The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 02, 1989, Page 8, Image 7
Comhusker nose tackle proves football ‘experts’ wrong By Cory Golden .. 1 111 1 " 1 starting middle guard for the Comhuskers. Murray has spent his foothill career being criti cized for his lack of size by so-called football ‘experts' who say the 5-foot 10, 240-pound Murray is too small to be a lineman. His solution is simple. I I Expires^ 30^-89 ‘oiTAoyPTxzaj a.m.-4 p.m. ] I V I - I 4 “I don’t listen to them," be said. “What do they know?” Murray has proved them wrong every step of the way. »*&***• s** At Chicago Mount Carmel High School, where he played as an offen sive lineman, he was an All-Catholic league selection. Sophomore wingback Nate Turner was one of Murray’s high school teammates. Turner said he remembers Mur ray’s contribution to the squad as a big one. “I remember one play ...it was a reverse. As a matter of fact, we ran the same counter sweep we run here (at Nebraska),** Turner said. “'Mike was the offensive guard and he was pulling. He knocked dk>wn three guys on one play." Turner shook his head. “It was unbelievable,’’he said. T went for about 70 yards that play.” Despite his high school heroics, size was still a problem for Murray, Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said. “Even small schools overlooked him and didn’t recruit him because of his size,*' McBride said. “He took a big chance coming down here. But he defied everybody, walked on and earned a scholarship.’* Murray has a simple solutkn when asked why he walked on. “Why not?" Murrey said. “It’s got the heat walk-on program in the country. *\ “Any collage team's a challenge to prove yourself. It made me work a lot hander." Murray's hard work earned him the starting nose tackle root in 1986 on Coach ScoU Downing s 4-1 junior varsity team. Murray finished the season second in tackles with 46. As a sophomore, Murray moved up to the varsity where he saw play ing time in every regular season game and the Fiesta Bowl against Florida State. Murray tallied 34 total tackles, 21 of which were unassisted slops, both highs for a non-starter. He also added five tackles behind the opponent's line of scrimmage, including two TUfVff Hid junior year, Murrey battled with Lawrence Pete for the starting middle guard position. He started the first three games until P&e took over, and later started the Kansas State game when Pete was injured. Pete came back and earned All Big Eight honors and was later picked up .in the fifth round of the National Football League draft, leaving Mur ray to take over in the r^prina. . Murray said he tikes the challenge of being a starter. . ——— i,i. i nir;— • I ** Is This The Worst Day Of Your Next Semester? Let the Nebraska Air Guard and the "New" G. L Bill ease the pain by PAYING OVER 80% OF.YOUR TUITION. The Air Guard also has other educational benefits to help you pay for your schooling. Call today 475-4910. Nebraska ' *, Air • Guard America's Hometown Air Force Price. When you make a decision to buy, you want your jeweler to be concerned with what you want. Getting the best selection at the lowest price possible everyday is something we're 'Committed to. In Jewelry Ask for Caroline. M-S JO a.m.-5:30 p.m 244 N. 13di(!3*hAQ) “I*m pretty confident,” he said. “I've been playing for two years pretty steadily, so it s nothing new. “Sometimes there’s a lot of pres sure when ybu’re No. 1, but I feel pretty comfortable with ii You know you have to perform because nothing is set in stone but you feel better about yourself. It’s a good feeling. “It’s always nice to be on top. Turner said Murray hasn’t changed off the Held since high school. “He’s the same ol’ Mike Mur ray,” Turner said. “He’s nice - he’s a nice guy, just don’t get on his bad side, “Mike’s the type of guy you don’t want to mess with on his bad days. That’s why he’s a nose guard, he’s like that: he’s like a little fire cracker waiting to go off.” • Murrey said he doesn’t think he has a real bad side. “I’m ail right,” he said. “I mean. I'm not ajerk or nothing. If I have a bad day, I just don’t like to be both ered. StUl, Turner said he remains un convinced. i never gpi oni nu quo jiuc — nc s too strong for me," he said. "I’d have to take a bat to him or something to c&iro him dm" McBride mid that while Murray is "rebitivaiy quiet as a football pUyei , • a nasty stxeak still may be there. "Toplay dun position you have to have flat/’ McBride said. ''You don't have to show it outwardly. I’ve had quiet lads and you wouldn't think that's how they’d be on the Add. "Sometimes if you play bird or aggressive, people interpret that as a "In any case, it’s nothing but an aaaet to him on the field." McBride said Murray's attitude is toother one of his strengths. "He gives conswnt overall ef fort," McBride said. “‘Hi* motor's running all the time. "ferny own mfed, Mika is a guy who has something to prove," he said. "Mike plays a lot with his ncan. McBride said Murray's strengths more than make up for his weak nesses in a college football world where most nose tackles "look like giant fire hydrants." "As football terminology goes, Mike is undersized." McBride said. "but he makes up lor it with his speed and aggressiveness. “Idon’t like using the word small with Mike, because he plays 'big*. Oftentimes when you go back and watch films, he's taking big people and throwing them around like rag dolls." Murray said he likes his pofitkxi - sort of. “The position ain't fun," he said. “Well, ifs fun, but you get double teamed a lot and it gets clogged up in there. Murray said he puts up with life in the trenches because “I like playing for a major college football team. Especially here at Nebraska, be cause we re good," he said. “It’s * challenge every week and it's my last year so I'm going to make the most out of every week." Murrgy also knows how to get the most out of a story. The Huskers' press guide lists Murray's hobby as* hatching snakes.'' "I don't know where they got that," the speech nurior said. "I guess I must nave sold mem." McBride said Murray sold Ne braska's Sports Information Office a few more snake twd^g tales when they were writing s profile of him recently. He tom sports miormaiion mat he word to India so hunt cobras," McBride said. But Murray's coach knows differ ently. “I think hike's Dialing some body's log,” McBride said. “He’s been in cummer school, not in India. “He’s from the South Side of Chicago. He lived not far from where I grew up,” he said. McBride mid he used to go chase gaiter snakes in the weeds by a set of ndhoad tracks, as Murray did. “Mike had some brothers and I think that’s what they did, too.” Turner heard his stories as well. “I remember him saying some thing about it to me," Turner said, “and I was like... ’Snake hunting? What are you talking about?* That’s a weird hobby.” “It’s no big deal,” Murray said. “I used to catch snakes when I was younger. They’re ptetty cool. Murray paused. “Boa constrictors...” he said, “ever seen one of those?’’ FREE j ovie/Game Rental | Rent 1 movie/game for $2.99 and get a second FREE. 3 Day rentals Saturday through Wednesday.. 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