Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry

Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry
First meeting November 5, 1892
Latest meeting October 30, 2010
Trophy Victory Bell
Statistics
Meetings total 104
All-time series Nebraska leads, 65–36–3
Largest victory Nebraska, 62–0 (1972)
Current streak Nebraska, 2

The Missouri–Nebraska football rivalry was a former American college football rivalry between the Missouri Tigers and Nebraska Cornhuskers. The rivalry was the second oldest in the Big 12 Conference and third oldest west of the Mississippi River. However, it 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 would join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012.

Series history

The Tigers and Cornhuskers have met 104 times since 1892, dating back to the formation of the Western Interstate University Football Association.[5]

The rivalry remained competitive through 1978, with Nebraska leading the series 37–32–3 up to that point. However, starting in 1979, Missouri lost the next 24 games.

Following a close overtime game in Columbia in 1997, the rivalry began to gain attention once again. A miraculous touchdown catch by Nebraska's Matt Davison tied the ballgame at the end of regulation, which allowed #1 Nebraska to barely escape a loss to unranked Missouri. Davison caught the ball after it bounced off the hands, chest, foot of a Missouri safety and foot of teammate Shevin Wiggins in what is now known as the famous Flea Kicker play. Nebraska went on to share the national title with Michigan.[6] An unranked Missouri finally broke through in 2003 with a 41–24 victory over #10 Nebraska. Fans, players, and coaches from both sides had remarked that in recent years the rivalry had returned to the 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.

Due to both Nebraska's and Missouri's move to the Big Ten and SEC respectively, there are actually several opportunities for the teams to possibly meet in a bowl game each season. Three bowls feature the Big Ten and SEC as their contracted matchup, in addition to the possibility that other bowls can take teams from the Big Ten or SEC if their contracted conferences fail to produce enough bowl-eligible teams.

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 ██ black. Nebraska victories are shaded ██ cream. Ties are gray.

