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It's a reversal of fortunes as Nebraska limps into Kansas
October 30, 2007
By Jim D. Berryman
It's a good bet there will be more people wearing blue than
red at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas on Saturday.
In past years, especially before 2005, Husker fans would hit
the road in droves to fill the KU stands with red, simply
because they could.
After all, Kansas fans weren't all that interested in seeing
their team get blown out by Big Red again and again and
again. There were always plenty of seats available, and the
drive to Lawrence from Lincoln wasn't all that long.
But on Saturday, the 4-5 (1-4) Huskers are a long shot to
win against the Jayhawks, who find themselves perched atop
the Big 12 North at 8-0 (4-0) and ranked No. 8 in the
country.
The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net, with
kickoff at 11:30 a.m. central.
It has to be one of the most amazing reversal of fortunes
between two teams in recent college football memory.
Kansas, the laughing-stock of the Big 8 and Big 12 is
undefeated, hosting their nasty neighbors to the north, who
rolled with ease over the Jayhawks for the past 3 decades.
After a thrilling, heartbreaking loss at Texas last weekend,
Nebraska will try once again to win on the road.
But this time the Huskers will be without senior quarterback
Sam Keller, who is out for the season with a shoulder
injury. Also sidelined for the season is senior linebacker
Lance Brandenburgh. Backup QB Joe Ganz will take over for
Keller for the Huskers.
Still, despite KU's success this season, and the fact that
this reporter rooted for them in a few games,
one has to take a closer look at the Jayhawks'
non-conference schedule.
Four blowout wins, yes, but against opponents that don't
exactly light up a marquee or conjure up fear.
Try Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo and
Florida International on for size. All 4 games were in
Lawrence.
It's a reasonable bet Nebraska would have won those games
too.
In years past, Nebraska received its fair share of criticism
for weak non-conference schedules.
Now that Kansas is playing with the big boys, and Nebraska's
schedule strength has grown by leaps and bounds, the
Jayhawks can't be left out of the cupcake talk.
Since their non-conference games, Kansas, with the exception
of a blowout home win against Big 12 South basement-dwelling
Baylor, has won closer, hard-fought games.
Still, credit must be given to the Jayhawks, with wins at
Kansas State, Colorado and Texas A&M.
Every Husker and Jayhawk fan just have to have a little
bit of history deep in their gut as Saturday's game
approaches. For the past 36 years, with one exception,
Nebraska has owned Kansas.
Is undefeated, high-flying Kansas vulnerable as the
legendary "N" helmets invade?
Do all the NU injuries and off-the-field drama benefit the
Huskers in some bizarre way in this wacky college football
season?
Or will things get ugly for Nebraska real fast...leaving the
stands in Lawrence to bask in a bold blue hue, with
crimson red filling the aisles to the exit gates?
Let's hope the Huskers can play spoiler, and for one
Saturday afternoon, reverse a reversal of fortune.
Comments welcome:
jimdberryman@missingnebraska.com
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