can be said of the Husker-Sooner rivalry. The memories of past games will keep any true Husker or Sooner fan talking for hours. Just mention radio announcer Lyell Bremser’s call of Johnny Rodger’s kickoff return for a touchdown in 1971 and goose bumps appear on Husker fans from coast to coast. In November of 1978, the Huskers upset the Sooners and Husker fans tore down the goal posts. That was one I’ll never forget. The memories go on and on, and of course not all are good memories for Husker fans. Can you say Barry Switzer? Now that you’ve finished booing and hissing, you have to admit that Husker fans loved to hate the man. He was a different personality than former Husker coach Tom Osborne, yet to this day the two remain respectful of each other. Remember when Barry used to smoke cigarettes on the sidelines? Can you imagine that today? Of course Oklahoma had Nebraska’s number for a number of years in the 70s and 80s, and the number was usually less than what the Sooners put on the board. Who can forget “Boomer Sooner” being played over and over again every time the Sooners let loose some of that Sooner magic. But Nebraska has had impressive winning streaks against OU too. Winning from 1981 to 1983, and again in the 90s. But now, the Nebraska-Oklahoma game is even more of a special event. That’s because now it only happens twice every four years. After the Big 8 became the Big 12, the teams split into the north and south divisions, and now it’s two years on, two years off. It’s a shame they don’t play every year. The next regular season Husker-Sooner showdown won’t be until 2004. But they could always meet up in the Big 12 championship game in any year, including this year. Most college football analysts say there is a good chance the teams could “knock each other out” of a national championship if NU and OU would split a pair of games this season. Get ready Huskers! The Sooners are comin’ to town! GO BIG RED! Crouch knows Heisman eyes are on him Saturday. Full Story from Ft. Worth Star-Telegram Defeating the Sooners a tall order once, but twice? More from AP Nebraska Stats Oklahoma Stats NU-OU Preview from ESPN More Husker News Post your thoughts on the NU-OU rivalry, and sound off on the game. Click here.