Buffs turn focus to rival ’Huskers
BOULDER» As a player, Mel Tucker competed for Paul Bunyan’s Axe in the Wisconsin vs. Minnesota rivalry.
As a coach, he’s been involved in the Iron Bowl (Alabama vs. Auburn), The Game (Ohio State vs. Michigan) and Clean, Old Fashioned Hate (Georgia vs. Georgia Tech), among other bitter football rivalries.
On Saturday at Folsom Field, Tucker will add a new experience to his list when he takes his Colorado Buffaloes (1-0) up against No. 24 Nebraska (1-0).
Tucker has always been one to maximize the importance of each day and every step leading up to a game, but he’s also been hearing about this game — Nebraska’s first visit to Boulder since Nov. 27, 2009 — since the day he was hired in December.
“I feel the energy and the passion from our fans and our alums and from our players of how big this next game is,” Tucker said on Friday night, not long after the Buffaloes finished off Colorado State, 52-31, in his debut as CU head coach.
Still, Tucker and the Buffs came away from Friday’s game with a business-like approach to this week.
“You can’t get overwhelmed by the moment and the magnitude of a game because they’re all big in their own regard,” Tucker said. “We’ll stick with our process and make sure our guys come out. I expect to see a better football team next week than I saw here tonight.”
Tucker was comparing the CU that performed on Friday to the CU he hopes to see this Saturday, but he also could have been have been talking about the opponent. The 24th-ranked Cornhuskers are sure to be a better test for the Buffaloes than the Rams were.
Despite going 4-8 a year ago, Nebraska has high expectations this year. Some national publications picked the Cornhuskers to win the Big Ten West.
Nebraska’s opener was less than inspiring, especially on offense. In Lincoln, Neb., the Huskers defeated South Alabama, 35-21, needing two defensive touchdowns and a punt return for touchdown in the second half to get the job done.
“That’s as anemic of an offensive effort as I’ve been a part of for a long time,” Nebraska head coach Scott Frost said in his post-game press conference. “That’s not the offense that I’ve been seeing all fall camp. I’ve been extremely excited with the way the offense has played through fall camp, so hopefully this wasn’t indicative of what we’re going to get, but I think the guys are going to be hungry to come back and practice.”
Highly touted sophomore dual threat quarterback Adrian Martinez completed just 13-of22 passes for 178 yards and an interception, while finishing with six yards rushing on 13 carries.
The Buffs know how good Martinez can be, however. He made his collegiate debut against the Buffs last year, rushing for 117 yard and two scores and throwing for 187 yards and a touchdown.
The rematch of last year’s 3328 CU win in Lincoln has been on the minds of both teams — or at least their fans — since then.
“I had last year’s game circled on my schedule and I have this year’s game circled on my schedule,” Nebraska safety Eric Lee, who went to Valor Christian, said after Saturday’s game. “I’m just excited to go back out there and take CU down.”