Article

Can Lightning Strike Twice?

Nebraska-Omaha returns to Mankato for the first time since 2004, when MSU knocked NCC Champion UNO from the Division II playoff race.

by Dan Myers
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Mens Sports

In 2004, under rookie head coach Jeff Jamrog, the Minnesota State football team was 5-5 and stood at the precipice of its first winning season in 10 years. All that stood in their way was a Nebraska-Omaha team that had everything to play for - including an undefeated season, a North Central Conference Championship and a birth in the Division II playoffs. After a back and forth game, it was the Mavericks from MSU that had the last laugh. The 20-13 win gave MSU its first winning season since 1994 and ignited an intense rivalry that spans a lot further than just football. Later that year, the a basketball game between the two schools erupted into an on-court brawl. The baseball and soccer teams have been involved in bitter battles for conference titles in the two years since.

But for many, the rebirth of this rivalry goes back to that game on the gridiron in early November nearly two years ago.

"I think we've had situations, in all sports, where we have had altercations or a lot of trash talking going on," said MSU quarterback Ben King. "During the game, it just becomes so much more personal. We want to get after them."

The game has a little more meaning for Jamrog, who in his third year at the helm of MSU, has yet to find another trademark victory. He was an assistant coach at UNO from 1994-96. In his three seasons in Omaha, UNO improved from 1-10 in 1994 to 10-2 in 1996, winning an NCC title in the process.

"It's nice to be a part of something like that," Jamrog said. "But when it comes down to it, you have to put that aside. It's going to come down to the players on both sides, not the coaches."

Nebraska-Omaha has dominated the recent series against MSU, winning eight of the last 10 meetings, including last season's 42-14 victory in Omaha.

In the game last season, UNO got ahead early and won the turnover battle, two trends that must be reversed if MSU is to repeat its upset from 2004.

"In the games we have won this season, we have won the turnover battle," Jamrog said. "Conversely, in the games we've lost, we've lost that battle too."

Gaining early momentum may also play a factor.

Last season, UNO took a 21-0 lead into the second quarter, effectively ending the game early. Not to mention, MSU would like to keep what should be a large Homecoming crowd in the game.

"I think we match-up well with them," said offensive lineman Adam VanZeeland. "Whenever you have that, you're going to have fierce competition."

"They expect to win, and so do we," added King. "It's going to be a battle."