Sooners feel Nebraska's pain
Published: 10/15/2007 3:14 PM
Last Modified: 10/15/2007 3:14 PM
Ten years ago, Nebraska played a hand in one of the darkest days in Oklahoma football history. The Huskers destroyed the Sooners 69-7, but stopped short of humiliating them. Really, it could have been 109-7. That's how deep John Blake had dug OU's pit.
I wasn't at the game, but I distinctly remember reading and hearing sympathetic comments from Nebraska fans. As many times as Barry Switzer had broken their little red hearts over the years, they had enough respect for the rivalry not to revel in a 69-7 debacle.
So along came Saturday afternoon. This time, the Huskers disappeared into the darkness of a 45-14 embarrassment against Oklahoma State.
Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World Herald was in Norman covering the OU-Missouri game, but he took time to talk to a couple Sooner fans about what had happened in Lincoln. He found Jim Webber, who attended the OU-Nebraska Game of the Century in 1971 as an Oklahoma student.
"That was the greatest sports spectacle I've ever seen," Webber said. "As a longtime OU fan, I have the utmost respect for Nebraska. I've been to Lincoln several times. Two Big Reds being good is better than one. So I hope they get things going again up there soon."
That sentiment won't erase the horror show that was Saturday afternoon in Lincoln. But at least Husker fans know they have some kindred spirits at OU, who would tell them things have a way of eventually working out.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
