We've experienced this before, we've been on the road to big stadiums, we've played big teams and we've won on the road. We're going to go into the stadium and do it again. – BYU quarterback Taysom Hill
PROVO — While BYU has never faced Nebraska in football, a couple of Cougar assistant coaches have experienced the Cornhuskers' mystique.
More than 20 years ago, inside linebackers coach Paul Tidwell, then the head coach at Snow College, took his team to Lincoln twice to play Nebraska’s junior varsity squad.
“Tom Osborne was the head coach at the time and he treated us like we were Ohio State,” Tidwell recalled. “He was awesome. He helped pay our way out there and gave us tickets to the game the next day on Saturday. It was a great experience.”
Years later, Tidwell returned to Lincoln when he was coaching at Louisiana Tech.
“We went there and played and gave them all they could handle, but lost," Tidwell said. "Great fans. They treated us well. They gave us a standing ovation as we walked off the field.”
Offensive coordinator Robert Anae has also coached in games at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium when he was with Texas Tech.
“Steep tradition, great fan base, outstanding college football environment," Anae said. "This is my third or fourth time going up there, and it’s a great environment for a college person to attend or participate in. It’s what college football should be.”
The Cougars will travel to Nebraska for the first time ever Saturday (1:30 p.m. MT, ABC), and it’s a little surprising that the two programs have never met, considering their successful histories.
Over the past 40 seasons, Nebraska ranks No. 1 in college football in wins (389-113-2), with a winning percentage of .773 during that span. BYU is No. 5 on that list (354-149-2).
The Huskers, who are entering their 126th season of football, are also the nation’s winningest program over the last 30, 50 and 60 years. Nebraska has won 26 more games than any other team in the country over the last 50 years. The Huskers are No. 4 in all-time victories (874).
While BYU boasts its 1984 national championship, Nebraska has won five national championships since 1970.
The Cougars say they respect the Cornhuskers’ accomplishments, but players and coaches say they won’t be intimidated by the aura or the crowd.
"We've experienced this before, we've been on the road to big stadiums, we've played big teams and we've won on the road,” said quarterback Taysom Hill. “We're going to go into the stadium and do it again."
Defensive lineman Travis Tuiloma said he and his teammates will be able to handle the hostile atmosphere.
“I honestly don’t feel it’s really going to affect the way we play as a defense as long as we make sure that we just prepare well. I don’t think noise or crowd should be an issue,” he said. “It’s just like when we went into Texas (last season) — over 100,000 people. After that first play, you get your nerves calmed down and get ready to play the next play."
A BYU win Saturday would halt an impressive streak. The Cornhuskers have won their season opener for 29 consecutive years dating back to 1986. Nebraska’s last season-opening loss came at the hands of Florida State in 1985. It’s the longest streak in the country.
Speaking of streaks, Nebraska has sold out every game at Memorial Stadium since Nov. 3, 1962. Saturday’s game will mark the program’s 341st consecutive sellout.
Plus, Nebraska is one of only five programs with 50 or more bowl game appearances. Its 51 bowl games is second only to Alabama (62) and Texas (53). The Huskers played in an NCAA-record 35 consecutive bowl games from 1969 to 2003.
Cougar receivers coach Guy Holliday has never been to Nebraska, but he knows what that brand means to college football.
“You always think about them. Obviously, they’ve had a bevy of great players, from Dave Rimington to Mike Rozier to Tommy Frazier,” he said. “I’m missing so many. Just the tradition of a great program. The bottom line is, thankfully, none of those guys are going to line up on Saturday. It’s which team plays the best that day.”
Holliday said not much will be said to BYU players before the game about the legendary Nebraska program and the historic setting they’ll be playing in.
“You get them focused for what they’re going to do. In the Internet age, we’ve kind of lost track of history,” he explained. “That’s available for them to study on their own. It’s amazing to me how many guys walk through here (at BYU) and don’t realize we’ve won a national championship. We have our own tradition. My focus is all about us. You can’t worry about what Nebraska has accomplished. I’m worried about what BYU has accomplished and what we want to accomplish this year. The great thing about history is history. You can only live for today.”
Still, Tidwell said it will be a thrill to watch BYU players play at a storied venue like Memorial Stadium.
“A lot of them dream of playing Division I football. To see them go into a big venue like Nebraska on that playing field, on that huge stage with national TV, it’s exciting. It’s fun to see them have that experience.”