Barfknecht: Longhorns arrive prepared to praise Nebraska

• Video: The Big Red Today Show from day three at Big 12 media days, with Lee Barfknecht, Rich Kaipust and Jon Nyatawa:



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DALLAS — Who knew the Texas football team had so much love for Nebraska?

The Longhorns said so many syrupy things about the Huskers at Wednesday's Big 12 media days that the floor of the interview room was declared a hazardous waste slick.

Quarterback Garrett Gilbert: “It's a great challenge to go up there and they have great fans and it's going to be a lot of fun.''

Offensive tackle Kyle Hix: “They're a great team and we have great respect for them and this will be my first time to go to Lincoln so I'm excited.''

Defensive end Sam Acho: “Nebraska has great tradition and obviously some of the best fans in the world and a great team and a lot of great players so it's going to be a great game.''

And those were the quotes when specifically asked to react to Nebraska's “Red Out Around the World'' video that ended with “Beat Texas.''

Hey, Sam, any chance you were coached up on what to say about NU?

At least that got a smile out of him.

“They really do have a good team,'' said Acho, who admitted seeing part of the video.

You couldn't walk five feet without stepping on a Texas sports information person eavesdropping on interviews, so I didn't expect the players to channel legendary quote machines such as Brian Bosworth or Broderick Thomas.

Still, some straight talk would have been welcome.

Thankfully, Texas coach Mack Brown, in his own syrupy-smooth way, had some savvy things to say.

Brown knows all about the video, and he knows that Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne and coach Bo Pelini stepped back from the original message.

When asked if he had heard from Osborne, Brown said: “I didn't, but he knows I don't care about that stuff. ... He doesn't need to call me.''

Brown then offered an example of how pregame hype is meaningless, which was strange considering how his players were on such strict orders Wednesday to say nothing of note.

In 1984, Brown was an assistant to Barry Switzer at Oklahoma. At a press conference a few days before the Texas game, the Sooners' Bosworth dropped this bomb about the Longhorns and their coach, Fred Akers:

“I don't like the state of Texas. I don't like Austin. I don't like burnt orange. And I don't like Fred Akers.''

Brown, a relative pup in the profession at the time, said he ran to Switzer and said, “Coach, Brian's going to get us killed. He's going to fire up Texas so much.''

Switzer's reply?

“He said, ‘Boy, it's going to be like two Mack trucks running into each other for 3½ hours regardless of what's said before the game. So grow up, quit worrying about what everybody says about that game, and I bet Brian makes a bunch of tackles.'”

Bosworth had 17 tackles and was voted player of game.

“Nebraska is going to be ready to play Texas, regardless of the video,'' Brown said. “The fans are going to be excited about Texas being there, regardless of the video. And none of that stuff matters after you kick it off.''

Then came an artfully subtle dig that indicates the Red Out video clearly has UT's attention.

“I think it's a compliment to us that they are that excited about us coming,'' Brown said. “That's the way you want to be.''

Husker fans, consider Oct. 16 at Memorial Stadium good training for the future.

As a lifelong Nebraskan, I've thought that about the only thing missing from the Husker football experience was a true rival.

I'm talking about somebody to get riled up about in the dead of winter and the heat of summer, not just game week.

The Nebraska-Texas game has reached that status this season. It's like Texas-Oklahoma, Florida State-Florida, Missouri-Kansas and Auburn-Alabama. It will cost you sleep, ignite coffee shop arguments and renew your love for college football.

With NU's move to the Big Ten, such a rivalry needs to develop with Iowa. Every big-time football program needs a blood-boiler game.

So along with your red shirt, put your angry eyes on in mid-October. And don't misplace them after the Texas game. You'll likely get to use them again.

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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• Video: Texas coach Mack Brown at Big 12 media days:



• Video: UT's Garrett Gilbert at Big 12 media days:



• Video: UT's Nate Hix at Big 12 media days:



• Video: UT's Sam Acho at Big 12 media days:

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