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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1984)
Friday, September 7, 1C34 Pro 3 10 Dally Msbrssk&n Husker varsity, firosh. begin o n c? n 'Hi K Osborne expects a challenge from experienced Cowboys By Jim Basmussen Daily Nebrcskxn Senior Reporter Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said Wed nesday he expects a tough football game with the Wyoming Cowboys in Saturday's season opener. "Well have our hands full, I'm sure," Osborne said. The Cowboys opened the season with a 31-33 smashing of South Dakota, despite a first-half struggle. Wyoming trailed 10-0 after one quarter, but tied the score by half time. The Cowboys then overpowered the Coyotes in the.second half. Osborne said the Cowboys have two advantages over last year's team, which lost to Nebraska 56-20. First, Wyoming already has played a game this season. Second, many Wyoming players have play ed in Memorial Stadium before. They won't be awed by the crowd," Osborne said. "Most of their players have been here, and they wont be that excited. I'm sure theyH play better." Several Wyoming players said they were nervous las t year, playing in front of more than 76,000 red-clad fans. They played as if they were nervous, as Nebraska cruised to a 42-3 lead by half time. But the Cowboys regained their senses and outscored Nebraska 17-14 in the second half. "We weren't able to do much at all in the fourth quarter," Osborne said. "Of course, we had made a lot of substitu tions by that time." Osborne said the Huskers need to be wary of the Wyoming's wishbone offense. The Cowboys can pass or run out of the Fr option attack. In fact, the Cowboys pass more than any wishbone team in the country. Junior quarterback Dave Gos nell has some excellent receivers to throw to. Two-year starter Jay Novacek, a 6 foot, 21 1-pound senior, will start at tight end. Two-year letterraen Allyn Griffin should give the Husker secondary a work out from his split end position. Osborne said the Huskers will have to use last Saturday's scrimmage as their Tirst game." "We can't afford to make some of the mistakes Wyoming made in the first half last week," he said. The Cowboys lost several fumbles and had a punt blocked in the first half against South Dakota. The game will mark the first start for several Huskers. Craig Sundberg, who did little as backup to Turner Gill during his Husker career, will step into the quarter back slot. Jeff Smith, who ran wild in the closing minutes of the Orange Bowl loss to Miami last year, will start at I-back after playing behind Mike Rosier. Shane Swanson, who was Irving Fryar's sub stitute for the last two year3, will start at wingback. Tcm Rathman, who strted the Oklahoma game last year, has taken over the fullback job. Other offensive players making their first starts are Brian Hiemer at tight end, Greg Orton at right guard, Tcm Morrow at right tackle and Scott Kimball at split end. Tackle Chris Spachman, middle guard Ken Graeber and linebacker Blare Mun ford will start for the first time on defense. ( 1 .3 a fcsM rscsvesy & Dsl'y UthTi&ii&n FKt Phots ' osh gndders start inspiring' schedule today By JefTEorfeslik D$ NeLrtaiin StafTWriter Last season the Nebraska freshman football team opened their season with a victory over Ellsworth Jun ior College, 27-10. - Ellsworth posted a 10-1 record and appeared in a bowl game. Today, when the Huskers host Ellsworth at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, freshman football coach Dan Young expects another good game. "They are good football team with a good program," Young said. . Quarterback Wendell Wooten will lead Husker offense. Wooten, 6-2, 1 90, is Nebraska's lone quarterback recruit. He turned down scholarship offers from Texas A&M, Arkansas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State to come to Lincoln. Keith Jones, the standout from Omaha Central, will start at I-back and Jon Kelly will back him up. Kelly was forced to sit out last season with an injury. Omahan Andy Keeler anchors the offensive line at tackle. On defense, Young said the secondary is fast. Law rence Pete, a recruit from Wichita, Kan., and Neil Smith, from New Orleans, La., will provide bulk on the defensive line. Young said that Steve Stanard, a defensive from Lincoln, has shown progress. "We are pretty pleased defensively with how we've been practicing and we are prepared for the game," Young said. "The offense is still working on timing and the blocking rules. It's taking a little longer for the offense to get geared up." Two big names will be missing from today's freshman roster. Tyreese Knox, an I-back from California, is still recovering from leg and shoulder injuries. Young said he probably will be redshirted. Brian Washington, a defensive back from Maryland, ranks as the second-team varsity monsterback. Young said the freshman team may get Washington back. "He is learning a lot up there," Young said. "He will be able to gain some confidence in a game situation. He will get a chance to play one way or another." Young is in his second season coaching the freshman, but said he is going through another learning expe rience. Last year he served as coach and offensive coor dinator. This year Mark Mauer is the offensive coordina tor and Young has taken over the defense. The Husker freshmen currently have a 21 -game win ning streak. Nebraska plays Coffeyville Junior College this year. Young said Coffeyville is one of the best junior college teams in the country. The Huskers also will play junior varsity teams from Kansas State and Iowa State and Waldorf Junior College. "I hope it (the schedule) inspires the team to work a little harder " Young said. "They need to work at it and get prepared to be able to perform and find what it takes to win football games." H!ark DavlsDs'iy M-sfcMsfcait E. J. Hclilti winds up to threw in the Pass, Pert and Kick Competition held by the UNL recreation department Wednesday et the CsikerFocsd Gelds. Mary M&loney and Dusns Cross country teams to vie for title By Clch Cooper Daily Nebrsk&n Staff Wrltr Although 1083 was a surprise year for the men's and women's cross country teams, this year's running Cornhuskers wont surprise anyone but they still hope to continue their success. "Both teams will be better than last year's teams in terms of ability and talent" coach Jay Dirksen said. The men's team came on strong last year, at the ' conference meet by taking second place, the best finish for a Comhusker cross country team since 1972. The women's team took fourth place in the confer ence meet, the best finish for the women's team in more than 10 years. According to Dirksen, the team to beat in the Big Eight will be defending champion Iowa State. Both their men's and women's teams have all their runners returning from last year. Dirksen also thinks that Colorado and Kansas State will compete strongly for the conference title. Both of Dirksen's team3 are fairly young, which he said is good because as the runners get older, they will gain more experience and get better. The Huskers lost top runner and All-American Wally Duffy to graduation, but Dirksen hopes that Tom Hoffman, Kurt Russell and Gerard O'Callaghan will have a strong season. Hoffman holds the school record for the indoor mile. Russell ran a 14:16 in the 5,000 meters, a school record. Dirksen said he thinks that freshmen Kraig Van derbeek and Brian Clark will also have a good season. Dirksen said the women's team will have three people. Karlene Erickson, Jill Noel and Laura Wight who could do well this year. - Erickson holds the school record for the 10,000 meter run. Noel ran a 9:37 in the 5,000 meters and Wight finished 10th in the conference meet last year. The teams attitude is high class, and they have high expectations for the season," Dirksen said. Dirksen said that if everybody can stay healthy, "we could have a shot at winning the title." The Huskers' first meet is Sept 15 at Pioneer Park. The women's race starts at 10 a.m. and the men's race follows at 10:45 slio. Cellar wen iZ2 Izcsillzzi liz