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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1988)
Daily Nebraskan Monday, October 31,1988 Tigers’ trick becomes Cornhuskers’ treat Tim Hartmann Staff Reporter Halloween was still two days away, but that didn’t stop Missouri from pulling out an old trick. It was 76,316 Nebraska football fans, though, that were treated to a 26-18 Comhusker victory against the Tigers Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne estimated that Missouri blitzed 60 to 70 percent of the time, a trick the Tigers last used in 1981, when Nebraska defeated Missouri 6-0 in Columbia, Mo. Osborne said Missouri had not blitzed that much in any of its previous games this season, so Nebraska was not expecting the blitz. He said Missouri’s gambling defense was the reason the Huskers trailed 6-0 at halftime and had only 15 yards of total offense. “It’s a Russian Roulette type of deal,” he said. “Through the first half, they won. We had some opportunities for some big plays, and it’s a deal where you’re going to have big plays or you’re going to have nothing.” In the second half, Nebraska’s adjustments led to some big plays. Husker quarterback Steve Taylor threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Todd Millikan, Taylor threw a 59-yard pass to Nate Turner to set up a Chris Drennan field goal, and Bryan Carpenter ran 49 yards for the eventual winning touchdown. Husker fans may have been disappointed with the close score, but outside linebacker Broderick Thomas said he enjoyed the game. “Just going out and blowing people out, that’s no fun,’ Thomas said. “It came down to gut-check time today, and we found out what we had.” Nebraska was having anything but fun in the first half. With 4:09 left in the first quarter, Missouri took over at its own 48-yard line after a 38-yard punt by John Kroeker. On first down, freshman quarterback Corey Welch hit fullback Tommie Stowers with a 31 -yard pass. The Tigers drove down to the Nebraska 3 before safety Reggie Cooper tackled Welch for a five-yard loss on third down. Missouri settled on Jeff Jacke’s 25 yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. In the second quarter, Tiger defensive back Otis Smith sacked Taylor, forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Nebraska 23. The Huskers fumbled seven times Saturday, losing three of them. Missouri fumbled five times and also lost three. ‘We had our student section booing us, which shows a lot of class. ’ —Osborne Taylor’s fumble led to another Jacke field goal, and Missouri went into the halftime with a 6-0 lead. Nebraska was greeted by boos from some people in the crowd as they left the field. “We had our student section booing us, which shows a lot of class,” Osborne said. “I guess they booed the governor and the chancel lor a couple weeks ago, so apparently they’ve got things all figured out over there.” When the Huskers made it to the locker room at the half, the lights didn’t work. “We thought they (the fans) were really mad at us and pulled the cord,” defensive coordina tor Charlie McBride said. Nebraska’s troubles continued into the third quarter. On the Huskers’ first possession, Tay lor fumbled when he ran left and bumped into offensive lineman John Nelson. The ball was recovered by Missouri’s Lee Johnson at the Nebraska 4, Missouri ran three plays, but only gained two yards, and had to settle for a 19-yard Jacke field goal and a 9-0 lead. Dana Brinson returned the following kick off to the Nebraska 30. Taylor was hit for losses on both first and second downs, resulting in a third down and 22 from the Husker 18. Taylor dropped back to pass, was forced out of the pocket, and then hit Millikan with the 82-yard scoring pass. See TIGERS on 10 Michael Jordan propells Bulls past the Nets By Nick Hodge Stiff Reporter Crowd favorite Michael Jordan propelled the Chicago Bulls to a 117-87 win against the New Jersey Nets in a National Basketball As sociation exhibition game Friday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Jordan, the NBA’s most valu able player last season, played half the game but scored 20 points and picked up five steals as the Bulls defeated former Creighton coach Willis Reed's squad. Jordan established himself as the favorite for most of the crowd of 14,846 before the game even started. He received thunderous applause for pregame slam dunks as well as routine layups. After making his first steal, the arena erupted as Jordan scored his first points of the game on a Jordan special slam dunk with 9:45 re maining in the ODcning Quarter The dunk ignited a 17-point scor ing spurt for Chicago as the Bulls jumped out to a 23-6 lead with 4:55 left in the first period. The Bulls increased their lead to as much as 41 points early in the third quarter. Jordan connected on 8 of 14 field goals and 4 of 5 free throws. He also pulled down three re bounds and contributed four as sists. Jordan said the crowd sal back and watched the action more than most crowds. “I think they were more obser vant and pretty quiet," Jordan said. Jordan said he understood the fans' reaction. "It’s also the first time they got to see myself play, so they were more or less just sitting back and watching," he said. "It wasn’t as enthusiastic as if it would have been a college game." Chicago’s Michael Jordan (23) finishes a slam dunk as New Jersey’s Lorenzo Romar (10) looks on Friday night during the Bulls’ 117-87 NBA exhibition victory at tne Bob Devaney Sports Center. Osborne blasts boo