PQ3 12 Dally Nebrcskan Thursday, December 15, 1G33 una Li 1 n i . ' - w"- . 7 J ' -V- - f J Vi.- Photo by Ctryn Ltvy Bersie Kosar in his natural habitat: fading back to pass. Bernle Kosar steps up behind center, takes the. snap and fades back to pass. Whoa! Hold it! Walt a minute! Just who Is Bernle Kosar? Whether Nebraska fans know it, the fate of the No. 1-ranked Iluskers could depend on the passing arm ofKccar. The redshirt freshman assumed the signal-caller position for the Miami Hurricanes after a highly contested battle with sophomore Kyle Vanderwende. Miami Coach Howard Schnellenberger said he isnt surprised by Kosar's progress during his red shirt year. He didnt just sit around, he worked and learned Schnellenberger said. "He was on the 'cab' squad and ran our opponents' plays. It was no surprise he did what he did." But as Schnellenberger said it was no surprise, Kosar admitted that he never expected to be the. heir apparent for former Miami quarterback Jim Kelley's position. "I wasnt really behind him (Kelley)," Kosar said. "I was way behind him. While he prepared for a game, I was just concerned with learning the offense.' After securing the starting position, Kosar was welcomed to college football in a 28-3 thrashing by the Florida Gators behind about 74,000 fans. . The Florida game was a humbling experience," Kosar said. "We had eight other guys who were play ing their first game. We played badly against Florida, but there were a lot of positive things that happened" Kosar rebounded from the early-season loss and led the Hurricanes to a 10-1 record and an Orange Bowl invitation against Nebraska. During the season, Kosar completed 201 of 327 attempts, for 2,329 yards. lib yardage fell 74 Ski the rockies and WTH in 8, 12 or 15 passenger vans 7 Days, 1 300 miles, only $365 plus 4 Days, 1300 miles, only $315 9as & ask about our other special rates Mf MIEft CHRYSLER IEASIN0 Leasing & Rental Inc. Lincoln 1648 "N" 477-7253 Omaha 5402 "L" toll free 809-642-1133 Beatrice 614-22 Market St 223-5252 By R DE It A r1: to the Orange Bowl in 8, 1 2 and 1 5 passenger vans. 7 Days, 3500 miles, only $595 plus 5 Days, 3500 miles, only $547 gas & tax ask about our other special rates Lincoln 1643 "ti" 477-7253 Omaha 5402 "L" to!l free CCO-642-1133 Baatrice 614-22 Market St 223-5252 Leasing & Rental inc. It w ' ' IT' : i r . - : yards shy of Kelly's Ln!e-season pssstag record. The cr.lv black nark In hb statbtics was that he rushed for negative yards. "I guess I'm not the quickest c:.y on foot the 20-yeET-old Bosrdrnsn, Ohio, native tzii. As the Orange Bowl matchup approaches, Kosar said he Is trying to withstand the pressure that goes along with playing Nebraska. . "Ve started talking about phyir in the Orange Bowl the week before the West Virginia game, but we took it one game at a time," Kosar said. The game is a few weeks away. We're thinking about it, but it's not worrying us." Both Kosar and Schellenbergcr asree that the Hurricanes will have to go for broke in order to defeat Nebraska. You cant be conservative," Kosar said. "You have to go with what the defense will give you." Schnellenberger agreed, adding that the Hurri canes' offense b far from conservative because it is pass-oriented. "We throw the ball down the field more than most teams," he said. We run the Dolphin's (Miami's pro fessional team) oHense." Whether Kosar performs well against the Iluskers remains to be seen, but Schnellenberger said he has a' quarterback that promises to be a star of the future. "He's going to continue to improve because he's always seeking to improve," Schnellenberger said. "Hell be a much better player as a senior than he is now. He has unlimited potential While the future may be bright, Kosar said, he is staying close to reality. "I haven't thought about professional football and I dont really get too worked up over awards," Kosar said. It's not that he doesn't like them, he said, but for now, he's getting ready for the Iluskers and whatever happens, happens. Faith, hard work bring Hurricanes victory at last By Jeff Browne - The Miami Hurricanes may have a short drive to play Nebraska in the Orange BowL but the road to the Jan. 2 game was anything but easy. . After being routed by the Honda Gators in their opener, the Hurricanes seemed destined to fulfill the dour prophecies of Florida's sportswriters. Before the season began, the Miami Herald asked the state's writers to predict what type of year the Hurricanes would have. Only one writer was able to forecast the 10-win season that Coach Howard Schnellenberger and Miami fashioned. Only a few writers even predicted that Miami would win as many as seven games. Hurricane Sports Information Director Ron Steiner said he didnt believe the doom predictors, although he could see their reasoning. "We were supposed to be rebuilding," he said. "We'd lost (All-Axnerican quarterback) Jim Kelley and some other really good players, so they figured that we'd just have fun this year and go at it for keeps next year." Schnellenberger said he never doubted his team's ability, he just wasnt sure when it would become apparent to everyone else. But when the Hurricanes left the field a 28-3 loser to Florida, both Schnellen berger and his players felt they had reached that .point. ' -. Te played a really fin second half c isst Flor ida," Ctciner said. "After the gime, the ills rcercnt depressed or worried. They just raid to thcrrr elves that they knew they cculd plcy with anybody." n i. a a tf w m 1 p3 r" r sm 3 tllrhi Pcslizz? .from U L.psrpsrs5nlr.c!"j:!v: Dcc.'31fJcn.3 v.. Coll Toll Frc3 C00-C12-7CC3 ' . . : Obccyno Civ:!., r.:!::nl '