thursday, november 9, 1978
page 10
daily nebraskan
sports
Husker seniors meet Sooner challenge with optimism
By Mary Ryan
It has been seven years since the so
called "Game of the Century" when the
Cornhuskers defeated the Oklahoma
Sooners 35-31 in Norman. Since that game,
the Huskers have lost six in a row to the
Sooners and three classes of seniors
graduated without beating OU.
The members of this year's senior class
are hoping they don't become the fourth.
In interviews with the 18 seniors on this
year's suqad many players used words like
"great" and "quick" to describe the
Sooners, but they also expressed
confidence that the Huskers can win
Saturday.
In the following statements, the seniors
tell what they think about Oklahoma
and how they are looking at the game.
George Andrews: "I look at the offense
and they have a fine offense, second in the
country behind ours. It is going to take a
great job from everyone on defense to shut
them down. We have to cause turnovers
and have very few mistakes."
Rick Berns: "We have to get more
points on the scoreboard then they do. It
all gets down to fundamentals. We have to
be aggressive and take the ball to them.
They are quick defensively. If our offense
has something to prove and we haven't
proved it already, well. . .1 think we can
score. I know it is a pretty good rivalry but
whoever can hit the other more will win.
We have to play good basic football and be
consistent."
Bill Bryant: "Well, there is no doubt
they are a good football team and they
have shown the ability to rise to the occa
sion in tough games this year. But I am
confident we will also rise to the occasion.
We probably stand a real good chance to
win and finish first in the conference. Per
sonally it would be really rewarding to the
seniors who have been here four or five
years to leave with one Oklahoma victory
under our belts."
Kelvin Clark: "They are the typical Ok
lahoma team. They are quick, have great
size and are well coached. We have been
tight in the Oklahoma game in the past.
This year we are going to stay loose in
practice. If we play the best ball we can,
well win."
Lawrence Cooley: "Oklahoma is
probably one of the finest teams I've seen
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George Andrews
in the five years I've been here. I think
they'll be a real challenge but I think we've
got the finest team since I've been here. I'd
be a fool if I didn't think we could beat
them. The team that wins will make fewer
mistakes and hit harder. Well be the ones
doing the hitting. I honestly feel we can
win."
Barney Cotten: "I think a lot of people
make a lot of stuff out of us not beating
them for six years in a row. From my
standpoint, I don't think about it that way.
I think we have to stay loose. I know a lot
of guys are going to be tight, probably
justifiably so because they haven't played
a lot. The main thing the seniors have to do
for the rest of the team is show leadership
and keep loose. I honestly think if we are
picked as underdogs, realistically the pres
sure is not on us, it is on them because
they are number one and we are knocking
on the door. We have just got to go out and
play hard as we can and if we do that, we
can be satisfied no matter if we win or
lose."
Tim Fischer: "They're just a real sound
football team with a lot of great athletes
and they're well coached. They're
unbeaten and that speaks for itself. I think
well have to play an error free game and
our defense will have to slow down their
wishbone and I think our offense will
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Tom Sorley
score. If we slow them down we should
beat them."
Steve Glenn: "ItH come down to who
makes the fewest mistakes. If we execute
well and have fewer fumbles and mistakes,
well win. This game means a lot and the
winner will go to the Orange Bowl and
we're going to do everything we can to
win."
Jeff Hansen: "I think it'll be both an of
fensive and defensive struggle and I hope
our defense will outplay them. If we do
that, well win. There is one thing this year
that I like and that is the positive attitude
we have. It seems like in the past we
haven't had it. This will be the fourth time
I've played them and I'm sure looking for
ward to a win."
Lee Kunz: "They are an excellent foot
ball team. They are a totally balanced team
and have a good offense and defense and
their kicking game is good. Their running
backs, of course, are talented and they
have a lot of impressive linemen-the best
we have played agaginst this year. We have
to have a total effort offensively and
defensively and cause them to fumble."
