jdnesday, december 10, 1975
525 15
daily nebraskan
Lead Husker tackier Pillen
almost overlooked football
H Jm"m !u"J-M'll"laHg
By Pete Wegman
Linebacker Clete Pillen, leading tackier
on UNL's 10-1 football team this fall, al
most didn't play football for Nebraska.
Pillen, who was recruited by all of Ne
braska's small colleges and some out-of-state
schools, didn't even play freshman
Cornhusker football.
After he was graduated from Columbus
Lakeview High School in 1972, where he
was a stand-out tight end, split end and
linebacker, Pillen played in Nebraska's
August 1972 Shrine Bowl (all-star game for
Nebraska high school seniors).
'The Shrine Bowl was a very physical
game," . Pillen said. "It takes a lot out of
you. Maybe that was one reason I didn't
want to play at Nebraska. Also, I just
didn't think I could play here."
Pillen, now 6 ft. 1 in. and 205 lbs., was
only 5 ft. 1 1 in. and about 180 lbs. in high
school.
When Husker coach Cletus Fischer
talked to him in high school, Pillen said
Fischer told him jokingly, "You've got at
least one thing going for you -your name
(Clete)."
Opted intramural
Instead of playing freshman football,
Pillen opted for playing on the Sigma Phi
Epsilon "C" intramural football team,
which finished third in the 1972 all
univeristy playoffs.
He then decided to walk-on for winter
football, which involves conditioning and
weigh tlif ting, and was invited to try out
t for spring football practice.
Pillen made the team, was red-shirted in
1973 and was a back-up weakside line
backer last year behind Bob Nelson and
John Starkebaum.
Now UNL's number one strong-side
linebacker, Pillen credits part of his success
to his added weight.
"At my position I had to gain weight,"
he said. "There was no way I could survive
unless I put on 20 pounds." -Strongest
game
Pillen played perhaps his strongest game
of the season in the 35-10 loss to Okla
homa. He made 27 tackles, despite strained
ligaments in his right knee on the game's
second play, and was named the Associated
Press National Lineman of the week for his
efforts.
His previous high was "21 or 22 tackles
in high school," he said.
Nebraska's linebacking strategy differs
from that of many other schools, Pillen
said.
"At most schools, the linebacker keys
on the guard," he said. "Here we key on
the fullback.
"You can't always be thinking in the
game. Many times you have to just react,
often by instinct," he said. "Linebackers
are in on the action all the time."
Signal formation
Defensive coach Monte Kiffin will sig
nal from the sidelines the defensive for
mation Pillen must call in the huddle. If
the offense comes out in an unexpected
. .4? 1 ltl, fc"M 1 "
ST
' ' f T'i an M,
Linebacker Clete Pillen led the Husker defense with 47 unassisted and
76 assisted tackles in the 1975 regular season.
formation, Pillen is responsible for making
a check-call, which serves like the offense's
audible calls.
"It's an added pressure, but it comes
easy with experience,'" Pillen said.
Pillen cited two keys to the success of
Nebraska's defensive units: good prepar
ation, at least 25 hours a week for each
game, and pride in the Blackshirt tradition.
Pillen participated in. 47 unassisted and
76 assisted tackles in the 1975 regular
season.
Five spaces remain on backpack trip to Mexico
Five openings remain for a backpacking
trip in northwest Mexico beginning Dec. 29,
said Mark Ebel, outdoor programs direc
tor at the UNL Recreation Office.
Two men and three women already have
signed up for the two-week trip to be taken
with about 20 University of Colorado
students.
Ebel said he hopes to fill the five po
sitions by today at a 3 pjm. organizational
meeting in the Recreation Office.
The backpacking group will leave Dec.
29 and return to Lincoln Jan. 11.
After driving to El Paso, Tex., they
will travel 450 miles south by train and
backpack for five days.
"This trip is going to take students into
a rather remote back section of northwest
Mexico," Bebl said. "It's an area that has
great topographical relief. It varies in ele
vation from 4,000 ft. to about 9,500 ft."
Ebel said backpacking experience isn't
necessary but is helpful.
"It would be wise for people to be in
good physical condition before signing up
for the trip because it will be a moderately
strenuous backpacking trip," he said.
Women as well as men may apply, he
said noting that "in the past we've had
approximately 40 to 50 per cent women."
The trip will cost $157, which includes
transportation, lodging, guide fees, equip
ment and food. A $50 deposit is required
upon registration.
Fhel said 19 oositions still are oren for
a downhill skiing trip to Winter Park, Colo.,
Jan. 3-9. The trip costs $238, including
transportation, lift tickets, ski equipment,
lodging, insurance and breakfast and dinner
while skiing.
Reservations are due by Dec. 20.
Ebel also announced rental gear is avail
able at the Recreation Office for holiday
trips.
"We have a special rate for the holiday
period so students can check equipment
out before vacation and return it utter they
return, Ebel said.
Equipment, rental
include:
period and cost
No. Cost Cost Cost Cost
Avail.Wknd. Week 2 Wks. 2-4 Wks.
Crosscountry 12 $6 $12.50 $15 $20
Skis
Sleeping Bags 12 2 4 6 8
Ensolite Pads 12 .75 1.50 2.50 3
Backpacks 9 1.50 3 4.50 6
StovesCook 24 .50 1 1.50 2
Kits
Toboggans 1 3.50 7 10 14
Tents 36 3 6 9 12
Skates 25 2.50 5 7 10
Crossword Puzzle
Edited by WILL WENG
Courtesy of Now York Times
Merry unnsimas
and.
Happy Finals
from
Brown Palace
1900 B Street
eoriihusker 6o-0p
705 No. 23
Love Hall
3420 Holdregc
Pioneer House
1623 Q
Offering you the best in co-operative living.
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