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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1988)
Columnist picks NU Kermit the Frog—that loud mouthed, croaking amphibian —should quit bellyachin’ about how it ain’t easy being green. It ain’t any picnic forecast ing football games, either. Es pecially when it's Nebraska and Oklahoma. But it’ll be easier this year. That’s because Oklahoma has been unusually predictable this year. Never have the Sooners been so consistently . . . uh, adequate. If “adequate” seems an inap propriate label to pin on a lum bering giant that has won 31 straight conference games, consider the Sooners repeated mediocrity. They squeaked past Colo rado, were out-yarded by Mis souri and were just plain lucky to beat Oklahoma State. Why the lack of luster? Okla homa is minus its usual dose of big names to make big plays. On defense, the Sooners tackle well and pursue like any pack of rabid canines. But stats show the Sooners to be less than-stingy — especially against the pass. Offensively, Oklahoma has firepower. The 'bone's backs are fast and strong. And they run behind the finest kitchen appli ances this side of the Nebraska Furniture Mail The Sooners will Find a weak spot, then attack it repeatedly. Barry Switzer is the Sam Donaldson of coaching, finding a fault and exploiting it merci less!)’. Nebraska's weak link is the defensive interior It's soft (Mr. Whipple confused it with Charmin the other day). Oklahoma, like Colorado, will send its fullback up the gut. Guys like Lawrence Pete, Wil lie Griffin, Kent Wells and Paul Brungardt will have had finer hours. Linebacker play could be key. Remember that LeRoy Etienne doesn't do ads for Saran Wrap, Etienne hits like a semi rollin' down 1-29, but often fails to wrap up his prey. Mic rest of me ucicnsc solid. The secondary is tough and the outside backers are mobile enough to throw a wrench in the bone. Past years saw Nebraska defensive coaches preaching the gospel of bending without brewing. . Early this year, that philosophy was scrapped. The defense was breaking— as brittle as an old bitty’s bones. Hut Nebraska’s defense has ahwniraprwewjw. Ncbmska’s offense ts under rated. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by tfc#Jho«t& of the 1983 scoring explosion. 1-back Ken Clark is peaking. At times, Ids offensive line has been as sharp as a lump of luke warm Parfcay. But they’ve shown signs of brilliance, too. You can bet Bob Sledge and friends will pack their game faces for Norman. But this is a game that hinges on variables. One variable is the forward pass. With Charles Thompson, Oklahoma is one dmemioml —.-- -- - ii NU recruiter: Talent is OU magic By Mark Derowitsch Senior Reporter The only magic the Oklahoma football team has is talent, Nebraska on-campus recruiter Dave Gillespie said. Gillespie, speaking Monday at the Extra Point Luncheon at Dillard’s Department Store, said all the talk about “Sooner Magic” is just that — talk. “There’s been a lot of talk about Sooner Magic,” Gillespie said. “I don’t think there’s any magic in volved in Oklahoma games. It has to do with players.” Gillespie said nothing matters except the players when Nebraska meets Oklahoma. The two teams will play for the Big Eight championship and an Orange Bowl berth Saturday at 2:40 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. “Throw out the home field, throw out the comparative scores, throw out i 1 -— the motivation and the injuries,” Gillespie said. “When you have two highly-motivated teams on the field, you’ll see a great football game. Usually, when those types of teams play, whoever has the best talent wins.” Gillespie said adifferentemphasis is usually placed on the Oklahoma Nebraska game. He said the reason for it is because the two teams play for the Big Eight championship almost every year. “In general, people lose perspec tive of what football is all about when this game comes up,” Gillespie said. “The best football team will win this football game.” If Nebraska, 10-1 overall and 6 0 in the Big Eight, defeats the Sooners, the Comhuskers will win the Big Eight title for the first time since 1983. Gillespie said that’s what the team have been shooting for all sea son. “We’re in the position we want to be in,” Gillespie said. “At the begin ning of the year, we wanted to be in a position to win the Big Eight champi onship.” But Gillespie said the game’s out come won’t have any impact on the 1989 recruiting class. “They don’t remember who won the past games,” Gillespie said. “They just remember that Nebraska and Oklahoma have been involved in some great games in the past.” As of right now, the Huskers are having a great year recruiting, Gillespie said. He said a lot of the nation’s best high school players have included Nebraska on the lists of schools that they are considering. “We’re among the top five schools of more great players than we’ve ever been before,” Gillespie said. “Of course, there’s a lot of work until signing date to make sure we get some of these players.” NOTES: • Former Nebraska reserve quar terback Clete Blakeman was named the 1988 winner of the Bobby Rey nolds Memorial Scholarship at the Extra Point Luncheon. Blakeman, who is a freshman at the UNL College of Law, is the sec ond recipient of the award. Former Husker split end Robb Schnitzler of Battle Creek won the first scholarship in 1987. The scholarship was established by the family and friends of Reynolds, a former Nebraska All-America per former in 1950. It is awarded to a male athlete who has lettered and who is a student enrolled or accepted for en rollment to graduate college at Ne braska. Blakeman, who was a back-up to Steve Taylor in 1987 and 1986, scored seven touchdowns and