Steve Lindquist: "I have respect for
them, they've beaten me three years in a
row and this is the fourth time I've played
them. I'm hungry for them and want to
beat them before I leave. We have to take
it as another game like we have been going
and not be tight and tense and I think we
can beat them."
Frank Lockett: "I think Oklahoma is a
good team, like we are. It is a tossup and
anybody can win and I hope we win.
I think we have a better passing game, that
is the only thing we have over them."
Tom Ohrt: "We have to play a perfect
game and not have any turnovers. ItH take
the same great effort we've had the past
few weeks. They have a great team. Their
defense is quick and they play a long way
off the ball. I think it will be easy to run
up the middle on them because they play
so far back. They're quick and they pur
sue the pitch man very well."
Jim Pillen: "There's no question, they
have a great football team, but we're in
that category too. I think we can win if we
curtail their wishbone and cause turnovers,
and if our offense keeps turning out yards
like they have been."
Randy PoeschI: "I think they are beat
able this year. . .They have played a couple
of close games like the one with Kansas.
They are more beatable this year because
we've got more momentum coming off a
game like last week. . .The offense should
run plays right at people instead of the
pitch and option because they have such
good lateral coverage. The defense has to
shut down the fullbacks because they are
not much of a threat to pass. I just hope
they don't pull any lucky things like two
years ago (flea flicker play)."
Tom Sorley: "I feel if we execute well
and we play with the intensity and aggres
siveness we have in the last few weeks,
well win."
Billy Todd: "I think they're a good
football team, probably one of the best in
the country and they probably will be one
of the best we will play this year. I also
think they can be beaten. They have had a
couple of close games. I think we can win
if we minimize turnovers and play up to
our capabilities."
Darrell Walton: "They've got good
backs but I don't think they've played a
team with the talent and depth that we've
got. ItH be a good game, probably the best
of the year. We will win.
About half of the players asked would
predict a final score. The average score of
the picks was Nebraska 27, Oklahoma 20.
Rec department to sponsor backpacking, climbing trips
Thinking of the long, cold, gray winter ahead?
Dreading that morning when you have to crawl out from
under your nice, toasty electric blanket and place your
bare feet on the cold, cold tile of your bedroom floor?
UNL students will have an alternative this winter with
a trip south to sunny Mexico over semester break. The
trip is being sponsored by the Recreation Department,
which will hold an informational meeting Friday at 2:30
in the Nebraska Union.
Two trips are being offered by the Recreation Depart
ment, according to Outdoor Coordinator Mark Ebel.
This first trip being offered is a canyon backpacking
trip to Barrancas del Cobre Canyon in Northern Mexico.
The trip is limited to ten persons.
"The canyon trip will be similar to past years," Ebel
said. "Included in the trip will be a visit to the world's
largest single drop waterfall; it's approximately 980 feet."
The backpacking trip will last 18 days (Dec. 27-Jan.
13) and the cost is $225. Bill Burmester and Jim Fullerton
wffl be the UNL Recreation Department guides.
Ebel said the other trip will be a climbing tour of some
of the highest peaks in Mexico.
"These will be snow and ice climbs of the third, fifth,
and seventh highest volcanoes in Mexico," Ebel said of
the first-year trip. "One should have a minimum of our
basic rock-climbing class and we recommend added ex
perience. "It's a long, arduous trip but not technically difficult.
You should be in good shape and have some background
in climbing," he said.
Also included in the trip, which lasts from Jan. 1 to
Jan. 14, will be a visit to Mexico City and excursions to
the University, Pyramids of the Sun and museums. The
cost of the volcano climbing trip is $250, and it is limited
to six persons.
Ebel and UNL professor of geology Paul Krutak, who
is experienced in climbing and mountaineering, will guide
the tour.
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... . . . . . , , . Photo by Mark Ebal
sred U,y0n MeXiC0 0n mL Recreation Department