Sports
Gamecocks’ passing game to test Huskers
By Tim Hartmann
Senior Reporter
Nebraska football coach Tom
Osborne said Tuesday that the Com
huskers’ next opponent, South Caro
lina, is even better than their 2-1
record indicates.
Osborne said although South
Carolina lost to Georgia 13-6 last
week, the Gamecocks should be 3-0
because they should have won.
The 3-0 Huskers will face South
Carolina Saturday at Memorial Sta
dium. Kick off for the contest, which
will be televised by ESPN, is sched
uled for 3:07 p.m.
“Georgia is a very good football
team, certainly a top 20 team, maybe
a top 10 team,” Osborne said, “and
South Carolina was a better football
team than Georgia. People tend to
look at the outcome, and South Caro
lina lost, but they just lost the ball or
they didn’t score on three or four
occasions inside the 10-yard line.”
The South Carolina game will
bring Nebraska’s non-conference
schedule to an end. The Huskers’ last
two wins have come over UCLA and
Arizona State, teams who were
ranked third and twelfth before they
played Nebraska.
Osborne said he is wary Nebraska
might overlook South Carolina after
the two victories over ranked oppo
nents.
“I’m very concerned that there
might be some kind of feeling that
'Gee, we’ve got by the two toughest
teams in the Pac-Ten and now maybe
we don’t have as big a job,’” Osborne
said during his weekly press confer
ence. “I just don’t think anybody here
can afford to think that way.”
Osborne said that going into the
season, he felt South Carolina would
be a tough test. He said he still feels
that way.
“South Carolina is a team that we
felt before the season began would be
as dangerous as any that we had to
play in the non-conference season,
and we still feel the same way,” he
said. “We remember back from last
year when we were very fortunate to
win the game.”
Nebraska defeated South Carolina
27-24 last season. The Gamecocks
led 24-20 in the fourth quarter, but
two turnovers in the last 2:08 ended
their upset bid.
In last year’s game, South Caro
lina quarterback Todd Ellis passed
for 286 yards on 26 of 38 passing. Ten
of those receptions were caught by
senior wingback Sterling Sharpe.
Ellis and Sharpe are among 17 return
ing starters for the Gamecocks.
“We thought that they had proba
bly as fine a group of skilled athletes
— when you look at the receivers,
quarterback, running back — as we
played,” Osborne said. “I don’t think
anybody we have played in several
years had as many good receivers as
South Carolina had, and most all of
those players are back this year.
“We lost about half of our starters
and I believe they lost two or three of
their starters and last year was a very
close game. Admittedly, it was in 97
degree heat down in Columbia, which
was probably of some advantage to
them. Still, as far as I’m concerned, it
shapes up as a very challenging foot
ball game.”
Osborne said South Carolina con
I
trasts greatly with the teams Ne
braska has played so far this season.
“South Carolina is basically a throw
ing football team. I would imagine
they have averaged around 40 to 45
passes a game, which is much higher
than either UCLA or Arizona State,”
he said. “They use primarily one
running back in the backfield which is
different than what we’ve been see
ing, and they utilize no tight end and
four quick receivers.”
Osborne said there are several
advantages to the Gamecocks’ “run
and shoot” offense.
“In order to have a good “run and
shoot” offense you have to have,
number one, a good quarterback,
which they do in Todd Ellis,” he said,
“and some fine receivers and at least
one good running back, and they’ve
got an excellent running back.”
--
McCant receives help
with difficult offense
By Steve Sipple
Staff Reporter
Nebraska freshman quarter
back Kcithen McCant said he’s
still trying to master the Corn
huskers’ complicated offense —
and he’s using a good tutor to do it.
McCant said junior quarterback
Steve Taylor has helped him make
the switch from being a high school
quarterback in Grand Prairie,
Texas, to being a starter on the
Nebraska junior varsity. He said he
became friends with Taylor when
the two were roommates last sum
mer and has used him as an ideal
role model ever since.
“We’re good friends,” McCant
said. “Living with him this summer
was a big influence. He tells me
different things about quarterback
ing. He talks to me when I’m down.
I really look up to him.”
McCant said that although
learning the Huskers’ offense has
been difficult, he’s“gctting there.”