Date Site Winner Loser Series
November 5, 1892 Omaha 1 Nebraska 1 Missouri0 Nebraska 1–0
November 11, 1893 Kansas City Missouri 30 Nebraska18 Tie 1–1
November 3, 1894 Kansas City Missouri 18 Nebraska14 Missouri 2–1
November 2, 1895 Omaha Nebraska 12 Missouri10 Tie 2–2
October 26, 1896 Columbia Nebraska 8 Missouri4 Nebraska 3–2
October 30, 1897 Lincoln Nebraska 41 Missouri0 Nebraska 4–2
October 24, 1898 Columbia Nebraska 47 Missouri6 Nebraska 5–2
October 21, 1899 Lincoln Missouri 11 Nebraska0 Nebraska 5–3
November 5, 1900 Columbia Nebraska 12 Missouri0 Nebraska 6–3
November 9, 1901 Omaha Nebraska 51 Missouri0 Nebraska 7–3
October 25, 1902 St. Joseph Nebraska 12 Missouri0 Nebraska 8–3
October 28, 1911 Lincoln Nebraska 34 Missouri0 Nebraska 9–3
November 2, 1912 Columbia Nebraska 7 Missouri0 Nebraska 10–3
November 10, 1917 Lincoln Nebraska 52 Missouri0 Nebraska 11–3
November 8, 1919 Columbia Nebraska 12 Missouri5 Nebraska 12–3
October 21, 1922 Lincoln Nebraska 48 Missouri0 Nebraska 13–3
October 27, 1923 Columbia Nebraska 7 Missouri7 Nebraska 13–3–1
November 1, 1924 Lincoln Nebraska 14 Missouri6 Nebraska 14–3–1
October 10, 1925 Columbia Missouri 9 Nebraska6 Nebraska 14–4–1
October 9, 1926 Lincoln Missouri 14 Nebraska7 Nebraska 14–5–1
October 8, 1927 Columbia Missouri 7 Nebraska6 Nebraska 14–6–1
October 27, 1928 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri0 Nebraska 15–6–1
October 26, 1929 Columbia Nebraska 7 Missouri7 Nebraska 15–6–2
November 15, 1930 Lincoln Missouri 0 Nebraska0 Nebraska 15–6–3
October 31, 1931 Columbia Nebraska 10 Missouri7 Nebraska 16–6–3
November 24, 1932 Lincoln Nebraska 21 Missouri6 Nebraska 17–6–3
November 4, 1933 Columbia Nebraska 26 Missouri0 Nebraska 18–6–3
November 24, 1934 Lincoln Nebraska 13 Missouri6 Nebraska 19–6–3
November 2, 1935 Columbia Nebraska 19 Missouri6 Nebraska 20–6–3
October 31, 1936 Lincoln #11 Nebraska 20 Missouri0 Nebraska 21–6–3
October 23, 1937 Columbia #8 Nebraska 7 Missouri0 Nebraska 22–6–3
October 29, 1938 Lincoln Missouri 13 Nebraska10 Nebraska 22–7–3
November 4, 1939 Columbia Missouri 27 #10 Nebraska13 Nebraska 22–8–3
October 26, 1940 Lincoln #18 Nebraska 20 Missouri7 Nebraska 23–8–3
October 25, 1941 Columbia Missouri 6 Nebraska0 Nebraska 23–9–3
November 7, 1942 Lincoln Missouri 26 Nebraska6 Nebraska 23–10–3
October 30, 1943 Columbia Missouri 54 Nebraska20 Nebraska 23–11–3
October 28, 1944 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri20 Nebraska 24–11–3
October 27, 1945 Columbia Missouri 19 Nebraska0 Nebraska 24–12–3
November 2, 1946 Lincoln Missouri 21 Nebraska20 Nebraska 24–13–3
November 1, 1947 Columbia Missouri 47 Nebraska6 Nebraska 24–14–3
November 13, 1948 Lincoln Missouri 33 Nebraska6 Nebraska 24–15–3
October 29, 1949 Columbia #16 Missouri 21 Nebraska20 Nebraska 24–16–3
November 4, 1950 Lincoln Nebraska 40 Missouri34 Nebraska 25–16–3
October 27, 1951 Columbia Missouri 35 Nebraska19 Nebraska 25–17–3
November 1, 1952 Lincoln Missouri 10 Nebraska6 Nebraska 25–18–3
October 24, 1953 Columbia Missouri 23 Nebraska7 Nebraska 25–19–3
October 30, 1954 Lincoln Nebraska 25 Missouri19 Nebraska 26–19–3
October 22, 1955 Columbia Nebraska 18 Missouri12 Nebraska 27–19–3
November 3, 1956 Lincoln Nebraska 15 Missouri14 Nebraska 28–19–3
October 26, 1957 Columbia Missouri 14 Nebraska13 Nebraska 28–20–3
November 1, 1958 Lincoln Missouri 31 Nebraska0 Nebraska 28–21–3
October 24, 1959 Columbia Missouri 9 Nebraska0 Nebraska 28–22–3
October 29, 1960 Lincoln #5 Missouri 28 Nebraska0 Nebraska 28–23–3
October 28, 1961 Columbia Missouri 10 Nebraska0 Nebraska 28–24–3
November 3, 1962 Lincoln Missouri 16 Nebraska7 Nebraska 28–25–3
November 2, 1963 Columbia Nebraska 13 Missouri12 Nebraska 29–25–3
October 31, 1964 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 9 Missouri0 Nebraska 30–25–3
October 30, 1965 Columbia #3 Nebraska 16 Missouri14 Nebraska 31–25–3
October 29, 1966 Lincoln #8 Nebraska 35 Missouri0 Nebraska 32–25–3
November 18, 1967 Columbia Missouri 10 Nebraska7 Nebraska 32–26–3
October 19, 1968 Lincoln #20 Missouri 16 #13 Nebraska14 Nebraska 32–27–3
October 11, 1969 Columbia #7 Missouri 17 #20 Nebraska7 Nebraska 32–28–3
October 10, 1970 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 21 #16 Missouri7 Nebraska 33–28–3
October 9, 1971 Columbia #1 Nebraska 36 Missouri0 Nebraska 34–28–3
