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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1976)
PC3 13 . . , . ' '.spores ICd'uvooi comsodoirs Cy Ji.-n Ilznt Husker defensive awrdmstor llente KifQa h confident his defensive line caa do the job this year. Est along with ccndcnce comes the need fcr cca centratioa, something 1 aid was missing ia practice earlier this week. Tc had a lack cf concentration the last cor-' cf days," Kiirza sail. Tc can't afford to wait end cat week to start ccncestratingfX'e locked better a prac tice." In tackles Hike Fultzmd Ron Pruitt, the Iluskers have what might be the best pair of defensive tackis ia the country. "They certainly have the potential to be the best pair of tactics in the country," said KiTHn, who is siting his tenth year as a fcH-trne coach at UNL. "I hope they play that way for us. They are extremely dedicated athletes who put the team's goals ahead cf their own.' Prsfttiafc-Jycax Pruitt, a 6 ft. 3 in. and 247 lbs. senior, wO be entering his third year as a starter at left tackle for the Iluskers. Pruitt irussed all of the 1975 season with a broken ankle which required surgery. "My ankle feels ICO per cent," Pruitt said. "I've been stretching on it all summer. It feels good, but I can't quite get the fell range of motion out of it as far as moving it up and down. "I am zmdy Jocking forward to getting back," Pruitt said. "It is going to be a tough week and a h composing myself to play in a game." One cf the problems cf getting ready to p!ay is all the taTc cf Fula and himself being the test set cf tackles in the country, Pruitt sail. - T7e just hare to do cur job the best we can " he said. Te hare to do cur jchsas indlTriluals. Frdiz, Pratt's counterpart at rt tackle, h 6 ft 5 in. and 275 Ejs. lie w3 be beginning his third year as a starting rfeht tackle. Fultz already has been named to Playboy k-gszines 1976 A3-Arnericea Team. packing up Fultz at light tackle w21 be senfor Dan Crock. Sophomores Rod llom and Randy PoeschI and senior Scott Avery are stressing to see who w2l back up Pruitt ca the left side. Junior JefT PuZen, 6 ft and 215 Ejs., has established himself as the top middle guard. t!lan LaJ 'strong' camp "PuSen has had a strong fa3 camp and fin confident that he can do the job," Kiflb said. Te have always had a great guard at UNL and we expect that cut cf PteHaa. We need to have that with the type cf defense that we p!ay" The Ilsskers play a 5-24 type of defense, wi:h fire linemen, tvo Unsbeckers and fcur d-fensive tacks. Sophomores Odious Lee and ISltah Vehb are vying ' for thebatk up rmddle guard job. ; -' ' A tffly-ccntested battle is being waed and the r.t " end position tctrrcea junior Tony Samuel and sophomore George Andrews according to KifOa. Left end wD be rnannedby senior Ray rhUTps, 6 ft. 4 in. and 222 Ihs., who started for the Ihzkers laet season. rtiHTps cc!!ected 62 tackles laat season, including 25 un asiated.4!e also broke up three passes, and blocked two kicks. .. Racking up PhiZIps at Mt end will be Reg Gast, a jun ior. Husker secondary 'yomg but talented' Dyr.!ic!.2cCsrt2iy Inexperience echoes throughout UNL's defensive secondary, but defensive backeld coach Tarren Powers said he thinks that sound will change before the Huskers meet Louisiana State University on Sept. 11. -7 I'-1 i xcer c toft fin n j ? ByPcteVenza Polls seem to be the in thing n college football this year. Anybody can cpea almost any periodical or news paper worth its wsyii in paper "and Rnd a cee foctbs3 poll written by some ordinary Joey Like any red-blooded American rpcrtrarriter, I, too, become a peerless pregsosticaior cf psi affairs in the fall. Not to be outdone by my Ler paid, more ex perienced contemporaries, I cfTer my predictions on what's going to happen ia the fill cf 1976 a thj C' 8 Conference. . - Wfch everybody and hs dog picking Nebraska cumber one this year, IH have to jump on the bandwagon, too. From top to bottom, the Iluskers are the most awesome fourth and twenty ? J team in the nation and that should be enough for then to rule in the nation's best football conference. . Picking first place was easy. My crystal ba3 gets a little doudier and more obscured when looking at tire rest of the E!g 8. f Most football fans axe pointing to Nov. 26 wfcen OUahoma's Socners invade Lincoln as the date Ue con ference title wiU be decided. I disrrec. ; I fa3 to see how the Soor.ers can lose such 1 proven