 Marc MorehouseHi, I'm Marc Morehouse. I've covered sports for more than 15 years, mostly in Eastern Iowa. I've had Hayden Fry [...] |
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Osborne: Iowa-Nebraska will eventually be a rivalry
Nebraska athletics director Tom Osborne speaks before attending the Eastern Iowa FCA Home Team Drive and Banquet at Cedar Rapids Marriott Hotel, 1200 Collins Road NE, on Monday, May 2, 2011, in Northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/SourceMedia Group News)
CEDAR RAPIDS — When Nebraska jumped into the Big Ten last summer, NU athletics director Tom Osborne said it would take time for an Iowa-Nebraska rivalry to take root.
Just because the schools share a border doesn’t guarantee a football rivalry.
“As far as rivalry, it seems like a lot of people are saying this will be a rivalry, this is natural and so on,” Osborne said Monday before he spoke the Eastern Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet at the Cedar Rapids Marriott. “But rivalries usually occur when you don’t declare them rivalries. They occur over time.
“There has to be a certain level of excellence on both sides. I suspect eventually, it will be a rivalry.”
It probably won’t take much time for Hawkeyes-Huskers to heat up, but, no, as it stands now, it’s not a rivalry.
This fall’s game — Nov. 25 at Memorial Stadium, the day after Thanksgiving — will be the first meeting between the two schools since a 42-13 Nebraska victory at Lincoln in 2000. Iowa and Nebraska have met just six times since 1946 and just twice since 1982.
Why the gaps?
“I don’t know,” Osborne said. “We were always willing to play them. I don’t know. . . . It seemed like a natural thing to do. Now, we’ll have a steady dose of it. We’ll overcome the gaps.”
Basically, both sides have to be serious football programs for a rivalry to be interesting. Nebraska had a rivalry with Oklahoma, with a 38-45-3 record and nearly 30 Big Eight and Big 12 titles decided. Since 1996, the Huskers have had a season-ending game with Colorado. That was more game than rivalry, with the Huskers owning a 49-18-2 record.
“Colorado decided to declare us a rival and I never did quite understand it,” Osborne said. “We didn’t feel it was a rivalry. They did.”
Iowa and Nebraska will end the 2011-12 seasons, but it’s not written in stone beyond.
“I think it certainly may [continue as a season finale],” Osborne said. “Again, that depends on the Big Ten to be willing to schedule it as such. We don’t control that schedule, obviously, because we’re playing Ohio State and we’re playing Wisconsin. We’re playing every tough team we can possibly play.”
The Huskers’ first Big Ten game will be a 7 p.m. kick at Wisconsin. Game two, Ohio State in Lincoln. The Badgers and Buckeyes are Nebraska’s protected rivals from the Leaders Division. The Huskers face Legends Division foes Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota and Iowa.
“It was the toughest draw we could have, let’s put it that way,” Osborne said. “We’ll be challenged, but we’re looking forward to it. It’ll be interesting.”
A sect of fans have already called the Nebraska-Iowa game “Farmageddon,” even though Iowa State and Kansas State have already used it. And, the Big Ten being the Big Ten, there are calls for a trophy.
“I get all these letters,” Osborne said. “People stay up all night and write these long letters about why this ought to be named this and to have this big corncob as a trophy or whatever. I really haven’t thought about those things very much. But I’m sure something will develop over time.”
Osborne rewarded coach Bo Pelini with a raise last week, making the former Ohio State free safety and Youngstown, Ohio, native one of the highest-paid Big Ten coaches at $2.775 million.
“There’s not necessarily a correalation between the income of the coach and the quality of the team,” Osborne said. “You’d like to believe there was, but it’s not always one-to-one. But we believe Bo has done a good job and we think we’ll have a good team [in 2011].”
By moving to the Big Ten, Osborne said NU will spend $800,000 to $1 million more in travel this season. He believes the move to the northerly Big Ten will help even the field for Nebraska’s warm-weather sports.
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“The Badgers and Buckeyes are Nebraska’s protected rivals from the Leaders Division”
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I think you mean they are the NON-Protected rivals for 2011 and 2012. as PSU is their protect cross Division game.
Ugh, I knew that sounded wrong. Thank you!
I’m still trying to nail this division stuff down.
Mr.Morehouse,
I figured you knew. Whiskey wanted to be Nebraska’s protected cross over game but they had to keep the Minnesota thing going and tOSU has to play Meatchicken ( Michigan) as we all know.
Tom seems to be saying Iowa might not be good enough to be Nebraska’s rival. For a team thats been struggling for the last 20 or so years and just recently started finding there legs again, thats an interesting statement. As far as being open to playing Iowa for the last couple of decades, that was probable true. As long as the game was in Lincoln. Tom implied to reporters in ’81 that he probable wasn’t planning on any returns to Kinnick after their historic loss to Iowa there, which was in my opinion the pivital turning point in the modern era for both programs. Iowa went on to incredible heights with first Fry then Kirk, with only a few down seasons inbetween. Nebraska went on to see Oklahama eclipse them and until recently with Tom as AD,became a non-factor in college football.
Nebraska fans have become less arrogant in recent yearswith Iowa fans becomming more so, but what makes these teams instant rivals is more about the games they haven’t played than the ones they have.
lonhawk , do you have any idea how silly your comment is? Nebraska hasn’t been struggling for the last 20 years. since 91′ threw 01′ they were ranked in the top 20. they were ranked #7 or better 8 of those 11 years and no worse than #19.
I think tom is just saying that While he thinks Iowa could be , unless the games go back and forth for a few years then it won’t be. If Nebraska beats us 9 out of every 10 games it will never be a rivalry. and that is Fair to say.
