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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1990)
Grant is starting quarterback; Joseph will see playing time By Paul Domeier Senior Reporter Mike Grant has won the battle to be Nebraska’s starting quarterback Saturday in the 1990 season opener against Baylor. But the victory isn’t complete. Comhusker coach Tom Osborne said Thursday that Mickey Joseph will play, too. “We will start Grant and play Joseph sometime in the second quar ter,’’ Osborne said. And that arrangement will con tinue past the Baylor game, which will start at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Stadium and will be televised by ESPN. “We’ll play both if we can for at least the first two, three, four ball games,” Osborne said. He said Joseph and Grant, both juniors, have little separating them now. “Mike graded just a shade belter in consistency,” Osborne said. The two also were expected to battle for the starter’s role in 1989, but Gerry Gdwoski held them off to be the clear-cut favorite. No such favorite emerged either this spring or this fall, and Osborne said he doesn’t mind. “It’s better to have two playing well than one playing well and no body else,” he said. The quarterback decision was one of the developments shown on the last pre-season depth chart, released Thursday. The chart had no major surprises. Omar Soto and Lance Lewis, who dropped off the team for about a week earlier in the fall, arc listed together at first-string fullback. With Nate Turner still out at wingback, sophomore Tyrone Hughes is the starter, followed by senior Brad Devall. Freshman Kenny Wilhite is up to No. 3, fol lowed by converted I-back Lamont White. Freshman Derek Brown is the third I-back listed, behind Leodis Flowers and Scott Baldwin. At right guard, Erik Wiegcrt moved ahead of Will Shields, though both are still listed together on the first team. Shields missed practice Thursday with an injured ankle, and alternate right tackle Steve Engstrom is out, too. Terry Eyman relumed to practice to help a bit with the offensive line’s depth, but Osborne said the second string left tackle was not in good shape. “I think he had a rude baptism out there,” Osborne said. The Huskers practiced on the grass outside Memorial Stadium and missed some of the heat, but will be back on the artificial turf on the stadium to day. Baylor quarterback injured, coach says WACO, Texas (AP) - Baylor Coach Grant Teaff said injured quar terback Brad Goebel, a three-year starter, will be replaced by sopho more Steve Needham, who didn’t letter last season. Nebraska’s depth chart S£ Jon Bostick 6-2 185 Jr. Mark Dowse 6-0 180 Jr Dan Pleasant 5-9 175 Jr. LT Torn Punt 6 8 285 Sr Terry Eyman 6-6 265 Sr. Brent Pick 6-5 265 Sr. LG Jim Wanek 6-1 245 Sr. Jeff Chaney 6-2 250 Jr. Jon Pedersen 6-3 238 Fr. C David Edeal 6-2 260 Sr Bill Ziegelbaum 6-5 240 Jr. Terris Chorney 6 1 250 So RG Will Shields 6 2 260 So. EricWiegart 6-4 270 Jr. Chris Zyzda 6-2 255 So. RT Brian Boerboom 6-7 285 Jr. Steve Engstrom 6-3 290 Sr Ray Rietenrath 6-5 290 Jr TE Chris Garrett 6-3 240 Jr WiUiam Washington 6-2 245 So. Daryl Leise 6 2 230 Jr OB Mike Grant 6 2 210 Jr Mickey Joseph 5-11 180 Jr Tom Haase 6-0 185 Jr FB Omar Soto 5-11 220 Jr Lance Lewis 6-0 205 So. Tim Johnk 5-10 215 Jr. IB Leodis Flowers 5-11 200 Jr. Scott Baldwin 6-1 200 So. Brian Brown 6 6 260 Jr. WB Tyrone Hughes 5-9 175 So. Brad Duvali 5-9 180 Sr Kenny Wilhite 5-10 170 Fr. PK Gregg Sartos 5-8 170 Sr. __I <jOU3 Travis Hill 6-2 225 So David White 6-2 225 So Dan Svehla 6-0 230 Sr LT Joe Sims 6-3 280 Sr. Le Andre Anderson 6-4 260 Sr Paul Brungardt 6-7 260 Sr. MG Pat Engelbert 6-2 250 Jr Greg Koettner 6-3 280 Jr. Mike Jefferson 6-2 280 Fr. RT Kenny Walker 6-4 240 Sr Le Andre Anderson 6-4 260 Sr Brian Brown 6-6 260 Jr ROLB Mike Croel 6 3 225 Sr Dan Svehla 6-0 230 Sr RickWendland 6-1 215 Sr SLB MikePetko 6-2 230 Jr Brian Mohnsen 6-3 240 Jr Troy Branch 6-2 220 Fr WLB Pat Tyrance 6-2 240 Sr Mike Anderson 6-1 230 Fr PaulWightman 6-1 220 So LC8 Bruce Pickens 5-11 190 Sr Jon Crippen 5 10 170 Sr Robert Hicks 5-10 185 Sr RCB Tahaun Lewis 5-11 170 Sr Tyrone Legette 5-1 180 Jr. Eric Anderson 5-8 175 Jr SS Reggie Cooper 6-3 210 Sr. Curtis Cotton 6-1 210 Jr. Brian Pottard 5-10 190 So FS Tyrone Byrd 5-11 165 So Steve Carmer 6-1 206 So. Will Thomas 6-0 175 Jr P MtkeStigge 6-1 185 So Pettit’s explosive team holds promise of bright season At Nebraska, the cliche is, ‘Wait ‘til next year.’ Well, that lime is here, and it definitely could be the year ... for the volleyball team. It won’t be duck soup, but after losing NCAA title matches in 1986 and 1989, this Darran Fowler 1990 team has as good a chance as anyone to win it all Dec. 15, in College Park, Md., the site of the NCAA Final Four. And why not? Val Novak is back. The ubiquitous first team All-American setter has textbook-style footwork and range to cover the floor and feed her teammates. The senior’s ability to get to the bad pass, then make the fingertip assist with marksman-like accuracy, had her leading the nation last year with 13.74 set assists per game. Noticing improvement in Novak’s game this season, Nebraska coach Terry Pettit says, will take a trained eye. Players and coaches will see the difference and statistics will reflect it, but few spectators will have a clue. The Kruser, as Pettit sometimes calls her, is back. She is the Comhuskers’ other first team All-American from last year’s team that finished 29-4 in 1989. Janet Kruse at outside hitter was cool under the gun as a sophomore in 1989. When things were tight, the pressure