The most formative game of my childhood. I was 14 and after the game all of us neighbor kids spontaneously went outside into the bitter cold and replayed the game in our back yard. Upon rewatching this, I'm amazed at how far behind the line of scrimmage the OU defensive line put themselves. This easily gave the NU offensive line 3 steps to build momentum and open holes.
I continue to be amazed looking at these old games from the 70's and 80's just how many times the Nebraska Full-Back's ran the football. Rhule was supposed to have brought back the Full-Back, but we haven't seen any trap plays yet this year.
I remember this game. I was a huge OU fan back then, and I was devastated when Billy Sims fumbled at the 3 and OU lost. The next week , Missouri, and James Wilder, upset Nebraska and set up the Orange Bowl rematch, between OU and Nebraska. I still think OU was the best team in the nation that year, even though USC and Alabama split the National Championship. I've since become an Oklahoma State fan, basically because that's where I graduated from; however, I sure do miss OU and Nebraska playing every year. I wish Nebraska would come back to the Big 12. ( Formerly Big 8, in 78)
I also wish Nebraska had stayed in the Big 12. The Big 10 just wanted a traditional power to kick around. And they have. Huskers are the red-headed step-child of that too-arrogant conference. The OU-NU rivalry was the best of all rivalries. Intense, dramatic, but never bitter or hateful. We NU fans never had it so good. Oklahoma was the reason NU played at such a high level back then.
@@tonypalmer9627 We hope so, but I no longer expect it. NU fans are living on faded memories of the past. All things must end and the glory years are ancient history to the young, irrelevant to the present. All glory is fleeting, as the Romans used to say. They ought to know.
@@tonypalmer9627 we have become the team no one wants to coach or play for or (now) stay with (transfer portal) Scott is good person just hasn’t produced. Thanks to Harvey Pearlman who had no business getting involved in football matters; for lighting the dumpster fire that burns on. I’m glad Coach Devaney didn’t have to witness this and I’m sorry coach Osborne had to see this in his golden years. I was 10 when we found an up and comer from Wyoming. Thanks to our big sky friends.
As a Husker fan, Oklahoma was the better team. They had better talrnt. But all those fumbles gave Nebraska the victory. However. I still don’t understand how Oklahoma was given the ball after that devastating hit on that kickoff return that caused a fumble recovered by Nebraska.
My Dad was a life long Husker fan growing up. We watched this game . I am OU fan and seeing my Dad excited for a win. Great games between Tom Osborne of Nebraska and Barry Switzer of Oklahoma. Cornhuskers came to play in this game. My Dad use to go to some games in Nebaska. College football then has some very physical and very tough players and when you watch this game you can see some really good talent in guys who should have been playing in the NFL. Miss this rivalry between them. Talk about a cold place to play football. Better have some think skin for their weather. Great game.
I could never understand why the Big 8 allowed the Orange Bowl. Maybe it was the big payoff but both teams were good enough to win separate bowl games instead of guaranteeing one would get a loss.
Frank "Rocket" Lockett almost broke the opening kickoff for a score. Lockett played in the USFL years later and was a tremendous receiver for the Boston Breakers for 3 seasons. He was a big guy, 215 pounds or so. Great run by Andrea Franklin in his Sophomore season on the trap. Franklin was an outstanding fullback for the Huskers. Ran for over 800 yards I believe as a Senior in 1980. Was having a very good Pro career with the Dolphins before he blew out his knee. Like Mike Rozier with the Oilers in 1987 an NFL Strike cost him a 1000 yard Rushing season. Mike was leading the league in rushing when the strike started. There were only 9 regular season NFL games in 1982. Don't remember how many in 87, but there were 4 weeks of Scab tams. Franklin and Rozier both made the Pro Bowl after those Strike seasons. In-fact, I think they were both the leading rushers in those Pro Bowls. Mike also made the Pro Bowl after the 88 season.
regardless i believe he tore barry's sooners for over 200 yards and made the cover of SI. Barry later complained that game cost him a national Championship.
Me thinks, Switzer did not say losing a game before the NC game would have meant a win in the NC if he had not lost a game before. More Neb dressing up reality. You know, Neb beat the eventual NCs. Sure. Right. Pull here.
