Backs dodging injury bullet
By Chuck Green
Senior Editor
Last season was an unusual one for Nebraska
running backs.
Just ask running backs coach Frank Solich.
Before the season started, Heisman Trophy
hopeful Doug DuBose ended his Cornhusker
career prematurely with an iryury to his right
knee, Which he had hurt a year earlier.
Throughout the season, iryuries continued to
riddle the Nebrska backfield. Fullback Ken
Kaelin and I-back Keith Jones suffered ir\juries
and I-back Jon Kelley continue to be slowed by
iryuries.
Tyreese Knox, who
began the year at full
back, was converted
to I-back — his orig
inal position — and
limner snrouueu me
running back situation
with question.
Freshman Terry Rod
gers, the son of former
Nebraska wingback
Johnny Rodgers, strug
gled as a member of Jones
the varsity.
To top it all off, the Huskers were without a
1,000-yard rusher for only the second time since
1978. Jones was the closest with 830 yards.
“Overall, we’re much more experienced at
I-back, and I think that will be a definite plus
this season,” Solich said. “It looks like a pretty
solid position.”
Jones, who earned all-Big Eight honors last
season as ajunior, will begin the fall as the No. 1
I back. Jones’ 4.33-second speed in the 40-yard
dash — the fastest in Nebraska history —
helped him average 5.2 yards a carry and score 14
touchdowns last year.
During preparations for the Iowa State game
last November. Jones tore ligaments in his
thumb and was forced to sit out against the
Cyclones.
Solich said that Jones appears to be fully
recovered from the irgury to his thumb, but
added that he has suffered pulled hamstrings
recently.
Knox, who rushed for 439 yards and two
touchdowns on 70 carries, will enter the fall
sharing the No. 1 spot with Jones. Knox started
the Iowa State game when Jones was ir\jured. He
had played in previous games and rushed for a
season-high 127 yards on eight carries against
Missouri, including a 92-yard touchdown run.
Knox was hampered by hamstring pulls during
the spring, but should be at 100 percent for the
start of the fall, Solich said.
Kelley will also return this season, as will Ken
Clark and Rodgers, Solich said. Jeff Wheeler,
who was third-team at I-back for most of last
season, has left Nebraska to pursue a baseball
career at another school, Solich said.
Bryan Carpenter, a transfer from Coffeyville
(Kan.,) Junior College could also play a key role
in Nebraska’s rushing attack this season, Solich
said. Carpenter signed with the Huskers in 1985
and began practice that fall before leaving
campus unannounced. Carpenter played a year
at Coffeyville before transfering back to Nebraska
at the end of the first semester.
Solich said the big question mark in the
backfield is the depth at fullback.
“That’s a spot where we’re not as good as we’d
like to be, but we still have some fine athletes
there,” Solich said.
Micah Heilbel finished the spring as tne iront
runner, but ir\jured his ankle during a pick-up
basketball game at the start of the summer.
Solich said he thinks Heibel will still be able to
start the fall at the top spot.
“Micah has been running the stadium steps
and trying to do some cutting on the field,"
Solich said. “He’s been doing OK. Hopefully, it
(Heibel’s ankle) will be able to take that kind of
pounding during the season, but right now, it
looks good."
If Heibel doesn’t fully recover, Sam Schmidt
and Doug Dalton will battle for the top fullback
spot. Solich said that Knox isn’t under considera
tion to be converted back to fullback yet, but
may be later in the season.
“We’ll just have to see how we stack up once
the season starts,” Solich said. “We’re not
looking at the possibility right now, but if it’s the
best thing for the team. Knox might try to make
the transition.”
Solich said that Carpenter also will be given a
look at fullback, as well as I-baek.
“He could be a fine fullback for us,” he said.
“He would certainly have more speed than any
fullback we have right now."
Solich said that freshmen George Achola and
Leodis Flowers of Omaha will also be given
strong consideration in the varsity backfield. He
said that there is a possibility that one or *ven
both players may make the varsity roster. If not,
Solich said, Achola and Flowers would play on
the freshman team or redshirt.
I
T“7UNION BANK
1 U ; &TRUST COMPANY
has the Ticket
to Financing Your
Education!
CALL US TODAY FOR
YOUR STUDENT LOANS
Ask about the various loans we
are offering to students: C
Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL)
$75
MEMBERSHIP
•Fitness center with Visit Sports Courts
weights and0‘ymPIC a* 44,h & P Stree,s
•Outdoor pool Of call 47576686
•Whirlpool tor details
•Sauna/steam room
•Aerobic classes
•Basketball courts
•Running track
•Lounge _ “
^^^^44thTpSts. • Lincoln • 475-5686
-1
$90
MEMBERSHIP
•Racquetball at non
prime-time hours
• Fitness center with
Nautilus and Olympic
weights
•Outdoor pool
•Whirlpool
•Sauna/steam room
•Aerobic classes
•Basketball courts
•Running track
•Lounge
CALL
1-800-641-LOAN
FOR APP’.iCATION
Student Loan Center
Nebr. Student Union
Lower Level
University of Nebr. Bookstore
(402) 472 7300
' Student Loan Center
1944 O Street
Lincoln, Ne 68510
(402) 488-0941
Parent’s Loan (PLUS)
Supplemental Loans for
Students (SLS)
We also offer Consolidation Loans