tuesday, november 6, 1979
page 10
daily nebraskan
Area players knit closeness on
and off field
By Paul Huscher
The big question mark at the beginning
of the season for the Nebraska Cornhuskers
was, "Would the offensive line be rebuilt
with the loss of three AU-Big Eight
players?"
Offensive line coach Cletus Fischer
answered the question.
'They are probably as good overall as
any line that we have ever had," Fischer
said. We knew Kelly Saalfeld and John
Havekost could play well, but Dan Steiner,'
Mark Goodspeed, and Randy Schleusener h
have really come along and played good
ball for us."
The starting offensive left guard on this
year's line, John Havekost, said the
offensive line is a close group of players.
'The offensive line is closer now than
anytime I've been here," said the 6'4, 240
pounder from Scribner, Neb.
. "Everybody gets along with everybody.
We're all the same kind of guys," Havekost
said. "We joke around a lot and most of us
are from the same area!"
THREE-FIFTHS of the line is from a 45
mile area in Nebraska. Steiner (right tackle)
and Saalfeld (center) are from Columbus
which is just 45 miles from Havekost's
hometown.
"We also like to get together. We know
each other real well and that's got to help,"
he said.
Line coach Fischer said he hopes the
players are close because "they have to
play together and that takes cooperation."
"They work hard and concentrate in
practice and I think it shows up in the
games," he said.
Part of preparing for each game includes
hours of watching films, Havekost said.
"We watch- films Monday through
Friday. We look at, the. opponent we'll be
lined up against to watch for tendencies,"
he said. "From that point, you go into the
game knowing pretty much what he's going
to do."
NOT ONLY DOES watching films help'
win games but. having people who can
carry the ball and utilize the blocks the
offensive line throws for them is
important, he said.
"Anytime we get a lot of rushing yards
it makes people realize we have a good
offensive line," he said. 'That makes you
feel good, and it makes us want to try
harder the next game."
'They (the backs) make us look good
and we make them look good," he said.
Fischer said Havekost has been doing his
part in for Nebraska's fearsome offensive
attack.
"John's been playing super for us, he s
one of the better guards in the
conference," Fischer said.
"He blocks well, he traps well and he's
an excellent pulling guard and that's
important in our offense," he said .
Havekost said he also considers himself
a good pulling guard.
"You have to consider yourself a good
pulling guard at Nebraska, because the
plays are designed for the guard to get out
in front of the back.
"YOU HAVE TO be able to pull or you
won't be playing here," he said.
He said because of the many sweeps,
pitches and options Nebraska runs, the
guards are required to do a lot of pulling.
Fischer said it's important for the
second teamers to play well.
"ITS GOOD FOR the team, and it
builds their confidence," he said. 'The
second teamers get to play in a no-pressure
situation when we're ahead and that's a
good way to learn ,'
. Havekost, who has spent some time on
the second and third strings, said the
reason the Huskers are able to rebuild the
offensive line despite losing most of its
starters every year is because "you have the
system down by the time you get a chance
to start." '
He said Jiis goal this y ear was to win the
Big Eight Championship because
"Nebraska hasn't won it outright in a long
time."
He also has high hopes for a national
championship by the currently
second -ranked Huskers.
"You know what they say, when you're
number two you try harder," he said.
He added that Joe Adams and Paul
Potadle have been playing well as
second-team guards.
Havekost agreed that his backups have
been playing well. 1
"I have a lot of confidence in the
second stringers and so do the coaches. The
coaches tell us if we can't give 100 percent
on each play to tell them so they can get
someone fresh in there," he said.
"We have good depth and they're
getting better every week," he said.
Havekost said he thought the team
played well earlier this year, but lately
they have been scoring more so the second
teamers were playing more.
-..!-;: re..;
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Nebraska left guard John Havekost (69) paves the way for the Big Eight's leading
rusher Jarvis Redwine against New Mexico State.
Injuries could have been prevented UNL coaches
By Shelley Smith
Because of the "stupidity" of the officials, other
K layers besides Nebraska's Jarvis Redwine could have been
urt in Saturday's game against Missouri, Husker Defen-
1)
Anyone interested in becoming a batgirl for the 1980
Nebraska baseball team should attend an orientation
meeting at 9 pjn. Nov. 11 in the South Stadium Lounge.
For more information call Genon Rost, 477-8598.
,
Men's and women's co-rec intramural officials are
needed for volleyball and basketball. If interested apply at
the Recreation Office. For more information call Intra
mural Coordinator Stan Campbell at 472-3467.
ThA vardtv cuim team need? timers, iudces and offi-
F J D --
cials. For information call Cal Bentz at 472-2271 or 472
2268. The UNL Rugby Club beat Missouri Saturday 9-6 in
sudden-death overtime.
sive End Coach George Darlington said Monday.
Darlington told about 400 Extra Point Club members
that officials failed to call late hit penalties on both teams
during Nebraska's 23-20 victory over Missouri.
As a result, he said, the same kind of violations were
repeated, mainly by Missouri players.
"All you've got to do is flag one or two of those and.
they stop doing it," he said.
Head Coach Tom Osborne agreed with Darlington.
He said Redwine, who suffered a knee sprain during an
. extra point kick, was the victim of many illegal hits. One
. was after he leaped three yards into the endzone to score '
Nebraska's first touchdown.
"There were two guys (officials) looking to see if Jarvis
scored, but neither one saw the late hit," Osborne said.
And, Osborne said, how Redwine, who is scheduled to
appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week along
with players from lour other undefeated schools received
his injury was upsetting itself.
Each time, Nebraska lined up to kick either a field goal
or an extra point, Missouri noseguard Norman Goodman
shifted to the left end, just outside and across from Red
wine. Osborne said Tiger Head Coach Warren Powers said the
shift was designed to clear a path for a defender to get
through to the punter. .
Each time, however, Goodman did not go fo'r the
block, Osborne said. Goodman was aiming at Redwine's
legs, Osborne added.
The injury occurred when Goodman, delaying slightly
so Redwine would throw a block, hit Redwine in the right
knee, Osborne said.
"It was one of the worst things I've seen in 1 7 years of
coaching," he said.
"Warren (Powers) assured'me he had not coached this
particular maneuver. I think the player was taking it upon
himself," Osborne said.
"They (Missouri) have, got the same films we've got so
they know what happened," Osborne said.
Redwine, who is scheduled to appear on the cover ot
Sports Illustrated this week along with four other players
from undefeated teams, is doubtful for Saturday's game
against Kansas State, Osborne said.
After Redwine's injury, Fullback Tim Wurth and I
back Craig Johnson were also victims to similar plays,
Osborne said.
Johnson suffered a hip pointer and a bruised hand
which "wasn't from they way he ran," Darlington said.
Osborne said he was worried about the officials at
Missouri because, according to Bruce Finlayson who is Big
Eight supervisor of officials, they were the best.
They are also the same officials that will' referee the
Nebraska-Oklahoma game scheduled Nov. 24 in Norman.
"We were concerned about whether they can handle
it," he said.
Osborne said he called Finlayson Sunday to let him
know he was concerned about the officiating. He said h
didn't seek any changes, that he was "concerned about
the great deal of vacillation and uncertainty" among the
officials.
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