monday, September 13, 1976
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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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