Offensive line
receives credit
for NU’s win
By Paul Domeier
Senior Reporter
Somebody noticed the job done by
the Nebraska offensive line in Satur
day’s 56-0 romp over Minnesota.
“A bunch of the backs came up
and said, ’Great job,”’ center David
Edeal said. “That’s nice when the
people getting all the stats appreciate
us.”
The stats: 564 total yards, 433 yards
nishing, 123 yards for George Achola,
120 yards for Derek Brown, 5.5 yards
a carry.
At the post-game press conference
Brown gave all the credit to the line.
With 22 linemen playing, Nebraska
sprang 15 rushes for 10 or more yards.
Once again, the Comhuskers had
to adjust to something other than the
standard three-man lines of most
college teams. This time, Nebraska
faced a Minnesota defense that
crammed six players tight to the line
of scrimmage. Sometimes, the Go
phers used a middle guard, some
times they didn’t. Edeal said Minne
sota often would shift right before the
snap.
“I think the line is pretty confident
against any kind of defense,” he said.
“We’re able to adjust.”
The weather made it obvious that
the Huskers’ ability to block for the
run would be tested. The wind was
blowing from the north at 25 mph,
with gusts of 35 mph.
Left guard Jim Wanek said he likes
the wind.
‘‘I like it for the main reason that it
cools it down,” Wanek said.
But, he said, he does look forward
to another effect of a strong wind: a
reliance on the running game.
“t 6-—
I think any time you’re
labeled as a question
mark it’s sort of a rally
ing point That gave us
something to prove.
Jim Wanek
NU lineman
-9 9“
The top line came out and pro
vided room for 367 total yards and 7.0
yards a carry in the first half.
Conventional wisdom said Ne
braska’s offensive linemen weren’t
supposed to be able to dominate the
way they did against the Golden
Gophers. With only two returning
starters, the Huskers’ line was thought
a possible weakness.
Wanek, one of the returning start
ers, said he could understand the doubts
because of inexperience and injuries
in the line.
‘‘I think any time you’re labeled
as a question mark it’s sort of a rally
ing point,” Wanek said. “That gave
us something to prove.”
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Several Minnesota defenders had trouble keeping up with Nebraska l-back George
Achola, who rushed for 123 yards Saturday. Here strong safety Sean Lumpkin pursues
Achola down the sideline.
Injuries give No. 41-back
opportunity to shine, score
By Chris Hopfensperger
Senior Reporter
George Achola, the Comhuskers’
No. 4 I-back, had himself quite a
day Saturday.
Achola was the game’s leading
rusher, gaining 123 yards on 16
carries. He scored his first career
touchdown in Nebraska’s 56-0 rout
of Minnesota.
After the game, the junior out
of Omaha Creighton Prep accepted
congratulations, well-wishes and
the fact that next weekend could be
a whole different story. He en
joyed the moment.
“I just thank God for a day like
this,” Achola said. “That’s what I
did when I got to the locker room.
! prayed and thanked God for a day
like this.
‘'I may not have another one, so
I’m going to cherish this one as
much as I can.”
Injuries to regular starter Leo
dis Flowers and backup Scott Bald
win pushed freshman Derek Brown
and Achola into the forefront. Brown
became the starter, Achola his
backup.
That backup role, however,
almost never happened.
”11 was me, Baldwin, Flowers
and Brown,” Achola said. “I was
going to be the fourth man. I came
really close to hanging it up.”
Achola, who redshirted one
season, said it was difficult for
someone who had been with the
program as long as him to accept
not making the traveling squad.
The Huskers usually take three I
backs to away games.
“It gets really frustrating for a
guy that is as old as me,” Achola
said. “By the time you’re a junior
you really tiavc to think about things,
about what you are going to do
with your life.”
Saturday, Achola stoic a por
tion of the show by breaking a 45
yard run to the Minnesota one while
being chased by Minnesota safety
Sean Lumpkin.
“At first 1 was embarrassed that
guy caught me, but I was happy to
get down that far,” he said.
Once Flowers and Baldwin are
back to full speed, Achola again
will find himself low man on the
totem pole at I-back.
“The competition is amazing,”
Achola said. “You’ve got to learn
a lot of things and adjust to the
speed and size of the game. You
feel lost in the shuffle. That’s not to
downgrade the program, but that’s
the kind of program it is. One guy
goes down and you shuffle another
one in there.
“You saw that today with Flow
ers and Baldwin out, Derek Brown
and I came in and did a satisfactory
job.”
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.
Joseph, Williams
named Big Eight
players of week
From Staff Reports
Nebraska junior quarterback
Mickey Joseph, who completed 7 of
11 passes for 117 yards and three
touchdowns Saturday against Minne
sota, was selected the Big Eight’s
Offensive Player of the Week Tues
day.
Colorado senior outside linebacker
Alfred Williams was named the
league’s defensive player of the week.
Joseph, in only his second career
start, also rushed for 32 yards and two
touchdowns as he accounted for five
ofthc Comhuskers’ total touchdow ns
in their 56-0 victory. Nebraska’s of
fense generated 564 yards, including
379 in the first half.
“Mickey played well and played
smart,’’ Huskcr coach Tom Osborne
said. “He’s a good option quarter
back.”
Williams recorded 10 tackles,
including seven solo stops as Colo
rado beat No. 22 Texas at Austin on
Saturday.
Williams also had two quarter
back sacks, a tackle for a loss and was
credited with two quarterback hur
ries. His sack of Texas quarterback
Peter Gardcre in the end zone for a
safely sealed the win for the Buffa
loes. It was the second consecutive
weekly defensive honor for the Buffs
as linebacker Greg Biekcrt look the
honors last week.
Williams, a native of Houston, was
the 1989 Big Eight defensive player
of the year, and is among the 12
finalists for the Lombardi and Butkus
awards.
