Friday, November 2, 1986
Daily Nebraskan
Page 7
ports
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Daily Nebraskan File Photo
Oklahoma quarterback Jamelle Holieway attempts to spin out of a tackle by Husker defensive
end Brad Smith during last season's 27-7 Sooner win. Holieway will try to light up the
scoreboard again in Saturday's game in Memorial Stadium.
OU ready to ffigk
for Orange Bowl.
By Jim Ballard
Senior Reporter
It's the same old stoiy.
For the 39th time in the last 41 years,
the winner of the Nebraska-Oklahoma
game will have won or shared the Big
Eight Championship.
Oklahoma comes into Saturday's
game at 9-1, and ranked No. 3 in the
nation. A Sooner victory would ensure
them of an outright Big Eight title and
a trip to the Orange Bowl. If Oklahoma
wins this weekend, a rematch with
Miami for the national title is unlikely.
Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer said
that shouldn't matter when his troops
invade Memorial Stadium.
Just because we don't attain it (national
championship), it doesn't mean our
season's been a failure," Switzer said.
"The players don't think "well, it's over
with and I'm not going to play hard.' "
"When the ball's snapped, (line
backer Brian) Bosworth's going to knock
somebody's head off. Greg Johnson,
Steve Bryan and the rest of those guys
too,"
Bosworth, a two-year All-American
and winner of last year's Butkus Award
awarded annually to the best col
lege linebacker leads the defense.
Since its early season loss to Miami,
the Sooner defense has given up an
average of three points a game and has
not allowed a rushing touchdown all
season. Other than Miami, no other
team has scored on Oklahoma with the
exception of Kansas State. Their
touchdown came on an interception
return.
However, Switzer admitted his de
fense would have its hands full with
Nebraska's attack.
"I have to agree with Tom Osborne's
assesment that he felt, going into the
season, that Nebraska had more speed
and quickness than some teams in the
past," Switzef said. "(Steve) Taylor is
probably faster than Turner Gill and
(Keith) Jones is the fastest back they've
ever had."
The Huskers will have their hands
full, though, as the Sooners, ranked No.
1 in the nation against the run, are
allowing only an average of 56 yards a
game. Their pass defense is No. 2 in the
country; Oklahoma ranks first in total
defense, giving up a mere 1 63 yards per
game.
On offense, Oklahoma possesses an
offensive line which Switzer says "is
probably the best I've ever had."
Led by all-Big Eight performer
Anthony Phillips at middle guard and
295-pound Johnson beside him, the
Oklahoma line averages 422 yards a
game on the ground and puts an aver
age of 44 points per game on the score
board. Both of those statistics top the
national charts. The Sooners are also
ranked No. 1 in total offense.
The backs are led by sophomore
quarterback Jamelle Holieway. Holie
way has rushed for 736 yards this year,
an average of 6 12 yards per carry. The
remaining starters, in the backfield,
half-backs Spencer Tillman and Patrick
Collins, and fullback Lydell Carr, all
average more than 5 yards per carry.
Saturday's game also will match two
of the top quarterbacks in the Big
Eight.
Holieway, who was an all-Big Eight
selection last season, has passed for
394 yards this year. Nebraska's Taylor
has thrown for 677 yrads, while gener
ating almost 500 yards rushing, an
average of 5 yards per carry.
"Taylor's talents fit their style of
offense better than Jamelle's would fit
it," Switzer said. "I think Jamelle's fits
our style of offense better than he
would fit theirs."
Oklahoma will also be shooting for
its 600th career victory on Saturday.
Only seven other teams have accomp
lished that, including Nebraska, who
reached that plateau last season.
Kick-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. to
accommodate a national television
broadcast by ABC.
MU swimmeirs Baeaudl to Colorado
By Jeff A pel
First Down Editor
A pair of programs in two different stages will
be awaiting the Nebraska women's swimming
team when the Cornhuskers travel to Colorado
State and Wyoming this weekend.
Nebraska women's swimming coach Ray Hup
pert said the 2-1 Huskers are entering their
Friday night meet against Colorado State with
caution because of how Nebraska has treated
the Rams in the past.
Nebraska has won the last four meetings
between the two schools, including an 80-42
victory last year in Lincoln.
"If you lose four times to a team, there's a
little extra incentive to turn things around,"
Huppert said. "We will be ready to confront a
very, very good team (in Colorado State)."
Huppert said the Colorado State women's
swimming program has made great strides since
MakMia aim life undone ijafo iiiieciilo" cgpm
This iz it. It's that time of year zgiix
It's tixtgjfcr Nebraska football fans every
where to leas sleep for a week, watch every
TV station's sports report twice a day and
think abeat nothing else -but Saturday's
game. -
ciit
G
t "i "!
f
: A
Lock your cbcre, bolt your windows and
get tl a d.ill'tn c:t streets. This year's
verdea cf ". , ! I V . - III h cn the way.
