Huskers get first real test against Colorado
How good is Nebraska's football team?
Bob Devaney claims he doesn't know. The
Associated Press and United Press International polls
say it's the best college football team in the nation,
but they're only playing a guessing game.
The reason for the uncertainty is because Nebraska
hasn't played a respectable opponent yet this season.
The Cornhuskers haven't been tested.
Oregon, Nebraska's opening opponent, was
expected to provide the Cornhuskers with one of
their toughest opening games in history. But with the
ease the Cornhuskers defeated the Ducks (34-7), it
appears that the Pacific tight team was over-rated at
the start of the season.
The rest of Nebraska's non-conference schedule
didn't supply a true test, either. The Huskers' first
three Big Eight games have also Lcen mismatches.
Nebraska has out-scored its first sevsn opponents,
2770.
Saturday's forecast
Top ten team
But those days of saying Nebraska hasn't played a
respectable opponent are over. Colorado, Nebraska's
foe on national television Saturday, has gained much
respect after its wins over LSU and Ohio State. The
Buffalos are rated ninth in the nation.
"This game will not only give us an indication of
how good we are, but also how good Colorado really
is," said Husker head coach Bob Devaney. "This is
definitely the best team we've faced all season."
Now the question. How will the Huskers react to
playing their first top-rated team? Will the pressure of
Nebraska's 26-game unbeaten string affect the
Huskers?
Will Grimsley, who predicts games for the
Associated Press, says it's time for an upset. He
tabbed Colorado a 31-28 winner, saying "The
Cornhuskers' string and mounting pressure grow
taunt."
But anybody who has followed the Huskers
closely knows they are not the type of team to
choke. Although Nebraska's strength hasn't been
tested yet this year, the Huskers ability to play under
pressure has been given an honest test.
At Missouri and Oklahoma State, the Nebraska
offense failed to move early in the game much to the
approval of Tiger and Cowboy fans. The pressure was
on Nebraska. The Huskers had to prove themselves.
And in both cases Nebraska did prove itself. The
Huskers didn't let the pressure get to them. There's
no reason to think the pressure situation will be any
different Saturday.
Freshmen put win streak
on line Friday afternoon
by Dave McBride
Nebraska's freshman football team puts a seven-game winning
streak on the line at 1:30 p.m. Friday when they meet the
Wichita State frosh in Memorial Stadium.
Although freshman coach Jim Ross said he was pleased with
the way his club came from behind in the fourth quarter for their
win at Missouri three weeks ago, he expressed concern with the
defensive showing of the team.
"We were ahead 18-0 at the half so we shouldn't have had to
come back," Ross said. "The defense has to improve or we're not
going to beat any of the other teams we're going to play."
Looking ahead to Wichita State, Ross said, "Although they
haven't won a game they've played everybody fairly tough. Their
defense has looked pretty good, but they nave had some trouble
on offense. We hope they continue to have it."
Frosh quarterback Terry Luck, a 6-3, 208-pounder from
Fayetteville, N.C., said he was also impressed by Wichita Stale
from watching their scouting films.
"We saw them on film against Houston and I think they ve got
a real good defense," Luck said. "They should put our offense to
the test." , , s ,
Luck connected on 12 of 20 passes for 227 yards and 3
touchdowns against the Tiger frosh- He. scored another
touchdown on a two-yard plunge.
"I made some mistakes I shouldn't have, but I was pretty
satisfied with my personal performance and with the team's
perf ormance," Luck said. .
Luck added that Missouri frosh were "the hardest hitting
bunch Pvc ever played against."
Husker Dave Redding, a 6-1, 192-pound defensive end from
North Platte, noted that Wichita State will have an edge in
experience on the Huskers with four games already behind them.
"Before the Missouri game, we were all totally unaware ot
what it was going to be like," Redding said. "We didn't know
what to expect. We were just like a bunch of high school kids
traveling out of state to play another state, and it was kind ol
hard to adjust to." ...
Nebraska, like its Big 8 founlerparts. is limited by a
conference rule restricting them to four freshman games each
year. Wichita Stale plays a six-game schedule.
Nebraska had originally been scheduled to play McCook. last
Friday, but when the school dropped football, rearranging of the
Husker slate left two big practice gaps, according to Ross.