He said Taylor also had difficulty
understanding the offense as a
freshman.
“With Steve, it took him a
whole year before he was comfort
able with it,” McCant said. “If you
don’t have the offense down to
where you’re comfortable with it,
you can’t play offense.”
Nebraska freshman coach
Shane Thorell said McCant is an
excellent passing quarterback who
needs to work on running the op
tion. He said McCant needs more
option experience because he
came from a high school program
that emphasized the pass.
Thorell said he is pleased with
McCant’s progress.
“I’ve been impressed with his
leadership ability,” Thorell said.
“He’s got a good attitude and he’s
very persistent.”
Thorell said the combination of
McCant and Tom Haase, a walk on
from Aurora, gives the Huskers a
one-two punch at quarterback. He
said Haase runs the options well.
“Those two quarterbacks give
the team a different look,” Thorell
said. “Both arc real good quarter
backs.”
McCant led Nebraska to 62-0
and 55-0 victories over the St.
Thomas, Minn., and the Baker,
Kan. Junior varsity teams. McCant
completed six of 16 passes for 129
yards and rushed for 112 yards in
the games.
Thorell said McCant’s passing
statistics are misleading.
“His stats didn’t do him jus
tice,” he said. “Keilhen did a good
job leading the team.”
McCant, who passed for 1,500
yards and 18 touchdowns during
his senior season of high school,
took recruiting trips to Oklahoma
State, Texas A&M and Kansas
before signing with Nebraska. He
said the fact that his signing was
overshadowed by the signing of
Mickey Joseph, a prep All-Amer
ica quarterback from Marrero, La.,
bothered him.
“It irritated me a little,” McCant
said. “But I didn’t let it gel me
down. My parents talked to me and
people on the team talked to me
about it. That really helped.”
McCant said the presence of
Joseph, Haase and the other quar
terbacks at Nebraska makes him
work harder.
“I really just want to play good
and show what I’m made of,” he
said.
'
Nebraska freshman quarterback Keithen McCant avoids a diving defender during the
Cornhusker’s 62-0 victory over the St. Thomas (Minn.) junior varsity.
‘Game of the Week’ boosts intramurals
By Chris McCubbin
Staff Reporter
The television crew is ready and
the players are on the field. The an
nouncer greets the audience and sets
the scene as a University of Ncbraska
Lincoln playing field. Both teams arc
introduced, and as they square off for
the game, the announcer and a com
mentator discuss the upcoming game
and other recent sporting events. Then
the game begins - it’s UNL vs. ...
MNU. The “Intramural Game of the
. Seek" has begun X;
“Intramural *INlK Of the
’ Week” is a new, weekly cable televi
sion program that is produced by the
Office of Campus Recreation, 1740
Vine St. It airs Thursdays at 10p.m. on
cable channel 5 and at 11 p.m. on
channel 14.
The “Intramural Game of the
Week” made its debut two weeks ago
with a men’s slow-pitch softball game
between Abel 10 and Burr 2 West.
Abel 10 was forced to field a substitute
team, giving Burr 2 a 13-3 victory.
Doug Engh, a UNL student who
promotes advertising and publicity
for Campus Recreation Department,
said the idea for an ‘‘Intramural Game
of the Week” came to him as he
walked across the campus one after
noon. He said he discovered that the
Campus Recreation Department
ssr
Lasf^sKwmner, Engl
ranged to tape two of the Campus
Recreation Department’s Outdoor
Adventure Trips — a rock climbing
trip in the South Dakota Palisades and
a canoeing trip down the Niobrara.
The two Outdoor Adventure Trips
have already aired several limes, but
Engh said they will be shown through
out the semester in conjunction with
the “Intramural Game of the Week."
Engh said the “Intramural Game of
the Week” will have everything a
professional broadcast has except an
instant replay. He said players will fill
out a questionnaire with their name,
position and previous sports experi
ence to aid in the play-by-play com
mentary.
Engh said scores and highlights
from other intrantuc^ $ames will be
jhowu, and an unofflu|) poll com
piled bt ihe Oanipftiv Recreation
Deparunenrg staff will be aired.
