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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1983)
t first Down KajsiSn Monday, Aug. 23, 1S33 - no r? 'ifu'QO' By DEVJM E. TEJRAL Daily Nsbraskan Sports Writer Vc) evenge. It can play a big part in the - I minds of any athlete who has ever U u competed in any sporting event. The 1SS2 Comhuskers sprinted through the season untouched, except for one small hurdle, Penn State. The Nittany Lions ended up national champions while the Iluskers finished No. 3 compiling a 12-1 record and an Orange Bowl victory. So how is Nebraska dealing with the revenge factor? Nebraska coach Tom Os borne laughs when asked about this. . "We all remember what happened up there last year and we're very excited to get a shot at them this year. But no, we're not going up there to play for revenge," Osborne said. . The revenge that thousands of Nebraska faithful have been talking about happened in the last 30 seconds of last year's game at Beaver Stadium. - Penn State quarterback Todd Black ledge dropped back to pass and hit tight end Mike McCloskey at the two-yard line but McCloskey appeared to be out of bounds and that set up the game winner for Penn State. Controversy followed T-shirts were printed about McCIoskey's so-called catch., Nebraska followers believed that one call cost them the national championship. Osborne has mixed emotions going into the Kickoff Classic game. "We have to play one game at a time,"! Osborne said. "Sure everyone is going to be up for the game. That's natural. The first game of the year, national TV. It's a big game, but it's just one game." " Senior quarterback Turner Gill will lead an explosive Comhusker attack, that led the entire country in total offense last year. Gill didn't get nearly as much attention as Comhuskers' All-Americans Dave Ri mington and Mike Rosier. Gill competed 54 percent of bis passes for 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1SS2. He also rushed 181 times for 437 yards and four touchdowns. Osborne said he believes Gill deserves to be recognized on the national level. -"Turner is not appreciated nationally because we don't throw the ball 40 times a . game like Stanford did with John Elway and Penn State with Blackledge. But in terms of our offense leading the nation in total offense I think there is no one better," Osborne said. "He audibles well, throws. well and he gives us an added dimension with his ability to run." To complement Gill he has a cast of All Americans to rely on. Rozier, the Comhusker senior I-back, rushed for a school record 1,689 yards last year, scored IS touchdowns and averaged seven yards every time he touched the ball. "He's probably as good as any back in the country," Osborne said, "and quite like the best going into this season. I'm not sure he wasn't last year." While Rozier didn't receive as much attention as ether backs around the coun try, he was named to four AU-American teams and was selected the Big Eight Player of the Year. When the Iluskers go to the airwaves the man they will lock to will probably be senior wingback Irving Fryar. Fryar total ed 833 yards in offense on only CS attempts in 1S22. He averaged 14 yards per recep tion. His 15 yards per punt return was second best in the nation to go along with his 31 yards per kickoff return and 12 per rushing attempt. "Rozier, Ftyar and Gill are among thev most talented players we've had," Os borne said. The Nebraska backfield will operate behind a line with only one returning starter. Two-time Outland -winner and Lombardi Trophy winner Dave Rimming ton has graduated to the NFL. He will be succeeded by junior Mark Traynowicz. "Mark will be an adequate replace ment," Osborne said. "He obviously won't have as much experience as Dave, but he's aggressive and has locked premising in practice." AYhile'the offense win get all the head lines the defense will have to do the job if the Iluskers are to be successful this season. "Our. main concern is at linebacker where we lost three or our four top play ers," Osborne said. "Fortunately, the one is Mike Knox, who is an out- player with two years experi- returning standing ence. The interior line on defense will be led by tackle Rob Stuckey. Defensive end should be a strong point with returning regular Bill Weber and top 1S32 reserve Scott Strasburger. The defensive secondary re turns 1S02 starters Bret Clark and Dave Burke. Through graduation Nebraska lost vir tually all of its kicking game. Gone is four year letterman Kevin Seibel and punter Grant Campbell. ( x T. - - r-!j ..." ' ' -! 1 1 1 i HI I . W rv firstCswn photo Nebraska quarterback Turner G"l gsts ready to throw a pees In romp over uwsnoma State last year. C::i will ones z-.x le:d offense. t. .3 CXowvn ;;.srs' 43-10 3 Nebraska uskers' tight cy jacx ccxci First Cstea Assccirla LCllor ' u iv wic ii.uiiiun cesi uy saying, cl "I'm dad they're c!avin anH ne tn " Huey. the Nebraska receivers rnarti w referring te a gutfedirg ha has about his green group cf ti.t ends, who have the unenviable task cf blacking Penn State's seasoned -duo of defensive ends ia.the Kickoff "The t:g question right cow is how they'll (tight ends) held tp playirg PSU and their talented defensive ends," Il-sy said. "Cut I thirds we'll Lave three good players by thati-swegettothstgzrne." Defends .;7eers to be the strongest aspect cf the Nitinny lien lzz'z.U team this yeer and the finely honed Py cf derive ends Sieve Ecftar and Jchn Walter are two cf ta rzzzzzs why. "V.'e csnl ct n:rre esdtcd fcr ens town's defence o czzzl to cr7 ct::rr," KLrr V.J-Jl c: -"! 'zi2 1!rr.t2 iir-:L:;L..j c! Cipcrji Zil2 CV-. "It v.;.',l la end situation a questioo', mmk an exciting game, but we can't get caught up in all that hoopla. We'll just have to go out and do our job." Getting the job done sufficiently is of major concern for the Hucker coaching staff since tight end is the least experience position on offense this year. Engebriiscn, a fourth string player a season ago, is the only returning player with game experience at the position. Nevertheless, according to Ecgcbritscn the NU ts'vt ends were able to receive during practice sessions E; vital experience they need to ccmpcte with Penn State. "1 feel that we have a very gscd defense cf our own' pgntscn said. "And by playing against Lhem for the kst tlxee weeks gave us as much experience as anyc-e Our defense is equal to anyone." . ' In addition to the inexperience factor, sncLher prctlem y"i rrrT3' ,rh Uc-1 D-n hui have C:zrtzi, Iziilz (zr tlx 1 is vr.li c n rt t -' t r- t u;ir; 3 r-s izttzi into a trca-ira s.Tsir " v i ci r.-rirj arcs with r;rJ:r Cr'r:-- currcr.'Jy i:t:i i; and c;.he:r.eres Cria i;::.-:rxf t Shelby, and Todd Frain cf Treyncr, leva til m contention for ttz starting aesignment. "I lave no reservatiens t:;;:t't!x:r z "Ity t3 c:t C:e job dene," llzsy said cf his tea prer-:et:. "Li terns of talent fcergh, this grtv? is net 5 v. :: cf d r:r.2 in the pst, but they den't hck b d::!re z'l 1 : Er-ebritsea, a Si peundcr frezs I! - -3, CzzzJt see ths tiht end pce:t;en a zzzz r;.;..:: c:H:r. Intend, he sees it as a pceitien vh r.3 1 'j nzzz, L:.i cz2 tX will get better with tin. 2 to d X ' "Ve have e.-er;:'s ti!:::t it f "' :i C :t I d:a't see , 2ny cf us ilzyizz C.2 v.L ' - . " LV seid. "Ve're net as t:j o ce2 1':": cz "j !;'-;-2 teen fa 2 post b::t .'V .""-- ' . .111 -r - . 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