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Will there ever, could there ever, be..

Bugeater

Head Coach
May 29, 2001
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Surprise, AZ via North Platte
another game like the 1978 OU game with all the hype, build up, anticipation and end result? In many people's minds the greatest victory ever in Lincoln, don't know if we'll ever see another like it. Always worth a look at an all timer.

 
Not knocking the 1978 OU game because it was a Nebraska classic, but the 1994 Colorado game wouldn't have to take a back seat to the 1978 OU game.
 
I was barely a kid in 78 and watched the 94 game live. 78 is a game all by itself in my view with all that I have read and seen in comparison. The 94 NU team might have been a slight favorite over the 78 team but as far as the game itself 78 is the better game mostly because of the better and more based in rivalry opponent.
 
Nothing will ever compare to 1978 game, OU number 1 with Heisman trophy winner Billy Sims, TO 1st win over OU, we were the underdog. IF OU wins that game the 1978 OU team goes down as one of 5 best teams ever. 1994 Colorado was great win but CU no where near the rivalry we had with OU. The OU NU rivalry was beyond desription at that time.
 
Having been to both the 78 OU and 94 cu games, the thing that stays with me the most is the energy that the fans and players had before, during, and after both games. But the OU game just sticks out more because that intensity was just a bit higher for the whole week, then during and after the game, it was amazing. The cu game certainly is very close and I loved every minute of that contest as well.
 
They all have to take a back seat to the Game of the Century.
 
"Hype, Buildup and anticipation" Both were ranked in the top 3 in 1994. Only difference was Nebraska soundly wiped McCartney and Colorado with Kordell Stewart who spurned Nebraska to go to Colorado.

The OU game a was 17-14 nail biter.
 
Having been to both the 78 OU and 94 cu games, the thing that stays with me the most is the energy that the fans and players had before, during, and after both games. But the OU game just sticks out more because that intensity was just a bit higher for the whole week, then during and after the game, it was amazing. The cu game certainly is very close and I loved every minute of that contest as well.

And in some ways if Nebraska would have beat OU in 1986 when we wore all-Red would have been right up there too.

Fans were pumped up that day as I remember in the stands when Nebraska came out in all-Red uniforms was one of the loudest Husker games I've Been too.
 
Another game that comes very close is the 1992 cu game in Lincoln. I was very confident in 1994 that Nebraska would beat cu, but the 92 game had me a bit worried, and I certainly didn't expect a 52-7 win that night. But the energy for that game was very high and it was loud and fun as hell to be there.

As far as the 78 OU game, I just remember how nerve racked I was all week knowing how good OU was and the possibility of getting hammered by them again like the previous year in Norman.

But when we got to Lincoln, you could just feel that NU was going to find a way to win. And the hitting, holy cow, unbelievable!
 
And in some ways if Nebraska would have beat OU in 1986 when we wore all-Red would have been right up there too.

Fans were pumped up that day as I remember in the stands when Nebraska came out in all-Red uniforms was one of the loudest Husker games I've Been too.

It was that way in 1984 as well, without the all red uni's. Loud crowd from start to finish, NU just had too many turnovers to win. One of the all time bummer losses against OU, and 86 too!
 
At least in my lifetime, I think the '78 Oklahoma team was the best team ever to come into Lincoln and lose - absolutely loaded on both sides of the ball. So if that's the measuring stick, it would be one of NU's best-ever wins.
 
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At least in my lifetime, I think the '78 Oklahoma team was the best team ever to come into Lincoln and lose - absolutely loaded on both sides of the ball. So if that's the measuring stick, it would be one of NU's best-ever wins.

Very true, best team to come in and lose but Washington in 1991 may have been the best team to come in to Lincoln in my life time.
 
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I was at that game. Cold as heck. I am actually in the video at the very end when we were carrying players off the field for about 2 seconds. I was carrying George Andrews. I had the ugliest blue plaid coat and Nebraska stocking cap. What good old memories. I can remember the goal posts being all over the place afterwards.
 
I don't remember how much build up there was, but the 2001 Oklahoma game in Lincoln would be right up there with the others mentioned. #1 and #2 in the BCS, Oklahoma had a 20 game win streak coming in. Close, hard fought game the entire way, until one of the biggest and most well known plays in Husker history pretty much put the game away.
 
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it is sad but the joy of that game is quickly followed by memories of the choke job against Mizzou the following week and losing a chance at the nat title and then having to play OU again in the Orange Bowl
 
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it is sad but the joy of that game is quickly followed by memories of the choke job against Mizzou the following week and losing a chance at the nat title and then having to play OU again in the Orange Bowl

Sorry to chime in again, but Alabama beat us earlier in the season and they ended up beating Penn St in the Sugar Bowl. I don't believe we would have had a chance at the National title because we had to play in the Orange bowl and Bama played in the Sugar.
 
Sorry to chime in again, but Alabama beat us earlier in the season and they ended up beating Penn St in the Sugar Bowl. I don't believe we would have had a chance at the National title because we had to play in the Orange bowl and Bama played in the Sugar.


yes ..thanks for the reminder .. I thought there was some speculation that we would play Penn State in the Orange Bowl as opposed to Penn State going to the Sugar but I believe you are correct
 
Very true, best team to come in and lose but Washington in 1991 may have been the best team to come in to Lincoln in my life time.

I'm still po'ed about that game. For 3 quarters we had the game won. Then that dam 4th.
 
it is sad but the joy of that game is quickly followed by memories of the choke job against Mizzou the following week and losing a chance at the nat title and then having to play OU again in the Orange Bowl

My thoughts exactly about that 78 game. As epic and awesome as it was, I can't think about the 1978 season without thinking about Mizzou and then the rematch with OU. Yes it was great to cost OU a National Championship, but still so much disapointment.
 
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My thoughts exactly about that 78 game. As epic and awesome as it was, I can't think about the 1978 season without thinking about Mizzou and then the rematch with OU. Yes it was great to cost OU a National Championship, but still so much disapointment.

Yeah, it's too bad NU didn't play Misery earlier, coming off of that much emotion and effort to play the next week is hard to do. And the tigers had a pretty salty team and a few more plays in their arsenal that day.
 
yes ..thanks for the reminder .. I thought there was some speculation that we would play Penn State in the Orange Bowl as opposed to Penn State going to the Sugar but I believe you are correct


Nebraska did have a chance at the National Championship after defeating Oklahoma. #1 Oklahoma fell back to #4, #2 Penn State moved up to #1, #4 Nebraska jumped #3 Alabama to the #2 spot in the polls. With a win over Missouri, #1 Penn State and #2 Nebraska would play for the national title in the Orange Bowl. But Nebraska loses to Missouri and all hopes were dashed.

One interesting side note about that 1978 schedule, originally Nebraska and Alabama were scheduled to play on November 25, a week after the Missouri game. Bear Bryant wanted to have an open week before he played Auburn on December 2, so the game was moved to September 2.
 
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