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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 1989)
Teammates say linebacker plays for pain By Jason Corns Staff Repotter Nebraska linebacker Mark Hagge is a modern-day version of Norman Bates. Hagge, a 5-foot-U senior nom Omaha lias made a name for himself with his aggressive ness and high I level of intensity. Teammates de scribe him as a crazy force that's driven from within, which are two of the characteristic* Bates possessed in the “Psycho" series. “Hers crazy, he’s ruthless," Ne bwta free safety W1U Thomai old. He goes all out every single day.” Kt . P^8 wWl J»in. teliow N?5r?S^1 ®**ck«r Alvin Banks said. Pain doesn't bother him at all. Sometimes! think he likes it” Physical contact is what Hagge said he really enjoys. ‘‘There is absolutely nothing bet Mr thoi a good, solid blow,” he said. "Nothing better.” Banks said he remembers the time he saw Hagge in practice with''blood flowing down hit face.” Instead of getting the injury treated, Hagge 'just smiled and kept playing. Most players. Banks said, wear their helmets tight for protection. But Hagge always wears his loose, de spiM the pain that results from blows to the head. "It's Just a matter of comfort," Hagge said. Nebraska defensive tackle Joe Sims said Hagge’s craziness extends throughout die season. He said it helps, too. "His aggressiveness really picks up the pace in practice. He's a guy that leads by example," Sims said. "Ha s not afraid to get Ml" Nebraska middle guard Oreg Koellner agreed. "Hagge has a desire. He's a com pedtor/nCoeUnersaid. "He’sreally driven from within to play." Hagge's crazy attitude began at Creighton Prep, where he earned all state and two-time all-metro honors as a linebacker while leading his team to the 1983 Nebraska state champion ship. It continued in 1986, when Hagge led the freshman team in tackles with 48. He played in four games as a sophomore, and saw action in 11 of Nebraska's 13 games last season. Hagge said the source of his moti vation throughout his career has been his father, Mike. "When I was growing up, I was taught by.my father that you have to always stay lough," Hagge said. "I've really gone by that idea." Hagge has hung tough despite being considered too short to be a major-college linebacker. "I don't have all of the physical assets some people do," Hagge said. "I just try to make the most of the playing time I do get. "Hopefully, 1 can keep doing my job, and keep the coaches’ confi dence in me. Maybe before the sea son is over I'll get some more playing time." Hagge said he accepts his role. He has seen all his action this season on special teams, where he is a mainstay, or as a reserve linebacker who takes the place of either Pat Tyrance or Chris Caliendo. "I know my role is on the special teams," Hagge said, "I just try to help the team in any way possible." Player wants birthday gift of a weekend NU blowout By Cory Goldea Staff Reporter Tahaun Lewis knows bow/ he wants to celebrate his birthday. The Comhuskers’ starting right comerback doesn't want a grit He wants to take something away from Oregon State - namely, the ball. ‘‘A pick(off) for a touch down,” is what Lewis said he'd like. And while he’s asking - why not "abig win and a shutout for the defense,'' too? Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said lie would like to see Lewis enjoy his 21st birthday Friday by wreaking a little havoc on the Beavers’ passing game Saturday. “I’d like to see him have three interceptions,” McBride said. "An important thing is that he continues to gain confidence, but maybe he’ll pick a few off for his birthday.” Lewis could just as well be cele brating his first season as a starter. After two years of seeing his name second to three-year starter Charles Fryar, Lewis has taken over the start ing spot in the secondary. Lewis began his stint as Fryar’s back up almost as soon as he arrived at Nebraska: The freshman all-stater from Colorado Springs, Colo., played briefly for the Husker junior varsity but soon was called up to play for the varsity. He ended his freshman season as a second-string comer, and saw play ing time in six of the final seven regular-season games and in the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl against Florida State. Lewis played extensively his sophomore year as the nickel back in Nebraska's passing defense, which features five defensive txicks. He finished the year with 20 tack les - 12 of which were unassisted, including a personal best of four against Arizona State. Lewis also tied for second on the team in passes bro ken up with four and, against Kansas, he intercepted a pass and ran it back 45 yards. “Last year - towards the end of the year - he really came on,” McBride said. “He dkl one of the better jobs in the secondary in the bowl game.” Indeed, Lewis said, it was in the Orange Bowl last January that he looked his best. “I enjoyed the Orange Bowl,” Lewis said. “That was my best per formance.” On that night in Miami, Lewis had three tackles - all unassisted - and broke up two passes. But there’s no doubt in his mind what the best part was: the interception.' In the third quarter, Lewis picked off a Steve Walsh pass, turned up field, and returned the ball 31 yards to the Miami 37. The play set up Ne braska’s only score - a 50-yara field goal by Greg Barrios - in the 23-3 loss. McBride said that game and the others last year improved Lewis* confidence entering this season. “The confidence that came with playing time last year meant a lot to him, I think,” McBride said. “I don’t think coming in and starting this year was a big thing.” * Lewis echoed his