Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry

Missouri Tigers-Nebraska Cornhuskers
History
First Meeting November 5, 1892
Last Meeting October 30, 2010
Next Scheduled Meeting None Scheduled
Number of Meetings 104
All-Time Series Nebraska: 65-36-3
Largest victory Nebraska: 62
(62-0 in 1972)
Current Streak Nebraska: Won 2
Longest Mizzou Win Streak 6 (1957–1962)
Longest Nebraska Win Streak 24 (1979–2002)
At Columbia Nebraska leads 26-19-2
At Lincoln Nebraska leads 35-15-1
At neutral sites Nebraska leads 4-2-0

The Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry is an American college football rivalry game that was formerly played annually by the Missouri Tigers football team of the University of Missouri and the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team of the University of Nebraska. The rivalry was the second oldest football rivalry in the Big 12 Conference and is third oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi River. The annual rivalry ended following the 2010 game, when Nebraska and Missouri met in league play for the last time prior to Nebraska's 2011 move to the Big Ten Conference.[1][2][3][4] In November 2011, Missouri announced that it will be joining the Southeastern Conference in July 2012.

Contents

Series history

The Missouri Tigers and Nebraska Cornhuskers have met 103 times in football since 1892, dating back to the formation of the Western Interstate University Football Association.[5]

The Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry remained fiercely competitive through 1978, with Nebraska leading the overall series by only 5 games. Beginning with the 1979 game, Missouri dropped the next 24 matches through 2002, which gave Nebraska the dominant position in the series. Historically, the rivalry was a favorite among fans of both teams, resulting in many of the record-setting crowds at both Faurot Field in Columbia and Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. As Missouri began to pile up the losses in the early 1980s, fans began to lose interest in the series.

Following a close overtime game in Columbia in 1997, the rivalry began to gain attention from fans once again. A miraculous touchdown catch by Nebraska's Matt Davison tied the ballgame at the end of regulation, which allowed number one-ranked Nebraska to barely escape a loss to an unranked Missouri team. Davison caught the ball after it bounced off the hands, chest, foot of Missouri safety and foot of teammate Shevin Wiggins in what is now known as the infamous Flea Kicker play. Nebraska went on to share the national title with Michigan.[6] An unranked Missouri finally broke the curse in 2003 with a 41-24 victory over number ten ranked Nebraska. Fans, players, and coaches from both sides had remarked that in recent years the rivalry had returned to the prior levels of intensity that was felt prior to the late 1980s.[7]

A Missouri campus tradition came to an end following the Tigers' win over Nebraska in 2005. Anytime the goalposts were torn down at Faurot Field, they were carried out of the stadium, around the columns, and then finally to Harpo's Bar and Grill at 29 S. Tenth Street in downtown Columbia, in a tradition that dated back to 1971. Students rushed the field and tore down the goal posts following the Missouri wins in 2003 and 2005. Following the 2005 incident, 20 fans were arrested on trespassing charges and the university announced it would be forming an internal task force to reduce fan rowdiness. In May 2006, Missouri athletic director Mike Alden announced that collapsible goalposts would be installed for the upcoming 2006 season, hoping to end any future incidents with students rushing the field to tear down the goalposts.[8]

End of the rivalry

On June 11, 2010, the Nebraska Cornhuskers announced that its regents unanimously voted to end the university's affiliation with the Big 12 Conference, and would be joining the Big Ten Conference beginning with the 2011 season.[9][10][11] Therefore, the October 30, 2010 contest between these two teams was the last unless the programs meet in a future non-conference game or postseason bowl game. On November 6, 2011, the Missouri Tigers announced their decision to leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference beginning with the 2012 season.

Victory Bell

The Victory Bell (sometimes known as the Missouri-Nebraska bell) was awarded to the winner of the Nebraska and Missouri football game annually.[12] The exchange was organized by the Innocents Society of Nebraska and QEBH of Missouri.[13][14]

The tradition dated back to 1892 when these teams first met, when the bell was taken from a church in Seward, Nebraska by members of Nebraska fraternities Phi Delta Theta and Delta Tau Delta. At the time, the members of the two fraternities occupied the same house. When the two groups moved into separate houses, there was a dispute over who should keep the bell. Annual scholastic or athletic contests were held, with the bell being used as a trophy. This rivalry abated, yet still the ownership of the bell was left in question.

