Tulsa World: A Broken Heart? It Isn't Likely

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A Broken Heart? It Isn't Likely

By JOHN KLEIN
Published: 11/24/1995
Last Modified: 3/16/2008 7:37 AM

LINCOLN, Neb. -- There's probably little hope that Nebraska will overlook
Oklahoma.
The Huskers are aware of the history of the series. OU has broken the
hearts of the Nebraska faithful too often to recount.
The Sooners are still fresh in their memory. Nebraska needed a
fourth-quarter touchdown to break free from Oklahoma, a 6-6 team, in a 13-3
victory last year.
It could get ugly for the Sooners and every indication is the 33-point
spread is warranted.
Even though this Oklahoma bears little resemblance to those teams of
yesteryear, Nebraska isn't buying it.
Lawton's Mike Minter, Nebraska's defensive rover, knows the Sooners all
too well. Although he grew up in Oklahoma, he is a lifelong fan of the
Huskers.
"All of my friends were OU fans," he said. "They thought it was a little
strange that I was a Nebraska fan. Of course, everyone thought I was strange
anyway.
"It doesn't make any difference what OU's record is. I know they'll come
to play. They have something to prove to everyone and probably to
themselves, too."
Minter said he believes Oklahoma may have "the most talent in the Big
Eight." Those are his words, not mine.
However, he added, "They may not have enough team unity because they do
have the talent."
It is the conventional wisdom that OU does have talented players, but
they have failed to achieve lofty heights. On the other hand, Nebraska has
taken its considerable talent well even higher than projected.
The Huskers have not lost a regular-season game in three years. The only
blemish in three years has been an 18-16 heartbreaker to Florida State in
the 1994 Orange Bowl. If Byron Bennett's 45-yard field goal had not drifted
wide Nebraska would be on target for a third straight national title.
The Sooners have not beaten Nebraska in five years and have lost six of
the last seven.
"You really can't base (it on OU's record) what this game is going to be
like," said quarterback Tommie Frazier, Nebraska's top Heisman candidate.
"This game has always been a tough game no matter who was the better team or
whether we're a five-touchdown favorite or they're a five-touchdown
favorite.
"This game doesn't turn out that way. It's always close at the end.
Whether we're a five- or three-point favorite it's going to be a battle. I
doubt that we beat them by five touchdowns."
There are the guys who don't understand the hoopla. Linebacker Terrell
Farley is a junior college transfer from Georgia. He hasn't played in the
OU-Nebraska series. He really didn't even pay attention to it growing up.
"To be honest, I don't know too much about this rivalry," he said. "The
coaches keep telling me it is an important game, so I guess it is.
"I know they are good. They're good all around. The 12-0 loss to Oklahoma
State was a shock to me. But Oklahoma always plays Nebraska tough. I don't
think they'll give up."
The Sooners, who have trouble getting punts off, might want to keep an
eye on Farley. He has blocked two this year.
"I'll just concentrate on my assignments," said Farley, "and maybe I can
get a blocked punt or interception (he has returned two of three
interceptions for TDs this year)."
Oklahoma would appear to be ill-equipped to pull off a shocker against
Nebraska. The Huskers appear to be so strong on defense that they could
overwhelm the Sooners, who have sputtered with the new pro-style offense
from day one.
Defensively, OU's front would appear one of the better tests for
Nebraska. However, the Huskers are deadly accurate through the air. Lesser
teams have shredded the Sooners with the pass.
Plus, Oklahoma is the only thing standing between the Huskers and another
shot at the national championship.
"We're going to be ready for the battle," said Frazier. "I respect anyone
we play. Just because they haven't had the season that they wanted, they're
still a threat to what we want to get accomplished."
By JOHN KLEIN

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