stars as Leroy and Dewey Schnon, Joe Wamgton, Steve Davis, Tinker Owens, B2Iy Brooks, Tony DiRienzo and Jknho Ekod, and stO Csld a team as strong as last .fall's Sooner unit. Rather, I think the Dig 8 title wi3 be decided almost a month ear!Ier when . the . Iluskers tral - to Lawrence to face the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas front-lme players are top-notch and the only real concern is' questionable depth ca the team. The entire offensive badrfHl returns led by a2-L 8 quarter back Nolan CromwdL ' A Lesley Jsyhnwk team should tMfi second. An fcury-p!agued team could finish IssL ; . The doners are t team wi all the questica marks. Can they, corns, up wh another breakaway bask Lke Washington? That's goag to happen to Oklahoma's defensive line wiA no Salmons around? ; Okkhcgna always seems to come up wh an exce!!snt tram, but I think the 1976 Sooner squad is at least cne year from greatness. Competition for the remaining spot ia the upper divi ccn shouM be keen, but my cod goes to that other team from Okkhoma, the OMrorea State Cowboys. The Cowboys have the tsbnt year for a good sea son, returning more kttermsa (45) and starters (17) than any ether team in the Llg 8. Idlssouri's Tsrs have the talent but a non-conference schedule which includes Southern Cd and Ohio State couli break their back. Colorado should be sixth. They have good ballplayers as usual but who wants to play football in Colorado? There are too nnny diversions. As far as the ceCardweHsr goes, flip a coin. I did and Iowa State lost Kansas State seventh, Iowa State eighth. Te're young at spots and we're not ready to play tomorrow" he said "Cut the backs are working hard and have enough ability to be ready by game time." Senior Dave Butterfield, this year's only returning backfleld starter, anchors the secondary. Juniors Ted Ilar bey, Larry Valasek and Kent Smith d the remaining slots. "All four backs have excellent speed and are good tacklers," Powers said. "Each has enough ability, sound ness and intelligence to overcome their inexperience. I'd be more worried if the three newcomers didn't have fine athletic abilities." - Powers said Harvey, Valasek and Smith also look to Butterfield for leadership, which he has shown. Butterfield said he doesn't feel any additional pressure despite the leadership role and being a pre-season AH-Blg 8 Conference selection. "We work well in the backfield together and I feel I don't have to live up to pre-season pressures," he said. fin just going to try to have the best season I can. The other guys ask me questions since I'm more experienced and can recognize some plays faster." However, despite the secondary's inexperience, Butter field said the four have gone over everything and extreme weaknesses aren't apparent. Harvey said, "Butter's nice to have back there. Inexper ience is my biggest weakness, but Dave realy helps out." . Harvey said he needs to read offensive plays better and ' faster, but a defensive back can always improve in that de-. pertinent. . Last, year's starters Tonder Monds, Jim Burrows and Chuck Jones are definitely missed, Powers saM, adding with more game experience this year's secondary can do the job. rowers said junior cc!!ege transfer, Rene Ander son, also is deirg well ia the defensive backfkld. sports shorts Tc&ay is tus tmel day UNL ssasoa foothill student tickets wO be sold. The season tickets cost $23 fcr six : home games and nay be purchased ki the Coliseum today from 9 axL to coca and 1 to4pjn. : A meeting for all freshmea who want to phry basshaH : at UHLwiH be at 4 pja. Tuesday in the second fboraudl torhra cf the South Stadhna cfEcs bld. To psrthnpate ia fall varsity basshall trycuts, srdents : Voikout3 for UNL's wemea's "rstsunins and diving fiosja tea next week. Uomea should report to the V.TiijKdi2pja.Tuesd. . UllL students who want to pl rubgy this fall should meet at the Cather-Tbund Hscreatioa Rsll at 6 pjra. Tuesday. Fcr addiicnal information, contact Tia or Jim at 432-7751. An orgsazttksnal meeting fcr all U?JL studnts fcter ested in trying out for the women's tennis ..t 3 pjn. Tuesday in the South Stadium lounge. Physical examinations for all prospective UNL wemsa athletes w21 be gitta at 6:30 pja. Sept. 9, ia the UliL Health Center. A general meeting fcr all current and former members of UNL's crew wO be at 7 pjn. Vednesday ia the crew boathouse. A meeting for newcomers to the program will be liter this fi2.