In 1926, Missouri athletic director Chester D. Brewer suggested an annual award be established for the annual Missouri-Nebraska football game. The bell was selected to be the prize to end the conflict between the fraternities, and the letters 'M' and 'N' were engraved on opposite sides of the bell.[15] The exchange was coordinated by the Innocents Society and Missouri’s prestigious Q.E.B.H. Society. Missouri won the first game in 1927 7-6. The scores from the games up through 2005 are engraved on the bell.[13]

With Nebraska's victory over Missouri in the final league meeting of these teams on October 30, 2010, Nebraska's Memorial Stadium became the apparent final home of the Victory Bell, though a commemorative bell will be produced for permanent display at the University of Missouri. It is possible that the Victory Bell could change hands again if the teams meet in a future non-conference game or postseason bowl game.[16]

Game results

Missouri victories are shaded ██ gold. Nebraska victories are shaded in ██ red. [17]

Date Site Winning team Losing team Series Attendance
November 5, 1892 Omaha 1 Nebraska 1 Missouri 0 NU 1-0-0
November 11, 1893 Kansas City Missouri 30 Nebraska 18 TIE 1-1-0
November 3, 1894 Kansas City Missouri 18 Nebraska 14 MU 1-2-0
November 2, 1895 Omaha Nebraska 12 Missouri 10 TIE 2-2-0
October 26, 1896 Columbia Nebraska 8 Missouri 4 NU 3-2-0
October 30, 1897 Lincoln Nebraska 41 Missouri 0 NU 4-2-0
October 24, 1898 Columbia Nebraska 47 Missouri 6 NU 5-2-0
October 21, 1899 Lincoln Missouri 11 Nebraska 0 NU 5-3-0
November 5, 1900 Columbia Nebraska 12 Missouri 0 NU 6-3-0
November 9, 1901 Omaha Nebraska 51 Missouri 0 NU 7-3-0
October 25, 1902 St Joseph Nebraska 12 Missouri 0 NU 8-3-0
October 28, 1911 Lincoln Nebraska 34 Missouri 0 NU 9-3-0
November 2, 1912 Columbia Nebraska 7 Missouri 0 NU 10-3-0
November 10, 1917 Lincoln Nebraska 52 Missouri 0 NU 11-3-0
November 8, 1919 Columbia Nebraska 12 Missouri 5 NU 12-3-0
October 21, 1922 Lincoln Nebraska 48 Missouri 0 NU 13-3-0
October 27, 1923 Columbia Nebraska 7 Missouri 7 NU 13-3-1
November 1, 1924 Lincoln Nebraska 14 Missouri 6 NU 14-3-1
October 10, 1925 Columbia Missouri 9 Nebraska 6 NU 14-4-1
October 9, 1926 Lincoln Missouri 14 Nebraska 7 NU 14-5-1
October 8, 1927 Columbia Missouri 7 Nebraska 6 NU 14-6-1
October 27, 1928 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri 0 NU 15-6-1
October 26, 1929 Columbia Nebraska 7 Missouri 7 NU 15-6-2
November 15, 1930 Lincoln Missouri 0 Nebraska 0 NU 15-6-3
October 31, 1931 Columbia Nebraska 10 Missouri 7 NU 16-6-3
November 24, 1932 Lincoln Nebraska 21 Missouri 6 NU 17-6-3
November 4, 1933 Columbia Nebraska 26 Missouri 0 NU 18-6-3
November 24, 1934 Lincoln Nebraska 13 Missouri 6 NU 19-6-3
November 2, 1935 Columbia Nebraska 19 Missouri 6 NU 20-6-3
October 31, 1936 Lincoln #11 Nebraska 20 Missouri 0 NU 21-6-3
October 23, 1937 Columbia #8 Nebraska 7 Missouri 0 NU 22-6-3
October 29, 1938 Lincoln Missouri 13 Nebraska 10 NU 22-7-3
November 4, 1939 Columbia Missouri 27 #10 Nebraska 13 NU 22-8-3
October 26, 1940 Lincoln #18 Nebraska 20 Missouri 7 NU 23-8-3
October 25, 1941 Columbia Missouri 6 Nebraska 0 NU 23-9-3
November 7, 1942 Lincoln Missouri 26 Nebraska 6 NU 23-10-3
October 30, 1943 Columbia Missouri 54 Nebraska 20 NU 23-11-3
October 28, 1944 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri 20 NU 24-11-3
October 27, 1945 Columbia Missouri 19 Nebraska 0 NU 24-12-3
November 2, 1946 Lincoln Missouri 21 Nebraska 20 NU 24-13-3 34,000
November 1, 1947 Columbia Missouri 47 Nebraska 6 NU 24-14-3 22,000
November 13, 1948 Lincoln Missouri 33 Nebraska 6 NU 24-15-3 21,000
October 29, 1949 Columbia #16 Missouri 21 Nebraska 20 NU 24-16-3
November 4, 1950 Lincoln Nebraska 40 Missouri 34 NU 25-16-3 38,000
October 27, 1951 Columbia Missouri 35 Nebraska 19 NU 25-17-3
November 1, 1952 Lincoln Missouri 10 Nebraska 6 NU 25-18-3 39,000
October 24, 1953 Columbia Missouri 23 Nebraska 7 NU 25-19-3 26,500
October 30, 1954 Lincoln Nebraska 25 Missouri 19 NU 26-19-3 35,000
October 22, 1955 Columbia Nebraska 18 Missouri 12 NU 27-19-3
November 3, 1956 Lincoln Nebraska 15 Missouri 14 NU 28-19-3 34,748
