pago 12
Wednesday, august 29, 1979
dally nebraskan
Devaney: 1971 Oklahoma conquest
my top thrill as Husker grid coach'
By Shelley Smith
OMAHA -He said it was the most thrilling game of his
coaching career-and his game of the century.
that's how Bob Devaney, UNL athletic director and
former football coach, described the 1971 35-31 UNL
footb all victory over number two Oklahoma.
The game, dubbed as. "the game of the century" was
replayed on NETV Tuesday night. Although Devaney had
made a commitment to the Nebraska touchdown club, he
managed to sneak a peek or two at the game he calls his
favorite.
"It was the best team I've ever seen at Nebraska,' he
said, amidst the cheers of touchdown club members
watching the television set.
"I was tense and nervous all through the game, and I
liked the outcome the best ," he added .
BECAUSE OF OKLAHOMA'S loss to Nebraska, Alaba
ma became the second-ranked college football team in the
U.S., and fans were hoping for a repeat "Game of the
Century" between the two top teams.
However, Nebraska smeared Bear Bryant's Crimson
Tide, 38-6, to settle the issue.
"It was a very important victory against a very strong
team," Devaney said of the Oklahoma game.
"We were able to execute plays without too many mis
takes,'' he said. He added that he knew the team who held
the ball last would win.
And it was the Huskers who had the ball the last
play of the game.
OU hadn't lost in 15 games-the last time had been to
Nebraska in 1969.
At the end of the first quarter, Nebraska led, 7-3.
Devaney said he felt good then and the tension was eased
somewhat by wingback Johnny Rodgers' 72-yard punt
return. NU then took a 14-3 advantage on a short run by
I-back Jeff Kinney, the first of his four touchdowns.
But Oklahoma stormed back for two touch
downs, including one on a pass by Jack Mildren, to take a
17-14 halftime edge. It was the first time Nebraska had
been behind all season.
We were very disappointed that they threw that well
against us," Devaney said.
Oklahoma used a wishbone offense, as they do now,
which is basically a running offense, he explained.
"They sure surprised us with some of those passes,"
he said.
In the second half, Nebraska, on two more dives by
Kinney, jumped to a 28-17 lead, but Oklahoma, as before,
stormed back to take a 3 1 -28 lead .
BUT NEBRASKA WAS not to be denied, as Kinney
scored the last of his touchdowns on a two-yard run and
Nebraska held off a desperation try by OU to seal the win.
Defensively, Devaney said, if he could have, he would
have done things somewhat differently.
"We had moved one of our safeties and went into a
man-to-man defense ," he said .
"It wasn't effective and I wouldn't have done it again if
I had the chance," he said.
Other than that, Devaney said that now, eight years
later, he wouldn't change a thing about the way he handl
ed the game.
It was Kinney, who sparked the Huskers to their
victory, Devaney said.
Kinney
Devaney said Kinney was "an excellent ballcarrier and
a definite asset to the team.
Devaney said "it was the high point of his career as
coach." He compiled a 136-30-7 won-lost record, includ
ing champions in 1970 and 1971 .
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Daily Nebraskan Photo
Nebraska fans were reminded of former NU running
back and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers
last night, after the replay of the 1971 "Game of
the Century" versus Oklahoma. Rodgers was waived
by the San Diego Chargers of the NFL Tuesday.
Coach Fairbanks ponders Colorado qtiestion marled
By Ron Powell
Editor's note: This is the third article in a seven-part
series reviewing Nebraska's Big Eight conference football
opponents.
Last winter, the unanswered question about the '79
Colorado football team was whether New England was
going to let Chuck Fairbanks move to Boulder. -
Now the Buffaloe's question marks are on the Held,
according to Fairbanks.
"We have a lot of unanswered questions we need to
solve before we can consider ourselves contenders for the
Big Eijht title," Fairbanks said. "It's been an uphill fight
so far."
It took some legal battling, but Fairbanks, who guided
the Patriots into the AFC playoffs two of the past three
years, is now settled in Boulder.
He may have inherited a tough rebuilding job.
Although 37 lettermen and 14 starters return from a
6-5 '78 squad, Fairbanks said he has some tough problems
to face.
First, injury problems during the spring have caused
some concern, Fairbanks said.
"There are IS to 20 players that missed spring practice
that are starting from scratch this fall,' Fairbanks said.
"They are coming in with no idea of the system, and the
first game is Sept. 8 (at home against Oregon).
Another problem, Fairbanks said, is a lack of talent at
the offensive skilled positions.
"Right how we have no running backs or receivers that
have great speed that could be considered a game
breaker," Fairbanks said. "No one of Big Eight caliber has
surfaced in these areas yet."
TIGHT ENDS Bob Niziolek(6-6,216)and Greg Howard
(6-6, 225) return, but both are recovering from knee sur
gery. Howard, a senior caught a team-leading 28 passes
for 374 yards a year ago. Niziolek, a junior, caught 29
passes in 1977, but was cut down last year with a knee
injury.
Senior Kazell Pugh (5-10, 159) returns at wingback
after catching 15 passes for 266 yards last year. Pugh's
78 back-up, senior Tom Haigh (62, 191), will open at
split end.
The Buffaloes must replace both starting running backs
from last year. The fullback job is a toss up between
junior Bob Humble (6-1, 205) and sophomore Willie
Beebe(6-l,194).
