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Unpublicized
co-captains
hit limelight
by Jim Johnston
Bill Janssen and Doug Dumler have trouble
placing themselves in the "big time athlete"
category.
"When I first got to Nebraska I didn't expect
to be a starter," Dumler admitted.
"My goal was to start for two years,"
Janssen said, "but I didn't expect everything
I've received."
Although facing setbacks early in their
college careers, both Dumler and Janssen
surpassed their goals. Despite playing for the
national champion Huskers, the two linemen
avoided the highly publicized role. Those days
of walking around campus without being
noticed are over, however.
Co-captains
Dumler and Janssen left Tuesday's team
meeting the newly-elected co-captains of
Nebraska's football team. Neither expected the
honor. Both fet uncomfortable about public
relations work required by the positions.
During his freshman year at Nebraska,
Janssen started at defensive tackle with Larry
Jacobson. He was switched to defensive end the
following spring and started one game in that
position his sophomore year. But by the time
Nebraska played in the Sun Bowl, Janssen was
playing offensive guard.
Adding to Janssen's confusion and doubt
that he would find a regular place in Nebraska's
lineup, he was switched to center the following
spring. He went into the fall battling for the
starting center position. During the final
scrimmage of fall camp, Janssen broke his arm
and sat out the entire season as a red-shirt.
Broken arm
'The coaches told me if I had a good
scrimmage I would start the first game,"
remembers Janssen. "I felt sick about the
broken arm and I never did feel a part of
Nebraska's first national championship."
But Janssen wasn't easily discouraged. He
rarely missed practice and was constantly
running up and down stadium steps to keep his
legs in shape.
The following spring, Janssen earned a
starting position at defensive tackle over Rich
Glover. That's when Glover was switched to
middle guard.
Janssen's starting position was never in
danger last year, although he was often replaced
by John Dutton in passing situations.
"John was a much better pass rusher' says
Janssen. "It took me a while to learn how to
get around people."
Dumler also sat out a season as a red-shirt.
After playing tight end his freshman year,
Dumler was switched to offensive tackle in the
spring. He was red-shirted the following season,
playing tackle for the scout squad.
"I wasn't that depressed," says Dumler. "I
figured it was for my own advantage to learn
the position."
But Dumler never had an opportunity to use
his offensive tackle techniques. During the
spring, offensive line coach Carl Selmer
approached Dumler at practice.
"Have you ever snapped a football before?"
Selmer asked.
Dumler's advancement to No. 1 center
wasn't automatic.
New world
"I had to start from the beginning,"
remembers Dumler. "It was a whole new world
snapping the ball and then trying to get a
block."
Dumler didn't earn the start position until a
week before the 1970 season when Janssen
broke his arm. And even when he started, he
was replaced on punts and field goal attempts
because he had problems snapping the ball.
"It got pretty bad for a while," says Dumler.
"Everybody knew I had problems snapping the
ball and I felt the whole state was watching me
when I tried a snap even in practice."
Dumler soon took over all of the center
position and made honorable mention all Big
Eight his sophomore year.
Dumler and Janssen have become close
friends since their sophomore year. They lived
on the same floor at Harper Hall during the
1970 season and were next-door neighbors at
Cather Hall the following year. While the two
were battling for No. 1 center, Dumler was
asked to be best man at Janssen's wedding.
Weird trip
"It's been a long weird trip from high school
to where I am now," says Dumler. "I've never
really felt a lot of pressure, even in big games.
There's always been seniors there to provide the
encouragement. Now I find myself in that
position.
"I don't really know what to expect. I don't
worry about our team being too satisfied. I
can't believe the players don't think a national
championship is that big a deal anymore. And I
don't think we'll choke because of the pressure.
"Ne kind of thrive on pressure. Everybody
enjoys having people bother them for an
autograph. Everybody is gunning for us and
we've always kind of dug it."
Janssen doesn't worry about the attitude of
defensive players, either.
"Most teams we play are beat before they
get on the field," explains Janssen. "I think
Oklahoma is the only team that seriously
stayed in there and thought they could beat us.
All teams are fired up before the game, but if
we drop them behind the line a few times they
jest die."
Couldn't lose
"We felt we just couldn't lose. Even during
the final drive against Oklahoma we knew we
just couldn't lose."
Janssen, however, is one of few present
Nebraska players who knows what it's like to
lose a college football game.
"I was on the 1969 team that lost to
Southern California and Missouri," Janssen
said. "It's just no fun. I don't care to be a loser
again."
So how do Dumler and Janssen cope with
the problem if Nebraska should lose a game this
year? How do you get the players "up" for the
rest of the season?
"I don't know," Janssen replied. "We
haven't thought much about losing."
Scrimmage solves few questions
Nebraska football coach Bob Devaney didn't
find the answer to the backup I -back dilemma
during Saturday's final scrimmage prior to the
season opener at UCLA.
Gary Dixon, who backed up Jeff Kinney last
season, owns the starting position. But three
others are battling for the backup spot.
Junior Dave Goeller from Pilger gained 46
yards rushing in Saturday's scrimmage and
appears to be the leading candidate.
Sophomores Don Westbrook and Jeff Moran
suffered ankle injuries early in the scrimmage
and saw limited action.
"We may have to take a look at a freshmen
if the injuries don't heal," said Devaney. "We'll
have to wait and see what happens."
The starting quarterback position is also in
doubt with sophomore David Humm and junior
Steve Runty battling for the spot.
Humm completed three passes in eight
throws for 70 yards Saturday. Runty, who
gained 55 yards rushing, completed four of
seven passes for 36 yards. Devaney, who said he
will also take quarterback Terry Luck to Los
Angeles, said he may wait until Saturday before
announcing his starting quarterback.
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Protest . . .
continued from page 1
the content, Beecher's administration had a hand in
some changes made in the original material and
reviewed the booklet before it was printed.
Harper said funds for the booklet came from
money allocated before Beecher took office, but was
finished after the administrative changeovers.
Becker said Beecher had looked at the written
material before it was finished and had suggested
some additions.
Becker said the caricature in question was not the
one originally drawn for the booklet.
After checking with several blacks, it was decided
the original caricature might be offensive, so it was
modified according to their suggestions, Seeker said.
To his knowledge, Becker said, the final drawing
was not reviewed.
1
page 16
daily nebraskan
tuesday, September 5, 1972