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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 1990)
NCAA, Gathers, Rosenblatt provide news worth noting In recent weeks there have been many newsworthy items that need to be noted. So here are some of my thoughts on what is going on in the world of sports: • If the NCAA were smart, which it is not, it would never move the _ §2 7 McGraw Milhaven _ College World Scries from Omaha. Rosenblatt Stadium has all that base ball needs, including an old-fashioned stadium, a history and fan support. P.J. Morgan, don’t listen to CBS, and don’t even think about pulling a roof on the stadium. • How many people do you think have filled out an NCAA basketball tournament bracket? How many of you who did think the one you filled out is right? Well, good luck because the possible vari ations arc, 1.2689 X 10 to the 87th power. • When asked to pick the winner of the tournament, Nebraska baseball coach John Sanders shied away from Big Eight teams Kansas and Okla homa and chose UNLV. Sanders said although he liked the Jayhawks and the Sooners, a rumor and a little luck would lead UNLV to the title. The rumor which Sanders is referring to was the one started by ESPN commentator Dick Vitale, who predicted that Running Rebel coach Jerry Tarkanian would resign at the end of the season. “1 think this is the year of the leprechaun,” Sanders said. “Las Vegas has shamrocks in its pockets.” • It was reported that Hank Gath ers, the former Loyola Marymount basketball star who died last week, took out a S1 million dollar insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London. Doctors told Gathers about his weak heart and told him he should not play. Lloyd’s of London would have paid Gathers in ease of heart trouble, but death was not covered by the policy. It is a shame that a great person and star had to die to show the sports world that college players really do play for the love of the game. • Things arc getting so bad in New York that children in Brooklyn were found playing soccer with a human head in a bag. The children thought they were playing with a real soccer ball. The rest of the body was found in a gar bage can, and still is unidentified. • With all the postseason awards being given, why didn’t Creighton 1 coach Tony Barone get an award for the coach who looks most like a bowling ball? • Will someone please explain why Bob Costas, a sports anchorman for NBC, has his own talk show with guests like Mario Cuomo. Costas, there is only one Roy Firestone. • The NFL owners did PaulTagli abue a favor by making him commis sioner, so Tagliabuc did the owners a favor by adding one more playoff game for the owners. That way the owners make even more money. • For all non-basketball fans I have bad news. There will be 63 college basket ball games in the next three weeks, and they all will be televised. The good news is no soap operas will be pre-empted. • Monday’s anti-racist rally should put to sleep any rumors that football players arc dumb jocks. The football team was out in force along w ith the rest of the students to demonstrate against the racist rally that never happened. Robert Hicks, a student-athlete, spoke in order for ihe other student-athletes to be heard. • One last note to baseball fans: II you can't handle the strike, WON (cable channel 2) is re-airing Cubs games from last year. You know the strike is getting had when you find yourself rooting against the Cubs. Milhaten tea senior history major and Daily Nebraskan sports reporter and columnist. TACO 3 Softshells 'BELL. Frkr <s1 245 N. 13th St. Location Only Nebraska linebacker Pat Tyrance makes a diving grasp at UCLA’s Thomas Boyers. Osborne says offense faces vacancies, returners provide strength for defense ! By Jeff Apel Senior Editor An area that came under intense scrutiny last season is being touted as a strength for the Nebraska football team entering spring practice. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said ihe secondary promises to be one of ihc Comhuskers’ top strengths this year. He said his optimism isbasedon the return of starting comcrbacks Bruce Pickens and Tahaun Lewis and safe ties Reggie Cooper and Tyrone Byrd. That contingent of defenders was blasted after it surrendered a Fiesta Bowl record 422 passing yards to Florida State quarterback Peter Tom Willis. Willis’ performance led the Seminolcs to a 41-17 victory that ended Nebraska’s 1989 campaign at 10-2. Osborne said the secondary' will team with the outside linebacking corps of Mike Croel, Travis Hill and David White and inside linebackers Pat Tyrancc and Mike Pctko to form the core of Nebraska’s returning experi ence on defense. He said the Huskcrsdefensive line is a question mark entering spring practice because three starters used up their eligibility last year. Nebraska will open spring prac tice April 2 and will conclude April 28. “We have some major replace ments to make in the defensive line,” Osborne said. “The major task in the spring on defense will be to see how we shape up there. “The rest of the defense has a lot of experience.’’ Osborne said that experience is not carried over to the Nebraska of fcnse, which must replace eight full time starters. He said the large num ber of vacancies means the Huskers will have a major rcbuildingjobtodo on offense. Osborne said one of Nebraska’s biggest areas of concern is at quarter back, where Gerry Gdowski has used up his eligibility. He said Gdowski’s absence means Mike Grant will battle Mickey Joseph for the starling quar terback job. “Replacing Gerry Gdowski at quarterback will be a major point of interest,’’ Osborne said. The Huskers also must replace three starters on the offensive line, and must find someone to fill the void left by the departure of I-back Ken Clark and fullbacks Bryan Carpenter and Sam Schmidt. Osborne said the run ning back position is a concern even though Nebraska possesses several capable replacements in Leodis Flow ers, Terry Rodgers, Scott Baldwin and incoming freshman Calvin Jones. Osborne said Nebraska’s inexpe rience will make spring practice important. He said the Huskers will try to give their players some valu able experience throughout the spring. “Asalways, we’ll try to getagood look at all of our players, evaluate them and try to get our best people ready for the fall,” Osborne said. “And, as usual, we’ll look at making some adjustments in our offensive and defensive schemes.” Colorado coach Bill McCartney said the Buffaloes also plan on insti tuting some changes this spring. He said die biggest change Colorado wants to make is in its passing game. McCartney said Colorado made great strides in its passing game last season cn route to capturing the Big Eight championship, but still needs to improve. Colorado threw for an aver age of 101 yards per game last season while compiling an 11-1 mark and dropping a 21-6 decision to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. ‘ ‘We’ve made great strides (in our passing), but we need to be better, especially if we want to win in postsea son,” McCartney said. “I’m con vinced you have to pass not only when you want to, but when you have to.” McCartney said the strength of hi team lies in 13 returning starters who will provide a solid core to build around on offense and defense. He said Colorado’s biggest task this spring is to replace departed defensive line man Arthur Walker and Oklund Salavca. “We have a great nucleus of kids reluming, but we have to replace two seniors up front,” McCartney said. “Thai’s a big key to our defense.” McCartney said Colorado’s main experiments this spring will involve moving Greg Blckert from outside to inside linebacker, David Brown from outside linebacker to tight end and Julian Howard from defensive back to wide receiver. Oklahoma coach Gary Gibbs said his team won’t conduct any big ex periments during the spring. Instead, he said the Sooners w ill work hard in all areas in hope of improving the 7 4 mark they finished with last year. “We’ve got to get better in every area,” Gibbs said. “It’s critical that our junior college recruits show im provement and progress in the spring. That progress will determine how good we arc in the fall.” Gibbs said his team’s strengths lie in the offensive line and at the run ning back position. Oklahoma returns three starters in the offensive line, while the Sooners’ alrcady-potcnt ground attack will receive a huge bonus if Mike Gaddis returns. Gaddis suffered a season-ending knee injury midway through last year, and will not participate in spring practice. If Gaddis isn’t able to play, he will be replaced by either Rod Fisher, Dewell Brewer or Ike Lewis. Gibbs said Oklahoma’s backs will have to split time with the Sooners’ passing attack. “We will spend much more lime throwing the football,” he said. “This means ail phases of the game -- play action, three-step drop and a better screen package. ‘ Our quarterbacks will throw more. The receivers will work on routes. And the lineman will work on pass protections.” Stung Continued from Page 9 a strong challenge. “They’ll compete very hard,” Sanders said. “I expect them both to play very hard.” Notes: • Nebraska is being led offen sively this season by four players who all are topping the .340 mark. Shortstop Bill Vosik leads the Huskers with a .409 average, while senior outfielder Kevin French has posted a .380 mark. Junior outfielder Brian McArri is third among Nebraska regulars with a .311 average, while junior outfielder Kevin Jordan has a .343 average. • In the pitching department, left hander Dave Malranga is the leader with a 3-0 record and a 1.74 earned run average. Zajcski also has a 3-0 mark, while □oug leguncier is tied with Armondo Garza lor the team lead in saves with one each.