paga 12
daily nebrasksn
frlday, teptember 14,1979
Van Zsfadt: Defensive depth needed against A;
By Shelley Smith
He said he couldn't say who would win,
but there's one thing Lance Van Zandt,
Nebraska defensive coordinator, did say
about Saturday's football game between
the Utah State Aggies and the Cornhuskers.
"I'm glad I'm a coach at Nebraska play
lng Utah State rather than coaching at
Utah State and playing Nebraska' he said.
The Huskers, ranked eighth In both the
Associated Press and United Press Inter
national polls, open their season Saturday
against the defending Pacific Coast Athletic
Association conference champs.
i
The Aggies, last Week, tied San Jose
State 4848, racking up the highest scoring
tie in NCAA history.
"I told Coach (Tom) Osborne that if we
score 48 points I could guarantee him a
tie 'Van Zandt said.
. Utah State quarterback Eric Hippie Is a
threat to Nebraska's defensive secondary,
according to Van Zandt.
Last week, Hippie had 401 total yards.
He threw 44 passes, completed 25 and
threw one interception. He, is, the second
leading passer in Utah State history.
And Van Zandt said that worries him.
"H1PPLES A GOdd PASSER and a
strong runner," he said.
"We've Worked real hard on pass de
fense these last ten days and they ve done
a good job of picking up the offensive
keys he said .
The Huskers have an advantage, accord
ing to Van Zandt, because of their defen
sive depth, -
"We've got a lot of depth ort the defett
sive line, at nose guard and at tackle'
he said. He said because the Aggies are con
sidered a passing team, he plans on Using
fresh players throughout the game.
"Against a passing tean they do a lot of
running," he said.
"It's difficult 40 defend the forward
pass and we want to have fresh people in
there," he added.
Earlier In the Week, defensive end Coach
because they've practiced against each
formation.
George Darlington expressed concern What might be a defensive problem,
because Utah State Unci up In tlx different according to Van Zandt, ii the new NCAA
formations which can confuse I defense, rule Involving defensive blocking.
4J t Atlil . t , The rule makes It Illegal for the defense
t HOWEVER, VAN ZANDT said, this to block below the Waist after It gets the
shouldn't be a problem for the Huskeri ball on fl turnover. It might be difficult to
r
til A t: f M T II ' ; . 9 I J I
j7 : U ii;, V V-
..,--,-.-, s.r. ...... -.. ...
Hhotoby M. Biillnosley
l.M. Hipp lunges for more yardage in a 1978 game.
adjust to, Van Zandt said.
The defense has practiced blocking
above the waist, but the excitement of an
interception or mid -air fumble during a
game may override the practice, he said.
Nebraska Head Coach Tom Osborne
said that defensively, the team may be bet
ter than last year because of the number
of players returning.
Offensively, he said he hopes "we can
score some points."
"CONSISTENCY IS SOMETHING we
always look for, and we'll need it Saturday
We also have to be careful not to make mis
fakes," Osborrte said. '
In judging Utah State's defense, he said
It Is difficult because he can't use its first
game against San Jose State as an example.
"They got caught with a lot of things
they couldn't handle1 Osborne said,
He said that Husker quarterback Jeff
Quinn has improved during Nebraska's fall
camp, and should be strong Saturday.
"JeiTs been pitying very well this
fail. 1 would say he's about par to other
quarterbacks that have played with us' he
said.
However, earlier irt the Week Osborne
said he's worried about how Quinn will
perform under game pressure.
"ITS HIS fclRST GAME to start arid if
he doesn't perform will I'm hot going to
give up on him', he said. .
Husker I-back Jarvis Redwine, moved to
the top of the depth chart Monday and will
share time with I.M. Hipp.
Hipp, who Is trying to be the first player
in Husker history to gain 1 ,000 yards for
three consecutive seasons; should be effec
tive against the Aggie defense, according to
Osborne.
But, he said, he also is looking for good
things from Redwine, who runs 40 yards in
435 seconds.
Redwine, a transfer from Oregon State,
sat out last season to become eligible this
fall. He rushed for 139 yards in the Husk
er's second scrimmage and scored two
touchdowns during the third.
Osborne, who Will begin his seventh sea
son with the Huskers, said the first game is
always one of his concerns.
Nebraska hasn't won Its first game since
beating Louisiana State University, 10-7, in
1975. , , ,
Osborne said he hopes to break the jinx.