Engh said most of the equipment
necessary for the “Intramural Game of
the Week" is borrowed from Ca
blcvision, 390 N. C >tncr. He said
other than some inexpensive editing
equipment bought last summer, the
program s biggest expense is vide
otape.
Most of the games will be taped
Monday afternoons, Engh said. He
said he uses a three-person crew that
shares the announcing and technical
chores.
Engh said although none of the
Campus Recreation Department’s
staff members have previous broad
casting experience, he edits the tapes
at Nebraska Educational Television
and the “Intramural Game of the
Week” is broadcast i/k from
CiMtopnt*' s studio.
Engh said although the first two
programs aired were men’s softball
games, the “Intramural Game of the
Week” will consist of a balanced se
lection of men’s, women’s and co-rec
indoor and outdoor sports. He said
more Outdoor Adventure Trips _
possibly including the Apple Cider
Bike Tour in Iowa and a canoe trip
down the Missouri River — will be
filmed.
Engh said he isconsidcring filming
the home games of Nebraska sport
clubs such as rugby and soccer. He
said the Lincoln-based band Silent
Reply already has recorded music for
use on a soundtrack during the “Intra
mural Game of the Week.”
If work cqaftu|uc$> op |ch
the studenkJIBtaiipfi penu
said, the iodSflMce fleM
ready in tiihe tor the all ui
flag football tournament during the
first week of November. He said if the
recreation center is completed, the
‘“Intramural Game of the Week* will
be there to record die rec center’s
debut for posterity.”
Photo courtesy
USC Sports Information
Ellis pulls trigger on ‘Run and Shoot’ offense
By Mike Reilley
Editor
On a cool autumn night in 1984, high
school sensation Todd Ellis stood on
the Williams-Brice Stadium field on
the University of South Carolina campus, won
dering what Gamecock recruiters had in store
for him.
The silent stadium suddenly filled with
noise. Lights cut through the dark sky and an
announcer’s voice rang over the stadium loud
speaker. Ellis, then an 18-year-old quarto ack
from Greensboro, N.C., remembered ihe
announcer’s rambling play-by-play sui i »i ng
something like this:
“......South Carolina trails Nebraska 24-21
with time running out... this will be the last play
... the Gamecocks have the ball first and 10 at
the Nebraska 40 ... Ellis calls the signals ... he
drops back in the pocket and finds his receiver
over the middle for the touchdown ... South
Carolina upsets Nebraska 27-24.”
“It was great,” Ellis said. “There were all
kinds of special effects with the band and fans
yelling. The ending almost worked out in real
life.”
Ellis left the stadium that night committed to
playing quarterback at South Carolina—and to
beating Nebraska.
On the same field two years later, Ellis’ heart
raced with panic and hope. After redshirting the
1985 season. Ellis had come on strong in his
fifth game as the Gamecocks’ quarterback. He
rallied South Carolina from an early 10-0 defi
cit, picking apart Nebraska’s secondary with
several short passes from the Run and Shoot
formation.
Nebraska led 27-24 with less than a minute
remaining. Ellis, following the same script as
the announcer had two years earlier, moved the
Gamecocks from their 46-yard-line to the
Nebraska 19.
But this ending wasn’t as sweet as the one
Ellis heard as a recruit. He dropped back to pass
with seconds remaining and spotted teammate
Kevin White near the end zone.
“I remember the (Nebraska) free safety
played inside and that I kept expecting a blitz,
Ellis said. “I kept looking for White to come
across the middle.”
White never came across the middle. He had
, cut the wrofULWUy and Ellis fired the ball to
tbfcr. Sfet
under the ^ stares, wondering
what had happened. He had just completed 26
of 38 passes for 286 yards and played one of the
best games of his young career.
"1 was very disappointed after the Nebraska
game,” Ellis said, “but it built up my confi
dence. 1 learned that I can play at the same level
of a program like Nebraska’s. I just hope we can
pull one out like we did on the tape.”
Ellis will have one last shot against Ne
braska Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff
is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. The teams aren’t
scheduled to meet again during the regular
season, bowl games notwithstanding.
‘‘I know we can’t run right at Nebraska,”
Ellis said. ”1 plan to play a patient game. I’m
hoping get some of my passes underneath the
coverage.”
