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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1976)
1 i page 10 daily nebraskan Wednesday, february 18, 1976 husker Heavyweight matrnan hopes to play football next season ! t t f t i I H I i I it ? f L By Jim Hunt Wrestler Bruce Conger could be a busy athlete year round as he attempts to become a two-sport performer at UNL. After wrestling season is over, Conger said he will de vote his attention to football. Conger, 305-lb. heavy weight, will try out at offensive tackle in spring practice. "1 have always wanted to play football," said the junior from Las Vegas. "When I am sitting up in the -stands during a game I feel like I should be out there." Conger was recruited by UNL for football out of high school but decided instead to sign as a wrestler. Last week Conger won all four of his matches to become athlete of the week. He came back from a sprained ankle Thursday to pin Colorado's Jack ITiornton and gave the Huskers a 22-16 victory over the Buffs. His other victories were a 8-4 decision over Bob Leonard of the University of Northern Iowa, a 4-0 decision over Steve Haney of the University of Minnesota and a 5-4 decision over Mike Weitzman of Northwestern University, all on Saturday. The threee teams all were nationally rated. Ankle hurt "The ankle really hurt when I was lying on the side lines and they were re-taping it," Conger said. "I didn't think about it once 1 got back in. "Since I was in the down position I tried for a re versal; I didn't want an escape. I didn't want to have to put any pressure on my feet." Conger said there is a lot more pressure wrestling last if the outcome of the meet depends on him. "When it comes down to the last match I have to warm up and be by myself," Conger said. "After I walk out onto the mat, I forget about everything else except the match. I forget about the, pressure." Conger's three-year .record is: freshman, 12-8, sophomore, 27-4 and junior, to date, 17-6. More conservative style He said he thinks he is a little more conservative in his wrestling style now than when he was a freshman. As a freshman he had nothing to lose, and now he does, he said. . , "The last couple of matches I have been more aggres sive," Conger said. "I forced the guy (his opponent) into making mistakes and then put my moves on him." Conger said he would like to get his weight down from 305 lbs. to around 280 lbs.-, but that he would never be able to do this before the Big 8 Conference tournament Feb. 27 through 28. He said he thought he could wrestle faster and better at a lower weight. Conger was the state high school heavyweight champi on in Washington State before moving to Nevada his senior year. He captured the Nevada heavyweight title as a senior. Conger attended Rancho High School in Las Vegas, the same school Husker basketball forward Allen Holder attended. They both graduated in 1973. Other nominees for athlete of the week were basketball center Larry Cox, senior from Denver; swimmer Pat Di Biase, junior from Omaha; gymnast Steve Dickey, senior from Lincoln; trackster Chuck Malito, senior from Lake wood, Colo.; trackster Peggy , Liddick, freshman from Lincoln; basketball guard Kathy Hawkins, junior from Omaha; and gymnast Peggy Newport, sophomore from Lincoln. nebraskan one at I Secret to baseball success a th?i3 I mighf be a positive attitude By Jim Zalewski When spring is in the air, the birds are singing, the sun is shining, a young man's thoughts turn to. . . . baseball, especially when the other alternative is not always available. In the past at UNL, students thought of the baseball team as the spring comedy act. It's time to put a stop to this thinking. . The Husker diamond crew this year looks impressive on paper. Veterans return at key positions, team hitting should be even more potent and the freshman pitchers, counted on so heavily last year, have gained a year of experience and maturity. Last year the team flashed alternate signs of brilliance and incompetency to compile a 13-20 record. It seemed to lack impetus, a spark. The attitude on the field seemed to be "we could win if rather than "we are going to win, no matter what." One can't help but admire the self-confidence bor dering on cockiness displayed by teams like Southern Cal, Arizona State and Oklahoma Universities when they make their annual appearances at the College World Series. They take the field not hoping, but expecting, to win. The aforementioned teams have achieved success be cause of superior coaching and intense pride. Husker Husker victory tonight esGesnti UNL'i. basketball team is faced with another must-win game tonight when the Huskers play host to die Kansas State University Wildcats (KSU) at 7:35 in the Coliseum. The Huskers