coach’s com ments “There’s no anxiety or anything, or no nervousness back there,” he said. “I have a lot of experience. If I go in with a play-to-win attitude, everything will be all right” It is a change, though, Lewis said. ’ ‘There’s a lot of leadership quali ties needed as far as being a starter,” he said. “You realize that there’s no one to be behind anymore. You’re in there by yourself. “Before, there was always Char les in front of me. I didn’t have to look at any type of leadership role or los ing the job to anyone, because... he was the roll (player).” Although Lewis has moved up since Pryar’s graduation, the press has left him in the shadow of well Eublicized players, like strong safety eggie Cooper. . J Still, Lewis said he doesn’t mind. “That’s no problem,” he said. “I just take it as it comes. I’ll still go in See LEWIS on 14 Women’s No. 1 singles player IkSiko Guba practicea Wednesday in preparation for a seven-team tournament Friday and Saturday in Lincoln. Guba, a junior on the UNL team, said she would like to pines among the top four in the Big Eight this year. ■■■ 1 '■ 3 • ■f . •* *V’:. ■' ■ ’6 ’ .. pr Nebraska tennis player finds transition from Hungary to Lincoln an easy one By Paul Doawier Suft Reporter For Ikhko Cuba, collegiate tennis is nothing compared to a trip to the dentisL Cuba, a junior on the Nebraska women’s tennis team, spent two weeks at home in bed in Budapest, Hungary, this summer after the re moval of two wisdom teeth. •‘The first time I tried to run, I was out of breath after five minutes,” she said. That was not a good way to pre pare for the season, especially since Cuba has moved into the No. 1 singles spot in the Comhusker lineup. She replaced Kathrin Gdelkotter, who forfeited her final three years of eligibility to pursue a teaching cer tificatc in her home of Hamm, West Germany. Guba’s transition has been a smooth one, as she recovered suffi ciently enough to put the bite on Drake Saturday. She came from be hind to defeat the Bulldogs* Tish Vail 7-6,6-2, then teamed with freshman Ann Flannery to defeat Kim FOiti and Tiffany Turner 7-6, 64 in No. 2 doubles. Guba said she doesn’t care where she plays in the Nebraska lineup. “I suppose there’s more pressure on one,*' she said. “It doesn’t matter what number 1 play, as long as I help the team ” Guba has plenty of experience to handle the stress of the top spot She said she has been playing tennis for 10 years, and she was high in the national rankings from age 12 on. Playing No. 1 for her club team in Budapest, she earned a spot on the Hungarian National Team. Guha was preparing to play for the Federation Cup when injuries forced her to quit the team. Those injuries caused Guba to become a Cornhusker. She said she thought about sitting out a year, then trying the pro circuit, when Nebraska men’s coach Kerry McDermott con tacted her. After being offered a scholarship, she said, she decided to come lo Lin coln. “If I didn’t like it, I could still join the pro circuit,” she said. Guba was the prize recruit for See QUBA on 14 I By Jeff Apd Senior Editor Depth will be a factor when the Nebraska women's golf team competes in the Spartan Invitational this weekend. Nebraska women's golf coach Robin Sch erer said she is looking forward to the compe tition in East Lansing, Mich., because each team will compete with six players. She said that will work to Nebraska’s advantage be cause most tournaments allow five players to compete. 4 w’e’ve got better depth than most teams, Scherer said. J * That depth will be tested, as Nebraska will join 13 other teams for me invitational. The invitational begins Saturday at the6,748-yard, par-71 Forest Akres golf course, and will con clude Sunday. Joining Nebraska for the competition are Michigan Stale, Michigan, Illinois, Illinois State. Northern Illinois, Notre Dame. Perm. State, Bowling Green and Wisconsin. Ferris State College of Big Rapids, Mich., Franklin (Ind.) College, Indianapolis College and Wis consin-Whitewater also will compete. Scherer said Nebraska should enter the tour nament as the favorite even though it finished eighth in the 11-team All-College Kickoff Classic last weekend in Stillwater, Okla. The Comhuskers finished with a 1,013 team lotaT last weekend, which was well off the winning 951 total compiled by Oklahoma State. # Scherer blamed Nebraska s problems last Weekend on a lack of concentration and poor playing conditions. The entire competition in Stillwater was staged in 30 mph winds and rain which turned the course’s greens into rock solid structures. Scherer said she hopes Nebraska uses its performance last weekend as a learning expe rience. * ‘We evaluated our performance,’ ’ she said, “mid we know that we can’t be making mis takes. We’ve got to be making strides.’ Scherer said she staged qualifying competi tions throughout the week in hopes of finding who Nebraska’s top six players are. She said the only players who were guaranteed spout were sophomore Joanne Brooks and junior Ann Guiberson. . Brooks won the All-College Kickoff Clas sic’s individual title last weekend by recording a three-round total of 232. Guiberson finished 16th with a 248 mark. Scherer said the qualifying competitions have been highly competitive. She said that competitiveness should transfer to the course. In addition to Brooks and Guiberson, the Huskers who competed last weekend were Susan Dougheity. Nodiya Cook and Alysen Madsen. Dougherty finished 39th with a 263 mark, and Cook was 48th with a 270 total. Madam finished 51st with a 273 scene. “The girls have been working really hard this week, Scherer said. “I’m definitely look ing for an improved effort”