Could it Really Happen?

A Rose Bowl featuring Nebraska vs. Colorado?

A fiftten ago that was unthinkable as these two bitter rivals shared the same conference (the Big 8). Then in 1996 they both joined the north half of the newly formed Big 12(which combined the Big 8 with members of the SWC).

Now I just read that Nebraska is joining the Big 10 and Colorado is heading west as part of the Pac-10.

Nebraska stands a far better shot at reaching the Rose Bowl first since they were a questionable call regarding the final seconds of the Big 12 championship against Texas away from playing in a BCS bowl.

Colorado - really since Rick Neuheisal replaced Bill McCartney in 1995 - has had one good run (2001 when they climbed to as high as #2 in the polls) have fallen on hard times. I blame the Boulder atmosphere - rich, preppy kids flocking to the campus to party and ski. Look at Cu's roster and you'll find a fraction of the tough yet talented kids that McCartney brought in from Texas and California (remember Eric Bienemy? Kanavis McGhee? Deoin Figures? Alfred Williams? Kordell Stewart? Michael Westrbook? Eric Pritchard? Darain Hagan? Now those were football players. For the past 15 years we've been stuck with preps who are more concerned with skiing (Jeremy Bloom) or partying and looking good than really knocking heads together on the football field). But there are plenty of teams like that in the Pac-10 too, so maybe the Buffs will fit in better out west.

Still, how much fun would it be to see these two old rivals (one Big Red Backer had a bumper sticker - when CU's former quarterback Sal Anese died from cancer - that read "Sal is Dead; Go Big Red." Now, that is a hatred!) square off in the Rose Bowl?