UNL, UCLA fans
await football
season opener
b Jim Johnston
Folks at Nebraska and UCLA have more
than a passing interest in the start of the
1972 college football season. They've been
looking forward to this season since 1970.
Their anticipation focuses on two
athletes-James McAlister and David
Humm-who will be making their varsity
debuts Saturday night (10:05 p.m. Lincoln
time) at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Humm came to Nebraska in 1970 with
such fanfare that some said he would replace
Jerry Tagge at quarterback in 1971. In Los
Angeles they were talking about McAlister
becoming the first athlete to win both an
Olympic gold medal and the Heisman
Trophy.
Neither, however, played varsity football
the following season. Humm sat out as a
redshirt. McAlister was placed on a year's
probation by the NCAA. Humm, naturally,
was disappointed. McAlister's reactions went
beyond disappointment. His probation left a
scar on the entire athletic program at UCLA.
The NCAA charged that McAlister's
college entrance examination had been
tampered with. Sports Illustrated revealed an
NCAA investigation last year which showed
63 erasures on McAlister's test, 49 of which
resulted in correct answers to the mostly
multiple-choice type questions.
The NCAA investigators told Sports
Illustrated that it would be impossible,
"even for a superior student," to make that
many erasures in the time allotted for the
examination. From that conclusion, UCLA
and McAlister were placed on probation for
one year.
That investigation wasn't completed until
after McAlister's freshman season. And what
a freshman season.
. In three games, all won by UCLA,
McAlister ran 66 times for 384 yards and
three touchdowns. But his talents weren't
limited to the football field. He also
competed in track and jumped 26' 6V", the
longest jump in the world that year.
"He just may become the greatest
football player ever," said UCLA coach
Pepper Rodgers. "One man alone can't even
slow him down, much less stop him."
McAlister's feats didn't come as any
surprise. Folks expect almost anything from
an athlete who leaped 22 feet in junior high.
Their hopes are equally high for
McAlister's varsity football career. But it
won't be easy for the UCLA sophomore. His
probation banned him from spring football
practices when Rodgers was teaching his
offense a new formation-the Wiinbone.
'The Wishbone has the need for
practice," said Rodgers. "James has had very
fine fall scrimmages, but has been limited in
practice time with injuries."
McAlister has also been forced to battle
back from a mental letdown during the
probation.
"Once I had the fear that I would never
get back the right attitude," said McAlister,
"but once we play Nebraska, the nation's
No. 1 team, I'm sure I'll get the feeling.
"I prefer to play them now than in the
middle of the season. At the start of the
season, we might be able to knock them
off."
McAlister, who weighs 205 and runs the
100 in 9.8, is joined in the backfield by high
school teammate Kermit Johnson at the
right halfback position. Johnson weighs 190
and owns a 9.6 sprint time.
UCLA is depending heavily on McAlister
and Johnson. Mark Harmon, son of
Hall-of-Fame member Tom Harmon, is an
unknown quantity at quarterback. And the
only returning starter in the offensive line is
Bruce Walton, older brother of UCLA
basketball star Bill Walton.
If the Wishbone fails to work, UCLA may
suffer a season comparable to last year's
when the Bruins dipped to a 2-7-1 mark. The
leaky Bruin defense can't carry the load.
Although Nebraska coach Bob Devaney
has declined to name his starting
quarterback, it will probably be Humm. And
fans in Nebraska are anxiously awaiting his
debut.
Humm suffered through a discouraging
spring game and has been slowed with a
bruised thigh this fall. But he is expected to
be at full strength Saturday night.
Junior Steve Runty is also in contention
for the starting quarterback spot.
Senior flanker Johnny Rodgers, who
owns every Nebraska receiving record, isn't
concerned about playing with an
inexperienced quarterback.
"Sure Humm or Runty may make some
mistakes that Tagge didn't make his last
year," allowed Rodgers, "but if they throw a
few interceptions or make a mistake then
they'll get the feel of things. We've just got
to stick in there the first couple of games."
Obviously, rookies will make mistakes.
David Humm and James McAlister are no
exceptions. But fans will leave the Los
Angeles Coliseum Saturday night realizing
that McAlister and Humm are the type of
athletes who come around only once in a
generation.
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CU lacks unity
3
X
i
Predictions usually, if not always, prove nothing. But, in an
effort to give fans a chance to criticize the sportswriter, we II
stick with tradition.
NEBRASKA 24, UCLA 7 . . .The Cornhuskers offense is
capable of scoring points, but it will take a few games to iron
out the wrinkles.
COLORADO 35, California 14 . . . The Buffs, like last year,
will start strong. It's the Big Eight schedule that gives them
troubles. , . .
OREGON 28, Missouri 14 ... Both teams are favored to
finish last last in their conference. But Dan Fouts' arm will be
too much for the inexperienced T iger secondary.
KANSAS 28, Washington State 17 ... Washington State
showed big improvements last year, but most of those
improvers have graduated.
KANSAS STATE 28, Tulsa 7 ... Wildcat quarterback
Dennis Morrison may be the best in the Big Eight.
Former Nebraska all-Americans Jerry Tagge and Larry
Jacobson haven't minced any words about their opinions of
Colorado being tabbed as a favorite to win the national
football championship. The two stars of the Nebraska
national championship squads are quoted in October s issue of
Sportscene.-
'The national championship will boil down to Thanksgiving
Day again when Nebraska and Oklahoma square off," said
Jacobson. "Colorado is being picked by a lot of people but
lacks the unity necessary to win it all. They have some great
individual talent, but I think Nebraska will beat them pretty
easily even though the game is being played in Colorado.
"Their coach, Eddie Crowder, is a hot dog. Always has an
excuse or a complaint. His players are the same way. They
bitch, bite and clip-cheap crap like that. If they get behind
they start yelling at each other and fall apart. If we had pulled
some of the stuff they did on the field last year coach Devaney
would have yanked us out of the game."
Tagoe expressed the same feelings.
'There are three teams in the Big Eight with almost equal
talent," offered Tagge, "but I can't see Colorado making a run
at it. They seem to have a knack for beating themselves in the
big g?mes.
Quotes collected during the week:
Ed Galigher, former UCLA lineman now olavina i for the
New York Jets: "With UCLA in the Wishbone and James
McAlister eligible they're gonna make things pop. No matter
how many good things you've heard about James, you've got
to see him to believe him. UCLA will score 30 points a game."
Mark Harmon, UCLA quarterback: "James McAlister is
uncanny. He has such quickness. The first time I tried to hand
him the ball I missed him by two yards."
DANCING AROUND 1
THE FOUNTAIN
Sunday
N
September 10
8:00 - 10:30
featuring
IF IF
to "U" with love
from St. Marks On Campus
Wesley Foundation
UMHE
UNRHA
I
in union ballroom if it rains J
friday, September 8, 1972
daily nebraskan
page 12