The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, March 17, 1972, Page PAGE 12, Image 12
iyiM"l I'F '"in "I -5 doily (H)0lbjsk!ni gpml 4 i ill Big Red bandwagon puts Bob in bronze Bob Oevaney in bronze? A 20-foot long football at Memorial Stadium? f The co rtKiontc ronrocont tKo nouoct rra?A hftnrtr Nebraska's back-to-back national football championships-football sculpture. The Women's Division of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce has commissioned sculptor Louis Martin of Omaha to execute a bust of Devaney. Martin has already photographed the Husker coach arid later Devaney will sit for him. An even larger sculpture is being planned by Omaha artist Henry F. Menke. Menke would like to build a 20-foot long metal sculpture of a football, which would sit outside the east side of Memorial Stadium. "Coach Devaney has done so much for Nebraska and we want to help say thank you," Lorraine Borman, president of the Women's Division, said. Borman said the bust of Devaney, which will be executed in epoxy and painted to represent bronze, will be presented to Devaney next fall and then will be temporarily displayed at the Nebraska Historical Society. "Present plans call for it to be displayed permanently in a trophy area when Nebraska gets a new f ieldhouse," Borman said. Menke said the purpose of his sculpture "was to honor football players and coaches of the past, to serve as an immediate tribute to the Devaney decade and to inspire others in future years." The outside of the football sculpture will be composed of bronze plates, which will serve as plagues to honor each year's team' and achievments. The lettering will be horizontal and people will be able to rotate the football by hand so all the names can be red from the ground. Menke said the sculpture will take nine months to complete and estimated the cost at $37,000. The Omaha artist is now undertaking a fund raising campaign to raise the money. gory seocrest sports v. There have been some disgruntled rumblings among Nebraska fans about the Husker basketball team, which lost its last four games to finish in a tie for fourth with Kansas in the Big Eight. Some are even suggesting that Husker Coach Joe Cipriano should be fired. The discontent comes despite the fact that Cipriano recorded his third straight winning season this year with a 14-12 record. It is also interesting to note that the Huskers' fourth place finish in the conference was the spot predicted for the team before the season started. Part of the basketball discontent could be attributed to the fact that Bob Devaney has spoiled Nebraska sport fans. Although it's an unfair comparison, Cipriano 's 14-12 record looks pretty puny compared to a national championship. To be appreciated in Nebraska it appears that you not only have to win, but that you have to win big. But so much for the past. What will next year's basketball team be like? Cipriano says he is intensifying his search for junior college talent since he is losing four of his five starters. However, the Husker coach cited several factors which could strengthen the Nebraska basketball program next year. First, he said, "we have some people in our program now that maybe a lot of people are underestimating." Secondly, he indicated the recent NCAA ruling allowing freshmen to compete in varsity basketball "should really help us since we'll lack so much experience next year." Finally, Cipriano predicts the Husker recruiting pitch will be strengthened as a result of the passage of a bill in the Nebraska Legislature permitting "accelerated" . construction of a new basketball arena. In our age of poor race relations, it is interesting to note that the Nebraska football team has never been plagued by racial strife. This record can be attributed to Coach Bob Devaney 's excellent rapport with all his players and his employment of black assistant coaches. When Bill Thornton, the Huskers' only black coach, resigned recently to become backf ield coach with the St. Louis Cardinals, Devaney did the obvious. He replaced Thornton with another black coach-Bill Myles, one of the leading high school coaches in the Kansas City area. Although some people might charge tokenism, Devaney's move appears to be a sincere effort to recruit a good coach while retaining good race relations on the team. The Huskers' success in black-white relations was spotlighted earlier this year when Jerry Tagge and Johnny Rodgers were honored by the 100 Per Cent Wrong Club in Atlanta as college's best illustration of how black and white athletes can get along. Last year's winners were Nebraska's Jeff Kinney and Joe Orduna. Hopefully, the Huskers can keep up the good record. FflQ iwmm "in r - - 111 If $? ! fl?f imi ticket ovolloble ot Perhlng Auditorium box office. Brond!. miller Paine (downtown t Gateway). Treour Cltg fnulctand t Dirt Cheop oil ticket reerved $5.00 $4.00 til W I! 1 181 19 7: 00 A .,..1 , 1 ijiii,,, ,, . . ,. mmnwmimmmimmmw "WBBjaS J,- ' In concert PAGE 12 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN FRIDAY, MARCH 17. 1972