on., a momentum shift needed, Novak could go to Kruse to find the weak spot and, as Pettit would say, terminate. Cris Hall is back. Periodical back pains early in the year kept the 6-foot-2 Kansas state high and long jump champion from following Kruse and Novak up the All-American ladder. Late in the season, when the pain was less, or more precisely when she was immune to it, Hall was nearly unstoppable. With her combi nation of height and leaping prowess, the jun ior could thunder spikes over the block of help less defenders. Eileen Shannon, the freshman sensation of last year, is back. Expected to slowly progress and be a strong backup, she instead was thrown to the front lines and fought like a veteran. When teammate Linda Barsness blew out her knee in the second match of the year, Shannon made the transition from prep star to big-time volleyball seem anti-climactic. She went on to lead the team in kills with 479 and made the Final Four All-Tournament Team. And that’s just a sample. Pettit could field a “B” team and still store several victories. Nebraska lost 1989 seniors Virginia Stahr and Carla Baker who both played the middle blocker position. No problem, except in find ing someone to replace the leadership values they provided. Thai’s the key. If that role is filled, holy cow. Watch out. The Huskers also need lo avoid ballooned heads. Even the best teams can be beaten. Pettit has 6-2 sophomore bomber Stephanie Thaler to fill the middle, and he can shift Hall over to make room for Barsness at outside hitler. If injuries weaken the outside hitter position, Hall can move over and Pettit can plop in another 6-2 player, junior Sara Hesch — if she’s healthy, and bingo, the lineup is still as powerful and explosive as ever. There arc role players and additional depth in sophomore Debbie Brand, serving specialist Becky Bolli and settcr/outsidc hitter Valerie Vermculcn. Two freshmen in-slate recruits - Laura Luther and Nikki Strieker - were regarded among the nation’s best out of high school. Ah, what a year it could be. With that much talent Nebraska could cash income December. If they don’t, ‘Wait ‘til next year.’ Fowler is a senior news-editorial major and Daily Nebraskan Sports Editor. NU middle guard says he is ready for starting role By Chris Hopfensperger Senior Reporter There has been a big change on the Comhusker defensive line. The departure of last year’s starter at middle guard, 5-fool-10,240-pound Mike Murray has left the starting role to 6-2, 250-pound junior Pat Engle berk Murray who was known around the Big Eight for his diminutive size was also known for his tenacity on the field. “Mike was so dam strong,” Engle bat said. “He threw some guys around because he was so strong. Hopefully I can fill his shoes a little bik “He was really powerful and quick off the ball. I just hope I can do some of'the things Mike did.” Englebert said he is ready for the job. “I’m definitely ready to go. 1 got a lot of playing lime behind Mike,” Englebert said.4 4 Now he is gone, so I kind of have to step in and take the role. “I’m really anxious to get started again, get in the regular season flow.” The junior from Columbus will get his first start Saturday as the Huskers open their season against Baylor at Memorial Stadium. “He’s one of those guys who will be overlooked a lot,” Huskcr coach Tom Osborne said. “But he’s a great player. We’re very excited about him.” Last year, as a backup, Englcbcrt made a name for himself on the pass rush with 10quarterback hurries, just two behind team leader Kenny Walker. He ended the season with two sacks, 17 total tackles and an interception, but insists his game still has a long way tc go. “I’ve made some improvements, but I still have a long way to go,” Englcbcrt said. “As you get older things start to get easier for you, things start clicking a little better. “ Hopefully this year I’ll get a little better than last year and my senior year I’ll get even better.” An honorable-mention Lee Jeans Academic All-Big Eight and GTE/ CoSIDA Academic All-District se lection folowing last season, Englc bert is a civil engineering major car rying a 3.453 grade point average. Being a good student is also an asset on the field, Englcbcrt said. “My biggest strength is probably knowledge of the defense,” he said. “I know pretty much the reads with my experience and I can pick up the blocking schemes pretty well now that I have seen it a lot.” Englebert insists that the long hours of practice are the enjoyable part of his day. “You’ve really got to discipline yourself to study quite a bit,” he said. “It’s a big change from studying real hard all morning. You get to come over here and relieve some of the tension. You come here and let it all out “It’s the fun part of the day.” In high school, Englebert was a -<t You’ve really got to discipline yourself to study quite a bit... You get to come over here and relieve some of the tension... It’s the fun part of the day. Englebert Nil middle guard —-1 f two-time Class B All-State selection at Columbus Scolus High School, where he also handled place kicking duties as team captain and MVP. Englebert said he knows his weak nesses, but is optimistic about the season. “I’ve got to improve on my pass rushing, but it’s early in the season,” he said. “I have a lot of things to learn. I’d like to get off the ball a little better, but I think this should be a pretty good season.” Dally Nebraskan File Photo Middle guard Pat Englebert will be starting for the first time Saturday. Coach Tom Osborne said: “He’s one of those guys who will be overlooked a lot.”