Hey, Buffs. It won’t be easy. But as the Bugeaters return to Folsom Field for the first time since 2009, kindly refrain from the Nebraska jokes.

Here in Colorado, we’re better than this: “How do you know the toothbrush was invented in Nebraska? Anywhere else, it would’ve been called a teethbrush.”

In fact, may I humbly suggest a new theme to honor this rivalry:

Give a Husker a hug.

“You really can’t downplay rivalry games,” CU football coach Mel Tucker said Tuesday. “You have to embrace them.”

The Big Red menace is coming! The Big Red menace is coming! Let’s welcome it with open arms.

Give a Husker a hug. Goodness knows, Nebraska football could use some love.

Back in the day, when preacher Bill McCartney condemned anyone caught wearing red on the Boulder campus to eternal damnation, Nebraska was the program the Buffs wanted to be when they grew up.

No more.

Yes, Nebraska is ranked 25th in the newly released Associated Press poll after beating South Alabama. (South Alabama? What, was Chadron State not available?) But anyone who watched the Huskers huff and puff and strain to win their season-opener knows they are a fraud as a top 25 team, ripe for Colorado to knock off.

Since 2015, Nebraska’s record is 24-27. During the same time frame, Colorado’s record is 25-27. While the Buffs have been no great shakes on the field of late, college football defines Nebraska, which has been in a state of depression.

So give a Husker a hug.

Although new to the Rocky Mountains, Tucker knows a little something about intense rivalries, as a quick scan of his college and NFL coaching resume reveals.

“I’ve coached in Ohio State-Michigan, Auburn-Alabama, Georgia-Florida, Georgia-Georgia Tech, Cleveland Browns-Pittsburgh, Chicago Bears-Green Bay. That’s what makes the game great. That’s what everyone wants to see,” Tucker said.

“I anticipate this one being probably the most intense, because it’s the one that’s up next. You’re only as good as your next game and that’s where your focus has to be. But, rivalry games, in my experience, are usually the hardest-hitting, cleanest football games that you’re going to play.”

Although the Huskers ain’t what they used to be, the team travels well. “The Sea of Red is coming to Boulder,” Nebraska linebacker Mohamed Barry warned.

And that’s fine by Colorado athletic director Rick George, who crowed the renewal of hostilities between the Buffs and Huskers will be the biggest revenue producing game in school history. Related Articles Kiszla: This bitter Nuggets loss to LeBron James will one day bear championship fruit for Jamal Murray

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I found George’s boast both amusing and more than a little ironic, because it was green and greed that killed this wonderful rivalry, when Nebraska went looking for greener pastures by joining the Big Ten in 2011, while Colorado paid through the nose for the folly of buying itself a piece of the ocean when joining the Pac-12 at the same time.

The break-up of Colorado, Nebraska and the Big 12 might not qualify as the dumbest divorce in college football history, but the Huskers and Buffs miss each other more than either team would like to admit. They were stronger together, when united in juicy, mutual dislike.

“I want to make it very clear that we really want our fans and our community to be respectful of Nebraska and their fans. I think it’s important that we all remember this is just a football game,” George said. “Yes, it is Nebraska and we know that history and tradition, but I think it’s important that we have civility. There’s enough negative narrative out in our country. When Nebraska comes in, we ought to be respectful to their fans, like they are to our fans when we come in.”

Give the Huskers a hug.

Goodness knows, after the embarrassment of losing to CU two years in a row, they’re going to need it.