Platte River Rivalry

Back for my 3rd experience of the Colorado vs. Nebraska rivalry in person.

The Buffs were 0-2 with me in attendance before the 65-51 smackdown the black and goal handed down on a great football day in Boulder. It was really cold, but no so cold that you were uncomfortable. There was a blanket of snow over everything and it just felt like CU and Nebraska should be playing football.

History:
The earliest memory I have was in 1994 when CU and Nebraska played. CU was ranked #3 and NU was #2. NU won that day, and I absolutely hated them from that day forward.

My direct experience started my freshman year at CU in 2003. The game was great, and the crowd was intense, but we just didn't have the talent to overcome the Fuskers. That is one thing that I noticed my freshman year that I didn't know before. The crowd at CU vs Nebraska games is intense. This creates a very different feeling than the rivalry we have with CSU.

Going into the game in 2005 the winner knew they would win the Big 12 North outright, and have a chance to get bent over by Texas in the Big 12 title game. It was still probably the most hyped I've seen Folsom before a game. This may atleast partially explain the behavior of the CU students that day. We were beat 30-3 with a chance to play in the Big 12 title game. How does this happen? Against your most hated rival? How can any team explain that one? I guess it was the same team that went on to get beat 70-3 by Texas the next week with a chance at the Big 12 title on the line.

Note: An all-time low for CU football ever, and maybe even an all-time low for the University which had other non-football issues as well at that point.

But I guess that is what rivalries are about, nobody in Boulder expected to get ripped apart that day in 2005, and nobody in Nebraska expected CU to take the Fuskers down in 2001 by a score of 62-36 when NU was then ranked #1.

Thoughts on the 2007 game:
The 2007 edition of the NU vs. CU (or fill in a clever rivalry name) rivalry had more of a story line then it appeared at first glance. Two 5-6 teams battling for a possible shot at a bowl game doesn't exactly scream top-notch rivalry.

Note: Why doesn't this rivalry have a name and who creates the names of the rivalries? How about the Platte River shootout? My guess is that the PR or media guys or advertising companies who begin to use catchy names haven't come up with a good one.

A closer look at the '07 Platte River rivalry shows some intriguing stories.
1. The most obvious...the winner goes to a bowl and the loser does not. Two storied programs that bowl organizers would love to have not matter what they say.
2. Coaching lines...Bill Callahan most likely coaching his final game and Hawk desperately trying to show everyone that he actually is making progress with tangible evidence, even though I think it is pretty obvious we are headed in the right direction.
3. Not really a story line but it was the final game for Ralphie IV...sad to see her go...I've been going to CU games for a long time and don't remember a time before Ralphie IV. Hopefully V will see as many good things as IV saw in Folsom.

The actual game was probably the 2nd best game I've seen at Folsom behind only the 2004 edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown (CU vs. CSU) which was the single most intense sporting event I've ever been to in terms of the actual game on the field. This game actually vaults to 1B because it is Nebraska and because of the way the game was won.

CU was down 11 at halftime and I honestly thought we might get blown out. That is how bad it has been over the past few years as a CU football fan.

Anyway, the 3rd quarter was the best run or turnaround I've seen in a long, long time. I don't know if there is a word for what the Buffs did. By the end of the 3rd quarter we had gone from "I hope we don't lose by more than 20" to "there is absolutely no way we are going to lose this game, shit how much can we win by!?!" I don't even know what to call it. A turnaround? Is there a word for such a change in fortunes in a game?

The two interceptions, by a freshman (Jimmy Smith) and a true sophomore (Cha'pelle Brown) and the blocked punt recovered by JDizon were the key plays, but it is hard to forget that Lil'Hawk and the O turned each turnover into points.

Final thoughts on the game:
----Hume noticed George Hypolite directing the band from the field. He would signal which cheers they should start during breaks in play. Really cool and really funny. Hypolite also directed the band after the win, something I've never seen, and also very cool.

----Jordan Dizon should book a flight back to Boulder so he can see his number 44 unveiled on the ring of fame next season. I read a few great articles on Dizon by KRingo+ the other guys at the Camera and although I knew most of his story I wasn't aware he came into camp at CU his frosh year with a shot to play running back, safety and linebacker. All of that despite the fact he was not highly recruited at all by other schools on the mainland.

----Dizon became the first freshman ever to start at LB his freshman year. He has never missed a game in four years. I remember watching him during his frosh year and he was as good as anybody else on the field, pretty amazing considering his situation. During his sophmore and junior seasons he flew under the radar for a few reasons. Lack of success of the team as a whole as well as the dominant presence of Thaddeaus Washington at the other LB spot. During those years he was as productive as ever and he definitely made the most out of his senior campaign. I never in my life thought people would talk about JD as the best LB in the country, but he has proven that he is just that.

----JD has always been a personal favorite and was the first interview I ever had as a reporter/intern for the Camera. From then on I knew I could go back to him if I was under-prepared, or just for a quick question. He is the most down to earth, humble and hard-working person I have ever been around and I am glad I was able to get to know him a little off the field and watch his work ethic translate into on-field success.

---Jordan went through a lot during his time here at CU, but he never backed down and never gave up. I usually take the stance that unless you came to CU in 2003 or before you really never saw the the way the progam collapsed and never could feel the lowest lows of this program. Jordan is an exception to this thought because he has been such a pillar throughout his time here, even when things were crashing around him. He and TWheat deserved a great win to end their careers, and they got it. A small reward for two great football players and even better people.