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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 25, 1989)
psbome makes mistake Grant assumes reserve role _ • .1_1. ___a l Midway through tne second half 0f Nebraska’s game against Minne- : sota Saturday, Comhusker coach ! Tom Osborne made a fatal mistake. Osborne’s error occurred when he , went against his prior intentions and decided to play quarterback Mike Grant. Osborne’s intentions were good - he said after the game that Grant played because he doubted Gerry Gdowski could stay healthy all ypar - but his choice was not Things would have been different if Grant would have played during Nebraska’s first two games. But in stead, the highly touted sophomore from Valrico, Fla., spent the begin ning of the season on the sidelines with the assumption that he was going to redshirt. That assumption ended abruptly against Minnesota, as Grant trotted onto the field in the fourth quarter. His statistics were impressive. Grant rushed for 32 yards on four carries while passing for 34 yards, but that’s insignificant. What is significant is that he now has to give up a year of eligibility for a reserve role. That, in plain simple terms, is stupid. This year’s team already has shown that it is not national champi onship caliber. Nebraska is good, but it’s a far-fetched dream to think that the Comhuskers can compete with the likes of Colorado, Notre Dame or even Michigan. With that thought in mind, Osborne should have left Grant on the sidelines. Let him learn this year while watching Gdowski, and simu late game-type conditions in prac tice. Granted, practice isn’t the same as a game. Things have a tendency to move much more slowly, and the constant drone of coaches can’t be heard during games. But when the career of any player is involved, particularly one who has CHAMPIONS from Page 7 there,” he said. Pettit said Novak also played a big role against Stanford, recording 47 assists and five service aces. Kentucky coach Kathy DeBoer said Kruse was the main reason why her team squandered away a two I game lead. Pittsburgh coach Sue Woodstra said her team’s execution against Nebraska was its worst performance in the tournament. The Huskers pounded the Pan thers in three games behind freshman Eileen Shannon, who set a school record with 25 kills. Shannon also tied the record for attacks in a five game match with 77 against Ken tucky. With the victories this weekend, Nebraska’s record improves to 9-0, including a 7-0 home mark. naa National Football League stamped on his chest since the minute he arrived on campus, more things than the immediate future should be considered. Redshirting used to be standard at Nebraska. Players would spend their first year with the junior varsity, then all disappear into obscurity while redshirting. Huskcr coaches argued that this philosophy paid off, as players would benefit from the year of maturity they gained. That philosophy is sound. The players who emerged for the third season often didn’t look like the same ones who formed the freshman class two years before. Beginning three seasons ago, Nebraska’s redshirting policy began to change. For the first time in the Osborne era, a group of first-year players were redshirted. That policy has continued into this season, as a select group of newcom ers joined a large mass of second-year players and sat out. Unfortunately, Grant wasn’t one of them. Maybe Osborne can prove the skeptics wrong and show that he has a top-ranked team. He definitely has a top-notch quarterback in Grant, and Gdowski is a steady performer. But still the question remains: Why would anyone, particularly a highly regarded coach like Osborne, pull an athlete out of a redshirt season so he could be a backup? Particularly if the athlete is destined to be a three year starter, as Grant was until Satur iay. Perhaps the most difficult aspect surrounding Osborne’s decision is Lhe role that the other quarterbacks will play. Apparently, Osborne doesn’t have confidence in any of them, as he could have continued to play Mickey Joseph, who entered the game before Grant, or taken along a quarterback other than Grant and 2d him. ebraska has several good reserve quarterbacks. Joseph, despite being inconsistent, has great potential, and Kcithen McCant is a good passer. The Huskcrs also have Jerry Dunlap, who owns the dubious distinction of being selected as the honorary cap tain of this year’s all-waste team. Some credit docs have to be ex tended to Osborne. His point about playing Grant this year so he doesn’t have to start out with an inexperi enced quarterback next season is a good one, and the Husker coach showed again that he is not afraid to make decisions which are going to be blasted. But, the point remains, if Ne braska wasn’t going to redshirt Grant, it should have played him earlier in the season. To pull a player out of a redshirt year and have him run sev eral meaningless plays in a 48-0 game is a mistake. And a fatal one, at that. Apel is a senior news-editorial major and Is the Daily Nebraskan sports editor. Are You Losing Money On Your Checking Account? You're not getting the most for your money if you're not earning interest on your checking account or if you're still paying to write and order checks. At First Commerce Savings, you'll receive: •INTEREST PAID on Student Accounts. •NO Minimum Balance Requirement (However, $1(X) initial balance required to open the account.). • FREE introductory standard order. • 24 Hour Access with your First Commerce Card. • FDIC insured up to $ 1(X),(KX). •Student I.D. required. Stop in today or call one of our three convenient locations. 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