OU-NU: Rivalry to revelry
Castiglione wants to patch things up, starting with '71 game reunion
Castiglione wants to patch things up, starting with '71 game reunion
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By Jake Trotter
Published: August 4, 2008
NORMAN — The last time Nebraska played at Owen Field, atypical bad blood spoiled the night.
Nebraska players accused OU of trying to run up the score; Sooner fans booed a futile Cornhusker field goal as time expired. A Nebraska lineman popped a jeering OU Ruf/Nek during pregame warmups and was later charged, though found not guilty, of aggravated assault. And Nebraska coach Bill Callahan hollered, " — hillbillies” as he slogged off the field after a 30-3 beating. This season, OU athletic director Joe Castiglione is hoping to help put the 2004 game behind the two universities and restore grace and respect to the rivalry. Castiglione is planning a reunion during this year's OU-Nebraska weekend for all Sooner and Husker players who participated in the 1971 "Game of the Century.” Players from both teams who attend will be honored at halftime. "After the last game, the type of comments that were made, the things that were said were so foreign to the rivalry,” Castiglione said. "I know rivalries have such an intensity to it people want to term the opponent the ‘hated rival.' But there is something that has transcended this rivalry, and that has been immense respect for each other. It was demonstrated many times before and many times after the '71 game.” The Game of the Century pitted No. 1 Nebraska against No. 2 OU, or as Sports Illustrated wrote on its cover leading up to the game, "Irresistible Oklahoma Meets Immovable Nebraska.” In a showdown that went back and forth, Nebraska came up on top, 35-31, on the way to a national championship. The Sooners would finish second that year. "Some people might wonder or be confused why we'd have a reunion around a game the other team won,” Castiglione said. "On the scoreboard they did, but most people who attended that game or people who wrote about that game never saw it as Oklahoma losing. Nebraska just finished with the most points. It was a game that was a classic in the purest sense.” Castiglione has already spoken with former Husker coach and current athletic director Tom Osborne, who is helping coordinate the reunion. Invitations will be going out, and Castiglione is hoping for a strong turnout from the ex-Nebraska players. "Can you imagine if we have all of the guys there, the Pruitts, the Brahaneys on one side, then the Johnny Rodgers' and Rich Glovers on the other?” Castiglione asked. "I think the place would come unglued.” Castiglione said that during that weekend, something special is also being planned for the OU quarterback of the '71 game, Jack Mildren, who died earlier this year. "As a young boy watching that game, I remember Jack Mildren,” Castiglione said. "I remember the commentators talking about Jack Mildren and the amazing plays he was making. "I started thinking, I've never seen a game like this ever.”
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