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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1989)
Sports ■Lady Lopers game worries softball coach I By Darran Fowler Staff Reporter Alter defeating some of the na tion’s best teams, Nebraska softball coach Ron Wolforth should be fear less when the opposition is an NAIA But he isn’t. Wolforth, whose unranked Com akers have won eight of their last 10 names against Division I lop-20 teams, said he is not looking forward to Nebraska’s double-header against Kearney Suite today. The (win bill, which features free admission for all University ol Ne braska- Lincoln students who present their student IDs. begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Softball Complex. “Kearney State always worries me.” Wolforth said. “I hale playing them. I’d rather play UCLA orOkla homa Slate because I know that we're always ready to plav those teams ” Nebraska, which is 28-23 overall and leads the Big Eight with a 7-1 mark, owns a 30-3 series edge over the Lady l.opers, including 2-0and 6 1 wins during the fall season. Wollorth, who spent a season playing baseball lor Kearney Stale, said his tears are based on that expe rience and the fact that 20-11 kcar nev Suite will come into the games with the altitude that it has nothing to lose. Whenever I played against Ne braska, he said. 1 went into the games really tired up to neat them because that would make the whole season.” Wollorth said Nebraska, which hasn t been rated since being uibbed 15th in the prescason rankings, should be ranked in this week’s polls. He said the Huskers should he ranked no lower than 15th provided they do not lose to Kearney Suite. Wollorth said he is worried about the Lady Lopcrs, who arc a member ol the National Association ol Inter collegiate Athletics. They've always been a reallv scrappy ball club. ’ he said, “lust a 'Pin would be a big thing tor them It would be a real shame to have a lackadaisical approach and have u come back and haunt us.” Nebraska shortstop Jane Kremer said the Huskers will be readv. She said she and Nebraska's lour other seniors realize that every game is important at this time ol the season. ”1 don't think there will be a let down.” Kremer said, “because the seniors know that we have only a lew games left in our season and so we have to get alter it. Lven though it’s not against a ranked opponent, it's still a win ora loss on our record. We have to pull oil two more wins.’’ Nebraska has won 17 of ns Iasi 2^ games. That streak began alter ihe Huskcrs second six-game losing streak of the season dropped their record to 11-17. Kremersaid the lirst hall of season was difficult lor ihe seniors because they have alwavs >ven used to win ning. ‘Ii wa*' kind ol shoeking al lirst. Kremer >aid. "It was like having a rue pulled Irom undernealh vour leet. 'It takes a iittle time lor ihe younger players io adiust to what Division I softball is all about. It look us half of our season to figure out what it takes to win ball games and pull together as a team and I think the coaches have done a good job of sucking with the younger players. I think for us to win the Big hight we have to continue to stick together. ’ Wolforth said the Muskers arc playing the way he thought they were capable ot all season. He said there is room for improvement especially m the area ol mental concentration. We need to be competitive in every inning, he said. It • getting down to the point where n s real cru uai and we re going to run out <»i *econd chances. We have come .1 long wav unit we still have to Keep improving. We're still search me tor competitive greatness because we re still not as good a ball club as we can be." Nebraska Hashed its potential this weekend bv defeating top ranked Oklahoma State h i. I he Muskers then sandwiched 3-1 and 2-1 victo ries against No. 17-ranked Iowa State around a 5-0 loss to the Cowgirls. David Fahleson Daily Nebraskan Nebraska’s Kathrin Edelkotter displays her form en route to defeating Kansas State’s Marijke Nel 6-3,6-1. NU gains momentum from win By Paul Domeier Mdl Reporter ' he Nebraska women s tennis team gained momentum lor this weeks Big Eight chumpi •mships bv beating Kansas Slate 6-5 Monday at !he ( ather-Pound courts. 1 he victory leaves the Cornhuskers in 4th place, but within striking distance ol 2nd place Oklahoma. Womcn’scoach Gregg Calvin said the team >sn i satisfied. Wccan’t feci happy with where wc’rcat,” alvin said. “When wc are comfortable, we mm t play as good.” Kansas State began the day ahead of Ne braska. Calvin said the win shows that the Buskers can catch 2nd-placc Oklahoma and ri,;Placc Kansas in the Big Eight standings. We have a good balance between singles aful doubles,” he said. “If wc pick up play in s,nglcs a little bit, wc can compete with Kansas and Oklahoma.” I he match was the third in three days for the luskers, and it soon became a test of endur ance. I he dual lasted over six hours. Rachel Collins and Leslie Jones came back !° Wln a ihrcc-sct match at No. 5 doubles for the *nu' margin of victory. Collins and Jones look 0 *ast 11 vc games in the second set to even the maten, and won 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. } ollins and Jones finished their Big Eight Scason 5-2. They will probably be the third sccd lor the conference tournament that will be In addition to the doubles marathon. Collins ,ost 6-2. 5-6. 