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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1983)
4 Flat tsn Vizz. fccnday, Acj. 13, tS"3 yrji rv ) Defensive unit combines both experience, potential Cy PAUL ALCXAJ.'CZn til'f CcHlm Cperts Writar "N evenge is sweet. : Am ai east irom u.e univers.iy Qof Nebraska's fans standpoint, nothing could be sweeter than to averts last year's somewhat controversial 27-24 Pcnn State victory. The Huskers will have the opportunity in the first-ever Kickoff Classic in Giants Stadium in front cf a prime time television audience that could be made up of S4 percent cf all the people owning television sets. What has remained fresh in the minds of the Cornhusker fans are two pass recep tions in the waning moments of last year's contest The first controversial catch was by Pcnn State tight end Mike McCloskey just inside the sideline at the Nebraska two-yard line with under 19 seconds left in the game. The following play, quarterback Todd Clackledge threw a low pass to the left cf the endzene where tight end Kirk iCowxnan barely scccped the pass from the turf to give the Lions one of the most dramatic victories in their history. For Nebraska, the heartbreaking loss would eventually be the only blemish on the I lashers' 12-1 season. From the Nebraska frame cf reference, and many other unbiased opinions, just inside the sideline was definitely well cn the outside of that same sideline and barely scccped was simply trapped. The Kickoff Classic, however, will begin a whole new season for both teams and thoughts of last year will subside quickly in the opening minutes. Penn State nuse tackle Greg Gattuso said revenge is not the right motivation to win a football game. "neverge is a jcke," Gattuso said. "If they (Nebraska) think they're going to beat us because they have revenge on their side, they're ridiculous, they're cot going to beat us." As far as any concrete predictions go, Jimmy The Greek probably wouldn't want to teuch this one. Penn State doesn't have a lock ca a starting quarterback, even though there two very capable candidates juniors Doug Strang and Dan Lonergan, who have been fighting it out since the spring. I went say anything," Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno said in response to who 1 f , - !.) I -7 i , - , f - 7 .:- v 'if v I r ,; i f y ....... 4 V J Pcnn tl-.s Ulsck Jan V.nants (44) laass over a West Virginia defender in last year's 244) win over tha Ccur. !r.-era. sxilzh ta Ulack s!:sr cLzying fyIhack last year. CoDtgiM photo srnxdathe his starting quarterback would be. "They're both doing well and they have three weeks to fight it out" Lonergan and Strang both have big league arms and proved they could throw at the annual Clue and White game in the spring. They combined to throw for more than 603 yards on the day. Suddenly Clack ledge's decision to fcrego his final year of eligibility for the NFL draft was a little easier for the Penn State faithful to swal low. Another plus is Jonathon Williams has been moved to tailback and is fully recov ered from knee surgery in the spring. Although Williams was absent from spring S j u - . ... f s i " ' - ' ' - r 7-T 1 ' " f ) .. - ' . drills, some are saying he may be even stronger this year than Curt Warner, Pcnn State's all-time leading rusher and a first round NFL pick. Last year Williams played fullback with Warner at tailback. Tony Mumford will replace Williams at fullback. Also returning on the Lion offense is Ail American Kenny Jackson and the danger ous Kevin Bauh. According to Penn Slate offensive coordinator Dick Anderson, this year's offense has the potential and talent to score a lot of points. "Oh yeah, I think we have the potential to strike quickly and score a lot of points, Anderson said. "Whether or cot we'll get there, who knows?" What the Lions have in offensive poten tial, they have even more in defensive experience. Penn State has a solid nucleus returning on the defensive side of scrim- . mage. Mark Hslinscn, Scott Radecic, Ilarry Hamilton, Greg Gattuso, Steve Sefter and Jce Ilines are back and aside frcm a possible lack cf depth, Paterno feels confi dent with his defense. "We should be a solid defensive team, but our problem is how much depth we can develop in the next cer;!e cf weeks," Pateroa said. "We should have a good first defensive football team, tut we have to get seme depth, you can't play the schedule we play without some depth." Gattuso feels even stronger ibcut this year's defense. "I thL-Jt fcis is the best defensive ton we've had since Tve beeahcre," te sericr esse tackle said. "It's the meet tc.rrd:i for anyone a V..2 niicn to step and neu tralizing Ihrher quirtertack Turner Gill is no simple ch,rs. He talented sprint out quarterback can Lrt yea wilh the run or the pass. - - "GiU is real ti h to prepare for," Gattuso said. "V.'e're t. crLIrg red hard on pass lanes. We tzvs to cc-il3 1dm (Gill). We're gsirg p-jzdih la every time he carries the li'X Wa C i't da that last year and it's sene'ddrj tilt's C-2 to be done this year." Cccsldermg dc!crj:3 h L IL-xtual far the most part, the 'ctlzzzz h truilly a couple of weeks IxdiLd tl2 C'zzzs. Gttuso pre dicted cne cf tss-o cutecn:cs: a.wida cpen, iugh-sccrirg fT;":r cr a c- simiUar to the Pltt-Nerth CzrC'sji a. last year, . which was a shrppy Cz'zlrz struggle. "; Another raapr factor th:t is cliea cver lachcd i the play cf Ca special teams. The kickirg and return birj c.'Ien determine the culec.T.e cf nxt cl:.:2 c- cut with the c::cces arJ dcTcrcrs ti:i est set, the spcciil teams are pr:.ll?y even more up in the air. Althergh ths Ucrj; lz:X a tremendous punter in Ra!;h G::--.:.rz eddeking has ta be cerxidercJ a rtr rh fr Penn State. nrturr.:-i ere i: .1; C. "lno and Llaacima Id-i v:l:i C.3 kidang chcrcs very . .2 1 ..t i :i: : Gattura pr ddj .3 ? ,a3 cf the prc'-r-.s!;";:: ; t. " "Thra's c " ;r -: My yoa can she-,7," C:d veryc::':: . !d3C3Cv:.r7 .jf -t o 1.. tr r. .. . a ., . r-- , - - t - - -" -rr..:y ' I c 7t i:r.e u? c re ;r,Laisa !: t Jv, -.ttakill 7;7d:dLC'3t-;-3-to .;cd.:rCd3Cur team arJ if we rlay curx-A I LMrd;' Ccr".ta ftoa we re capable of ste- - g sryene in th3 " rcn C:j Kcra Crzj Cr"-:j 7C) c-2 nzty to r-1 r3 c! r"S cn V.zz::S.:.zzt clt. 3 ; -y cr t53 Nebraska m:-!.t be D.e tec