passed for another seven during his Husker career. _WLT 6 0 0 g 6 0 0 g 4 2 0 *330 g 3 3 0 £ 1 5 0 8 1 5 0 0 6 0 Nebraska Oklahoma Oklahoma St Colorado Iowa St Missouri Kansas Kansas St w l r :: 10 1 0 ~ I I # I 910 r 7 2 0 r if 7 3 0 £ 550 ? FMIjMJIli 2 7 1 n ■■■■Hi 190 ^ mrtthriiflriM ° ip o John Bruce/Dally Nebraskan Osborne says Huskers healthy for Sooners game By Nick Hodge Staff Reporter Barring any serious injuries this week in practice, the Nebraska Corn huskers appear healthy for their game against Oklahoma, Husker coach Tom Osborne said. The only Nebraska player to sit out Monday’s sweat clothes and helmet workout at Memorial Stadium was running back Ken Clark, Osborne said. Clark has been bothered by an ankle injury throughout much of the season but should be available Satur day, Osborne said. “It’s kind of Ken’s normal Mon day deal,” Osborne said. “I think his ankle’s a little sore and I also think he had a charlie horse. I hope he isn’t too bad.” Clark, a 5-foot-9 200-pound jun ior from Omaha, gamed 165 yards on 28 attempts and scored the game’s only touchdown in the Huskers’ 7-0 win against Colorado Saturday at Memorial Stadium. He has rushed for a team-leading 1,330 yards and 12 touchdowns heading into Nebraska’s clash with the Sooners at Norman, Okla. Osborne said he expects Clark to return to practice today or Wednes day. Osborne said he’s pleased by the relatively few number of injuries to the Huskers this year. Except for seri ous injuries to fullback Sam Schmidt and I-back Terry Rodgers, Nebraska has escaped serious injuries this year, Osborne said. •Schmidt, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior from Wood River, has not played since he suffered a severe ankle injury in the Huskers’ 41-28 loss to UCL A Sept. 10. Schmidt had picked up 38 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown before his injury. Rodgers, a 5-foot-7, 170-pound sophomore from National City, Calif., suffered a season-ending knee injury during an Oct. 3 practice. In five games, Rodgers had run the ball 43 times for 259 yards and three touchdowns in a backup role. 'The last two or three weeks have been pretty good for us. They have been pretty physi cal ballgames.’ — Osborne Osborne said the Huskcr injury situation pleases him because Ne braska has had three games in a row that could have resulted in serious injuries. “The last two or three weeks have been pretty good for us,” he said. “They have been pretty physical ball games. The Colorado game was, Missouri was very physical and Iowa State was under pretty bad playing conditions. We’re pleased we’re in as good a shape as we are.” Nebraska defeated Missouri 26-18 in Lincoln Oct. 29. Snow and 40 mph wind gusts greeted Nebraska at Ames, Iowa when the Huskers beat Iowa State 51-16 Nov. 5. Doug Carroll/Dally Nebraskan Nebraska guard Clifford Scales (23) plays defense during a recent practice at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Scaies’ jersey number is the same as his favorite National Basketball Association player — Chicago Bulls’ guard Michael Jordan. Scales awaits season By Nick Hodge Staff Reporter There’snosubstitute forexperi cncc. Just ask Nebraska basketball player Clifford Scales. Scales, a sophomore guard for coach Danny Nee’s Comhuskers, said he’s anxious to get into the thick of the Huskers’ schedule because he feels more relaxed and comfortable in a Husker uniform than he felt last season. “I have that first year of experi ence under my belt and I feel real good about myself,” Scales said. Scales opened the 1988-89 sea son last Thursday by scoring 10 points, grabbing a rebound and dishing out five assists in 23 min utes during Nebraska’s 104-102 loss to Athletes in Action at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Scales was the lone Husker to See EXPERIENCE on 10 Pettit says defeating KU is imperative By Jeff ApeS Senior Reporter Two seniors will make what could be their final home appearances to night when the Nebraska volleyball team faces Kansas at the NU Coli seum. , Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Pettit said the match is important because it might be the last time sen ior setter Lori Endicoif. and outside hitter Angie Millikin play before a home crowd. The Kansas match is the last regular-season, home match on Nebraska’s schedule, but the Com huskers may gain an additional match at the NIJ Coliseum if regional com petition is staged in Lincoln. Pettit said it is important that a good crowd attend the match so it can show its appreciation for the accom plishments of Endicott and Millikin. Endicott is a pre-season All-America selection who is described by Pettit as the top collegiate setter in the coun try. Millikin is a four-year letter win ner who has been the leader of the “Mad Dogs*’ — a name given to the Husker reserves. The match, which features free admission for all University of Ne braska-Lincoln students who present their I.D.’s, begins at 7:30 p.m. “It will be an important match for us," Pettit said. “It will be the seniors last match, so I’m sure it will be very imDortantfor them.” Millikin said she can’t believe her Nebraska volleyball career—one she said went by too fast — is coming to a close. “WHdnJ Was a freshman, I thought there was no way I could get through four years,” Millikin said. “Now I can’t believe it’s almost over. It’s kind of sad.” Millikin said Nebraska is expect ing a tough match from Kansas. She said Karen Dahlgren-Schonewisc, a former Nebraska All-America who is the Jayhawks’ assistant coach, cre ates immediate concerns because oi her competitive philosophy. “With Karen’s coaching philoso phy, she’s not going to let them lav down,” MiMikin said. MI don’t thint it’s going to be that way.”