6-2 in a two and one-hall hour match at No. 5 singles. Three other Huskers secured seeds with victories in singles. They included IldikoCiuba at No. 2 singles. Doneta Holmen at No. 3 singles and Nancy Tyggum at No. 4 singles. These three players all closed out their Big Eight seasons with 5-2 marks in Big Eight competition. Cuba s 6-2, 7-5 win was especially impor tant, since she had lost 6-0, 6-0 Saturday against Kansas. Calvin was impressed by Cuba’s perform ancc. “That says a lot, to come back from a poor match and to win today,” Calvin said. Holmen and Tyggum teamed to win 2-6,6 2, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Kathrin Edclkolter posted a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. I singles. She said the win was particularly important because she is skip ping her final three years at Nebraska in lavor of returning to her home in Hamm, West Ccr manv to study special education. ‘41 won’t be able to teach in Germany il I ge t my degree here,’ she said. Holmen, a tumor, also is leaving Nebraska prematurely. She is returning to Wisconsin to get married. “It’s lough concentrating on anything, let alone tennis,” she said. She said she will attend the University ot Wisconsin next year, where she may continue her tennis career. rormer NU players dratted i»v jell a pel Senior (editor When former Nebraska safety Tim Jackson was young, he used to get nervous when the Dallas Cowboys were playing in the Super Bowl. But that anxiety did not compare to the nervous ness Jackson said he felt prior to being drafted Monday in the ninth round by Dallas. He said his anxi ety stemmed from the questions and worries that Jackson went through his mind. ‘‘Many things goon in your mind,” Jackson said. “I had so many things going through my head because I wondered what was going on. I wondered when or if I was going to be drafted.” Jackson said his anxieties were relieved when Gil Brandt, the director of player devel opment for the Cowboys, called him into his hotel room in Las Vegas, Ncv. He said the news that he was a Cowboy took a tremendous load off his back because his worries were over. “Right now I’m just relieved and happy,” Jackson said. “I don 't know if I ever want to go through that much anxiety again.” Four other former Nebraska players were drafted on Monday. Those players included wingback Dana Brinson, who was selected by San Diego in the eighth round, tight end Todd Millikan, who was taken by Chicago in the l()th round, defensive tackle Willie Griffin, who was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 11th round, and quarterback Steve Taylor, who was taken by Indianapolis in the 12th round. Jackson, Brinson, Millikan, Griffin and Taylor join two other former Nebraska players who were selected in Sunday’s portion of the draft. Those players were outside linebacker Broderick Thomas, who was drafted by Tampa Bay in the first round, and middle guard l^iw rencc Pete, who was selected by Detroit in the fifth round. Pete is projected as a defensive tackle in the National Football League. Jackson said he joined Brinson and Griffin lor a celebration when he learned he had been drafted. Taylor could not join the trio in their celebration in l.as Vegas because he signed a contract with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League earlier this year. Jackson said his selection was particularly special because he grew up in Dallas. “I’ve always been a Cowboy fan,” Jackson said. “I used to get so nervous when they were about ready to play in the Super Bowl that I wouldn’t want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be by myself.” Jackson was named one of the top 50 players in Dallas following his senior season at Skyline High School. He originally signed a letter of intent with Kansas State, but transferred to Nebraska after a two-year stint with the Wild cats and one season at Coffcyvillc (Kan.) Jun ior College. The highlight of Jackson’s Nebraska career was last season, when he was named a unani mous AII-Big Eight selection alter leading the Huskers with l ive pass breakups and four inter ceptions. He also recorded 38 tackles and caused three fumbles. Jackson saia ne couia noi ncncvc nis cars when Brandi informed him that he was a Cowboy. “It’s jusi wonderful,’’ Jackson said. “I’m very excited.” Jackson said he is confident about his chances with Dallas. He said he is looking forward to answering critics w ho say that de fensive backs from the Big [light don't know how to defend the pass. “I love how much the pros pass,” Jackson said. “I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge.” Jackson said he is looking forward to w ork ing with Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson and quarterback Troy Aik man. Johnson became Dallas’ coach after Tom Landry was fired earlier this year, while Aikman was the first selection in the 1989 draft. Dallas finished with a 3-13 record last sea son. The Cowboys rosier includes Danny Noonan, a former Nebraska All-America se lection who is a starting defensive lineman. “I know I'll get a lair shake,” Jackson said. “It never even occurred to me that I wouldn’t.” Jackson said he feels sorrv for the Nebraska players that were not dratted. Those players include running back Tvreesc Knox, line backer LeRoy Hucnnc.offensive linemen Bob Sledge and Andy Keeler, outside linebacker Jon Marco and defensive backs Loren/o Hicks and Charles Fryar. Oakland A’s to take baseball title The Boston Red Sox isn’t the only team in the American League with problems. The Oakland A’s rosier is so loaded that they had only one opening on their entire 24 man rosier throughout spring training. That slot was filled by outfielder Felix Jose, who made the team only after veteran Larry Herndon retired because of a recurring knee injury. But unlike the Ked box s problems wmen threaten to turn baseball into a Robin Givens Mikc Tyson love/hate affair, the A s problems will lead them to the World Scries. That's right - Oakland is destined to make its second consecutive appearance in baseball’s version of the Super Bowl. Last year, this column predicted that Oakland would capture the AL. V . ,t title by winning 103 games, while Minnesota would finish second with 92 wins. That prediction brought a variety of criticism from hecklers who did not have any faith in Oakland’s awe some arsenal. This season, those hecklers will not have anything to complain about when Oakland runs away with the title early. The A s will win n by using a variety of power, pitching and the absence of veteran Don Baylor to finish with a 110-52 record. The only sore spot on Oakland’s rosier last season was Baylor, a veteran designated hitler who lived off his past while basking in his team’s accomplishments. With Baylor gone. Oakland will increase its number ol wins by See OAKLAND on10
