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by Jim Johnston
AMES, Iowa-Nebraska's football team did not
need reminding of the closing minute against Iowa
State Saturday when the Cyclones marched 74 yards
in 35 seconds to earn a 23-23 tie with the No.
2-rated Cornhuskers. .
Head coach Bob Devaney had just told the players
how he felt. "I've never been so disgusted with a
Nebraska team in a long time," Devaney said.
"There's no way you should get beat on a long pass
when you're in a prevent defense. They looked like a
bunch of farmers out on a picnic waiting for
somebody to serve lunch."
The Huskers could not avoid reminders of that
closing minute when Cyclone quarterback George
Amundson lofted a 24-yard touchdown pass to
flanker Willie Jones who had gained a step on
cornerback Randy Borg in the corner of the endzone.
Even when the players had finished talking with
the press, they still couldn't escape that final minute.
The radio in the Huskers' chartered yellow school bus
provided a play-by-play of the closing minute as the
Nebraska team started its trip to the Des Moines
airport.
"Hey, bus driver, can't you find a station with
some music?" said Johnny Rodgers. "We're a little
sick of listening to football scores."
The driver switched stations. But his selection was
poor. The football team listened to the tune "It's
Over."
And, according to most Nebraska football players,
that hope for a third straight national championship
is over.
"Winning a third straight national championship
was a far-fetched dream after losing to UCLA,"
Husker Co-captain Doug Dumler said, "but after we
came back so strong we felt we had a real chance to
do it. Now we really blew it."
Devaney couldn't account for the Huskers' eight
turnovers. . .six fumbles and two interceptions. And
the fact that Iowa State kicker Tom Goedjen missed
the extra point to give the Huskers a tie provided
Devaney with little consolation.
"I guess it's better than losing," Devaney said,
"but it still doesn't make me feel much better. I don't
know what the hell you can say about the way we
played. I just can't condone those damn fool
mistakes."
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Amundson . . . completes pass despite pressure from Rich Glover (79) and John Dutton.
Although Nebraska had played its poorest game of
the season, it appeared late in the contest that the
Huskers had pulled it out.
Quarteiback David Humm hit Rodgers on a
35-yard scoring pass with 8:08 remaining to give
Nebraska a 20-17 lead. Iowa State fumbled on its
next offensive series and Nebraska had the ball on the
Iowa State 35 with 3:49 left.
After a fourth-down play on which Gary Dixon
picked up a first down at the five-yard-line, the
Huskers were called for illegal motion. Nebraska
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Mike Strachan . . . moves through Black Shirts for 85 yards.
settled for a 36-yard field goal by Rich Sanger and a
23-17 lead with 1:03 remaining.
But the nation's No. 1 defense failed to hold the
Cyclones. Amundson completed passes of 12, 18 and
20 yards to setup the scoring toss to Jones.
One play during that final drive-where Huskers
were called for illegal procedure when they jumped
across the line was questioned by Devaney.
"I don't see how we could be offsides the way
their right guard moved," Devaney said. "I've always
been told, if the offensive lineman moves you can hit
him." Devaney registered his complaints of the
officiating and the condition of the field to the Big
Eight Commissioner Charles Neinas when they met in
the Nebraska dressing room.
"There's no reason that there wasn't a tarp placed
on that field," Devaney said. "It's bad for both
teams. There's no excuse for that."
Husker tight end Jerry List had a private
complaint. He claimed that on the last play of the
game when Humm tossed a desperation pass, one
official had called an interference penalty on an Iowa
State defender.
"He threw the flag and then I asked him if the
penalty was on Iowa State," List said. "The official
nodded his head. Then people started running on to
the field and the official picked up his flag and left
the field."
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But those complaints will not improve Nebraska's
record. The Cornhuskers stand 7-1-1 on the season.
They are still the only undefeated team in Big Eight
Conference action, but most think their chances for a
third straight national championship would take an
uncommonly bizarre string of upsets before it can be
seriously considered.
Big Red
may still
get orange
invitation
by Jim Johnston
Nebraska's 23-23 tie with Iowa State hasn't lowered the
Orange Bowl's opinion about the Cornhuskers, according to
Jim Llewellyn of the Orange Bowl Committee who watched
Saturday's game in Ames, Iowa.
"We feel that Nebraska just had an off day on a field which
was in terrible shape," Llewellyn said in a telephone
conversation from his Miami residence Sunday afternoon.
"The fact that Nebraska managed a tie after having eight
turnovers shows that they are a strong football team."
Bowl bids will be extended Saturday at 6 p.m. after
Nebraska plays Kansas State. The Orange Bowl committee will
meet this afternoon to map its strategy.
"I don't know how much will be decided at this meeting,"
Llewellyn said. "I'm suie we'll give a bid Saturday before the
Nebraska-Oklahoma game. We are definitely interested in a Big
Eight team and Nebiaska's tie with Iowa State hasn't changed
my opinion about Nebraska."
Alabama, which scored a 35-21 win over LSU Saturday, has
apparently assured itself of a second straight Orange Bowl
invitation. The Crimson Tide stands 9-0 on the season and
meets Virginia Tech Saturday.
"I can't say that Alabama is going to get an invitation,"
Llewellyn said, "but we've definitely been impressed by that
team."
Nebraska still appears to be the No. 1 choice to represent
the Big Eight in the Orange Bowl. The Husker's tie with Iowa
State did not discourage the Orange Bowl Committee and
Oklahoma's 17-6 win over Missouri did little to enhance the
Sooners' hopes for a winter vacation in Miami Beach.
There are only three undefeated major college football
teams remaining-USC, Alabama and Michigan. USC and
Michigan can play only in the Rose Bowl, leaving Alabama for
the Orange Bowl invitation.
Nebraska, which was rated second before tying with Iowa
Mate, win proDaDiy remain in the top five this week.
page 8
daily nebraskan
monday, november 13, 1972