October 14, 1972 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 62 Missouri0 Nebraska 35–28–3
October 13, 1973 Columbia #12 Missouri 13 #2 Nebraska12 Nebraska 35–29–3
October 12, 1974 Lincoln Missouri 21 #5 Nebraska10 Nebraska 35–30–3
November 1, 1975 Columbia #3 Nebraska 30 #12 Missouri7 Nebraska 36–30–3
October 23, 1976 Lincoln #17 Missouri 34 #3 Nebraska24 Nebraska 36–31–3
November 5, 1977 Columbia #11 Nebraska 21 Missouri10 Nebraska 37–31–3
November 18, 1978 Lincoln Missouri 35 #2 Nebraska31 Nebraska 37–32–3
November 3, 1979 Columbia #2 Nebraska 23 Missouri20 Nebraska 38–32–3
November 1, 1980 Lincoln #8 Nebraska 38 #15 Missouri16 Nebraska 39–32–3
October 24, 1981 Columbia #15 Nebraska 6 #19 Missouri0 Nebraska 40–32–3
October 23, 1982 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 23 Missouri19 Nebraska 41–32–3
October 15, 1983 Columbia #1 Nebraska 34 Missouri13 Nebraska 42–32–3
October 13, 1984 Lincoln #6 Nebraska 33 Missouri23 Nebraska 43–32–3
October 19, 1985 Columbia #7 Nebraska 28 Missouri20 Nebraska 44–32–3
October 18, 1986 Lincoln #3 Nebraska 48 Missouri17 Nebraska 45–32–3
October 31, 1987 Columbia #2 Nebraska 42 Missouri7 Nebraska 46–32–3
October 29, 1988 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 26 Missouri18 Nebraska 47–32–3
October 14, 1989 Columbia #4 Nebraska 50 Missouri7 Nebraska 48–32–3
October 13, 1990 Lincoln #7 Nebraska 69 Missouri21 Nebraska 49–32–3
October 26, 1991 Lincoln #9 Nebraska 63 Missouri6 Nebraska 50–32–3
October 24, 1992 Columbia #8 Nebraska 34 Missouri24 Nebraska 51–32–3
October 23, 1993 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 49 Missouri7 Nebraska 52–32–3
October 22, 1994 Columbia #3 Nebraska 42 Missouri7 Nebraska 53–32–3
October 14, 1995 Lincoln #2 Nebraska 57 Missouri0 Nebraska 54–32–3
November 9, 1996 Lincoln #5 Nebraska 51 Missouri7 Nebraska 55–32–3
November 8, 1997 Columbia #1 Nebraska 45 Missouri38 Nebraska 56–32–3
October 24, 1998 Lincoln #7 Nebraska 20 #19 Missouri13 Nebraska 57–32–3
September 25, 1999 Columbia #6 Nebraska 40 Missouri10 Nebraska 58–32–3
September 30, 2000 Lincoln #1 Nebraska 42 Missouri24 Nebraska 59–32–3
September 29, 2001 Columbia #4 Nebraska 36 Missouri3 Nebraska 60–32–3
October 12, 2002 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri13 Nebraska 61–32–3
October 11, 2003 Columbia Missouri 41 #10 Nebraska24 Nebraska 61–33–3
October 30, 2004 Lincoln Nebraska 24 Missouri3 Nebraska 62–33–3
October 22, 2005 Columbia Missouri 41 Nebraska24 Nebraska 62–34–3
November 4, 2006 Lincoln Nebraska 34 Missouri20 Nebraska 63–34–3
October 6, 2007 Columbia #17 Missouri 41 #23 Nebraska6 Nebraska 63–35–3
October 4, 2008 Lincoln #4 Missouri 52 Nebraska17 Nebraska 63–36–3
October 8, 2009 Columbia #21 Nebraska 27 #24 Missouri12 Nebraska 64–36–3
October 30, 2010 Lincoln #14 Nebraska 31 #6 Missouri17 Nebraska 65–36–3

1 Missouri forfeited. More information at 1892 Nebraska Bugeaters football team

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Omaha.com". Omaha.com.
  2. ↑ "Rivalry appears strong between Missouri and Nebraska". ESPN.com.
  3. ↑ "Missouri-Nebraska a fight to the death – The Maneater".
  4. ↑ "Lesser Known College Football Rivalries".
  5. ↑ "Sports News & latest headlines from AOL". AOL.com.
  6. ↑ Maisel, Ivan (1997-11-12). "Hallowed Be His Name". CNN/SI. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  7. ↑ "Historic rivalry between Missouri, Nebraska revived". Daily Nebraskan. 2006-06-15. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  8. ↑ "Missouri wants to stop toppling of goal posts". USA Today. October 25, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Perlman hopes to begin Big Ten athletics by 2011". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  10. ↑ "Nebraska to the Big Ten". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  11. ↑ "It's unanimous: Nebraska to the Big Ten". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  12. ↑ "College Football Tickets Missouri".
  13. 1 2 "The Innocents Society". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  14. ↑ "Mascot & Football Traditions". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  15. ↑ http://www.mutigers.com/trads/mascot-football-traditions.html
  16. ↑ "The final Battle for the Bell?". HuskerExtra.com. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
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