Thursday, November 6, 2008
When Kansas travels to Lincoln for Saturday’s match up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, it will try to do something that a Kansas team hasn’t done since 1968 – win a game at Nebraska.
It’s been 40 years and an 0-19 record in Lincoln since the Jayhawks last beat the Cornhuskers in their home stadium.
Nebraska players celebrate after defeating the Jayhawks in Sept. 2006, the last time Kansas played the Cornhuskers in Lincoln. Kansas will try to earn its first win at Nebraska in 40 years on Saturday.
“I don’t even know how that’s possible,” said linebacker James Holt. “It just goes back to the tradition they have. That’s going to be part of their preparation too, not wanting to be the ones to let go of that streak.”
Beforethe Jayhawks 40-15 win in 2005 in Lawrence, Nebraska had beaten Kansas 36 consecutive times dating back to the last Jayhawk win in 1968. Kansas has played well in its last two trips to Nebraska, losing 14-8 in 2004 and 39-32 in overtime in 2006.
“It would be great,” cornerback Justin Thornton said of ending the streak. “We can add it to the list of all of the other accomplishments we’ve had in the past. It’s one thing that we’d like to get. It would definitely be nice to go up there and get a win.”
Nebraska (5-4, 2-3 Big 12) is coming off one of their worst losses in recent memory, a 62-28 loss at Oklahoma. The Cornhuskers trailed 35-0 after the first quarter.
But that game was at Oklahoma and not in front of the 81,067 screaming fans that make up the sea of red that the Jayhawks will face at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. It will be the 296th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium, with four home crowds this season surpassing the 84,000 attendance mark.
“It’s a great atmosphere,” Holt said. “The tradition there is outstanding. I’ve heard a lot about it ever since I was younger like when Eric Crouch played there and stuff. It’s ridiculous. It’s unbelievable how dedicated their fans are.”
Jayhawk players swore that they have never gone into an opposing arena intimidated but did say that the Big 12 conference offers some historic stadiums that often have them in awe.
“I’ve never felt intimidated, but amazement is another thing,” said wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe said. “When I walked into Oklahoma’s stadium for the first time, I was amazed at how big it was and how nice it was structured and how many fans they had.”
And while the crowd will be dressed in red and screaming louder than fans the Jayhawks have faced this season, players know that the fans can’t play and the field will still be 100 yards long.
“My freshman year, I feared for my life at Texas Tech,” said linebacker James Holt. “Those fans in Lubbuck are pretty cruel. But I mean, they are just fans yelling – I’m used to that. I don’t let them get under my skin.”
Missouri was enduring a similar streak going into its matchup against Nebraska earlier in the season. The Tigers hadn’t won in Lincoln in 30 years before handing the Cornhuskers a 52-17 beating in early October. Kansas players know that Nebraska will do everything they can to keep another streak from ending on Saturday.
“They don’t want to have that happen twice,” Holt said. “They don’t want two streaks to end in one year. We’re going to have to prepare hard.”
— - Edited by Scott Toland
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