Former OU and Nebraska Players Reflect on Rivalry

Jimbo Elrod and Rick Fern, who played for opposing sides of the Big Red Rivalry, both had the same thoughts.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:04 pm

By: News On 6

Former OU and Nebraska Players Reflect on Rivalry

Originally Published: Dec 1, 2010 8:54 PM CDT

Tara Vreeland
Oklahoma Sports Special Contributor

TULSA, Oklahoma – For the last time, the Big Red of the North and the Big Red of the South will meet.

“Course this game is the last one. Of the old Big Eight and the Big Twelve,” said former Sooner Jimbo Elrod.

The traditional college football rivalry spans decades. The Oklahoma Sooners first played the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 1912.

"It's a great rivalry and I hate to see it end,” said Rick Fern, who played for Nebraska.

While the battles between OU and Nebraska were heated, both Elrod and Fern said the rivalry was one of respect.

“Nebraska and Oklahoma; we had this thing together,” Elrod said. “We didn't hate each other, but we had great respect for each other.”

“It was a respectful rivalry,” Fern said. “I mean I know in Nebraska that was the game of the century; every year that was the game they wanted to play.”

The country used to tune in on Thanksgiving Day to see the battle on the gridiron; the crimson and cream versus the scarlet and cream.

“You've heard of Sooner Magic before? That's where it was born. In the Nebraska game,” Elrod said.

Elrod was in the stands as a recruit in 1971 during the Game of the Century.

“And after the game, even though we lost, we were ready to go to OU,” he said.

After this weekend’s Big 12 Championship, Sooner and Husker fans alike will mourn the loss of the legendary game.

“I'm kind of sad that the rivalry is nonexistent now basically,” Fern said. “It was one of the greatest rivalries in NCAA football for years.”

But it will not end before one final matchup.

“I think Oklahoma will probably win the game,” Elrod said. “Oh I'll be at the game. I'll be watching.”