IBis time y tennis pros to play on Lincoln courts 'imdamu
I By Ron Powell
I Two years ago, the Lincoln pri2e money tennis tour
nament was called "Joy's toyk ,
I But this years $15 ,000 American Express-Frontier Air
lines ro Tennis Classic promises to be "big time tennis"
according to Joy Rodenburg, tournament referee.
f. Rodenburg said this is the second year for the Ameri
can Express circuit tourney in Lincoln. She added it was
fortunate for the city to have the tournament again.
H "Last year, there were 14 cities on the circuit Rod
enburg said. "This year, there are only 10, and only two
ot their toumments back-Raleigh, N.C. and Lincoln.
;t MIt's a real honor for Lincoln to get this tournament
back. v
I The tournament will begin at 9 ajn. Sunday with the
Qualifying rounds it the UNL Coliseum courts. The 32
Mayers in the qualifying rounds will play down to eight.
These eight will then advance to the maindraw.
I. Rodenburg said the main draw will consist of 49 play
trs who automatically qualify, eight who qualify through
tialiiying rounds and seven .through wild card entries.
H tllE MAIN 1DIUW will start at 10 am.Monday at the
Cob Devanev Sports Center. Matches through Friday will
begin at 10 un. and will run well Into the evening,
tccording 16 kodenburg. -?
The semMlnals are scheduled for 6 pm. Saturday,
Ccpt. 22 with the finals being at 2'pjn. Sunday, Sept. 23.
- Rodenburg laid last year's final drew 700300 people
tt the Lincoln "Racquet dub. She added that she expects
more thii year since the Indoor track and tennis area at
the Sports Center can teat 3,000 people. ...
Tournament director George Grothe said this yearV
tournament has better caliber players than last year.
He said one of the reasons for thii Is because tennis
main ranking body the AT? (Association of Tennis Pro
fessionals) has increased the points given to an American
Express Tournament winner from 20 to 30 points. The
ATP ranks 750 players. v -
Another reason fdr the strong field, Grothe said, is be
cause there is only one other U.S. pro tournament,
$175,000 Grand Prix tournament in Los Angeles, running
the .same week as Lincoln's. - ,.r
THE TOP, SEED is South Africa David Schneider,
who owns a ranking of 76th In the ATP world rankings. '
The second seed is Mexico's Emilio Montano, who is
ranked 111 V:' ' .
The third seed Is American Trey Waltke, who is a two
timer winner ton the 79 American Express circuit
tourneys. With i 115th World ranking, W'altke has Victor-'
Ies over Stan Smith, Harold Solomon and Wojtek Fibak.
.Solomon and Fibak are both currently ranked in the top
15 in the world. v .
There are four former KCAA national champions In
the tournament. Fourth seeded Kevin Curren from South
Africa Wai the 1979 NCAA singles champion while at the
University of Texas. Curren registered a big victory at the
U.S. Open two weeks ago when he upset 11th seeded
Adriano Panatta.
. Six teeded Chris Lewis was a 1977 NCAA doubles
champion While at USC. Lewis is ranked 140th in the
World. 1977 NCAA singles champion Matt Mitche2 is
seeded seventh and enters the tournament with a 141st
tanking. - 'a . -,
JOHN AUSTIN, the 16th seed, Was a 1978 NCAA
doubles champion and is ranked 185th In the world. Aus
tin is better known, however tor being the brother of 16
year old Tracy Austin, the third ranked women's player In
the world and 1979 U.S. Open champion. ; V
Another player to watch will be 20-year, old Van
Winitsky, the tenth seed. Winltsky was the top junior
player in the UJS. two years ago and is now ranked 15 1st
in the World. - , ;
Grothe said the tournament is an international event
since 15 countries are represented in the tournament.
To get into the qualifying rounds, a player had to have
, an ATP World ranking, Grothe said. However, there are
three "wild card spots in the qualifying rounds and that
one Of them will go on to UNL tennis player Scott Baker,
' he added. ; ' . . i ; . r ;
taker, a sophomore, will be the only player in the
qualifying round without an ATP ranking.
"It's1 going to be a toufch tournament," Bsxer said.
"This tournament is easily the toughest I've ever played
in. College competition doesn't even compare to the com
petition in this tournament."
"Ill just have to take it as it comes and hope for the
t best : . - - ,. '
fhli Is. the fifth year the Lincoln Tennis Foundation
will sponsor t professional tennis tournament. The tour-..
nament will benefit the junior tennis development pro
grams in Lincoln. In addition, all American Express circuit
tournaments benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Association.