ST. LOUIS—So what do St. Louis Rams players do during their bye week? Watch more football, of course.
There are three Nebraska products on the roster, and two of them plan on making the trip to Lincoln, Neb., to see if the Cornhuskers can run their homefield hex over No. 4 Missouri to 30 years on Saturday night.
Defensive tackle Adam Carriker and kicker Josh Brown will be trying to lend morale support, while offensive guard Richie Incognito says he’ll be watching on TV from his home.
Missouri (4-0) was a 10 1/2-point favorite to win at Nebraska for the first time since 1978. The Tigers ended a 25-year overall losing streak over Nebraska in 2003 and have won three straight against Nebraska at home, holding the losers without a touchdown for the first time since 1958 in a 41-6 victory last October.
“I’m excited, man,” said Carriker, the Rams’ first-round pick last year. “Missouri wins one game in, what, five years, and they’re talking smack.
“I think it’ll be a close game. Missouri has a tough team, I’ll give them credit.”
Brown’s last season at Nebraska (3-1) was 2002, the year before the Tigers finally won 41-24 in Columbia, Mo. He realizes the Cornhuskers haven’t been dominant for a while.
“We haven’t been ‘Nebraska’ for some years now, but we still carry that Big Red pride,” Brown said. “Bo Pelini has done a good job of motivating again and it’s going to take some big games like this for them to find their identity.”
He also recognizes Missouri as a power.
“Any team shooting off that many cylinders,” he said, “they’re always dangerous.”
Still, he notes it’s a lot more difficult to win on the road, and he’s taking his wife and kids to experience the Nebraska sea of red. Missouri hasn’t come within a touchdown at Nebraska since 1982.
“I don’t necessarily believe they’ll beat the tar out of us,” Brown said. “You always face a strong disadvantage going into Nebraska.”
Incognito wasn’t making the trip, saying “I’ve got to get out of the Midwest and get a little sun on my legs.”
As for the game, he was hoping for the best.
“We’re hurting a little on defense,” Incognito said. “Who will win? That’s why you play the game.
“I’ll be fired up for it, sitting front of the TV set.”
The Rams have no former Missouri players on the roster.
Whatever they’re doing, new Rams coach Jim Haslett said players need a break after their tumultuous 0-4 start. He had a ready answer on Wednesday, the day before the Rams dispersed, when a TV reporter wanted to know why they didn’t use the extra time to practice more.
“I don’t think work is a problem,” Haslett said. “These guys do a nice job, they work hard. With everything that has happened, they probably need some days off.”
