Sports
Nebraska not on coach’s Christmas list
Ri/ l hiis*L (.ronn
Senior Reporter
Florida State football coach Bobby
Bowden said he wishes the Sunkist
Ficsta Bowl officials would have been
more charitable when considering this
year’s matchup.
“We’ve had a tough enough sched
ule this season,” he said. “Now we
have to play Nebraska. Give us a
break, already.”
But Bobby, who would you rather
play? Harvard?
“That would be nice,” he said,
laughing. “I’d sleep better at night
having an Ivy League team waiting
for me in the bowl.
‘That would be a great Christmas
present.”
Bowden said that when his No. 5
ranked Scminolcs face the Comhuskers
on New Year’s Day in Tempe, Ariz.,
they could be playing the best team in
the country.
But he’s not ready to throw in the
towel yet.
“I think if we beat Nebraska, it
would be hard to think of anybody
being better than us,” Bowden said.
‘‘But that’s if we beat Nebraska.”
Bowden said that given the proper
scenario -- which includes Colorado
losing to Notre Dame in the Orange
Bowl, and Miami and Michigan los
ing in the Sugar and Rose Bowls -
coupled with a Husker win against
Florida State, Nebraska still has an
outside chance at No. 1.
4 ‘They ’ ve got a belter chance than
wedo,” he said. “If they win, they’ll
have only one loss, and their claim to
the championship will be as good as a
lot of teams’ claims.’’
Bowden said that Florida State,
which lost its first two games of the
season to Southern Mississippi and
Clemson, would have virtually no
chance of capturing the national title.
But the national championship isn’t
Bowden’s greatest concern. The
Huskcrs dominate his thoughts, he
said.
“Nebraska is certainly as good as
anybody we’ve played,” Bowden said.
“I never picture Nebraska as a step
down from anybody. I never sec
Nebraska a step down from another
Nebraska team a year before, cither. ’ ’
Bowden said Nebraska won’t nec
essarily present the Seminolcs with
plays or schemes they haven’t seen at
one point earlier this year. Florida
Stale has faced six bowl-bound teams
on this season’s schedule, not count
ing Nebraska.
“The problem Nebraska presents
is more of execution,” Bowden said.
“They just line up and whip you with
strength and speed. They do that to
everyone, and they beat most every
one.”
The Seminoles’ offense is led by
senior quarterback Peter Tom Willis,
who has completed 211 of 346 passes
for 3,124 yards and 20 touchdowns.
His favorite targets have been wide
receivers Lawrence Dawsey, Terry
Anthony and Ronald Lewis. Dawsey
leads the Seminoles with 38 catches
for 683 yards - an 18-yard-per-catch
average - and four touchdowns.
Anthony and Lewis have accounted
for 569 and 535 yards, and have 11
touchdowns between them.
Florida State’s ground attack is led
by tailback Dexter Carter, who has
gained 684 yards and scored eight
touchdowns on 131 carries this sea
son.
Freshman tailback Amp Lee has
added 290 yards for Florida State.
Bowden said his young players
have been the key to Florida State’s
success and failures this year.
“In those first two games, our
preparation was the difference,” he
said. “We played our younger guys
maybe a little more than we should
have. But as the season went along,
we got more into a rhythm and we
clicked.”
After Florida State’s two season
opening losses, Bowden said, he
4 thought the Scminolcs may not get a
bowl bid at the end of the season.
“I’m glad we did,” Bowden said.
“But playing Nebraska kind of holds
down my excitement. It’ll be lough,
as always.”
Nee frustrated by
loss, but pleased
with team’s effort
From Staff and Wire Reports
After Monday night’s loss to
Idaho, Comhusker men’s basketball
coach Danny Nee had a difficult time
finding positive things to say about
his team’s performance.
Things were much easier for Nee
Thursday night, even though Ne
braska lost 86-83 to Creighton at
Omaha’s Civic Auditorium.
The Creighton loss was a frustrat
ing one for Nee and the Huskers, Nee
said.
“There were a lot of tears in the
locker room,” Nee said after the
game. “This was a game we thought
we could win. We thought we should
have won it.”
Creighton, which improved its
record to4-3, led 82-81 in the game’s
final 1 1/2 minutes when Nebraska
guard Clifford Scales drove into the
lane for the go-ahead layup. As he
shot the ball, he was fouled by a
Creighton player, but the officials
disallowed the shot.
Scales missed the front end of the
onc-and-one, and the Bluejays
grabbed the rebound.
After Creighton scored a field goal
to extend its lead to three points,
Scales was fouled again. This time,
he sank both free throws, and Ne
braska trailed 84-83 with 21 seconds
left.
As time was running out, Ne
braska’s Keith Moody fouled
Creighton sophomore reserve Duan
Cole. Cole missed the first shot of the
one-and-one, and grabbed his own
rebound. Nebraska center Rich King
tried to steal the ball, but it bounced
off of him and went out of bounds,
giving Creighton the ball with 13
seconds left.
See BLUEJAYS on 8
Lauer/Dally Nebraskan
Nebraska forward Carl Hayes goes in for a layup.
Shockers coach: Team lacks rorce
but upbeat for game against NU
By Paul Domeier
Staff Reporter
Wichita State women’s basketball
coach Linda Hargrove isn’t sure what
her team’s strength is.
