Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 1988)
L _ - Nee: Johnson to be NU’s key leader JOHNSONS from Page 7 third look. “Without me, he might not get that.” Eric said he appreciates his brother’s help, and doesn’t consider his brother’s presence to be any type of disadvantage, even though people are constantly making comparisons. Eric said Vinnie has been a great influence on his basketball career. He said Vinnie helped him as a youngster by steering him away from football and baseball and onto the basketball court. “My first true love was football,” Eric said, “but Vinnie kept telling me I should be playing basketball. So I did.” I Eric said Vinnie also helped him following his senior season at Fran klin Roosevelt High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., by aiding him in his college choice. He said he knew he had to follow in his brother’s foot steps and attend Baylor even though he was being recruited by then-Ohio University basketball coach Danny Nee. Eric left Baylor following his sophomore season because “things didn’t go to well.” He said he trans ferred to Nebraska because the Com huskers had just hired Nee to replace former Coach Moc Iba. “I knew what type of person Coach Nee was, so I knew this was the best place for me,” Eric said. “I liked Coach Nee because he recruited me -1 out of high school and because he stresses academics and athletics.” Eric said his first year at Nebraska two seasons ago wasn’t difficult even though he was forced to spend it as a redshirt. He said he took part of the credit for the Huskcrs’ 21-22 season and subsequent 3rd-placc finish in the National Invitation Tournament be cause he was on the scout team. 7 think having a brother in the NBA will help him get a second or Third look. Without me, he might not get that.' —Vinnie Johnson Eric said the hardest part about sitting out fora year was redeveloping his game liming. He said the quick liming in practice docs not compare to the fast tempo and the crowds encountered in games. Eric said last season was frustrat ing because Nebraska finished with a 13-18 record. The Huskcrs arc confi dent that they can improve on that mark this season, he said. ‘‘Let’s pul it that way,” Eric said. “We definitely have more talent — it’s just younger.” Eric said ne is aiso connaeni mat he can improve this season. He fin ished the 1987-88 campaign as Nebraska’s fifth-leading scorer with an 8.8 points-per-game average while leading the team with 112 assists and 60 steals. He also averaged 3.5 re bounds per game. Eric said he would like to score more points this season. He said he needs to increase his points-per-game average because Nebraska lost guard Henry T. Buchanan and forwards Derrick Vick and Jeff Rekeweg. All three used up their eligibility last season. Eric said he does not want his scoring to come at the expense of the team. “As long as we get a ‘W’ (a win), that’s all I care about,” he said. “If we win and I score five points, I’ll be happy. If I score 20 and we lose, I won’t be happy.” Vinnie and Nee said they are ex pecting good things from Eric this season. Vinnie said he knows Eric will have a good year because of the con fidence he displayed this summer. “He’s a lot more confident now than he was in the past,” Vinnie said. “He knows he can be consistent and successful.” Nee agreed. “I really feel Eric is going to be the key leader on this year’s team,” Nee said. “I think he is going to be the key at the point-guard spot.” Rule upsets Coach Nee WINDOWS from Page 7__ ers.’ That’s a real positive thing that we have to hang our hats on.” Although Nebraska fans probably won’t shift their focus off football. Nee said, he at least wants the average fan to be aware of the Huskcrs’ bas ketball program. But he said he wants Nebraska to join the elite schools that have good football and basketball teams. “There used to be this theory that you can’t have both a good football and basketball team at the same school,” Nee said. “But that’s gone with the buffalo. Look at Oklahoma and Notre Dame. There arc so many schools that have great football and basketball teams.” Last game stirs memories THOMAS from Page 7 ulcs later he fumbled, and Nebraska stumbled 17-7. Ordinary happenings deserve mention, too. College football in Lincoln was more than a final score. It was drink ing watered-down Seven-lip and clapping to Hail Varsity. It was inhaling mustard-laced sta dium steaks, religiously wearing school colors and listening to the P. A. man’s every word when he gave the day’s scores. Nope. There was nothing like it. Can’t say I’m ashamed that Saturday’s swan song means a good ileal to me. Sometime around 4:45 p.m. Satur day, the hitting will have subsided and the sun will have ducked beneath the West stands, hinting the darkness. And the air will have turned chilly, officially signaling the begiMuittpf Oklahoma week. Rather than darling fc exit, it'll be a time clock’s last tick; a tir pockets for the final ticket siub; time to remember games and plays that have gone before. And then, after soaking it up like a thirsty sponge, there’ll be no choice but to take that walk down the con crete ramps, out of the stadium. Chances arc that walk will seem empty and long. Thai's unfitting. Because football Saturdays in Lin coln were anything but empty. And never were they too long. Thomas Isa news-editorial major and is a Daily Nebraskan sports column 1st. Live jazz every Thursday night. No cover charge. - Appearing this Thursday: / Preston Love / / ^^—b V0 f. / /t's Cookin! Free Parking After 5 at 132 S. 13th State Federal Securities 477-5122 One Campaign That Never Ends. Quality Copies For All junto's the copy center 1229 “R” Open 24 Hours 475-2679 48th & Vine Open 24 Hours 466-8159 ixordso Your Froedom of Ckoko iyvvvtxtx x x in ywvvt x vwvr r x wv*v*v;« x I 100 REE _ 2Vi4 i | Copies 07 Copies H O’* l <1, «*Mo 200 auttMoO O'* • If, who* 20#. auto lea «■ !* «' I EnOr# coupon must no pruonwo •* r|g|inpOBii m pomtpanr* locooont On* one oPor «* «pp* £ On* coupon per nap. Not roM won any amor oPor Oopooo ttorowlior tj, IBOO B' , ■■ ■ •>, t f ryT. t , rtT7! | Copy Center Open weekdays7:00 am to 1:00 am Monday through Thundoy from lOpm-lam Astro's copy center best copies in the universe. 16th&W-ln The Reunion-477-9011