November 25, 2002 ON THE HUSKER MENU: COLORADO BUFFALOES North Champ Colorado invades revenge-minded Huskerland for post-Turkey day squabble By Jim D. Berryman MissingNebraska.com Editor Last year at the completion of the Colorado vs. Nebraska game in Boulder, Husker fans everywhere had one thing in mind after the shock of the blowout loss started to let up. November 29, 2002. To say that things have changed since then would be like saying Bill Byrne doesn’t answer his phone anymore unless he sees a Texas area code on his caller I.D.. Most definitely. Things have changed in a major way. The sting of Colorado’s Big 12 Championship ring with “62-36” engraved on it doesn’t sting so quite so much any more. As Husker fans, we’ve been stung over and over since last season’s loss in Boulder. That silly Colorado ring controversy is old news. The major reason: Nebraska is (7-5, 3-4). Standing alone, just staring at the team record above is something that gets Husker hearts pounding like an Excedrin headache. It is unbelievable. The Big Red is 7-5 with no chance at winning the Big 12 North, no chance at going to a top-tier bowl game, and no chance to erase the damage done to the NU football program this season. Gone is the usual lineup of Nebraska as the one having clinched the Big 12 North title, with the Buffs coming to Lincoln to play spoiler. The Huskers can’t even lay credit to that term either. Even if NU would upset Colorado, the Buffs are still Big 12 North champions. It could put a damper on the CU festivities, but it really wouldn’t spoil all that much. At the same time, the Huskers will be motivated and ready for Colorado. Even though the above observations on the Huskers are anything but positive, we have to wonder if we will see the Nebraska team that beat Texas A&M, nearly beat UT, then routed Kansas. That is a team that can easily beat Colorado. If that team comes to play this Saturday, Colorado fans should be concerned. Without mistakes and turnovers, Nebraska can easily win the game vs. Colorado. I have no doubt in my mind. I know it is easy to be “a week-after-the-game” quarterback, but I think if Nebraska would have either tied or narrowed the lead to 1 or 2 points in the early 3rd quarter vs. Kansas State last Saturday, there would have been a completely different outcome in the game. Without all the mistakes and penalties, a different outcome as well. Nebraska has been consistent this season in giving big breaks to the other guys. We hoped the Huskers would continue to improve without mistakes against the Wildcats. That didn’t happen. And we all see what happened. K-State went wild and put it to NU after the Big Red's near-comeback. The mistakes and penalties must stop. Otherwise the Buffaloes will be riding out of Lincoln with a victory. Colorado comes to the game rated #13, 15. They are (8-3, 6-1). So a nice season for the Buffs, but not stellar. Just like they are now, a number of Nebraska fans would be calling for the coaches’ heads even if NU had only lost 3 games this season. Colorado is not involved in any way in the national title picture. In addition, we must keep in mind that the Buffs could be going to the Big 12 Championship game in Houston with 4 losses if they lose to Nebraska, and a real good shot at making it 5 losses. Not exactly a shining season. Of course, even though I referred to the CU ring story as “old news” earlier, the revenge factor has got to be on the minds of the Nebraska players and fans. After all, last year’s CU loss was just the start of what would become a snowball effect reminiscent of a Rocky Mountain avalanche. The Huskers should play well. Too much is riding on this game and they know it. Fans will be pumped up too. Most realize that Nebraska is having a bad year, and no matter what coaching changes there are in the off-season, NU will be a much better team next year. The fans know this, so expect a loose atmosphere in the stands at Memorial Stadium Saturday. The game kicks off at about 2:30 p.m. central and will be televised nationally by ABC. Get those turkey-leftover sandwiches made early for prime game-time snacking. Yes, folks it’s the day we’ve been waiting for since last year’s stunner. Yes indeed, times have changed. But it’s still smash-‘em-up, drag-‘em-out Nebraska-Colorado football. As we’ve seen before last season, it really doesn’t matter much what happened in the previous year or who had the better record. The games have been close. Squeaker after squeaker, many low scoring. The Nebraska-Colorado classic is a chance for the Huskers to get revenge and respect all in an afternoon’s work. Yahoo! Live Broadcast Post Feedback NEBRASKA - COLORADO PREVIEW STORIES, PICS, AND LINKS: 11-29-02: A senior day more bitter than it is sweet More from Omaha World Herald 11-28-02: Ghost of 62-36 lingers for rematch More from Rocky Mountain News 11-28-02: Big Red: Radio Free Colorado More from Denver Post 11-28-02: College football announcers often feel pressure to become team cheerleaders More from Denver Post 11-28-02: Buffaloes pose huge test for NU More from G.I. Independent 11-28-02: Tape job proved turning point in Buffs' season More from Omaha World Herald 11-26-02: Huskers know game vs. Buffs still important More from Lincoln Journal Star 11-26-02: NU urged to forget last year's CU loss More from Omaha World Herald 11-25-02: Huskers feel no 62-36 hangover More from Omaha World Herald 11-25-02: NU has plenty to play for More from G.I. Independent 11-25-02: NU backers need to get reality grip Column from G.I. 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