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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1976)
monday, September 13, 1976 daily ncbrcri s . -i i n nc T f -" .1 i 'I ! By Fs McCarthy Despite having to settle for a 6-6 tie Saturday, 4,000 Eg Red boosters breathed easier in the Tiger Pit" after Louisiana State University's (LSU) kicker missed a last ruinate field goal. LSU kicker Mike Conway, who hit field goals of 35 and 1 8 yards earlier in the game, missed a 44-yard attempt with 44 seconds remaining: Husker kicker Al Eveland missed a 39-yarder and had a 34-yard attempt blocked. ... Husker sophomore Richard Bems returned the game's opening kickofF to Nebraska's 35, and senior quarterback Vcce Ferragamo promptly marched the offense 65 yards for a touchdown. A three-yard toss from Ferragamo to junior tight end Ken Spaeth capped the drive, but the extra point attempt failed after the snap from junior Tom Davis to junior Randy Garcia went awry. Junior fullback Dodie DonneU's rushing and a 39-yard pass from Ferragamo to Spaeth, aided by a pass interfer- tnce call on LSU, highlighted the first quarter touchdown After the Husker touchdown, both teams suffered a scoring drought until Conway booted his first field goal late in the third quarter. Conway hit his second three pointer midway through the fourth quarter to complete the game's scoring. The final 44-yard attempt by Conway, which veered to the right of the goal posts, came after LSU's junior quar terback Pat Lyons directed the Bengals f rom their own 26 to Nebraska's 27. Nebraska failed to mount a drive after the missed goal, and the Bengals took possession at their 35-y?rd line with six seconds left in the game. The final play ended controversially when senior de fensive end Ray Phillips picked off a Lyons pass. As Phillips was tackled on LSU's 30, he lateraled tc junior Jim-Wightman who scooted into the end zone. Game officials, however, ruled that Phillips went out-of-bounds before the lateral. Husker defensive coordinator Monte Kiffea argued that although Phillips lateraled out-of-bounds there should have been time irnssun on he clock, giving the Huskers another play. DonneH led Nebraska rushers gaining 91 yards on 21 carries. Spaeth and senior Chuck Matlito each grabbed three Ferrasarho tosses and totaled 42 and 43 yards, res pectively. . sports shorts Forts future clouded by leg injury; he pins pro hopes on fast recovery By Jim Hunt What does the future hold for former Husker basket ball star Jerry Fort? Not even Fort knows for sure. He was drafted in the third round last June by the world chamoion Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. He was the second player select ed by the Celtics, who did not have a pick in the second round. However in the last week of June, Fort broke the fib ula bone in his right leg and doesn't know if he even will be able to play when he is scheduled to report back to the Celtics on Sept. 23. "I don't know exactly what is going to happen," Fort said. "I won't even know if I can play until the day before training camp starts when I see the team doctor"- Fort broke the bene when he came down with a re bound and landed on a player's foot during a pickup game. Fort said he thought the injury was a muscle cramp, and walked around on the leg for a week before going to the doctor. "I thought all I had was a bad muscle cramp, he said. "I was shocked and disappointed when I found out it was broken" Fort wasn't able to play in a Celtics rookie camp in August. He did go to the camp to work with the Boston trainer on isometrics to strengthen the leg. Since Fort has been back in Lincoln, he has been jogging daily. "The first time I contacted them (the Celtics), they said I had a good chance of making the club. When I went up to the rookie camp I thought if I could get my leg in shape I could make the team. The biggest thing that hurt me is not being able to play during the summer,' he said. "I rciht be another month away from being able to play. 1 want to push to be ready for the exhibition season' because umi is really the only way they have of judging you Fort said he didn't think his leg hurt his bargaining power during contract negotiations. But he said the mer ger of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the NBA did damage negotiations. "The merger hurt a great deal as far as negotiating rookie contracts," Fort said. "If the ABA was still around, I would have been assured of a spot on the team. Teams just aren't going to give out money to unproven rookies now." Fort said he was sure he would have received a no-cut contract if the ABA still was operating. Andre W. Benson of Houston handled Fort's contract negotiations, Fort said. Benson also handled former Husker football player Wonder Monds contract negotiations with the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Ter-Cats. Former Kansas forward -Norm Cook was the only rookie to sign-a no-cut contract with the Celtics, Fort said. Former Kansas State guard Chckie Williams, the first-round selection of the Cleveland Cavaliers, told Fort he didn't get a no-cut contract. Fort said he signed a one-year contract. "I had a good time playing here," he said, reflecting on his four years at UNL. "I didn't know what was going to happen to me when I first came here but everything turn ed out all right. It was good, nobody can take that away from me." Fort, a 6 ft, 3 in. guard from Chicago, was a three-tine all-Big 8 Conference selection. He finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in Husker basketball history, compiling 1,882 points. He was a starter ah four years and averaged 17.9 points a game during his UNL career. "On paper this year, the team has more talent than we did last year," r-ort said. "They have to play together as a team though. If they do that, they shouldn't have too much trouble." Missouri. Kansas State and Oklahoma are going to be tough in the Big 8 this season, Fort sail, adding that the Huskers have to watch perennial conference power Kansas University. Practice for the women's Softball team begins today at 6:15 pjn. at the Women's Fhysical Education Edg. field. Coach George Nicodemus sail the practice will kick off a three-week mini-session of practice for women interested in playing soft ball for UNL next spring. The first Extra Pcmt Cteh meeting is today at 1 1:45 ajn. at the Lincoln Elks Club, 131 Centennial Mail North. Husker coach Tom Osborne and an assistant coach wHl comment and show the LSU game film. The public is invited to the luncheon, which costs $3. 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