Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1990)
Old criticisms of T.O. won’t do In “CaddyshackTy Webb/Chevy Chase says, “In one physical model of the universe, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line — in the opposite direction.” The best way for Nebraska to improve — the shortest distance be tween Nebraska's status as perennial Paul Domeier tease to status as possible juggernaut — is to diversify the offense and allow more emotion in the big games. Well, Nebraska is doing that. In an effort to get better, the Huskers have shown more emotion this season, and Friday against Oklahoma the Husk ers passed more — ar.d headed in the opposite direction. More passing and more emotion (early in the season) didn’t keep Oklahoma from winning 45-10 in one of the most pathetic games of Tom Osborne’s tenure. The Huskers tried the right things. That doesn’t mean life is peachy in Huskerland, since from every per spective, Nebraska lost by 35 points. What it does mean is that if you want to say, “T.O. must go!” you can’t use the old reasons: 1. Osborne must change the of fense. Pass more and run up the middle less! Nebraska’s basic I and I bone of fensive structure can’t be too bad. Colorado and Oklahoma have copied it directly. In one rough play count, Nebraska passed 25 times against Oklahoma and called two other pass plays that turned into runs. Fifteen of those came in the first half; the Huskers weren’t just throwing out of desperation. Three plays were reverses or some type of trick play. Of the 33 conven tional runs, 12 went up the middle. Twice as many passes as middle runs; 43 percent of the plays called as passes. The “run left, run right, run up the middle, punt” stereotype didn’t apply to the Oklahoma game. Opening up the game gave Ne braska’s its only chance to stretch the Oklahoma defense and win. The strat egy backfired with seven turnovers leading to 31 easy points. Conserva tive running could have held down the score, but Nebraska couldn ’t have won. 2. Nebraska can’t stop runs up the middle. Defensive coordinator Charlie McBride couldn’t find a way to stop or even slow down Colorado’s Eric Bicniemy, but the Huskers did slow down Oklahoma’s backs. Oklahoma’s tailbacks gained 40 yards on 12 tries up the middle, 3.3 yards a carry. On 16 of the Sooner fullbacks’ carries, they gained 62 yards, 3.9 yards a carry. The other fullback run was the 48-yard touchdown busted by Mike McKinley, the one of eight Sooner gains of 15 or more yards to come up the middle. 3. Osborne can’t get the Huskers fired up for any game. Well, he isn’t very good at it, but that didn’t keep the Huskers from being emotional in earlier games this year. A hard tackle this year cams the tackier a head-shattering left hook to the helmet from Kenny Walker or Pat Tyrance. This is the way psychopaths and defensive players show happi ness, especially when the categories overlap. On offense, Mickey Joseph is downright flamboyant on the field and tight end Johnny Mitchell has shown a variety of end zone dances. In the Colorado game, Joseph ran for an apparent touchdown early in the second half. The Husker sideline exploded before the official i uled that Joseph had grazed the sideline. Later, when Mitchell scored a touchdown and Nebraska led 12-0, the Huskers were penalized 15 yards for celebrating too wildly. This team is too lame?_ But in the fourth quarter of the Colorado game, the Buffaloes de stroyed the emotion and momentum for the entire season. That 27-point fourth quarter broke Nebraska. Friday, the Huskers were all but comatose. But this wasn’t Nebraska’s normal flat loss, like Iowa 1981, Syracuse 1984, Colorado 1986 or numerous Oklahoma defeats, where being neither too hot nor too cold wasn’t just right. Nebraska was fro zen, mentally numb. For die first time in years, Ne braska fans have seen the Huskers have an emotional letdown against a good team, and nobody knows how to react. Go ahead and verbally abuse Osborne if you want, but come up with new criticisms. The strategies, though they failed, were correct. The Huskers didn’t look dazed as they walked into their locker-room after the game. They almost looked like they didn t care. Of course they cared, terribly so, in their heads, and in years to come they will care even more. They couldn’t care in their hearts, though, because they left their hearts behind Nov. 3. Losing to Colorado was no reason for the Huskers to hang their heads in shame, so they weren’t playing a “pride” game. Pride comes into play in the bowl game against Georgia Tech. Now the Huskers have the crush ing loss to goad them. If Nebraska goes to the Citrus Bowl still in a funk and throwing intercep tions, that’s bad. It’s even worse if the Huskers come out emotionless and conservative on offense. This is the deal: If Osborne is to liven up the Huskers, the team will risk a few humiliating losses. In ex change for making the team competi tive for the national title, every once in a while Nebraska will go in the opposite direction. For which every fan will say, “Thank you very little.” Domcicr is a senior news-editorial major and a Daily Nebraskan sports reporter and columnist. If You re Only Planning To Marry H ER O NCE . . Shouldn't her ring be the best it can be? Whether you're planning to spend $250 or $5000, there's only one place where you're SINCE 1870 120 Regency Pirkwiy, Omah* (402)391-0400 OXV642-GIH Houn Mon & Thurt 10-8, Toes , Wed & Fri 10-6, S»t 10-5 30, Sun Noon-5 David Fahleson'DaHy Nebraskan Nebraska’s Kristi Dahn and James Madison Univer sity’s Emily McCracken fight for a loose ball during the Wimmer’s Invitational on Saturday. The Cornhuskers will play Robert Morris College today and will compete in the Ohio State Invitational this weekend. Beck Continued from Page 13 naie this team if we put the ball where it needs to be,” she said. More importantly the Huskers will have to continue to hold their oppo nents to47.5 points a game and a 23.7 shot percentage from the floor, Beck said. Beck said Nebraska’s combina tion of size and speed will help them throughout the season. “We’re going to match up with a lot of people because we have pretty good size and an up-tempo offense,” Beck said. The Huskers will be led by junior Sue Hesch, who was named the tour nament Most Valuable Performer after scoring 25 points, shooting 91 per cent, and pulling down a team-high 22 rebounds in the two games. Sopho more Karen Jennings was also named to the All-Tournament team, after racking up 22 points and 12 rebounds. Despite coming off the bench to relieve Hesch, senior Ann Halsnc is the the team’s leading scorer averag ing 17 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Halsne’s performance, how ever, was looked over in the voting for the select team. The game against Robert Morris was scheduled to let the team get some experience on the road before they head into the tourney, Beck said. “Our first game will maybe be one that we can handle a little bit better,” she said. “We’ll go into the tourna ment with one road game under our belt.” Nebraska plays Houston m the opening round Saturday at 1 p.m. Ohio State meets Pittsburgh at 3 p.m. with the championship Sunday at 3 p.m. In Monday’s women’s basketball AP Top 20 the Huskers received two votes, an honor Beck said she didn’t expect. Beck said she has also been im pressed with the leadership of seniors Kristi Dahn and Ann Halsnc whose half-time speech helped spark the Huskers turn a 24-24 halftime tie into a 68-44 win over James Madison in last weekend’s championship game. “We finally have some seniors to lean on,” Beck said. “We haven’t had thatkindof leadership in a long umc.” Saturday, Dec.1st...9am-4pm j Come see us ajjte/o tie Utah City Pumet I SCREEN PRINTING INC. \ PRE-CHRISTMAS SAVE MONEY ON OUR OVERRUNS & IRREGULARS Sweatshirts.$5 T-Shirts.$3 Adults & Kids sizes Also some Jackets CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED ' ft 301 OAKCREEK DRIVE ft l NORTH OF KERREY’S OFF OF SUN VALLEY BLVD. ,