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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1987)
Crowd pumps up kicker Drennan By Lori Griffin First Down Reporter Stepping on Memorial Stadium astroturf for the opening kickoff before 76.000 screaming fans mas bother some place kick ers. but not Nebraska's Chris Drennan. Drennan. a redshirt sophomore from Cxpress, Calif., said he looks forward to running onto the astroturf at Memorial Sta dium because he considers even fan to be his friend. "1 realK love to come out here and kick w hen all of the fans are here,” Drennan said. I know the home games, especially. I feel like I ha\ e ~6.000 friends here in the stadium and the> are all pulling for me, too and helping me make that kick." Drennan said that he thinks that there is no pressure from fans. He said that he gets excited when he knows that the fans are excited. Drennan came to Nebraska in 1985, after being recruited by Air Force, Brow n, Ore gon. Oregon State and Califomia-Berkeley. He said that he was also recruited by every school in the Big Eight w ith the exception of Missouri. Drennan -aid that he had a specific judg ing process that he went through when he was looking at schools. "I was looking at the football program because that is what I was being recruited for." Drennan vaid. "But I also want to look at academu' on a same level as football." "I was trying to find a happy medium between the two a' far as academics and ■ vtball. Of course the coaching staff can x\ik for itself. I think that Nebraska was the best choice, by far," Drennan >oid that he was a typical fresh man when he entered Nebraska. "I think when you ».ome in as a freshman you're a little 'Ur 'truck." Drennan said. "It's such a big change from high school football, you're coming in and everybody has that „hame to be with the \arsity and think that they really kan do it. ” utkc tnc> treshman piaversi get here ihev see how muchol'an adjustment it isju'I to handle the academics.“ Drennan said a freshman play er has to be able to learn how to budget his time before he ean consider w hat his future w ill be He said most recruits tend to look at the athletic pan of the schol arship and not the academic end. "I think that >ou should grow as a person and evaluate what you are truly here for and that is academus." Drennan said. Drennan Mid that his mam goal at Ne braska ^ to complete his degree in account ing. He Mid that he has a 3.0 grade point average Drennan said that it w ould be an honor to be nominated an academic all-Big Eight pla>er "I'm sure it would be a great honor to be an academic all-Big Eight because then it would show that you are really something more than just an athlete, “ Drennan said. "To be nominated as an Academic All Big Eight would almost be as much of an honor, if not more.” Plasers can not be set in their goals, Drennan said, and he said that he did not ha\e an> goals w hen he came to Nebraska. Drennan said he has not set down and thought about too mans personal goals for his career at Nebraska. "I look to each game and I just hope that I am able to do the job when I am called upon. " Drennan said. "I am somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to athletics or m v school w ork and so I guess that makes me concentrate a little more on being consis tent " "I think that is reall> important in a kicker." Drennan 'aid. Drennan said that a goal of his was to become the 'tuning place kicker — a goal which he accomplished this >cur when sophomore Greg Barrios dec ided to redsh irt. Dan Young, who coaches the kickers, said that Drennan received the 'tuning nod before the l tah State game. He 'aid that Drennan w a> muc h more consistent as tar as kickoffs than Bamos a us Young 'uid Drennan ha' improved 'ince fall practices began. He said that Drennan has a strong leg. Young said that the strong leg that Drennan has is evident b> kickoffs that have sailed into the end zone and have not been relumed. Drennan said that he worked out in Lin coln over the summer and that he believes this is what helped him to improve. Drennan sad that he spent at least an hour working out everyday this summer. He was also employed in the Lincoln area Drennan said that practicing in Memorial Stadium this summer helped him to become accustomed to it. He said that it he w ould not have been in Lincoln this summer then he might have ran into difficulties. “You don't get experience at home," Drennan sad. “The stadium feels like home to me now." i oung saiumaiurennanismoremanjusi a kicker. Drennan was the backup punter for the Oklahoma State game last Saturday. Young said that Drennan also made a key block in the Arizona State game Sept. 26. Drennan make the block that allowed quar terback Clete Blakeman to get a pass off a take field goal attempt. Blakeman com pleted the pass to set up a Nebraska touch down. 'Chris i> a guise little plaser." Young said "He has been contributing a lot to our football team." Drennan _I Andrea Hoy/Firat Down