“We’re not real fast, and we’re
not a real quick team; we don’t have
a lot of power or strength inside and
we don’t have much perimeter shoot
ing,’’ the first-year coach said. “I
don’t know that we have any real
strength.”
In fact, Hargrove said she isn’t
even sure what kind of team she has.
“I’m still trying to figure that out,’’
she said.
Hargrove will learn more about
her team when Wichita State faces
Nebraska tonight. The game begins
al 7:30 p.m. in Wichita, Kan.
Nebraska coach Angela Beck said
her team needs to work on rebound
ing, offensive execution and ball
control in order to beat Wichita State.
The Comhuskcrs committed 40 turn
overs during their 77-67 road loss to
Wisconsin Tuesday.
"We MUST take care of the bas
ketball," she said.
Wichita State is 1-5,0-1 at home,
and lost Monday at Florida. The
Shockers led 42-38 al halftime but
lost, 79-70.
Despite the losing streak, Hargrove
was upbeat.
“We’ve played some people
tough," she said. "We’re not at all
discouraged."
Hargrove said 11 of her players arc
juniors or seniors, but her first-ycai
status has offset the experience.
“The coaching staff is all new, sc
everything is essentially new to ev
eryone,” she said.
Hargrove said she got the job ir
May, after the main recruiting wa
over.
In Wichita State’s only home gane
this season, Hargrove said, the team
drew the most fans for a game ir
seven years. A crowd of 1,845 showed
up and saw the Shockers lose, 87-65
to the in-stale rivals from Kansas State
Last season the Huskers de lea ted
the Shockers, 86-61, in Lincoln. Al
ter tonight’s contest Nebraska is oil
until a Dec. 28 home game againsi
Northern Iowa.
Santa drops in to talk
sports with DN writer
’Twas the week before Dead
Week and all across Lincoln
Husker volleyball fans about
Hawaii were thinkin’.
The Comhuskers would play in
the Coliseum no more.
They were regional champions
and in the Final Four.
The Comhuskers had just won
over Illinois.
They batted the opponent around
like a toy.
The game was exhausting so I
decided to go
^ I
And take a long winter’s nap
until, oh, noon or so.
I drove back to my apartment
pondering leis
And what a trip to Honolulu
would cost for two days
When what to my wondering
eyes did appear.
But a miniature van covered
with painted reindeer.
Stunned by the van, 1 almost
ignored
The fat little man trying to
open my door.
My jaw dropped, I couldn’t
believe it, my head started to tingle.
My home was being robbed by a
Gateway Kris Kringle!
I coiled, leapt and kicked out at
him with my toes.
He stepped through the door. I
fell flat on my nose.
Scrambling to my feet I tackled
the brute
‘Til he drew back his hand and
bopped my sore snoot.
I slugged him in the stomach (it
was really soft);
I yanked on his whiskers, but
they didn’t come off.
I started to worry that this guy
was real
When he kicked me in the shin
with his heavy boot heel.
He topped me and crashed down
on top ot my chest
I struggled to tree myself, he
, just flopped down to rest
I tried to kick out but he was too
burly.
So I finally calmed down and
gasped, “Santa, you’re early.”
“This isn’t official business,”
he said. My face fell.
No VCR for me, yet I said,
“Gee, that’s swell.
But if you aren’t here to bring
gifts of all sorts
What are you here for?” I asked.
He said, “I want to talk sports.”
“You like sports!” I exclaimed.
“I thought toys were your niche.”
“That was true ‘til the elves
gave me a satellite dish.
But one of the workers, an in
credible ditz,
Made eggnog in the dish, and
now it’s on the fritz.
I need to talk sports with some
one, I picked you.
The el*es watch midget wres
tling and Mrs. Claus likes Do
nahue.”
The jolly old man chuckled at
his plight.
The cherry lips and rosy cheeks
shone like a light.
“Have a cookie, kind sir, and in
sports we will revel.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, I’m
watching my cholesterol level.
So how ‘bout them Huskers?”
he said with that grin.
“I’m talking volleyball here, I
just came from the win.
TheComhuskcrs made the Illini
look lame.
I’m ready to watch the Huskers
play the next game.”
“Sorry, St. Nick, your logic has
a leak.
The finals won’t be on TV next
week.
Not ul Monday, can you re
lieve il, I’ll say it again
Not ‘til Monday will the semis
be on ESPN.
The finals arc delayed until
Christmas Eve
When I’m in the country, with
out cable TV.
And on Christmas Eve, who cares
anyway,
They might as well delay the
game until May.”
“The finals, on my day, I need
a tape of some kind.
rll just keep the VCR I had for
... well, never mind.
At least the bowl games arc
live, like the Fiesta.
Perfect for the start of my year
long siesta.”
~‘In a few weeks Nebraska will
play the Seminolcs
The Huskcrs have said they’re
tired of losing bowls.
Cynics have predicted another
loss for the team.
Stopping Florida State’s pass
ing is supposedly a dream.
But the circumstances are dif
ferent *- Nebraska has the dime.
With Walker, Wells and com
pany the quarterback won’t have
time
To pick apart the Comhusker D.
The offense is led by Gerry
Gdowski.
The ‘Skers threw away the game
the last time they met.
This time the teams are tooclosc
for a bet.
See SANTA on 8