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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1989)
Armen Keleylen. author ol “Big Rad Confidential: inakte Nabraaka Football,” dlaplayad a variety of emotiona at hia praaa conference, including (from Ml) that of immoral, llstonor md txpMnif. Keteyian: Osborne’s comments unfair By Chack Green ' Senior Report*/ Many critical comments from Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne about “Big Red Confiden tial; Inside Nebraska Football/' are “unfair and false/’ the book’s author said Thursday. Speaking to a group of about 30 journalists in a hospitality suite at the Comhusker Hotel, Armen Keteyian said Osborne’s comments display his “over-sensitiveness to cnticism, especially from the fjnst.” * “To know Tomas well as I know him, I kind of expected him to come out and attack my credibility/’ Keteyian said. “He couldn’t attack my reporting. It’s loo strong." “I have treated Coach Osborn? with the utmost respect throughout the book. But Osborne has not ac corded me the same treatment.” The book takes an inside look at the Comhusker football program, mentioning alleged incidents such as players receiving payments from boosters, players setting their game passes, steroid and drug use, disci pline problems and NCAA cover ups. Keteyian said he particularly was upset with Osborne s claim that he and fellow Sports Illustrated reporter Martin Dardis offered former Ne braska quarterback Nate Mason compensation for information on al leged drug use by former Nebraska I _ N hack and Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. — At a press conference earlier this month, Osborne said he talked to Mason “three or four" times, and had learned that Mason was offered money at his house during an inter view. “But then Nate says he was of fered something over the phone," Keteyian raid .-“If Osborne is going to stand up at a press conference and say something like that, he'd better get it right,". Keteyian denied offering Mason “or anybody else" payment for in formation. Keteyian, 36, said his journalism career, which began when he was 17, should provide credibility. He won awards as a sportswriter for the San Diego Union, and served as Sports Illustrated's chief investi gative reporter from 1982 to 1989, covering stories on gambling, proba tions and various other athletic scan dals. He also worked for NBC, cover ing the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, and recent!, has been hired as a sports correspondent for ABC’s “World News Tonight." “In spite of my career, Osborne accuses me of offering money for a story like some supermarket tabloid journalist." Osborne’s comments about the Mason incident “really hurt," Keteyian said “He did exactly the tiling he ac cuses journalists of doing. He used second-hand information,” he said. *‘I have yet to hear Nate Mason stand up and say I offered him anything, and he won’t, because I didn’t.” , Keteyian returned to Lincoln for the press conference because “there are two sides to every story,” and he wanted tQ tell his side, he said. ‘ ‘I’m not trying to picka fight with Tom Osborne or the Nebraska pro gram,” Keteyian said. “Ultimately, the only loser will be me in any fight like that.” Keteyian also said he is bothered by the amount of criticism he person ally has received for incidents men tioned in his book. For example; it was former I-beck Doug DuBoaa’s mother who alleg edly told Keteyian that she sent cash topy for her son’s car - a Nissan 30uZX - which was the focal point of the NCAA’s 1986 investigation of Nebraska’s program. “But Dotig told me she sent a check,” Keteyian said. “He doesn’t even know the form of payment he says he got.” Omaha businessman Everett Al ger allegedly told Keteyian that Roz ier had worked for him during theoff season months, but Rozier denied ever working for him when asked by Keteyian. “Mike Rozier and (former wing back) Irving Fryar told me they’d only had one drug test during his senior year,” Keteyian said. f,But Osborne told me he'd tested both of them frequently that season." } - These and other contradictions, Keteyian said, decrease the credibil ity of his critics. * ‘I’m just the messenger,' ’ he said. "Coach Osborne doesn’t like the news, so he’s doing everything to kill the messenger." To know Tom at won at I know Mm, I kind of ex pected him to come out and attack my credi bility. He couldn’t attack my report ing. n't too strong.’ --Jfefoyfon Keteyian also dismissed criticism for using a number of unnamed sources throughout the book. He said the identity of some of the sources would have to suffer the conse quences of disrupting Nebraska’s program if they were disclosed. "Just because someone doesn't go on the record doesn’t mean they don’t know what they kn*w," he said. The book does quote specific coaches, administrators, former and present players and others connected with Nebraska’s program. “But, at this point, not any ot these people have stood up and shown any shreds of evidence to be untrue,” Keteyian said. Osborne said earlier this month that Keteyian (old him ne knew Ne braska’s program was corrupt, and that he was <rout to expose it.” “That’s ridiculous,” Ketevian said. “You can’t walk into the front door of a program like Nebraska’s and tell the coach what you’re up to, that you’re doing a story like that. ” Keteyian said he believes Osborne is making an effort to correct prob lems at Nebraska, but “making an effort doesn't always mean you're winning.” * ‘Osborne preaches about doing it right, and I applaud him for his ef forts,” he said. “But he’s trying to manage an unmanageable situ ation.” One of Osborne’s main problems, Keteyian said, is that he often “de taches himself from the realities of college football. “1 just question the impact that’s going to have in years to come,” Keteyian said. Osborne’s behavior, Keteyian said, can be compared to a last -ditch attempt to win a football game with a “Hail Mary” pass at the end. “We all know how often those passes are completed,” he said. OSU, Rodgers hope for successful weekend Kodgers returns to playing field van* nopiemperger Staff Reporter Saturday marks an anniversary Nebraska I back Terry Rodgers would rather forget One year ago Saturday, Rodgers playod against the University or , Nevada-Las Vegas, a game the Comhuskers won 47 16. Rodgers rushed for 50 yards in the game, and his dream of playing football at Nebraska was being real ized. But two days later, Rodgers tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and he hasn't played since. The cause of the injury still puzzles Rodg ers. "It was a freak accident” he said. "It was a non contact option drill in practice. I made a cat and the knee went out." Rodgers underwent major reconstructive surgery last October, and since has been in volved in a strenuous rehabilitation program, v "Rehab is nothing special," Rodgers'said. Just a lot of lifting You get your strength back in stages working yourself closer and closer to 100 percent “I’m not quite there yet. My speed is pretty good, though, and I am ready to play.” Rodgers, the son erf former Huslcer wing back, and 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers,.has practiced since August, but has not played in Nebraska’s first three games. But it wasn’t by choice - not entirety. “He said he felt he was ready to play last weekend,” said Huskerrunnmg backs coach Frank Solicit. “The decision was not to take him because of the limited travel rotter. “We’re going to use him this weekend. He 11 go in as the third I-back behind (Ken) Clark and (Leodis) Howera." Though he is not comfortable with his new position on the depth chart. Rodgers said he knows it could charige at any time. “During the season, anything can happen,'' he said. “I-Backs go down like I went ckrfvn Iasi year, and people have to move up. (Foot ball) is the type of 'ame where it’s always competitive, it s comj. slitive in the off-season. It*s competitive during the season. , Sea RODGERS on 8 Coach has worries about NU By Chuck Green Senior Reporter Respect isn’t something Oregon State couch Dave Kragthorpe loses sleep over, but he may be awake a little later Friday night The fifth-year Oregon State coach said he h«* a lot to accomplish Saturday when his Beavers play No. 3-ranked Nebraska in Memo rial Stadium at 1:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by the KRNU (90.3 FM) net -?1^*!d,^‘UufoLIow * show titled TH£Tatt that begins at 12:30 p.m. The better we play has more of a positive effect**! this team,” Kragthorpe said. “With such a formidable opponent as Nebraska, we have to play well. If we do, that can be a very positive thing for us. I Krtpihorpe said. Oregon State lost to Washington State 41-3 the following week, then defeated Boise State 37-30 last Saturday. • “We’re 2-1, which is ahead of what the prognosticators thought, so I guess that’s pretty good,” Kragthorpe said. ‘*But I don’t feel we’ve played as well at we can. We haven’t hit stride yet” Oregon State’s problems conrc primarily on speaai teams, Kragthorpe said. The Beavers need to improve on kick coverage and returns, •swell as have more consistency on offense, he Oregon State quarterback Nick Schichtlcy has led the Beavers' offense, completing 37 of 76 passes for 595 yards and five touchdowns. He also has thrown four interceptions. Fullback Pat Chaffey leads 6regon State’s ground game. Chaffey, a 6-foot-2,214-pound senior, has rushed for 228 yards and two touch downs on 60 carries. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said Oregon State s defense is his primary concern. They play a style of defense where they hmre something joing on all the time,” he said. The things they do are predicated on forcing uie other team into a bad playj’ ~ Sea BEAVERS on 8 *