Oh, you're saying that Switzer said it after the Orange. I thought you meant he said after the 1st game, if we had not lost game we would be NCs. He knew the results when he made that comment
Richard Berns was such a tall running back. 6'3". He ran tough though. Wish there was allot more footage of I M Hipp on UA-cam, or anyplace. Very difficult to find.
Berns and Hipp were a heck of a combination at I-Back! Great running by both Backs on that first scoring drive! Hard to believe this was 45 years ago! I was 12 years old! At one time Berns held the school record for the Vertical Leap at 36 and half inches. Hipp had an incredible 900 pound Hip sled! He claimed that he once lifted a 1000 when no one else was in the room. I thought that Tom Sorely was a good passer? He has looked terrible here.
Huskers pulled another one out, despite the horrid calls against them to haunt them to this very day. Big 10 refs the worst, but hopefully will pay off in the long run. Show them the path to victory in '21
12:32. Nice run by IM Hipp. Man, he was Literally Clotheslined! I don't understand how that wasn't a penalty. Knocked him out of the game too. At least for a while. Minus that he might have still be running? Again very little footage of Hipp online.
Geez, how many times did Oklahoma fumble this game. Very sloppy. They were the better team and proved it by dominating Nebraska in the orange bowl in a not that close 31-24 win.
And you are correct, Nebraska closed the score with seconds remaining so it didn't reflect how lopsided the rematch was. OU had the best team in the country that year. Got to tip the cap to Nebraskas heart though they fought hard.
@@brad6420 wow. And still could have won lol. But that option they ran, they would fumble, but usually were so much better than the other team, it rarely mattered.
@@Biggdoom344 right! The Ohio State game the previous year was very similar. Had 8 or 9 fumbles and ended up winning on a last second 50+ yard field goal. I love Thomas Lott, but that dudes option game was so fumble prone! That dude invented swag though so crazy love for him!
I wanted Nebraska to win; but everyone knows that Oklahoma lost the game, and Nebraska did not win..... Oklahoma was the better team..... I am a big time Crimson Tide fan... In 1977 U.S.C. lost the game to Alabama; Alabama did not win when they played in L.A.....U.S.C. was the better team.... It is just the way it goes sometimes.....
And when we beat Alabama in Lincoln in 1977-a few weeks before the Tide beat #1 USC-Bama and Bear may have been better than us. But we played great, and kept them from winning the National Championship, being the only team to beat the Tide in 1977.
@@mld7963 Well, it was a little more than Nebraska winning over Alabama that year..... For Notre Dame to jump to number 1 from 5 is ridiculous; even though they killed number 1 Texas..... I could see moving Notre Dame to # 2, but not 1.....
The knock on Overstreet was always that he was lazy & careless on ball handling. After seeing this game again after 44 years... that's an accurate assessment.
That kickoff (non-fumble) call was probably the worst call I have ever seen. How is that even close to saying it wasnt a fumble? That ref had to have money on the game and was worried he was about to lose alot of money. Thats the only answer I can figure as to why it was so obviously bad!!
I’m a Westside grad from 81 and Rick Burns didn’t go there. I can’t believe the refs gave the ball to OU after Tom Rudd nailed that return man! Do you happen to know why they did?
In Spokane, Washington There is a large section of veteran from all walks of life. The City of Spokane has a outright white mans right of passage and the blacks are forced too treated like the have notes in the the following areas; # A person like my brother, who is black cannot even receive medication from the Spokane Veterans Administration Hospital # A person like my youngest brother who live in Spokane filed via the Spokane Police Department a law suit against every business and Every person in a guide to congregationand community resources. Years later the Spokane Police Department has done not to help my younger brother Juan because of his first name Juan. # A person like my youngest brother who live in Spokane filed via the Spokane Police Department a law suit against every business and Every person in a guide to congregationand community resources. Years later the Spokane Police Department has done not to help my younger brother Juan because of his middle name of pb. # A person like my youngest brother who live in Spokane filed via the Spokane Police Department a law suit against every business and Every person in a guide to congregationand community resources. Years later the Spokane Police Department has done not to help my younger brother Juan because of his last name of Griffin.
maybe someone who has some defensive scheming ability can tell me this? why was the oklahoma defensive front so far off the ball? most nose guards now will put their hand right past the nose of the football?
