Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Rey, Mo ready to go
Times-Standard
Brad Botkin/The Times-Standard
Mo Purify and Rey Maualuga were teammates at Eureka High, making for one of the most dynamic duos in the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference's history. Purify continued his football career at the renowned City College of San Francisco and then at the University of Nebraska, while Maualuga's departure for USC in the fall of 2005 was well chronicled.
On Saturday, in front of a jam-packed Los Angeles Coliseum, an army of Humboldt residents who journeyed south, and an entire nation of spectators, Purify and Maualuga will once again be on the same field.
But this time, they'll be in different uniforms.
Purify, who accepted a full scholarship to Nebraska prior to this season, will arrive in L.A. late this afternoon with the rest of the Cornhuskers as they go through final preparation for one of the most anticipated matchups of the college season.
USC versus Nebraska, Maualuga versus Purify, national television, national championship implications -- enough said.
In addition to the obvious motivation of the game itself, given the unique circumstances, Purify and Maualuga have a common inspiration to perform; both of their mothers will be in attendance.
”It's a special game, my mom is going to see me (live at USC) for the first time,” said Maualuga.
As for Purify, well, you decide how excited he is for this one.
”(My mom) didn't get to see me play much (in high school) because she had to work at night, and she only saw a few junior college games,” said Purify. “Having my mom there is more motivation than anything.”
As for the game, USC is an 18.5 point favorite over the resurgent Huskers. But despite the lopsided odds, it's still being billed as one the most pivotal early-season matchups. Nebraska has stormed out of the gate in 2006, outscoring opponents 105-17. Although it's worth noting that those victories came against the world-famous Louisiana Tech and Nicholls State.
”You ask yourself, 'who have they played,'” said Maualuga, who had six tackles in USC's opening weekend 50-14 rout of Arkansas before the Trojans' week-two bye. “But at the same time, a football team is a football team. This is going to be a big test for us.”
Purify agrees
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that this is a big game, and will certainly be a measuring stick for the progress that Nebraska has made since struggling -- by Nebraska standards -- in recent years. However, the lanky wide receiver is keeping things in perspective.
”It's going to be tough,” said Purify. “Everyone is saying that this is going to make or break our season. But we still have (a lot) of games after this, and our goals are to win the Big 12 championship and compete for a national championship.”
This all may be true, but there's no getting around the fact that this is huge. Two kids who used to spend their Friday nights at Albee Stadium suddenly thrust in the national spotlight, opposing one another in the L.A. Coliseum representing USC and Nebraska! This is ridiculously big.
As if there wasn't enough hype surrounding this game, Maualuga was informed that he will be making his first start this weekend. Can you imagine the sense of pride these kids must be feeling? Running out on that field in front of friends and family, who are all pointing at them, telling everyone within earshot that 'they knew that kid when he was a youngster,' has to be a shot of adrenaline like nothing you can imagine.
And to top everything off, you're starting.
”I'm actually going to step out on the field as a starter,” said a humbled Maualuga. “The fact that Mo and I both come from Eureka, it's going to be fun, it's going to be a good one.”
Although yet to start a game, Purify, who is getting about 15 plays a game, has already christened the end zone with a 46-yard touchdown against Nicholls State. And he sees this as an opportunity to not only show what he can do, but what his team can do.
”Everybody already knows who they are, it's time for us to make our name,” said Purify.
Saturday, 5 p.m., ABC. You don't want to miss this one
Times-Standard
Brad Botkin/The Times-Standard
Mo Purify and Rey Maualuga were teammates at Eureka High, making for one of the most dynamic duos in the Humboldt-Del Norte Conference's history. Purify continued his football career at the renowned City College of San Francisco and then at the University of Nebraska, while Maualuga's departure for USC in the fall of 2005 was well chronicled.
On Saturday, in front of a jam-packed Los Angeles Coliseum, an army of Humboldt residents who journeyed south, and an entire nation of spectators, Purify and Maualuga will once again be on the same field.
But this time, they'll be in different uniforms.
Purify, who accepted a full scholarship to Nebraska prior to this season, will arrive in L.A. late this afternoon with the rest of the Cornhuskers as they go through final preparation for one of the most anticipated matchups of the college season.
USC versus Nebraska, Maualuga versus Purify, national television, national championship implications -- enough said.
In addition to the obvious motivation of the game itself, given the unique circumstances, Purify and Maualuga have a common inspiration to perform; both of their mothers will be in attendance.
”It's a special game, my mom is going to see me (live at USC) for the first time,” said Maualuga.
As for Purify, well, you decide how excited he is for this one.
”(My mom) didn't get to see me play much (in high school) because she had to work at night, and she only saw a few junior college games,” said Purify. “Having my mom there is more motivation than anything.”
As for the game, USC is an 18.5 point favorite over the resurgent Huskers. But despite the lopsided odds, it's still being billed as one the most pivotal early-season matchups. Nebraska has stormed out of the gate in 2006, outscoring opponents 105-17. Although it's worth noting that those victories came against the world-famous Louisiana Tech and Nicholls State.
”You ask yourself, 'who have they played,'” said Maualuga, who had six tackles in USC's opening weekend 50-14 rout of Arkansas before the Trojans' week-two bye. “But at the same time, a football team is a football team. This is going to be a big test for us.”
Purify agrees
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
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that this is a big game, and will certainly be a measuring stick for the progress that Nebraska has made since struggling -- by Nebraska standards -- in recent years. However, the lanky wide receiver is keeping things in perspective.
”It's going to be tough,” said Purify. “Everyone is saying that this is going to make or break our season. But we still have (a lot) of games after this, and our goals are to win the Big 12 championship and compete for a national championship.”
This all may be true, but there's no getting around the fact that this is huge. Two kids who used to spend their Friday nights at Albee Stadium suddenly thrust in the national spotlight, opposing one another in the L.A. Coliseum representing USC and Nebraska! This is ridiculously big.
As if there wasn't enough hype surrounding this game, Maualuga was informed that he will be making his first start this weekend. Can you imagine the sense of pride these kids must be feeling? Running out on that field in front of friends and family, who are all pointing at them, telling everyone within earshot that 'they knew that kid when he was a youngster,' has to be a shot of adrenaline like nothing you can imagine.
And to top everything off, you're starting.
”I'm actually going to step out on the field as a starter,” said a humbled Maualuga. “The fact that Mo and I both come from Eureka, it's going to be fun, it's going to be a good one.”
Although yet to start a game, Purify, who is getting about 15 plays a game, has already christened the end zone with a 46-yard touchdown against Nicholls State. And he sees this as an opportunity to not only show what he can do, but what his team can do.
”Everybody already knows who they are, it's time for us to make our name,” said Purify.
Saturday, 5 p.m., ABC. You don't want to miss this one
