The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 13, 1982, Page Page 12, Image 12
Wednesday, October 13, 1982 Daily Nebraskan Experience is as KSU meets Buskers Page 12 t STOJife featured 1, miSMi lit. rnmwmmm :isl!llh .. ' By Cindy Gardner When Kansas State Coach Jim Dickey matches the fruits of a trial redshirt season against Nebraska's crop of tradition, it will be a game abundant in experience. In fact, Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said the Huskers have never faced a more experienced team than the one Dickey will bring with him Saturday. Kansas State's wealth of experience comes after a year when Dickey chose to begin a redshirt program by holding over 16 players, including eight seniors. The result is a Wildcat team loaded with players who have starting experience. But more than the numbers, Osborne said, it is the quality of the players that sets this year's team apart from K-State teams of the past. After finishing with a 2-9-0 mark last fall, Kansas State opened this season's campaign with three wins before losing to Arizona State and tying Missouri. This defense is coupled witli what Os borne described as a capable offensive unit. In addition to throwing the ball against the Huskers Saturday, Osborne said he expects the Wildcats to warm up their ground game and run against the Husker defense, too. Kansas State's experienced ranks have been thinned by injuries in the past weeks, particularly on offense. Quarterback Dar rell Dickey suffered a mild concussion against Missouri last week. Dickey's con cussion left Kansas State without a first string player in the backfield for the rest of the game. Tailback Mark Hundley is expected to be ready for Saturday's game but the status of the rest of the backfield is not yet known. Nebraska continues to nurse a few injuries of its own. Center Dave Rimington missed practice for a second day Tuesday with a bruised right hand. Osborne said Rimington is expected to practice today. Tight end Mitch Krenk missed Tues day's practice with the flu, while split end Todd Brown returned after missing Monday's workout with a charlie horse. Irving Fryar, starting wingback who missed last Saturday's Colorado game with a sprained ankle, apparently aggra vated that injury at yesterday's practice and went in early. His status for Saturday's K-State game could depend on whether he practices today, Osborne said. i It (MM " lj( V.V U'- I i : J il . jL 7 v, , : talk : , 'V ... i V r t Mm J " 7 Harriers outrace ISU, Missouri The Nebraska men's crosscountry team swept four of the top five places in up ending Missouri and defending Big Eight champion Iowa State at Pioneers Park Saturday. The Huskers tallied 27 points to ISU's 33 and MU's 61. The Cyclones' Joe Kip fang ran the five-mile course in 25:32 lo take first, the Huskers Tom Hoffman, Marc Adam, Gerard O'Callaghan and Mark Gokic filled the next four places. Coach Mark Fluitt said he was pleased with the team's performance despite the poor weather conditions. ISU was without its top runner, Bob Verbeeck, who finished third in the con ference meet last year. Had Verbeeck run, Fluitt said, the results would have been closer. The Huskers, who have won all team competitions they have entered this season, are preparing for a Saturday meet in Des Moines with Drake. They travel the following weekend to Bro okings, S.D., for a dual against South Dakota State. Fluitt said Nebraska will host the Big Eight Conference meet Oct. 30 at Pioneer Park. He said he is hoping his team can go into the conference meet undefeated. r J Staff Photo by Craig Andresen Husker quarterback Turner Gill (12) gets ready to take the ball from center Dave Rimington (SO) in Saturday's 40-14 win at Colorado. Huskers' Johnson accepts backup center role By Bob Asmussen The Nebraska football team has always been known for its depth. Two seasons ago, Roger Craig was known as "the best third-string running back in the nation," backup players Monte Johnson and Brett Moritz were both high draft choices by National Football League teams and former Nebraska quarterback Ed Burns made it in the NFL after taking only a few snaps at Nebraska. This year's outstanding reserve player may be Brad Johnson. In any other season, Johnson, a senior from Harvard, might be Nebraska's starting center, but this season he is playing behind Nebraska's All-American r t V . . - .- V 1 ! ' '. .V.. V Photo courtesy UNL Sports Information Nebraska center Brad Johnson player and Outland Trophy winner, Dave Rimington. "You can't really dispute being second team when you've got somebody of that caliber playing ahead of you," Johnson said. "When you play with a person like that you don't want to be selfish." Johnson has seen a good deal of playing time this season, giving Rimington a rest. He said he doesn't mind his role as long as he gets some playing time. More work "I was told before the season that they (the Nebraska coaches) were going to work me in a lot more than last year," Johnson said. "I played a lot as a sophomore but last season I felt I was wasted." When did Johnson realize he'd be spending his varsity career behind Rimington? It wasn't before last season or even the year before. "It was the first day," Johnson said. "They had him sharing second team with the varsity and I was with the freshman team. I've known all the way through that I was going to be behind Dave." The Nebraska press guide says Johnson could start for a lot of teams. Johnson said he thinks about that from time to time. "I guess there's periods where you get down and start to think about it," Johnson said. "It wouldn't have meant the same to play somewhere else." Johnson said he received scholarship offers from smaller schools in Nebraska such as Hastings and Kear ney State, but he said there was no question that he wanted to walk-on at Nebraska. "Someone who grows up in i small town dreams about playing at Nebraska and that was the way it was for me," Johnson said. "Once I decided on coming here I just concentrated on making the team." Pro football is a consideration for Johnson. Pro prospect "There was a time that I never thought about it," Johnson said. "I've been told by a couple of teams that getting drafted is a possibility. It might never happen." Johnson said he would enjoy the opportunity to try pro football, either in the NFL or the United States Football League. Snapping the ball on punts, field goals and extra points is something that Johnson said he wishes he had learned to do. He has tried long snapping this season and has had some problems. "I skipped one back at Penn State but we made it," Johnson said. "I'd rather not do it with my present con fidence. It's a pressure snap that takes a lot of skill." Despite playing his entire career in the rather large shadow of Rimington, Johnson said he is happy with his decision to come to Nebraska. "Despite everything that's happened I never considered transfering," Johnson said. "Coming from a small school I'd say I had a pretty good career. It could have been better but it could have been a lot worse." Sports Shorts The Nebraska men's tennis team will meet Keafney State Saturday at 9 a.m. The match has been scheduled for the varsity courts, located behind the UNL Coliseum. In case of inclement weather, the Huskers and the Antelopes will square off at the Bob Devancy Sports Center. Kansas devensive end Tim Friess was named Big Eight defensive player of the week for his performance in the Jayhawks' 24-24 tie with Oklahoma State. Friess ended up with 10 tackles, including two for 14 yards in losses. Linebacker Steve Damkroger was Ne braska's nominee for the honor. Damkroger picked off two passes in the Huskers' 40-14 win against Colorado Saturday at Folsom Field. The Nebraska junior varsity football game scheduled for this Friday at UNO has been rescheduled for Nov. 5. The Nebraska women's golf team will compete in the Missouri Invitational Saturday through Monday at Columbia, Mo. The 1982-83 edition of the Nebraska men's basketball team will open practice Friday. The first practice will be at Mabel Lee Hall because of a concert scheduled in the Bcb Devaney Sports Center.