Big 12 Keeps Egg Off Its Face with Oklahoma Sooners Win Over Nebraska
All season long, Nebraska haunted the remaining members of the Big 12 Conference. With every Nebraska victory moving them closer to a Big 12 title, league Commissioner Dan Beebe felt his collar tighten. After all, Nebraska was moving on to what it considered greener and fairer pastures after this season. No longer would Nebraska be subjected to what it perceived as a conference loyal only to its Big 12 southern schools.
Along the way, Nebraska would take with them the Big 12 Championship. All the while, laughing on their way to the Big 10 Conference. What better way to stick it to the league you no longer wanted any part of, kicking sand in the bully's face and then walking away with his girl!
Nebraska, like a runaway freight train speeding down the track, was roaring full speed ahead over its northern conference foes. Only Missouri stood in the way of derailing them. After a rather convincing 31-17 demolition of the Tigers three weeks ago, all the stars aligned for Nebraska.
After a beatdown of the Colorado Buffaloes and clinching the northern half of the league title, the Huskers had arrived at a near perfect ending to their season. Who better to oppose them in the championship game than one of the leagues measuring sticks, the mighty Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma and Nebraska have enjoyed a rich and storied history battling for league championships and national titles in the old Big 8 Conference. However, until Nebraska's title tilt versus Texas last year, only the Sooners had enjoyed success as a perennial league power in the newly-formed alliance that was dominated by the southern division schools.
The collar around Beebe's neck probably felt more like a noose after Nebraska jumped out to a 17-0 lead early in the contest. I;m sure every remaining school in the conference was pulling for Oklahoma to rally and pull this one out for the dignity of the Big 12. In the end, the Sooners prevailed 23-20 and made the trophy presentation a face-saving matter for the Big 12 Conference and its remaining members.