October 26, 1957 Columbia Missouri 14 Nebraska 13 NU 28-20-3 26,058
November 1, 1958 Lincoln Missouri 31 Nebraska 0 NU 28-21-3 31,816
October 24, 1959 Columbia Missouri 9 Nebraska 0 NU 28-22-3 27,305
October 29, 1960 Lincoln #5 Missouri 28 Nebraska 0 NU 28-23-3 34,581
October 28, 1961 Columbia Missouri 10 Nebraska 0 NU 28-24-3 42,292
November 3, 1962 Lincoln 2 Missouri 16 Nebraska 7 NU 28-25-3 36,501
November 2, 1963 Columbia Nebraska 13 Missouri 12 NU 29-25-3 52,877
October 31, 1964 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 9 Missouri 0 NU 30-25-3 48,878
October 30, 1965 Columbia #3 Nebraska 16 Missouri 14 NU 31-25-3 57,206
October 29, 1966 Lincoln #8 Nebraska 35 Missouri 0 NU 32-25-3 64,489
November 18, 1967 Columbia Missouri 10 Nebraska 7 NU 32-26-3 55,504
October 19, 1968 Lincoln #20 Missouri 16 #13 Nebraska 14 NU 32-27-3 66,818
October 11, 1969 Columbia #7 Missouri 17 #20 Nebraska 7 NU 32-28-3 60,500
October 10, 1970 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 21 #16 Missouri 7 NU 33-28-3 67,538
October 9, 1971 Columbia #1 Nebraska 36 Missouri 0 NU 34-28-3 61,200
October 14, 1972 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 62 Missouri 0 NU 35-28-3 76,511
October 13, 1973 Columbia #12 Missouri 13 #2 Nebraska 12 NU 35-29-3 68,720
October 12, 1974 Lincoln Missouri 21 #5 Nebraska 10 NU 35-30-3 76,526
November 1, 1975 Columbia #3 Nebraska 30 #12 Missouri 7 NU 36-30-3 68,195
October 23, 1976 Lincoln #17 Missouri 34 #3 Nebraska 24 NU 36-31-3 76,051
November 5, 1977 Columbia #11 Nebraska 21 Missouri 10 NU 37-31-3 67,000
November 18, 1978 Lincoln Missouri 35 #2 Nebraska 31 NU 37-32-3 75,850
November 3, 1979 Columbia #2 Nebraska 23 Missouri 20 NU 38-32-3 74,575
November 1, 1980 Lincoln #8 Nebraska 38 #15 Missouri 16 NU 39-32-3 76,155
October 24, 1981 Columbia #15 Nebraska 6 #19 Missouri 0 NU 40-32-3 72,001
October 23, 1982 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 23 Missouri 19 NU 41-32-3 76,406
October 15, 1983 Columbia #1 Nebraska 34 Missouri 13 NU 42-32-3 72,348
October 13, 1984 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 33 Missouri 23 NU 43-32-3 76,319
October 19, 1985 Columbia #7 Nebraska 28 Missouri 20 NU 44-32-3 62,733
October 18, 1986 Lincoln #3 Nebraska 48 Missouri 17 NU 45-32-3 76,005
October 31, 1987 Columbia #2 Nebraska 42 Missouri 7 NU 46-32-3 55,594
October 29, 1988 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 26 Missouri 18 NU 47-32-3 76,316
October 14, 1989 Columbia #4 Nebraska 50 Missouri 7 NU 48-32-3 55,620
October 13, 1990 Lincoln #7 Nebraska 69 Missouri 21 NU 49-32-3 76,317
October 26, 1991 Lincoln #9 Nebraska 63 Missouri 6 NU 50-32-3 76,244
October 24, 1992 Columbia #8 Nebraska 34 Missouri 24 NU 51-32-3 53,337
October 23, 1993 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 49 Missouri 7 NU 52-32-3 75,574
October 22, 1994 Columbia #3 Nebraska 42 Missouri 7 NU 53-32-3 50,537
October 14, 1995 Lincoln #2 Nebraska 57 Missouri 0 NU 54-32-3 75,552
November 9, 1996 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 51 Missouri 7 NU 55-32-3 75,133
November 8, 1997 Columbia 3 #1 Nebraska 45 Missouri 38 NU 56-32-3 66,846
October 24, 1998 Lincoln #7 Nebraska 20 #19 Missouri 13 NU 57-32-3 76,425
September 25, 1999 Columbia #6 Nebraska 40 Missouri 10 NU 58-32-3 68,174
September 30, 2000 Lincoln #1 Nebraska 42 Missouri 24 NU 59-32-3 77,744
September 29, 2001 Columbia #4 Nebraska 36 Missouri 3 NU 60-32-3 64,204
October 12, 2002 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri 13 NU 61-32-3 78,014
October 11, 2003 Columbia Missouri 41 #10 Nebraska 24 NU 61-33-3 68,349
October 30, 2004 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri 3 NU 62-33-3 77,616
October 22, 2005 Columbia Missouri 41 Nebraska 24 NU 62-34-3 60,641
November 4, 2006 Lincoln Nebraska 34 Missouri 20 NU 63-34-3 85,197
October 6, 2007 Columbia #17 Missouri 41 #25 Nebraska 6 NU 63-35-3 70,049
October 4, 2008 Lincoln #4 Missouri 52 Nebraska 17 NU 63-36-3 85,372
October 8, 2009 Columbia #21 Nebraska 27 #24 Missouri 12 NU 64-36-3 65,826
October 30, 2010 Lincoln #14 Nebraska 31 #6 Missouri 17 NU 65-36-3 85,907

