30-year losing streak in Lincoln on Tigers' minds

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BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

On the third play of the game, Chase Daniel was able to take a lot of air out of the Memorial Stadium crowd.

By the second time Daniel and the Missouri Tigers touched the ball, the Nebraska crowd was even less of a factor.

“We were able to hit them on a quick hit to J-Mac and he did the rest,” Daniel said of Jeremy Maclin’s 58-yard catch for a score less than a minute into the game. “The fans were pretty loud for the first two series and after that, we stopped it.”

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Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel drops back to pass Saturday night. “The fans were pretty loud for the first two series and after that, we stopped it," he said. (Eric Gregory)

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel drops back to pass Saturday night. “The fans were pretty loud for the first two series and after that, we stopped it," he said. (Eric Gregory)

Daniel and coach Gary Pinkel said the Tigers’ 30-year drought in Lincoln was on everyone’s minds.

“It goes a lot deeper than just us. It goes to all the heartbreak Missouri fans have had against the Cornhuskers for the past 30 years, especially at home,” said Daniel.

“This win wasn’t just about this 2008 team. It was about 30 years of a lot of fans around the country and the world fans, and certainly ex-Mizzou players,” said Pinkel. “I’m proud of my players for getting a win in one of the toughest places to play in the country.”

It was additionally difficult for Daniel.

“Nebraska is definitely one of the dirtiest teams I’ve played,” he said. “It’s football, so you have to be ready for late hits like that.

“Walking out before pre-game, I got spit on by a player. I’ve never had that done before. I’m not going to say who it was. He knows who it is and that’s bush league. That’s just blatant disrespect for us. You have to settle it on the field and I think we more than did.”

Missouri’s first-team offense scored every time it touched the ball except once, when Jeff Wolfert came up short on a 59-yard field goal attempt to end the first half.

Daniel threw for 253 yards and three scores and tailback Derrick Washington rushed 14 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

“I knew he’d be real good,” Pinkel said of Washington. “He’s an impact player, he’s explosive, and at 218 pounds, he’s tough to tackle. I don’t know what to compare his style to. They (Missouri’s offensive line) had good running lanes for him.”

Daniel’s performance has come to be expected, especially by his head coach.

“Chase does what he does. He loves to play quarterback and be on field,” said Pinkel. “He had good protection — we didn’t allow a sack — and the receivers and tight ends helped him.”

Reach Ryly Jane Hambleton at 473-7314 or rhambleton@journalstar.com.