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Published Sunday
December 28, 2003
Face-off adds fuel for Alamo
BY ELIZABETH MERRILL
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
SAN ANTONIO - Over ribs and a shot of testosterone, the Alamo Bowl officially became a ballgame.
Nebraska and Michigan State players were involved in a vocal confrontation late Friday that NU cornerback Lornell McPherson said was eventually broken up by security.
No punches were thrown, but both teams said the talk was heated and far from G-rated. Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker admitted Saturday that the Spartans started the mini-rumble, which happened at a team dinner.
"We can't come in here and be scared of them because they're Nebraska," Smoker said. "That's kind of what we let them know in a roundabout way."
NU Receivers Coach Ron Brown wouldn't comment Saturday on whether disciplinary action would be taken. The Huskers have been without a permanent head coach since Nov. 29, and talk for the past month has centered on the coaching search, not the game.
That changed Friday night. At least one Husker said there doesn't appear to be a lot of respect between the teams, which haven't met since a Nebraska blowout in 1996.
Both sides downplayed Friday's incident, but admitted it adds tension to Monday's 8 p.m. game at the Alamodome.
"I just heard talk, talk, talk," NU right tackle Dan Vili Waldrop said, "and then everybody stood up. I was like, 'That's interesting.' But I kept eating because it was good food."
Oddly enough, Friday night's barbecue dinner, which followed a pep rally, was supposed to promote goodwill between the teams. But the shouting match started just after Michigan State entered the room.
On Saturday, they gathered again for a bowl luncheon at the downtown Marriott, but that meal went on without incident.
NU linebacker Barrett Ruud said it's natural for tensions to rise when teams that haven't played for a month get put together in a group setting.
And now, he said, maybe people will start talking about the game.
"I would," Waldrop said. "You know the little testosterone that was going on last night? It's waiting to come out Monday night. It's going to be cool. I'm going to enjoy it.
"I've got some faces that I'll be looking for."
Published Sunday
December 28, 2003
Face-off adds fuel for Alamo
BY ELIZABETH MERRILL
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
SAN ANTONIO - Over ribs and a shot of testosterone, the Alamo Bowl officially became a ballgame.
Nebraska and Michigan State players were involved in a vocal confrontation late Friday that NU cornerback Lornell McPherson said was eventually broken up by security.
No punches were thrown, but both teams said the talk was heated and far from G-rated. Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker admitted Saturday that the Spartans started the mini-rumble, which happened at a team dinner.
"We can't come in here and be scared of them because they're Nebraska," Smoker said. "That's kind of what we let them know in a roundabout way."
NU Receivers Coach Ron Brown wouldn't comment Saturday on whether disciplinary action would be taken. The Huskers have been without a permanent head coach since Nov. 29, and talk for the past month has centered on the coaching search, not the game.
That changed Friday night. At least one Husker said there doesn't appear to be a lot of respect between the teams, which haven't met since a Nebraska blowout in 1996.
Both sides downplayed Friday's incident, but admitted it adds tension to Monday's 8 p.m. game at the Alamodome.
"I just heard talk, talk, talk," NU right tackle Dan Vili Waldrop said, "and then everybody stood up. I was like, 'That's interesting.' But I kept eating because it was good food."
Oddly enough, Friday night's barbecue dinner, which followed a pep rally, was supposed to promote goodwill between the teams. But the shouting match started just after Michigan State entered the room.
On Saturday, they gathered again for a bowl luncheon at the downtown Marriott, but that meal went on without incident.
NU linebacker Barrett Ruud said it's natural for tensions to rise when teams that haven't played for a month get put together in a group setting.
And now, he said, maybe people will start talking about the game.
"I would," Waldrop said. "You know the little testosterone that was going on last night? It's waiting to come out Monday night. It's going to be cool. I'm going to enjoy it.
"I've got some faces that I'll be looking for."