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Aggies praise Husker defense
'They're good, real good," said a dejected
Grady Hoerman in the Texas A & M locker
room.
Hoerman, an All-Southwest Conference
linebacker, compared this year's Nebraska team
to the one that beat the Aggies 34-7 last fall. "I
thought they were better than last year's team.
We didn't let them walk all over us (last year)."
"I've got a lot of respect for them. I think
they were up for us. They didn't seem to make
any mistakes."
Hoerman, who led the Texas A & M defense
with 10 unassisted tackles, also had praise for
Nebraska's sophomore quarterback Dave
Humm. "He's going to be good. He runs their
team well."
Lex James, the Aggie quarterback, thought
it might have been a better game had Texas A &
M scored before halftime. "If we would have
scored before the half, it would have boosted
our moral."
'They have a fine defensive team. They've
got tremendous pursuit. The front seven were
very impressive. They were up for the run,"
said the Aggie quarterback.
James, who completed 13 passes against the
Nebraska secondary, commented on the Husker
defensive backf ield. 'Their defensive backs are
smaller than last year's but they still did a good
job. Joe Blahak is a good defensive back and
Kyros stuck me a couple of times on the
option."
James also extended praise to Rich Glover,
Nebraska's All-American middle guard. "He's
deserved every honor he's had. He's a fantastic
player. He's got a good nose for the ball."
Skip Kuehn, the Texas A & M center who
bumped heads with Glover all afternoon, also
complimented Glover. "He's got everything, all
the qualities of a great football player. I
thought I had a better game than last year
(against Glover). I think there will be a lot more
centers up for him."
Kuehn added, 'Their defense is solid, solid
as hell. They've got the quickest linebackers
I've seen."
James expressed sentiments perhaps felt by
every Nebraska fan: 'They've got an excellent
team. I'd like to see them do well. I hate to see
Devaney retire-he's a fine coach."
Husker quarterback Humm. . .lunges for touchdown.
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Husker Coach Bob Devaney. . .watches Aggie first half
touchdown threat fizzle.
First win rebuilds
Huskers' confidence
by Jim Johnston
David Humm said he felt "kind of ashamed" last week.
Rich Sanger claimed he couldn't raise his head on campus.
Frosty Anderson had psyched himself out. And although Gary
Dixon doesn't care what others may think of him, he said he
was "personally depressed."
Those four players had suffered personal defeats at UCLA a
week ago. Later they were victims of cheap shots from the
press and the public.
Some said Humm was an over-rated quarterback. Others
accused Anderson and Dixon of having 10 thumbs. And
Sanger "was said to be such a bad kicker that he tried to hang
himself after the game but couldn't kick the chair out from
underneath him.
But those accusations lasted only a week. In Nebraska's
37-7 win over Texas A & M Saturday, Humm completed 10 of
17 passes for 181 yards. Dixon rushed for 62 yards in 12
carries. Anderson caught a 36-yard pass that set up the
Huskers' third touchdown. And Sanger booted a 54-yard
f ieldgoal just one yard shy of a Nebraska and Big Eight
record.
"We realized last week we couldn't go back on what last
year's team did," Humm said. 'That loss at UCLA hurt, but
we didn't lose our confidence. We just realized we have to do
what we can with the people we have this year."
What Nebraska did Saturday is what Nebraska has been
doing the past two years. Unlike last week's showing in Los
Angeles, the Huskers took advantage of scoring situations.
There was only one turnover-a pass interception-compared
to five a week ago. The defense, despite missing end Willie
Harper, allowed the Aggies just 75 yards rushing.
For some, the game was a confidence builder. It also was an
indication that Nebraska still is in contention for a third
straight national championship.
"I don't think I had a real good game, but the fact I didn't
fumble did a lot for me," Dixon said. "My main concern this
game was to hold on to the ball and not worry about breaking
away for a long gain." Dixon fumbled twice at UCLA.
However, he said he has plenty of room for improvement.
"I'm just looking at the UCLA game as one of those games
when things like fumbles will happen," Dixon said. "Now I
can forget about it. Now I can concentrate on my job and not
get psyched out about fumbling."
Humm said he remained calm before Saturday's game. He
just felt things were going to go Nebraska's way.
"Everything went the way we wanted it," Humm said.
"Nobody had trouble coming back from the loss. There's a
feeling here now. It's a new feeling like we can really co all the
way."
Head coach Bob Devaney obviously agrees. Devaney
recalled past years when teams lost their first game and still
won the national championship.
"Alabama was 9-M in 1965 and they were named national
champions, so there's still a chance," Devaney said. "But it
will be a tough job and we can't falter again."
Winning a third striaght national championship definitely
will be a tough job. But Nebraska proved Saturday it can do it.
There's not many tougher jobs than bouncing back from a first
loss in 32 games with a 37-7 win.
