NU, OU return to running roots
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska and Oklahoma football fans probably felt a bit nostalgic this week, what with tonight’s confrontation of traditional gridiron rivals.
Images endure from a bygone era: Jeff Kinney of Nebraska breaking tackles as his tear-away jersey is torn to shreds; Mike Rozier darting, dashing and plowing through defenders; Oklahoma’s wishbone backfields overflowing with speed and muscle and moves.
Premier running backs helped define the storied series’ glory years.
However, times change, coaching staffs come and go, offenses evolve.
Nebraska junked the option, and Oklahoma has long since abandoned the wishbone.
But something happened on the way to the teams’ clash tonight in Kansas City, Mo., something that played an integral role in both squads reaching this exalted stage together for the first time in Big 12 history.
That is, both teams once again have developed strong running games that attack defenses with a ferociousness reminiscent of their epic battles of years past.
To be sure, Oklahoma seeks to impose its will on defenses, said Nebraska assistant coach Phil Elmassian.
The Sooners’ approach goes something like, “This is what we’re going to do — to hell with you. This is who we are and what we’re going to do. Now, stop us,” Elmassian said.
Said Nebraska defensive end Jay Moore: “It’s going to be a physical game. Back to classic Big Eight ball.”
Both teams have bolstered their rushing attacks in part out of necessity.
When Oklahoma dismissed starting quarterback Rhett Bomar in August because of NCAA rules violations, the Sooners turned to Paul Thompson, who lacks Bomar’s overall passing prowess. Consequently, OU rushed the ball 64.3 percent of the time this season, compared with 61 percent last season.
Nebraska began to emphasize improvement of its rushing attack last December during bowl preparation. Husker coach Bill Callahan decided such a focus was necessary to capture a Big 12 championship.
Oklahoma currently ranks 14th nationally in rushing offense at 188.7 yards per game, while Nebraska is 18th at 183.3 — up from 107th (96.0) a year ago. “Hideous” is how Callahan described last year’s production.
“Any time you run the football, you allow yourself to do more things (on offense),” said Callahan, who has emphasized the need for balance on offense since taking over at Nebraska in January of 2004. “If you run it successfully in normal-yardage situations, then you can be a little bit more unpredictable in your play-calling.”
Nebraska benefits from a stable of four I-backs and an improved offensive line. The Huskers have run the ball 59.7 percent of the time, but still throw enough to average 250.8 passing yards.
“It’s exciting for me to be able to hand the ball off five or six plays in a row and still know that drive’s going to be alive and we’re going to be making big plays,” Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor said.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, features a rushing style “very similar to an old Big Ten team,” Callahan said. “They’re dotting the ‘I’ and coming downhill at you.”
Allen Patrick has led the way since Oct. 14, when All-America tailback Adrian Peterson suffered a broken collarbone against Iowa State. A 6-foot, 190-pound junior, Patrick has rushed for 665 yards while averaging 4.7 per carry. In last week’s South Division-clinching victory at Oklahoma State, Patrick rushed for 163 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown dash.
“We felt he would do well, and he has in a big, big way,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s been fantastic.”
Thompson all the while has been “a calming” influence during a tumultuous season, Stoops said.
Elmassian said Thompson is a capable passer, and the senior’s statistics bear that out — he has completed 61.5 percent of his passes and has 18 touchdown tosses against seven interceptions.
In addition to Bomar’s situation and Peterson’s injury, Oklahoma overcame a loss to Oregon in Week Three, although a Pac-10 official has since admitted an officiating error allowed the Ducks their last chance to win.
Despite a storm of setbacks, Stoops said his team has improved throughout the season as young players developed in key roles.
After a slow start, Oklahoma’s defense kicked into gear and now is 14th nationally. The Sooners have allowed few big plays, Callahan said.
“They make you bleed and bleed slowly, in terms of moving the football,” he said.
Oklahoma enters tonight riding a seven-game winning streak, while Nebraska has won three in a row. Many fans and pundits anticipated the Huskers reaching the Big 12 title game this season for the first time since 1999. However, not as many counted on NU having such a good chance to win all the marbles.
Then again, it would have been difficult during the preseason to anticipate the magnitude of Nebraska’s offensive improvement. After finishing 96th nationally in total offense last season, the Huskers now rank ninth.
“We belong here,” Moore said. “We should be here a lot more. This is just the start of a new process here for us. We went through some ups and downs as a program. We’re getting our feet wet again and getting back to where we need to be.”
Oklahoma is making its fifth appearance in the league title game — each coming since 2000. The Sooners have won three crowns, the Huskers two (1999, 1997).
“I just think it’s a great thing for this championship game to be between two respected opponents, and two programs with such tradition,” Taylor said. “It’s always been a respected rivalry, and one without much hate.
“You would’ve thought that over the last 10 years, Oklahoma and Nebraska would’ve played in the championship game,” he added. “For whatever reason, it hasn’t happened. Now both teams have stepped up and gotten into the game.”
They did it with punishing ground attacks, fitting for this storied rivalry.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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