I may be wrong but I think there was a one yard halo that used to be strictly enforced. There still is a neutral zone but it keeps getting smaller each year.
The most formative game of my childhood. I was 14 and after the game all of us neighbor kids spontaneously went outside into the bitter cold and replayed the game in our back yard. Upon rewatching this, I'm amazed at how far behind the line of scrimmage the OU defensive line put themselves. This easily gave the NU offensive line 3 steps to build momentum and open holes.
Miss those days so much
Both teams were extremely great running teams... Such a hard hitting game.....
Yes indeed I agree both teams could run the ball well and the defense on both sides were really good too.
NU in its Glory days. It's now been over 20 years since they've been this good.
I continue to be amazed looking at these old games from the 70's and 80's just how many times the Nebraska Full-Back's ran the football. Rhule was supposed to have brought back the Full-Back, but we haven't seen any trap plays yet this year.
I remember this game. I was a huge OU fan back then, and I was devastated when Billy Sims fumbled at the 3 and OU lost. The next week , Missouri, and James Wilder, upset Nebraska and set up the Orange Bowl rematch, between OU and Nebraska. I still think OU was the best team in the nation that year, even though USC and Alabama split the National Championship. I've since become an Oklahoma State fan, basically because that's where I graduated from; however, I sure do miss OU and Nebraska playing every year. I wish Nebraska would come back to the Big 12. ( Formerly Big 8, in 78)
Me too. It was a great rivalry
I also wish Nebraska had stayed in the Big 12. The Big 10 just wanted a traditional power to kick around. And they have. Huskers are the red-headed step-child of that too-arrogant conference. The OU-NU rivalry was the best of all rivalries. Intense, dramatic, but never bitter or hateful. We NU fans never had it so good. Oklahoma was the reason NU played at such a high level back then.
@@nickpaine I still believe Scott Frost will turn that program around.
@@tonypalmer9627 We hope so, but I no longer expect it. NU fans are living on faded memories of the past. All things must end and the glory years are ancient history to the young, irrelevant to the present. All glory is fleeting, as the Romans used to say. They ought to know.
@@tonypalmer9627 we have become the team no one wants to coach or play for or (now) stay with (transfer portal) Scott is good person just hasn’t produced. Thanks to Harvey Pearlman who had no business getting involved in football matters; for lighting the dumpster fire that burns on. I’m glad Coach Devaney didn’t have to witness this and I’m sorry coach Osborne had to see this in his golden years. I was 10 when we found an up and comer from Wyoming. Thanks to our big sky friends.
This was a GREAT game!
Yes it was! I was around 10th grade. I’m 58 now and rewatching this still hyped up my adrenaline!👴🏿😂
Hopefully Sims holds on to the ball this time and OU gets the W! Damn, guess will have to wait for the Orange Bowl.
As a Husker fan, Oklahoma was the better team. They had better talrnt. But all those fumbles gave Nebraska the victory. However. I still don’t understand how Oklahoma was given the ball after that devastating hit on that kickoff return that caused a fumble recovered by Nebraska.
My Dad was a life long Husker fan growing up. We watched this game . I am OU fan and seeing my Dad excited for a win. Great games between Tom Osborne of Nebraska and Barry Switzer of Oklahoma. Cornhuskers came to play in this game. My Dad use to go to some games in Nebaska. College football then has some very physical and very tough players and when you watch this game you can see some really good talent in guys who should have been playing in the NFL. Miss this rivalry between them. Talk about a cold place to play football. Better have some think skin for their weather. Great game.
There’s some smash mouth football played in this game
That was November 11 1978 ou thought they won the game but didn't and then in the Orange Bowl they won it
now offense spreads the field and throws, throws, and throws. power running game just about gone in the college game for the most part.
One of the biggest wins ever for NU. A shame how the Sooners were given another shot in the Orange Bowl. Both were good games though.
I could never understand why the Big 8 allowed the Orange Bowl. Maybe it was the big payoff but both teams were good enough to win separate bowl games instead of guaranteeing one would get a loss.
I think the rematch was bs.