It's CkL: -rati? 3
;-: ' jrf. ; v 'rogemi? fa Nebraska
knew. : I'r.i ' iltbcut People from
other f. : c r.cr'';? sorrie cf the
itcjs 1 .. : .'. : ' : r : c: ' .i:s tl is f r :J
i:r l : 3 il :i t'j ',:!::: a-O'.Ubc".
jci3 cf tcsversalian, tut r.or.s cf tbx:2
i Li 1 V..2 Impact in terr.3 d rticr.d
rknkir.oS ar.d individual f rectus 3 the
Nebraska-Oklahcma shoctc-j:ts sir.ee 1S70. '
Since that year,' Nebraska-Oklalionia
goir.es have produced five national cham
pions. They've produced Keisir.an Trophy
winners Johnny Rodgcrs, Cilly Sims and
Mike Rosier. Nebraska teams have pro
duced five OutUnd Trophy winders whib
the Socr.crs hr;c produced one, but Okla
homa leaii the race in Lcmbardi Awards,' -3-2.
Never since 1870 has at least cr.e of
the tea:rks net finished in the top five in
the Associate Press Tr.al pell.
That's how much this rivalry means to
the college football world. ,
. To Husker fens, it ha3 meant even mere. ,
Each yesr, the season is maie cr broken by
the outcome of tlie gsiae. Sir.ce becoming
ccach in 1973, Tern Osbcr:.o has t cri
ticzed more about los-fr ta CI b,hc:ra .
than he's deserved and I J3 tzi L i p;.t5
on the back for the tiir.es bo's mrrcd t3
beat the Socr.crs. In 1873, C.-:;: . b:-:t
v.hrt nzy hive been tha let c:;l.-:.-r.i
tizrz cUi:,cr,7tob2i; i-i dth ,
the Sooners aula in the 0ran?3 Ecsvl six -v:ccks
later. It's been that kind cf a series
f;r Cwome. Ke even centered ka-ir
Nebraska to take the ccicb;r?job at Colo
rado when the fa rrc-:-r3 rcrib?! an
a!l-tir,e h!:,h kvcl cf ir.tcaf.ty a.ter the
Far Nebraska fans, it hasn't been quite
?s traumatic, but it has ben e-"y frus-
tratir, c. pscially daring the six-game
stretch f;x:.V 1972 through 1977. For at
. kast a week before those six games,
Nebraska far.s were treated to the unat
tractive taar.tir.3, Cheshire-cat smiles of
Oklahoma flayers like Thcmas Lett, Elvis
Peacock, be Roy Solmon, Billy Sims and
J:3 Va:hirton on television, telling the
naticn l.r.v they planned to shut Nebras
ka's .r.c:-:3 down while they did every
thir.5 they wanted to against the Husker
dcnaa. Tl.e worst part about thesa six
tcrribls years was that the Sooners ahvays
backed up every word they said.
Of ccjx: 3, bad memories aren't ths only
recollections Husker fans have had of the
series. Thc-Ii the heartbreaks are re
membered longer, Netr&sk&ns have had
- their share cf happy mcmcr.ts thrcoghout
the scries. The 1971 N lra:I-:a 05-31 v.in in
the "Gsme cf the Century" tops eff most
lis.". Its 37-14 pounding of Oklahoma ia
' V" vdll be remembered for & lcr time,
c , ;ilt: 32321vv!-ii2ilS32aridth?r".:;.-3-.rort
by i: A Harris in l2rJ that
salvr,",: J Nc.ra V.a's perfect n-j-Jar seaacn.
For r :':b::r fans : zz:t fans alike
the l:.:t 13 :s hr.e Ireal.t countless
c! rcn ar.,1 hcartbre a!;s, sm:l :s i:?A frcv.ns,
' ar.i the eer-prescat "wait til next year"
ccmmcr.ts. Saturday won't choree a thin.
Greea is a junior, news-editorial and
criraiisal-jMtice msjor from LLiccIa ead is
the Daily Nsbrssiaa spsts editor.
the Huskers began their winning streak over the
Rams in 1981.
Not only has Colorado State coach John Mat
tos managed to recruit top athletes to the Rock
ies, but Huppert said the Rams also carved a
notch into their swimming history when Val Lang
gave them their first-ever points at the NCAA
meet last year.
"They're to the point where they have to think
beyond their conference and think of themselves
as a top-20 team," Huppert said. "They're swim
ming really well."
Mattos said despite the praise by Huppert for
the 2-0 Rams he isn't ready to concede a victory
over Nebraska.
Nebraska possesses too much depth and too
much overall talent to be taken lightly, Mattos
said.
"It's true, Ray lost some of his big guns,"
Mattos said, "but it's still going to be extremely
tough to beat them."
Mattos said the Rams never have been more
confident that they could defeat the Huskers
than they are this year.
Four years ago when the rebuilding process
was in its infant stages at Colorado State, Mattos
said his squad approached its meet with Nebraska
with the idea it could learn by facing a good
team.
Now, Mattos said, his squad approached the
matchup with the idea it is capable of swimming
against anyone.
"We've had some good races. I can't deny
that," Mattos said. "It has taken us awhile to get
our feet off the doormat, but everything we have
is still on paper. I can't say we're capable of
finishing in the top 10 in the NCAA meet."
Both Mattos and Huppert will get a taste of
just how far their respective squads may go in
this year's NCAA meet when the Huskers and
Rams compete in the Wyoming relays on Saturday.
Because the field includes Wyoming, Colorado
State, Air Force and Nebraska, Huppert said, it
won't be easy for the Huskers to claim their
fourth Wyoming Relays title.
See SWIMMING on 8