Nebraska coach Tom Osborne expects Ellis
to be even more of a threat in this year’s game
than he was in last year’s.
“Ellis is a lot like (NU quarterback) Steve
Taylor,” Osborne said. “He has had a full year
as a starter. He’s a very accomplished quarter
back, so he just gets better in a year’s time.”
South Carolina, 2-1, is coming off a 13-6
loss to Georgia while the 3-0 Cornhuskers are
ranked No. 2 in The Associated Press poll.
“We lost to Georgia when we were counting
on a win,” said Ellis, who completed 29 of 51
passes for 306 yards against the Bulldogs.
“We’ll come out and play hard (against Ne
braska) and evaluate our situation from there.
We have dreams of going to a bowl game.”
The Gamecocks’ narrow loss to Nebraska
last year all but ended their chances at a bowl.
They finished with a disappointing 3-6-2 rec
ord.
Although South Carolina’s season was
clouded with losses, Ellis continued to shine.
He set NCAA freshman season records for
passing yardage (3,020), touchdowns (20) and
total offense (2,975). He passed for 200or more
yards in 10 of 11 games, including a school
record 394 yards against Virginia Tech.
Ellis’ 3,020 yards passing was 463 more
than Hcisman Trophy-winner Vinny Testav
erde of Miami threw for last year. But Ellis
threw 22 interceptions while Testaverde had
nine.
“I had a lot more picks (interceptions) than
(Testaverde) did,” Ellis said. “But I think we
pul the ball up more than (Miami) did. I think
he’s really a great quarterback and I think there
is really no comparison.”
South Carolina offensive coordinator Frank
Sadler said Ellis may compare to Testaverde in
the future.
“He’s still not in a class with Testaverde
because he’s still growing and learning,”
Sadler said. “He’ll be a No. 1 (National Foot
ball League) draft choice by the time he com
pletes his schooling. By his senior year, I think
he’ll be ready for some national honors.
“Todd is a gifted athlete, but he still makes
some immature mistakes.”
Ellis’ first collegiate start came against
Testaverde and the Hurricanes. Testaverde
passed for 231 yards to Ellis’ 227, but the South
Carolina quarterback had two touchdown
passes.
ButTestaverde left Columbia, S.C., with the
most important statistic — a 34-14 win.
“You’re not a great quarterback until you
start winning,” Ellis said.
So far this season, Ellis has passed for 880
yards and is on schedule to break the NCA A
single-season record of 4,571 yards set in 1980
by Brigham Young’s Jim McMahon.
His accomplishments at Greensboro Page
High School included three years as a starter at
quarterback,6,157 yardspassingandplaying in
three North Carolina state championship
games.
Marion Kirby, Page’s football coach, said
Ellis ran the offense almost perfectly.
“Some people try to look for flaws in him,”
Kirby said. “I just thanked God that we had
him.”
Ellis, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 203
pounds, played at about the same height and
weight in high school. He said his size hasn’t
been a factor in his football career.
“Physically, I’m just another average joe,”
he said. “I’m not really an athlete, but just a
copy cat. Quarterback is all repetition. The
coaches show me what to do. Then I do it.”
Kirby said Ellis was a prize pupil.
“He was a great student of the game and he
was a real tough kid,” Kirby said. “He always
practiced his craft. He never screwed around
with the game.”
Ellis was recruited heavily by several
schools besides South Carolina, including
Notre Dame, Louisiana Stale, Georgia and
Stanford.
Ellis said South Carolina has been the best
school for him. His parents, Charles and
Daphne, moved to Columbia about the same
time he did.
Ellis, who played on Page’s basketball team
with Kansas All-America Danny Manning,
said he didn’t mind leaving North Carolina.
“If I was a 6-foot-ll swing forward or
center, I would have gone to North Carolina,”
Ellis said, “but I wanted to go to a place where
football is the No. 1 sport. South Carolina is just
perfect.”
Kirby said he thinks Ellis will eventually
■ t
j y
have told them that he passed those tests a long
time before.”
On Saturday, Ellis will be tested again. And
he plans on passing.
Brian Barbar/Dally Nabraakan