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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1973)
9 Maury Damkroger (46) takes the handoff from Dave Humm (12) in the Huskers' win over North Carolina State. Youthful wrestlers return to Coliseum By Dive McBririe Dt'. pite a .M-1.3 loss to defending NCAA champion lovi State Lst weekend in Amns, Husker vv; estlintj ouch Orval Roigialli said he is satisfied with the prnqw.ss of his v J 1 'i :,qu,.d, Boiqialli used four freshmen, font sophomot os, .i jun.ot and one senior against the CcTones, and it -.as two freshmen and a sophomore who picked up th ; Nehi.T-kr. wins. Underclassmen hold tour of the top five spots on the Husker point charts after three tournaments and the opnning dual meet at Ames. "We alWds try to peak .it tht; end of th: .ea'.on," Boiqialli .aid. "I think those eatly season lomnamenfs (Cison Open, Oklahoma City Open and Ah r.r Invitational) helped us eliminate a lot of our mistakes." The Huskers will make their fitst hom. appearaiH-e of the yt.ai Saturday afternoon at 130 in the Coliseum when they host Minnesota. Borg'alli said the Go)heis have u we I l-haL.nced learn, l"d by NCAA place-winner Jeff Lampiiete at 1 ?G pounds, 1 53 pounder Lairy Zilvei Ik;i, a transfer fiom low.-; Stale, anil Dan Chandler at 1G7 )ounds. Borgialli said he will ue basically the same linmip that went against Iowa State, although sophomore Jo". Can at 142 pounds and senior Len Dickinson at 1G7 pound:, should be availaMe Saturday after missing the Iowa Slate meet with im.urie,. I ive Huskers enned mvtat iotc to Midland1 hrilaiional Tout "07 at Nurihwosle'ii University LVt 2'A The five are sophomore Boo !ohn,on, heshnvn Oliver and Denny and m.-oioi 21 Biu'e Conger, Marrow Ralph Manning. The rest of the team will break until Jan Muskets nave! to Dos Moines to fare Diake. 11 when the J Damkroger awaits last game, reviews Husker football days By Bi.'l Bennett Maybe it can be called "reflections of a Nebiaska football player" as fullback Maury Damkroger sat in the quiet Husker locker room following Tuesday's practice and talked about his career, its high points and the irreversible disappointments. Damkroger came to Nebraska following his gioduation from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1970. During his senior year at Northeast, he was an All-State football player, led his team to the Class A basketball title and was named Nebraska's high school Athlete of the Year. Following a successful freshman campaign, Damkroger played No. 2 fullback behind Bill Olds during the 1971 season. That year, the Cornhuskers finished with a 13-0 record and for the second year in a row were the Orange Bowl and national champion. "During my sophomore year I played pretty relaxed," Damkroger said. "The seniors on that team were so fantastic, I knew that if I made a mistake the seniors would make up for it." As a sophomore, Damkroger rushed for 210 yards in 36 cai r ies. In 1972, Damkroger still was playing No. 2 behind Olds. He contributed 229 yards in G7 carries to a team that finished 8-2-1, losing to UCLA and Oklahoma and tying Iowa State and that was the Orange Bowl champion for the third straight year. "After we lost to UCLA, it was hard to .. alie we had actually been beaten," he said. "After my sophomore year, I was so used to winning it was tough accepting a loss. "But overall, I think we had a good season," Damkroger said. "It was just kind of disappointing because we could have played with anybody in the country and. we realiy shouldn't have lost the games we did." Damkroger now is a senior, and he started sports shorts The Recreation Office is sponsoring a ski hip to Monarch, Colo., Jan. 2-6. A S?'i deposit is required when signing up for the trip. Registration deadline is U :: 18. Theie will be a UNL women's intrasquad swim meet today at 4:30 p.m. in the Women's Physical Education Bldg. Lee: unity balances inexperience of youngest UNL basketball team By Denni; Onnen Brendy Lee, a center for the- Nebraska ba'.ketujll team, is one of only two seniors on the lb-man '.q1 rad. And although one might expect Lee to feel out of place, he said he feels more unity on this yeai's team thuii last yrnr's. That's one of the reasons he has hope; foi a reversal from last year when the Huskeis fmi.hed 9-I7, their worst tecoid since 19G4. "Our strong points are more unity and more enthusiasm," he said "Our weaknesses are our youth and inexperience." I his yeai's team is the youngest in Nebia-,k.i hist'iiy. Seven freshmen aie on the team, and two ' them, G ft. 10 in. Ron Taylor and G ft. 9 in, Maik F-might start on the front line in the double-post offense. Lee, G ft. 8 in., is the backup for both players and sees considerable playing time. Despite his uonslainnq status, he is second on the team in leboundinq and lias led the team in that category the la-.t two gamej. He pointed out that the freshmen were gaining valuable experience as starters. h'r. pal t ot my role (to come oil the liem.h)," he "I've bi'i'h .jetting to play quite a bit anyw iy " Last yeai, he had some of his best games coming off the Ix.vich, lie said. Lee started at center most of last year, led the team in rebounding and finished second in scoring. The Brush, Col., native also was the tallest player. Because of the team's relative lack of height last year, most of the scoring was done by the guards. Lee said that because of the added height this year, the scoring has become more balanced. Of the top eight scorers this year, only two are guards. "There is a little better combination of inside and outvie play," he said. He is averaging four points a (jaiur.. L "e said the Huskers could challenge for the Big 8 title il the tieshmen gain enough confidence and ex pet i' oce in pte-Big 8 play. "They (the freshmen) will learn more every game," he said. "I think we've got a great chance to finish as one of the top teams." He predicted a "tight conference race" this year, with do team as a clear-cut favorite. "All the teams an.' going to be real tough," he said. The increased unity on this year's team can txj atiiibuteiJ to the lack of factions on the team, he said He said that last year "the seniors wanted to h inq together." every game this year for the Huskers at fullback. He rushed for 246 yards in b8 carries and caught four passes for 34 yards. But his most devastating asset is his blocking as he sprung l-back Tony Davis for many of hs 1,008 yards. Like last year, this year's Nebraska team finished 8-2-1, losing to Missouri and Oklahoma and tying Oklahoma State, but this year the Cornhuskers are headed to the Cotton Bowl, not the Orange Bowl. "My senior year has been somewhat disappointing because you always want your last year to be your best," he said. "We really only lost to Oklahoma because we outplayed Missouri and Oklahoma State." Even though the Cotton Bowl game is Damkroger's last as a Husker, he said lie tries not to think about it. "it's strange, but I don't thmk of it as my last game," he said, "I won't prepare for this game any differently than the others." Playing on a national championship team is Damkroger's greatest memory of being a Husker. "When I came here, I never even thought about a national championship," he said. "But being on a team that won it is something I'll remember the rest of my life." Last year's game with Iowa State which ended in a 23-23 'be is Damkroger's biggest disappointment as a Husker. "I remember it was late in the game and it was third and two deep in Iowa State territory," he said. "But on the next play I was in motion and we had to settle for a field goal. I'll always feel I ike I contributed to us not winning that game." After the Cotton Bowl, Damkr oqer is uncertain as to what he'll do. "I'd like to try pro football but I don't even know if I'll get drafted," he said. "However, If I do, I'll certainly give it a try." J ff- 1 111. 1 - " . far .aJIPP- i Senior center Brendy Lee Georgia State. in action against p.int- 1 4 daily nebraskan thursday, dciccmbor 13, 1973