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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1978)
monday, november 13, 1978 daily nebraskan page 11 o k 91 ft f JV OP M. A J pv lKl It Photo by Ted Kirk OU's 'big plays not enough to stop Husker defense By Kevin Schnepf Oklahoma fullback Kenny King sat, squatted and even ran sometimes Saturday afternoon in Memorial Stadium. Coping with the boisterous noise offered by the 76,000 red-clad fans, King once squatted down casually near the 40-yard line as the officials were stepping off a penalty. Another time, while his defensive team mates were battling the Nebraska offensive line, King sat on the bench, isolated from everyone else. But when the Sooners were lined up on their one yard line and behind 17-14 late in the fourth, quarter, King's calm, cool and collected squat seemed out of place. The Sooners needed 23 yards for a first down on their next third-down play. King got up, joined the huddle and seconds later sliced through the Nebraska defense for 47 yards. A typical clutch play performed by the Sooners-especially against Big Eight rival Nebraska. Too short to repeat But the Sooner's last drive fell short of history repeating itself by three yards. Heisman candidate halfback Billy Sims ran 17 yards when he was hit by Jeff Hansen, fumbled, and lost the ball to Jim Pillen. The Huskers were saved and for the first time in six years, both Husker players and fans realized the game, the Big Eight Cham pionship and the Orange Bowl trip was theirs. Oklahoma, a team used to beating Ne braska on last ditch efforts and errorless performances, fumbled nine times, losing six of them. Meanwhile, Nebraska, noted for folding to Oklahoma in the fourth quarter, contained OU's offense enough for the offense to effectively use their "up-the-middle" strategy. 'Fumbles beat us' "We lost two possessions in the fourth quarter that were sure field goals. Fumbles took them away," OU head coach Barry Switzer said. "The fumbles beat us. Nebraska is a great team but you don't fumble nine times against them and expect to win." "Nebraska's defense won them the game and they know it," Switzer added. Although the total offensive statistics were close, (361 yards for Nebraska and 339 for OU), Nebraska's defense pre vented OU from controlling the game. The Huskers held the ball 33 minutes 56 seconds while the Sooners had it for 26 minutes 4 seconds. Running right at the Oklahoma defense was Nebraska's strategy and, according to OU linebacker, George Cumby, it worked. Cumby said the most potent weapon Ne braska had to offer was fullback Andra Franklin, running pop plays up the middle. Pop plays hard to stop "We worked on what they did but their pop plays were hard to stop and we didn't adjust right," Cumby said. "The I-forma-tion is the best way to run those pops and it's hard for a linebacker to ready because the back sees the hole and makes the first move." Franklin, who wound up with 68 yards rushing, said that running up the middle against a team like OU would open things up. "We planned to run up the middle," he said. "Oklahoma is fast in pursuit so we planned to run up the middle and soften up their defense. The offensive line controlled their defense and the game." When Oklahoma was making its final drive, which was reminiscent of the 1976 20-17 win in Lincoln, the OU offense ap peared in control until Sims fumbled. But Bill Barnett and Rod Horn, NU defen sive linemen were confident they would hold OU. Breakaway team "They're (OU) just that type of team," Barnett said. "They're a breakaway team and able to move down the field quickly. But, we were still confident that we could hold them." "Like any other game, we kept calm and didn't panic," Horn said. "Like the Colorado game, we were down but we knew what we had to do and we did it." For Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne, Saturday's nationally televised game marked his first victory over Oklahoma as a head coach. "Fm elated but also relieved," Osborne said. "Late in the game things just weren't going too well for us. It almost seemed like it (a victory) wasn't meant to be." Victory made better Osborne said the player's ability to over come two turnovers and two disputed rulings by the officials made the victory even better. ABC television named running back Richard Berns the offensive player of the game with 113 yards rushing and named Jim Pillen the defensive player of the game. Pilled had eight tackles and two fumble recoveries. Although it is almost assured that Ne braska will represent the Big Eight in the Orange Bowl, the Orange Bowl selection committee wili make its decision today. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to be pretty mad if they wait another week to decide a formula," Osborne said. sports short The Sports Center tennis courts will be open for students and faculty members beginning Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19. The courts will be available from 1 p.m. to 8 pjm. on Saturday and from 10 ajm. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. The fee will be $2 for students and $4 for faculty members per court for one hour. Students and faculty members can sign for courts with Marge Neberman, Room 107G, at the Sports Center from 9 ajn. until 4 pjn., Monday through Friday. Locker room speeches: goin' to the beach Vr-vVfe the Jot 'Sharing! desharina By Jim Kay Sports editor Senior cornerback Tim Fischer was weaving his way through the pandemonium that prevailed in the Nebraska locker room following the win over Oklahoma. "We're goin' to the beach," he yelled above the din. "We're goin' to the beach." A man in a peach-colored blazer with a patch declaring his Orange Bowl affiliation smiled at Fischer and said, "Y'all come down and see us, now." It's not official, but if the Huskers re ceive an invitation as the Big Eight repre sentative to the Orange Bowl, it will be the first time in six years that UNL players have "gone to the beach." Never in Miami before "I've never been to Miami before," said senior Jim Pillen. "But we're going there now and it feels great." "It's beautiful," said Bill Barnett. "It feels so good to win. I just started crying on the sideline in the last few minutes." Tackle Kelvin Clark called it "the great est feeling I've had in my entire life." The bedlam in the Nebraska locker room was in stark contrast to the atmo sphere following last year's game in Nor man -and not unlike the feeling in the Ok lahoma locker room this year. "It's hard to compare this year's game to last year's game," said Sooner quarter back Thomas Lott. "They were two such different games." One Oklahoma player wept in the corner by the entrance to the locker room. OU head coach Barry Switzer, was obvious ly unfamiliar with discussing a loss. 'Fumbles beat us' "The fumbles beat us," Switzer said fi 11.. KUkrrl'4 ic arftf Mm hut vnn nany. nsuiv - j don't fumble nine times and expect to win." "They did exactly what we thought they would," Lott said. "We were well pre pared for them, but you don't know what will cause those fumbles- a certain type of hit, lack of concentration, I don't know. It's just part of the game." As the Huskers celebrated, Oklahoma la mented their ability to hang on to the foot ball. "We fumbled so much it was pitiful," Sooner linebacker George Cumby said. "We held Colorado, last week with a lot of fumbles but you can't do that and beat a good team like Nebraska. "It still looks like the only way to beat us is when we beat ourselves." Oklahoma's bowl game future is now in doubt, but Nebraska's players already may be feeling the sand between their toes. m ow I III - I ! .I
