Cornhuskers’ verbal jabs part of rival game week

BOULDER Walking off the turf at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., a year ago, Colorado’s Nate Landman got his first taste of the CUNebraska rivalry.

Several CU alums let Landman and other Buffs know that their 33- 28 victory against the Cornhuskers had significant meaning.

Last year’s game was the renewal of a rivalry between former Big 12 Conference foes, ending eight years of dormancy. On Friday, the two will meet in Boulder for the first time since 2009 and the anticipation and intensity for the game is already ramping up.

“I’ve seen the stuff on social media and everything,” Landman, the Buffs’ junior linebacker, said Monday. “There’s a little bit of beef between us, and I love that. I think that makes the game of football more fun and exciting, not only for us but for the fans, as well. To have them in our place, we don’t want to lose at home and we don’t like losing at home. We want to protect our turf. I think it’s going to be a great game. It’s going to be hard and physical. I think the rivalry and the whole intensity of it is going to come together and make a great game.”

The Buffs ( 1- 0) haven’t thrown much trash talking at the Cornhuskers ( 1- 0), but there have been some verbal jabs coming from the other side.

Huskers head coach Scott Frost called the Buffs “ex- rivals” Saturday. On Monday, he commented on the fact that CU is making efforts to “keep the red out” of Folsom Field on Saturday.

“I know Nebraska will never have an issue trying to keep Nebraska fans to hold onto their tickets for games,” Frost said to Huskers media.

Neither team should have any issue finding motivation Saturday. Although he did refer to CU as former rivals, Frost, who was born in Lincoln and played at Nebraska, admitted, “Anytime Nebraska plays Colorado, there’s going to be a little more juice on both sides.”

Frost added that Boulder “is a good scene for college football. … It’s a fun place to play.”

Both coaches expressed respect for each other Monday.

CU head coach Mel Tucker said the Cornhuskers looked explosive on offense and physical on defense in their 35- 21 win against South Alabama.

“They’re a very talented team, and they look wellcoached,” Tucker said.

During Frost’s news conference, he said: “I think ( Tucker has) done a really good job wherever he’s been. They executed pretty well last ( Friday in a 52- 31 win against Colorado State), so he’s done a good job going in there and getting a new team ready to play.” Taking the high road. As expected, Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez was asked about the knee injury he suffered against CU last year.

After that game, Nebraska submitted a video to the Big Ten and Pac- 12 that appeared to show CU’s Jacob Callier twisting the leg of Martinez at the bottom of the pile. Martinez, who got up limping a couple of plays before the Callier play, missed the next game.

On Monday, Martinez said: “( The injury) was unfortunate. It’s football. I think injuries are a part of the game. It is what it is. I moved on after that and I’ve moved on since and I’m just really ready to go.”

Callier was attacked on social media by Nebraska fans after that game. The sophomore is not being made available to the media this week.