He explained that practice time before the first game is
-elcomed. One the season is under way. a two-week practice
period between games is ideal instead of the three week period
the team has had since the Missouri game.
The Huskers meet Iowa Stale next Friday in Lincoln before
closing their season in Manhattan on Nov. 1 2.
NEBRASKA 35, Colorado 10...Sorry, ABC, It just
won't be any closer than this.
OKLAHOMA 56, Iowa. State 21. ..The Sooner
offense continues to score, but their defense also
continues to give up big points.
OKLAHOMA STATE 21, Kansas 14...The
Cowboys are an improved football team. Nebraska
discovered that last Saturday.
KANSAS STATE 21, Missouri 7...The Wildcats
win the battle of the Big Eight's winless teams.
After the second straight week of hitting all four
Big Eight games, that brings the yearly total to 36-45
for 80 per cent .
Listen to Eddie
One of the first questions Colorado coach Eddie
Crowder will be asked after Saturday's game will be:
"How would you compare Nebraska and Oklahoma?"
The Buffs are the first common opponent for the
nation's No. 1 and No. 2 rated teams.
Pay special attention to Crowder's comment. He
has a way of looking into the future. After the
Colorado-Nebraska game last year, for example,
Crowder was asked to comment on the Cornhuskers.
"Nebraska is playing like they know something
good is going to happen to them," said Crowder.
"They're confident. They just know something good
is going to happen."
So what happens? Top-rated Texas and Ohio State
lose on New Years Day and Nebi.iska wins a national
championship.
While on the subject of comparing Nebraska and
Oklahoma, did you notice this week's Sports
Illustrated? The Sooners are No. 1 .
Any surprises ?
In 1969, Colorado surprised Nebraska with a
reverse play that went for a touchdown. Last year,
the Buffs put split end Cliff Branch at wingback. Do
the Buffs have any surprises this year?
Don't be surprised if you see Branch at a wingback
again Saturday. Colorado enjoys turning the 9.2
speedster loose against the Huskers.
"We're expecting almost anything," said Nebraska
defensive line coach Monte Kiffin. "In 1969 we
stopped the pitch and they hurt us with reverses. Last
year we stopped their inside game and they hurt us
with the pitch. This year we're going to stop the
fullback, quarterback and the pitch."
Kiffin, incidentally, cracked a smile after that
statement.
Alpha Tau Omega, Pro Students
meet in Orange Bushel Bowl
Alpha Tau Omega and the
Pro Students will meet
Saturday morning in the First
Annual Orange Bushel Bowl
for the all-university intramural
flag football championship.
The ATO's defeated
Triangle, 27-19, and Pro
Students edged Abel VI, 13-6,
in Thursday night action to
gain the all-university finals,
but the biggest enemy of all
four teams was the weather.
Wednesday night's rain
turned three of Vine Street's
four fields into brown soup
and made solid footing
impossible.
Temperatures in the 43
degree range caused dozens of
passes to be dropped, and a
strong wind played havoc with
the passing games of all four
teams.
Despite the elements, ATO,
champions of the fraternity B
division, managed a reasonably
consistent attack in leading
Triangle the fraternity A
champs, throughout the game.
The ATO's jumped to an
8-0 li -i in the first quarter,
only have Triangle draw
within ne point on the first
play of the second stanza.
Triangle was within one point
later at 14-13 and within two at
21-19 before a late fourth
quarter ATO touchdown iced
the game.
Pro Students and Abel VI,
champs of the independent and
dorm divisions, respectively,
might just as well have played
on an ice rink for as good as
the footing was on their field
The Pro Students' usually
potent offense had trouble
sustaining a drive against the
Abel defense and the weather.
The Pro Students tallied a
second half touchdown to
break a 6-6 half time tie, and
Abel's comeback efforts were
repeatedly stalled because of
poor footing and pass
interceptions.
Saturday s title game,
starting at 10 a.m. at the Vine
Street fields, will match the
rugn-scoring ot tense ot tne fro
Students against a highly
effective ATO defensive unit.
The winner will receive a
bushel of oranges in addition
to the all-university trophy.
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1971
THE DAILY ISIEBRASKAN
PAGE 7