Junior Eddie Ford (5-11, 207) is the top tailback with
junior Lance Olander (6-1 , 194) his back-up.
Senior quarterback Bill Solomon (6-2, 205) returns to
claim his starting role. In 78, Solomon rushed for 489
yards and connected on 77 of 158 passes for 944 yards.
Two starters return to spearhead an offensive line
which Fairbanks calls "young, but with potential.
BOTH RETURNEES will start at tackle. Junior Brant
Thurston (6-5, 242) has moved from guard to play tackle
while senior. Stan Brock (6:7, 279) returns to occupy the
other tackle spot.
Fairbanks said the strength of the 79 Buffaloes will be
in the secondary and linebackers positions Fairbanks said
"look above average ."
The secondary returns all of the 78 starters, but there
will be some adjustments in position, Fairbanks said.
Three of four starting linebackers return.
Seniors Laval Short (6-3, 257), a noseguard, and
George Visger (6-5, 246), a tackle, also are returning 78
starters. Short had 108 tackles and 11 sacks last year
while Visger had 36 stops and five sacks.
Fairbanks said he has installed a 3-4 defense, the same
defense he used at New England. The defense accents
Colorado's good linebackers and secondary, he said.
Fairbanks said he doesn't expect his team to break Ne
braska's 11 -game win streak over the Buffaloes.
"If we do," Fairbanks says, "it will be an upset."
Colorado Schedule
Sept. 8 - Oregon, Sept. 15 - Louisiana State, Sept. 22
Drake, Sept. 29 - at Indiana, Oct. 6 - at Oklahoma, Oct.
13 - Open, Oct. 20 - Missouri, Oct. 27 at Nebraska, Nov.
3 - at Iowa State, Nov. 10 Oklahoma State. Nov. 17
at Kansas, Nov. 24 - Kansas State .
S tots tinker football depth chart
A meeting for all women athletes, in
cluding freshmen and transfer students
who wish to try out for a women's varsity
team, is scheduled for Aug. 29 at 7 pm. in
the South Stadium auditorium, second
floor. An athletes must attend.
-Women planning to trjr out for a
varsity sport, must also take a physical.
Physicals for the women will begin at the
University Health Center on Aug. 30 at
6 pjn. Women, who can't be there at that
time should contact Karen Knortz at 472
3465. University of Nebraska Women's Head
Basketball Coach Lorrie Gallagher has an
nounced thai t team meeting for prospec
tive freshmen, returning players and other
fcitrrssied people will be held on Aug. 29
brxr.zllzttly ; following the all athletes
meeting.
The basketball meeting also will be held
in the second floor meeting room. Basket
ball prospects should plan to attend the all
athletes meeting before the basketball
meeting.
Nebraska ' Head Baseball Coach John
Sanders his announced that a meeting for
all people, interested in trying out for the
1979 NU baseball team will be held Aug
29 at 3:30 pjn. in the baseball office,
Room 200, la the South Stadium,
A practice for all persons interested in
trying out for the Nebraska Womens Field -Hockey
team will be Sept. 1 at 9 ajn.
behind liable Lee HaS. If anyone has ques
tions, call . 477-9951. Bring shorts; and
sticks for practice.- . s v
NU Depth Chart
Offense
Tight end - Junior Miller, Jeff Finn, Steve
Davies-Jamie Williams; Left tackle - Mark
Good speed, Gary England-Calvin Ander
son, Tom Carlstrom-Randy Thiess; Left
guard - John Havekost, Joe Adams-John
Keuten, Mike Mandelko; Center -Kelly
Saalfeld, Jeff Bloom-Dave Rimington, Brad
Johnson-Trey De Loach; Right guard
Randy Schleusener, Paul Potadle-Dan Rice,
Matt Brandl; Right tackle -Dan Steiner,
Mike Bruce-Dan Hurley, Peter Boll; Split
end - Tim Smith, Scott Woodard-Todd
Brown, John Noonan; Quarterback Jeff
Quinn, , Mark Mauer-Tfai Hager, Bruce
Mathison-Chris Gebert; I-back - Isaiah
Hipp-Tim Wurth, Craig Johnson-Jarvis Red
wine, Randy Lsndwehr-Walter Wallace;
FuKhack - Andra Franklin-Wurth; Jim
Kotera-Phil Bates, Mark Moravec; Wing
back Kenny Brown, Anthony Steels-,
Tim McCrady ; Dave McCue; Kicker - Dean
Sukup.
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Gordon Thiessen-Daryl Holmes; Left tackle
- Rod Horn, David Clark, Toby Williams
Tom Gdowski; Middle guard -Kerry Wein
master, Oudious Lee-Curt Hineline; John
Minor-Felix White; Right tackle - Bill
Barnett, Dan Pensick, John Stromath
Henry Waechter; Right end - Derrie Nel
son, Dan Lind strom, Donnie Bess; Strong-
tide linebacker - Tom Yering-John Ruud,
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Weaksiie linebacker - Brent Williams-'
Ruud, Steve McWhirter-Baker, John Zuta
vern; Left cornerback - Paul Letcher, Ric
Undquist, Dan Fischer; Monster - Mark
LeRoy, Sammy Sims, LG. Searccy ; Safety
- Russell Gary, Jeff Krejci, Kris Van Nor
man; Right cornerback Andy Means,
Dave Uegl-Rodney Lewis, Phil Trentj
Punter -Tim Smith.