Tigers’ Gabbert facing school he once snubbed
As a highly recruited All-American quarterback in 2007, Blaine Gabbert had a difficult decision coming out of Parkway West High in Missouri. Two years later, his younger brother, Tyler, also a quarterback, wrestled with a similar choice.
Both picked Nebraska. Then both changed their minds, opting to remain in state.
When No. 9 Missouri (7-0) travels to No. 18 Nebraska (6-1) on Saturday, junior standout Blaine and freshman reserve Tyler expect the reception to be harsh.
When asked by reporters Monday whether he thought Cornhuskers fans were ready to forgive and forget, Blaine Gabbert said, “I highly doubt it.”
The Gabbert drama adds another layer to an intriguing matchup rich with storylines. With Nebraska bolting for the Big Ten in 2011, this will be the last dance for the Tigers and Huskers in the Big 12. The winner is likely to advance to the conference title game, while the loser is likely to drop from BCS bowl contention. After the Huskers were tabbed as overwhelming favorites in the Big 12 North and were upset at home by Texas, this is a huge make-good game for Nebraska coach Bo Pelini.
The game is no less important for Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. Does last week’s 36-27 win over Oklahoma — Pinkel’s first over the Sooners in seven tries — mean Missouri finally is ready to contend for a national title?
With all this at stake, there is plenty of pressure on Blaine Gabbert, who’s sixth in the nation with 25.9 completions a game. The 6-foot-5, 235-pounder has thrown for 1,899 yards, 308 of them coming last week when the Tigers knocked the Sooners out of the top spot in the BCS standings.
In Lincoln, Gabbert will be the focus of a Nebraska defense that ranks third in the nation in passing yards allowed (140.7 a game). Last year in Columbia, the Tigers were undefeated when the Huskers dominated Gabbert, who had the worst performance of his career (17-for-43, 134 yards, two interceptions) in a 27-12 defeat. The loss had lingering effects as Missouri lost its next two games decisively.
“I think we are more of a mature football team,” Gabbert said. “We know how to handle the pressure, and we know how to take care of the football.”
The pressure Saturday also will come from Huskers fans. The Gabberts are a sore subject in Lincoln, even if there were extenuating circumstances.
Both were taught in summer camps by Shawn Watson, who’s in his fourth season as the offensive coordinator and fifth overall at Nebraska. Blaine’s decommitment came after Nebraska coach Bill Callahan was abruptly fired. Tyler’s change of heart came after the Huskers flourished in 2009 with an offense ill-suited for a pro-style quarterback.
Nebraska doesn’t miss the Gabberts. The Huskers are thrilled with the rapid ascent of freshman dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez, who is the nation’s third-leading rusher among quarterbacks (124.3 yards a game) and ranks 20th in passing efficiency (157.0).
“He’s really a remarkable player,” Pinkel said. “A lot of the things that they do we’ve seen before, but obviously him doing it makes it a little bit different.”