birds prior to praising defense By Nick Hodge Staff Reporter A chorus of bods that echoed through Memorial Stadium on Satur day upset Nebraska coach Tom Osborne. Osborne said Sunday he was dis pleased with several things that hap pened during the Comhuskers’ 26-18 victory against Missouri, including the crowd’s reaction at halftime. Nebraska was greeted with boos after mustering 15 yards of total of fense and picking up two first downs enroute to trailing the Tigers 6-0 at halftime. Osborne said most of the booing was coming from the student section located directly behind the Nebraska bench. we an noucea it, usoome said. “Fans have been treated to many years of real good football. If they can’t tolerate one half of sub-par performance—that’s the way life is.” Osborne said he joined the boo birds in not being pleased with the execution of the Nebraska offense. “Obviously, I thought we could play better too and I wasn’t real thrilled with our performance,” Osbcme said. “But I give the players credit for how they handled their situ ation.” Osborne said he wasn’t down on the fans because a limited amount of booing occurred. He said he wished the fans that did boo would appreciate the 27-consecutive years that the Nebraska football program has posted winning records. Osborne said that Nebraska fans’ expectations may have been influ enced by the Las Vegas oddsmakers. The oddsmakers made Nebraska 34 point favorites against the 2-5-1 Ti gers. Osborne said too many fans pay too much attention to the odds. “The point spreads seem to condi tion the fans expectations of the game’s outcome,” he said. “Fans tend to become complacent.” Osborne said point spreads cause fans to twist their perspectives. “It doesn’t matter what I say the week of the game,” he said. “Fans seem to think gamblers are the only honest people left and that coaches lie.” Osborne said the problems Nebraska’s offense had throughout the first half were directly related to an outstanding performance by the Missouri defense. “I’d like to congratulate Mis souri,” Osborne said. “They have very strong, physical people. We could sec it wouldn’t be easy.” us Dome said ne was unnappy wun the number of fumbles and turnovers Nebraska had against the Tigers. The Huskers fumbled seven times and lost three. “Fumbles were almost conta gious,” he said. “They really hurt us.” Osborne said Nebraska’s defense played well against Missouri. He said linebacker Chris Caliendo, middle guard Lawrence Pete, tackle Willie Griffin, cornerback Charles Fryar and autsidc lir.cbackcr Broderick Tho mas all played well. The Husker defense forced five Missouri turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions. Osborne said Nebraska’s kicking game was also good. He said place kicker Chris Drcnnan’s two field goals and punter John Kroeker’s kicks helped the defense. Kroeker had seven punts for a 41 -yard average. Osborne said the Missouri game could prove to be beneficial. “If the players react properly, they could gain from it more than if it wouldn’t have been close,” Osborne said. “The unnerving part is that it happened.” Big 8 coaches hope to repeat last season By Mike KJuck Stiff Reporter KANSAS CITY, Mo.—With less than a month remaining until Big Eight basketball teams begin their seasons, conference coaches took time Sunday to reflect on last season and look ahead to the 1988-89 season. The coaches, who gathered at Big Eight basketball media day at the Kansas City International Airport. Marriott Hotel, said the success Big Eight basketball enjoyed last season was something to remember and something to build on. Last season the Big Eight sent two teams to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship game at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. Kansas beat Oklahoma 73 69 in that game. Kansas State made it to the semifinal round before falling to Kansas 71-58. “We don’t have to defend the Big Eight anymore,” Iowa State coach Johnny Orr said. “We never have to do that anymore because everybody now knows we’re good, thanks to Kansas and Oklahoma. But not all the conference coaches shared Orr’s optimism. Kansas State coach Lon Kruger said it’s unfair to expect the Big Eight to repeat last season's showing. He said the confer ence needs to work on solidifying what it gained from last season. “If we can follow that year up with a very solid year," Kruger said, “it. would be a great way of solidifying our position on a national basis. “I think we can do it and we have teams in the conference that will have great seasons. Last year, we had such a great representation in the NCAA tournament. If we can come any where close to matching that this year, I think we can finally get over that hump and people will give the Big Eight respect.” The conference qualified five teams for last year’s NCAA tourna ment field of 64. Missouri and Iowa State qualified but lost in the opening round. Nebraska coach Danny Nee said that sending five teams to the NCAA tournament showed the nation Big Eight basketball is competitive. <4I think the year we had last season was very special and may only hap pen once in a lifetime or once a dec ade,” Nee said. ‘‘I think Big Eight basketball is bigger, tougher, and on a national level, we’re going to com pete. We have good coaches, good teams and good schools. I think the Big Eight is going to have some fine quality basketball teams in the postseason tournament.” Most coaches agreed that Okla homa and Missouri will finish as the conference’s top two teams. V