To be fair happened in 99 vs Texas who costed NU the national championship
Frank "Rocket" Lockett almost broke the opening kickoff for a score. Lockett played in the USFL years later and was a tremendous receiver for the Boston Breakers for 3 seasons. He was a big guy, 215 pounds or so. Great run by Andrea Franklin in his Sophomore season on the trap. Franklin was an outstanding fullback for the Huskers. Ran for over 800 yards I believe as a Senior in 1980. Was having a very good Pro career with the Dolphins before he blew out his knee. Like Mike Rozier with the Oilers in 1987 an NFL Strike cost him a 1000 yard Rushing season. Mike was leading the league in rushing when the strike started. There were only 9 regular season NFL games in 1982. Don't remember how many in 87, but there were 4 weeks of Scab tams. Franklin and Rozier both made the Pro Bowl after those Strike seasons. In-fact, I think they were both the leading rushers in those Pro Bowls. Mike also made the Pro Bowl after the 88 season.
Rematched in the Orange Bowl when Clemson declined the invitation. Woody Hayes was not pleased.
regardless i believe he tore barry's sooners for over 200 yards and made the cover of SI. Barry later complained that game cost him a national Championship.
I still have that SI with Rick Berns on the cover. True to form (SI curse) the Huskers lost the next week vs Missouri.
It did cost him a National Championship. I miss those OU - Nebraska games.
Me thinks, Switzer did not say losing a game before the NC game would have meant a win in the NC if he had not lost a game before.
More Neb dressing up reality. You know, Neb beat the eventual NCs. Sure. Right. Pull here.
Oh, you're saying that Switzer said it after the Orange. I thought you meant he said after the 1st game, if we had not lost game we would be NCs. He knew the results when he made that comment
Luv that Oklahoma defense, Hunt, Cumby, Tabor from spring branch. And Kinlaw. Offense ain't bad either
Richard Berns was such a tall running back. 6'3". He ran tough though. Wish there was allot more footage of I M Hipp on UA-cam, or anyplace. Very difficult to find.
The boys of fall
Berns and Hipp were a heck of a combination at I-Back! Great running by both Backs on that first scoring drive! Hard to believe this was 45 years ago! I was 12 years old! At one time Berns held the school record for the Vertical Leap at 36 and half inches. Hipp had an incredible 900 pound Hip sled! He claimed that he once lifted a 1000 when no one else was in the room. I thought that Tom Sorely was a good passer? He has looked terrible here.
If Sorley was a better passer, Nebraska wins by two td’s.
You can say that about almost every Nebraska game in the 1970's.
Huskers pulled another one out, despite the horrid calls against them to haunt them to this very day. Big 10 refs the worst, but hopefully will pay off in the long run. Show them the path to victory in '21
The Huskers are going to show up for the game after all?
@@shirleygorre6003 totally blown out of proportion.
I don't think Nebraska or Frost fears anything OU. It's a pretty close series bud
Narrator: "The drunkard Frost would not, in fact, be shown any path to anywhere except the nearest bar."
Inept kicking and passing.
Wide Receiver and Punter Tim Smith had a great career as in the NFL, but I don't remember who he played for?
12:32. Nice run by IM Hipp. Man, he was Literally Clotheslined! I don't understand how that wasn't a penalty. Knocked him out of the game too. At least for a while. Minus that he might have still be running? Again very little footage of Hipp online.
I miss the big afros. Those need to make a comeback.
The rematch in the Orange Bowl was better!
fumble,Fumble,,FUMBLE!!!
Geez, how many times did Oklahoma fumble this game. Very sloppy. They were the better team and proved it by dominating Nebraska in the orange bowl in a not that close 31-24 win.
9 fumbles
And you are correct, Nebraska closed the score with seconds remaining so it didn't reflect how lopsided the rematch was. OU had the best team in the country that year. Got to tip the cap to Nebraskas heart though they fought hard.
@@brad6420 wow. And still could have won lol. But that option they ran, they would fumble, but usually were so much better than the other team, it rarely mattered.
@@Biggdoom344 right! The Ohio State game the previous year was very similar. Had 8 or 9 fumbles and ended up winning on a last second 50+ yard field goal. I love Thomas Lott, but that dudes option game was so fumble prone! That dude invented swag though so crazy love for him!
I wanted Nebraska to win; but everyone knows that Oklahoma lost the game, and Nebraska did not win.....
Oklahoma was the better team.....