1 Missouri forfeited. More information at 1892 Nebraska Bugeaters football team
2 Beginning of the continuing NCAA-record sellout streak at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.
3 In overtime - the Flea Kicker game.

References

  1. ^ http://www.omaha.com/article/20091003/SPORTS/710049916
  2. ^ http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/4745/rivalry-appears-strong-between-missouri-and-nebraska
  3. ^ http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/10/6/missouri-nebraska-fight-death/
  4. ^ http://www.sportsbettingacumen.com/football-ncaa-college-rivalries-lesser-known.asp
  5. ^ http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/07/huskers-tigers-rivalry-a-century-in-the-making/
  6. ^ Maisel, Ivan (1997-11-12). "Hallowed Be His Name". CNN/SI. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/weekly/971117/cf1117/a.html. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
  7. ^ "Historic rivalry between Missouri, Nebraska revived". Daily Nebraskan. 2006-06-15. http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/1998/10/22/Sports/Historic.Rivalry.Between.Missouri.Nebraska.Revived-2088573.shtml. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
  8. ^ "Missouri wants to stop toppling of goal posts". USA Today. October 25, 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2005-10-25-mizzou-tradition_x.htm. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
  9. ^ "Perlman hopes to begin Big Ten athletics by 2011". Lincoln Journal Star. http://my.journalstar.com/post/Husker_Extra_Group/Husker_Extra/blog/perlman_hopes_to_begin_big_athletics_by_2011.html. Retrieved 2010-06-11. 
  10. ^ "Nebraska to the Big Ten". Omaha World-Herald. http://www.omaha.com/article/20100611/SPORTS/306119924/1141#nebraska-to-the-big-ten. Retrieved 2010-06-11. 
  11. ^ "It's unanimous: Nebraska to the Big Ten". Lincoln Journal Star. http://huskerextra.com/articles/2010/06/11/football/doc4c127efa8ecb6120679491.txt. Retrieved 2010-06-11. 
  12. ^ http://www.onlineseats.com/college-football-tickets/missouri/index.asp
  13. ^ a b "The Innocents Society". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. http://www.unl.edu/innocent/history.html. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
  14. ^ "Mascot & Football Traditions". CBS Sports. http://mutigers.cstv.com/trads/miss-mascot-trophy.html. Retrieved 2008-12-10. 
  15. ^ http://www.mutigers.com/trads/mascot-football-traditions.html
  16. ^ "The final Battle for the Bell?". HuskerExtra.com. http://huskerextra.com/sports/football/article_1276c242-e394-11df-abd4-001cc4c002e0.html. Retrieved 2010-11-01. 
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