and the Wildcats are tied for second place in the Big 8 Conference with identical records of 16-6 overall and 7-2 in Big 8 play. A loss tonight could drop either team out of the Big 8 race and a possibility of a postseason bid. Both the Huskers and the Wildcats won their last game. The Huskers won 80-61 over the University of Colorado and KSU was 75-70 winner over the University of Okla-v homa last Saturday. , "As always, KSU, under Jack Hart man, will be one of the best teams to play in the Coliseum this year," Husker head coach Joe Cipriano said. "KSU has fine talent with Chuckie Williams and Mike Evans ranking as two of the best shooting and play making guards around." Evans, a 6 ft. 1 in. sophomore, is averaging more than 24 points a game his last six games. Williams, a 6 ft. 3 in. senior and an All-Big 8 selection last year, is averaging 21 points a game for the year. Other starters for KSU in clude 6 ft. 10 in. center Jerry Black, 6 ft. 10 in. forward Carl Gerlach and 6 ft. 5 in. forward Larry Dassie. The Huskers will be led by two-time All-Big 8 guard Jerry Fort. The 6 ft. 3 in. Chicago native has scored 166 points in nine games against KSU, including 34 points in the Huskers 65-59 victory over the Wildcats in Man hattan earlier this season. The Coliseum doors will open at 4:30 p.m. with a preliminary game starting at 5:15 pjn. Radio broadcast of the game may be heard on KFAB, KFOR, KLIN and KRNU-FM. COUNTRY KETTLE Open 24 Hours Orders to go 2 pancakes, and 2 eggs or Toast and 2 eggs 79 ,48111 & HoUrese Ml V" I I i ELECTRIC SHAVER SERVICE Hair Dryers Shavers All Makes 1140 "N" Street 1353 S. 33rd St. 432-1 7E5 432-3772 After Feb. 29 we will be at 317 S. 1 1th (illfllLil) " 'U'EiitsiFtbtdlC::! 11 fa tai fcr lis tut tZl u 3 sriSlfcil m 0 tot mm jj p , i e. -J S v. ,, Trt'f-if W-rtt-..i I r.1is':cy'a "t'Jida r.lcush" m 1 fj". fm 4m J u f. ! mv W M 4i to 0 it 5 w 0 fl coach Tony Sharpe's career record hardly is going to draw pro offers from the expansionist Seattle Lawsuits, or whatever they are called. But the proper guidance from Sharpe and his fine assistant Bob Gates easily could mold this team into a contender. What is needed to turn things around? I asked five players, all of whom must come through if the 1976 sea son is to be a success, the following question: "What do you personally have to improve on if the team is to be a winner?" - Norm Glissmann, senior rightfielder from Omaha: "I'm going to have to play well defensively. Everyone's im proved defense would help. I'm going to have to drive in more runs at the spot I'm batting in the lineup. I'll also have to provide some leadership for the younger guys." Steve Nagel, sophomore pitcher from Cincinnati: "My fastball wasn't as effective as I'd like last year. I've been lifting weights to improve my shoulder strength. I also have to improve my control. I think two-thirds of the runs I allowed last year were the result of walks." Larry Winum, sophomore pitcher of Bloom ington, Minn.: "I've been working more on my pitching thir spring, since I should be throwing more. (He primarily played first base last year.) I've also got to be quicker and more aggressive at the plate. I was too picky at times last year, taking good pitches I should have hit." - ; Ron Miltenberger, junior catcher-outfielder from Bur lington, Iowa: "I've really got to improve my hitting from last year. Hopefully, 111 get to catch some, which means more work at that position." Jon Henne, sophomore catcher, Littleton, Colo.; "I need to hit better, td get back my confidence at the plate. I feel more confident this year. Most of the pressure from freshman year is gone." ' - The team attitude at this stage is the' best I can re-.' member over ihe past four years. Every player I ques tioned said workouts have been great and that, for a change, people are thinking positively. The team is working to change the image of Nebraska baseball, and the fans should be, too. It's ridiculous ta tt the same 50 to 60 people at every game. Sure, there are more important things one could do, such as outdoor cool 'duty, complete with frisbies and speakers out of windows. This year, take some time to see a game or two. The players, as Winum said, "are tired of seeing just friends and parents in the stands." It is said a , winner creates fans. Maybe this time the fans could help create a winner. . .4Mm44mum44m4m4)400,.t444m004m0040l00 m wit- t Josephs! FERMODYL Special... "Regular Retail" il Now ONLY -J tax T.G.I.F. Special Good every Friday with student LD. Off Sale. On Si:Sc. FREE application ividi piirchose Get acquainted Special I Ai. 'Y'J COLLEGE OF BEAUTY . .432-6647 146 N. 11th J c fli fc rf flft 4k i 4 'fc l 44:44 4k m m fc 4ft dlt - - n m m U l 4V4mt'4mimtmtp14ms4n&PMWlMjllltfW