I am a big time Crimson Tide fan... In 1977 U.S.C. lost the game to Alabama; Alabama did not win when they played in L.A.....U.S.C. was the better team....
It is just the way it goes sometimes.....
And when we beat Alabama in Lincoln in 1977-a few weeks before the Tide beat #1 USC-Bama and Bear may have been better than us. But we played great, and kept them from winning the National Championship, being the only team to beat the Tide in 1977.
@@mld7963 Well, it was a little more than Nebraska winning over Alabama that year.....
For Notre Dame to jump to number 1 from 5 is ridiculous; even though they killed number 1 Texas..... I could see moving Notre Dame to # 2, but not 1.....
4th and 4.5 at opponents 39 with a top 5 offense... better punt the ball. That's some pretty conservative playcalling.
37:50 clear clear fumble. Dumb officials always bad calls for Nebraska.
OU return man stepped out of bounds so the play was dead, one of the biggest hits ever, however, to knock the ball loose.
No he didn't. Go back and pause it at 37:25, he clearly kept both feet in bounds. It was a fumble.
@@ThunderPants13 ah that's what I wrote
The knock on Overstreet was always that he was lazy & careless on ball handling. After seeing this game again after 44 years... that's an accurate assessment.
That kickoff (non-fumble) call was probably the worst call I have ever seen. How is that even close to saying it wasnt a fumble? That ref had to have money on the game and was worried he was about to lose alot of money. Thats the only answer I can figure as to why it was so obviously bad!!
Glad to see that whole kicking barefoot, or shoeless thing seems to have disappeared.
SIX lost fumbles ain't gonna get it done against a well-coached Tom Osborne #4 ranked team - no way.
👍🏻
damn i remember Andra Franklin being from Bama but i thought Rick Berns was from (Omaha) Westside..
I’m a Westside grad from 81 and Rick Burns didn’t go there. I can’t believe the refs gave the ball to OU after Tom Rudd nailed that return man! Do you happen to know why they did?
@@gregdavis19 Terrible call. One of the worst ever.
@@nickpaine agreed!
OU should have slaughtered NU. Turnovers are death. You just can't overcome that many.
Hmm how so ? The orange bowl game was close too.
No they couldn't slaughter Nebraska that's your wishful thinking.
@@ralfigs Oklahoma was up 31-10 heading into the fourth quarter and basically costed in the fourth. So no it really wasn’t that close.
@@allengreene9954 it's ok. Nu has thrashed Ou at time's at well
Don, Nebraska’s defense had a lot to with the fumbles as they hit OU harder than they were used to. OU was the better team, but not that day.
@@dwighta8215Agreed. Absolutely. I was in the Husker marching band and very pleased for the win.
In Spokane, Washington There is a large section of veteran from all walks of life. The City of Spokane has a outright white mans right of passage and the blacks are forced too treated like the have notes in the the following areas;
# A person like my brother, who is black cannot even receive medication from the Spokane Veterans Administration Hospital
# A person like my youngest brother who live in Spokane filed via the Spokane Police Department a law suit against every business and Every person in a guide to congregationand community resources. Years later the Spokane Police Department has done not to help my younger brother Juan because of his first name Juan.
# A person like my youngest brother who live in Spokane filed via the Spokane Police Department a law suit against every business and Every person in a guide to congregationand community resources. Years later the Spokane Police Department has done not to help my younger brother Juan because of his middle name of pb.
# A person like my youngest brother who live in Spokane filed via the Spokane Police Department a law suit against every business and Every person in a guide to congregationand community resources. Years later the Spokane Police Department has done not to help my younger brother Juan because of his last name of Griffin.
maybe someone who has some defensive scheming ability can tell me this? why was the oklahoma defensive front so far off the ball? most nose guards now will put their hand right past the nose of the football?
I may be wrong but I think there was a one yard halo that used to be strictly enforced. There still is a neutral zone but it keeps getting smaller each year.
It was schematic to avoid cut blocks and traps. It also made defensive slants more effective because it made the block more difficult.
The careless ball handling by the Sooners was shameful.
At 1134 when ou recovered fumble and ran in end zone why was it not a touchdown for OU?
@James Satchwill wow I never thought about that different rules of the game back then thanks
Clearly a fumble.
Worst call in history on that kick return non fumble!!!