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Nov. 30, 1999 By Dennis Dodd SportsLine Senior Writer |
It's no secret that Nebraska and Florida have had an easy time of it at
home over the past few years. That's because the Huskers and Gators seldom
have to break a sweat.
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Stepping on the field against an outmanned opponent is usually enough for
victory. Visitors look around the packed stadium see the Gator chomp or the
'Husker red and politely submit. Whether they want to admit it or not, those
opponents are beaten before the ball is snapped.
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That's why both schools in conference championship games this weekend are still in a bit of shock over losing that home mystique. That this week's opponents were responsible make it all the more galling.
Alabama, which plays the Gators Saturday in the SEC championship game in Atlanta, ended Florida's 30-game home winning streak with a 40-39 overtime victory in The Swamp in October. Florida State made it an unheard of two losses at home for Florida.
Texas, which plays Nebraska Saturday in the Big 12 title game in San Antonio, ended the Cornhuskers' 47-game home streak in 1998.
"They kind of congratulated us," said Texas receiver Kwame Cavil, recalling the Longhorns' historic 20-16 upset. "But they had that wink in their eye like, 'We're going to come back and try to beat you next year down there.' "
Not exactly. Texas (9-3) has beaten Nebraska three consecutive times, the only team to do so in the 1990s. The teams meet for the third time in 13 months, with Texas trying to become the first team to beat Nebraska four in a row since Oklahoma in 1987.
Alabama (9-2) got even for a decade of dominance. Florida had won six of the seven games between the teams until the Tide pulled the upset.
The problem for Nebraska (10-1) and Florida (9-2) are that the opponents Saturday in the Big 12 and SEC championship games are not in awe. It doesn't hurt either to have a little swagger.
"We're not just satisfied being in the championship game," Alabama running Shaun Alexander said. "We want the ring."
"What you want to do is respect every team you play, but don't fear them," the Longhorns' Cavil said. "We don't fear Nebraska like other teams do."
Consider the typical Texas recruit. He's been hardened by the best high school football in the country. He's played before crowds of up to 50,000 in the Texas state high school playoffs. Once he gets on campus, he's a revered cog in one of the nation's top football factories.
Then there's those annual blood feuds with Texas A&M and Oklahoma. When it comes to playing Nebraska that "N" on the helmet stands for "Not Impressive" to the battle-hardened 'Horns.
"I would say it wasn't any different from playing in the A&M or OU game," Cavil said.
The same mindset goes for Alabama. Like Nebraska, it is one of the game's big boys. Big games are expected and anticipated. The Tide play Arkansas and Auburn every year. The rivalry with Tennessee might be the fiercest.
It's hard to believe that Alabama is only seven years removed from a national championship. It fell upon hard times since then but announced it had come back with the Oct. 2 upset at Florida.
"Alabama is a good hard team to prepare for," Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. "Clean, good sportsmanship. I think there's a deep respect from both programs when we get together. They've won a few games, we've won a few more."
Maybe in this decade, but not in the history of the game. Tradition is what Alabama has relied on in tough times. Coach Mike DuBose is the latest in a line of coaches who look, talk and act like Bear Bryant. Unfortunately, none of them have been able to coach like him.
That could be changing. Only four teams have beaten Spurrier's squads twice or more: Florida State (seven), Tennessee (three), Auburn (two) and Alabama (two). Alabama is trying to become the first team to do it twice in one season.
DuBose probably saved his job by using the Florida game as a springboard to the SEC West title. If the Tide can beat Florida again it would win the conference title and DuBose would be more than saved. Incredibly, he might get back the two-year extension that was lopped off after the infamous dalliance with his secretary.
What is a little ol' game against Florida for the Tide when their coach has faced Alabama's firing squad?
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| Shaun Alexander evades Bennie Alexander for the final touchdown in the Crimson Tide's Oct. 2 win.(Allsport) |
The same goes for Texas, which gets to play in its home state Saturday. Two years ago, Texas A&M reached the title game in San Antonio and was drilled by Nebraska 54-15. Still, Texas and Texas A&M, it can be argued, have become the dominant programs in the four-year-old Big 12.
Those two are a combined 4-2 against Nebraska. Texas alone is 3-0 against Nebraska and is playing in its second conference title game since the league was formed four years ago. Nebraska is playing in its third conference title but has won only once, in 1997 against A&M.
Texas quarterback Major Applewhite was either too naïve or too good to know he was supposed to cower last year as a redshirt freshman entering Memorial Stadium. Bolstered by Heisman winner Ricky Williams and seven other senior starters on offense, Texas walked out with a 20-16 victory, ending Nebraska's 47-game home streak.
"He's the reason we're in the Big 12 championship game, because of his leadership," Texas coach Mack Brown said of Applewhite. "A lot of people questioned whether he would have sophomore-itis. Could he lead a football team without Ricky Williams and (receiver) Wane McGarity and the eight seniors that started with him last year? He more than proved everyone wrong. He's one of the best players in college football today."
Five weeks ago the Horns backed that up with a 24-20 victory over Nebraska in Austin. Applewhite once again was the reason. He led the Horns back from a 13-3 halftime deficit. This week he shared the conference player of the year honor with Nebraska's Eric Crouch.
It was a true sign that Nebraska had melted down a bit when Husker coach Frank Solich complained after that game about the officiating. In other words, had the mighty Nebraska been -- dare we say it -- homered?
"They've shown they can beat us," Nebraska All-America safety Mike Brown said. "They're not scared of us. That's why people go to programs like Nebraska and Texas, to play in games like this."