“Iowa went on to incredible heights with first Fry then Kirk, with only a few down seasons inbetween”….
if not for the number of Rose Bowls Kirk and Fry have combined to win (0), along with the number of national championships Iowa has won (0) and the number of sub-par seasons Iowa has had where they were lucky to have 7 wins (many), i would agree with you… many a sub-par season. Iowa needs to accept they will NEVER be a ‘major player’ under Kirk. the accolades will always go to OSU…
Always good to hear your expertise on all things Iowa, Terry!
I don’t think we have to worry about that kind of lopsided record. I think this is going to be the kind of back-and-forth struggle we thought Penn State would be, but never quite was. These are two of the most physical teams in the midwest. I like it. To me it is already a rivalry.
I think the rivalry should be called “The Battle for Council-Tucky.” The loser claims Council Bluffs for the year!!!
well be the PSU of the Iowa – Nebraska relationship….
Huh? That’s what?
Didn’t mean to ruffle feathers but I’m aware Nebraska is often given preseason position, but if your looking at Iowa losing two Rose Bowls as failures I guess I’m not as critical as some (and for the record I think one Rose Bowl wasn’t lost so much as stolen). I guess since the 80′s I can’t really remember very many Husker bowl victories. I wish I could remember all the Iowa victories but I do recall a few. Capital One, Orange, Peach, Sun, Outback, Holiday, Insight, Alamo to name a few. Maybe someone out there can give me a list of Husker bowl victories since 1981. Oh, and a list of national championships since then too if you wouldn’t mind.
lonhawk- Off the top of my head Nebraska has played for at least 6 national titles since 1981 winning 3. 1983 lost, ’93 lost, ’94 won, ’95 won, ’97 won, 2001 lost. They have also won 15 or 16 conference titles since then. In addition they absolutely smoked Iowa the last couple times the teams have played.
lonhawk,
I’m a Iowa fan so you didn’t upset me. I just don’t want my fellow Hawks to sound silly. Last 20 years Nebraska has won 3 Nation championships.( 97′ was shared) . since the 94′ bowl season ( they played the game in 95′) they are 10-5. winning the Fiesta(2 times) , Orange (3 times) ,Alamo(3 times),Gator and Holiday.
As I have said before I am glad Nebraska is a Great team. Why would we want to start a rivalry with a crap team? we already have a rivalry with a crap team in ISU.
1980
Sun
Mississippi St.
W
31-17
1982
Orange
Clemson
L
15-22
1983
Orange
Louisiana St.
W
21-20
1984
Orange
Miami
L
30-31
1985
Sugar
Louisiana St.
W
28-10
1986
Fiesta
Michigan
L
23-27
1987
Sugar
Louisiana St.
W
30-15
1988
Fiesta
Florida St.
L
28-31
1989
Orange
Miami
L
3-23
1990
Fiesta
Florida St.
L
17-41
1991
Citrus
Georgia Tech
L
21-45
1992
Orange
Miami
L
0-22
1993
Orange
Florida St.
L
14-27
1994
Orange
Florida St.
L
16-18
1995
Orange
Miami
W
24-17
1996
Fiesta
Florida
W
62-24
1996
Orange
Virginia Tech
W
41-21
1998
Orange
Tennessee
W
42-17
1998
Holiday
Arizona
L
20-23
2000
Fiesta
Tennessee
W
31-21
2000
Alamo
Northwestern
W
66-17
2002 Rose Miami L 14-37
2002 Independence Ole Miss L 24-27
2003 Alamo Michigan State W 17-3
2005 Alamo Michigan W 32-28
2007 Cotton Auburn L 14-17
2009 Gator Clemson W 26-21
2009 Holiday Arizona W 33-0
Nebraska: 83 Orange Bowl, 85 Sugar Bowl, 87 Sugar Bowl, 95 Orange Bowl, 96 Fiesta Bowl, 97 Orange Bowl, 98 Orange Bowl, 2000 Fiesta Bowl, 2000 Alamo Bowl, 2003 Alamo Bowl, 2005 Alamo Bowl, 2009 Gator Bowl, 2009 Holiday Bowl. Oh yeah, national championships in 94, 95, 97.
Iowa: 82 Peach Bowl, 84 Freedom Bowl(is that a bowl anymore:)), 86 Holiday Bowl, 87 Holiday Bowl, 95 Sun Bowl, 96 Alamo Bowl, 2001 Alamo Bowl, 2004 Outback Bowl, 2005 Capital One Bowl, 2009 Outback Bowl, 2110 Orange Bowl, 2110 Insight Bowl.
Nebraska: 13 bowl victories, 3 national championships
Iowa: 12 bowl victories, 0 national championships
Sometimes you should look before you leap
i’ll take national championships and rose bowls over wins in sub-tier bowls
Since the 80′s? Are you serious? How about 3 National titles in 4 years? How about 4 seasons with fewer than nine wins since 1967? 10-5 in bowl games the last 15 years.
1983 Orange
1985 Sugar
1987 Sugar
1995 Orange National Champion
1996 Fiesta National Champion
1997 Orange
1998 Orange National Champion
2000 Fiesta
2000 Alamo
2003 Alamo
2005 Alamo
2009 Gator
2009 Holiday
Iowa fans have to realize that the reason Osborne is stating things the way he did is because he knows how many Nebraska fans look at Bill McCartney and Colorado as the insipid little neighbor boy who manages to never be anything more than an annoyance. That pseudo-rivalry drove NU fans crazy. Osborne and Nebraska fans alike don’t want that kind of start with Iowa.
Thanks for the info. I must not have had a TV in the 90′s. Three national championships and a 42-7 thrashing of Iowa in Iowa City. Two Big 12 Championships since 1996 and much much more. They say the memmory is the first to go…going to have to check wikipedia next time before speaking out of my glutis maximas.