11.29.2010 / The Huskers Face-off Against the Sooners for the Big 12 Championship in Dallas. Blog Posting by Mike Babcock, Huskers Illustrated Magazine
Yes, Jeremiah Sirles planned to watch Saturday nights Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game on television. You better believe I will be watching, Nebraskas redshirted freshman offensive tackle said following the Cornhuskers 45-17 victory against Colorado on Friday.
Bo Pelini, however, did not plan to watch it. Rather, he would “see if there’s a good basketball game on,” the Husker coach said. “You guys (reporters) can watch it.” Pelini would watch video of Oklahoma’s 47-41 victory on Sunday, when he began preparing for Saturday night’s Big 12 championship at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Nebraska will play the Sooners, of course, in a fitting conclusion to the Huskers’ membership in the Big 12.
Prior to the Big 12’s inaugural season in 1996, Nebraska and Oklahoma shared a storied rivalry, which was relegated to two games every four seasons because of the Big 12’s divisional alignment.
As it turned out, the Huskers had to win against Colorado in order to advance to the conference title game for a sixth time, and second in a row, after losing at Texas A&M 9-6. And they had to win without two of their biggest offensive threats, quarterback Taylor Martinez and wide receiver Niles Paul. Both were sidelined by injuries.
“I think our team showed resiliency over and over, for a long time,” said Pelini. “A lot of people tried to tear this team apart, and we were not going to let it happen. Enough said on that.” The reference to “a lot of people” was unclear.
The Huskers should take time to enjoy the Colorado victory, Pelini said. “It’s all about those kids, about those kids that earned it and won 10 football games and won the North (Division) doing so. And people don’t appreciate it, fine. I appreciate them. And I know they appreciate each other.”
Nebraska fans certainly appreciate Pelini’s third team. The “people” to whom he referred in that remark must have been those associated with the Big 12 because if the Huskers win on Saturday night, the 2010 Big 12 champion won’t be a member of the conference in 2011.
For more great content on the Huskers, check out Huskers Illustrated Magazine, Huskers Illustrated or babcockandbabcock.com. Can the Husker pull-out a WIN against the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship? Who do you think will be the starting QB? Come on Husker fans, post your comments NOW!
