Sooners And Huskers Renew Classic Rivalry

You know a classic sports rivalry is big when memorable, great plays between the teams are given titles.

For Nebraska and Oklahoma football fans, the games between the Sooners and Cornhuskers produced "The Return," "The Flea-Flicker," "The End Around," "The Fumble," and "Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass."

On Saturday, the Sooners and Huskers meet again in a non-conference game at Nebraska Memorial Stadium.

Kick off is at 11 a.m., and the game will be televised on Fox.

For generations of fans, the annual showdowns between NU and OU became synonymous with late season match-ups, often on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday, deciding National Championships, Big Eight Conference championships, and Orange Bowl berths.

Of course this year, a massive story line is former Husker Mickey Joseph's debut as NU's interim Head Coach.

Nebraska will also celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Heisman Trophy season of Husker icon Johnny Rodgers.

And those memorable plays?

"The Return" was Rodgers's famed punt return touchdown in the 1971 "Game Of The Century;" immortalized by KFAB announcer Lyell Bremser;

" The Flea-Flicker" was an OU offensive play that broke Husker hearts with a first bitter taste of "Sooner Magic" in 1976 in Lincoln;

"The Fumble" was a Billy Sims turnover in 1978 ending Oklahoma hopes as Nebraska Memorial Stadium shook with noise;

"The End Around" was a TD executed by legendary Sooner Tight End Keith Jackson in 1985 in Norman, keying an OU National Championship season;

and "Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass" was a score by NU QB Eric Crouch off a pass that caused pandemonium in Lincoln in 2001 and locked up a Heisman Trophy for the Millard North product;

There are others;

(Picture from Getty Images)


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