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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1991)
Linebackers substitute strength for experience By Todd Cooper Senior Reporter Two of Nebraska’s youngest line backers are using strength to over come the defense’s No. 1 weakness — inexperience. Sophomore Mike Anderson, last year’s lifter of the year, and redshirt fresh man Darren Williams, who benches 400 pounds, have emerged to help senior Mike Anderson Petko lead a Anaers°n young defense, inside linebacker coach Kevin Steele said. “We’ll look at the films (Sunday),” Steele said. “But it looks like Darren played pretty solid (during Saturday’s scrimmage). - “And with Mike, I think we some times forget that he still has three years left, but he played solid.” Steele said Husker fans can expect great things out of Anderson, the No. 1 weakside linebacker. “We feel good about that spot right now,” Steele said. “Mike continues to work hard and he’s a very good line backer right now.” And although he recorded just 18 total tackles in limited playing lime last year, Anderson said he’s ready to start this year. “I was second the whole year last year behind Pat (Tyrance), so I ex EXPERIENCE. Lincoln LINCOLN. ‘Mr. 'Tom's * HAIR. 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Anderson said he learned a lot from Tyrance. “He was a great linebacker,” Anderson said. “He just always worked hard.” Anderson hopes he can lead the same way Tyrance did — with his work habits. “I don’t know if I’m going to be a leader,” he said. “I’m just going to work hard and let that show for it self.” Steele said Williams is making strides because of his work habits. The redshirt freshman from Chicago has climbed to third on the depth chart behind Petko and junior Matt Penland, who has been hampered with knee problems this fall. A true junior, Penland might redshirt, pending his health. “We still have time on our side to see what happens with Matt,” Steele said. “But based on right now, Darren will see some playing time.” Williams saw plenty of action Saturday, terrorizing the first- and second-team offense most of the day. At 6-fo6t-1 -inch and 245 pounds, the offense saw plenty of him. “Darren just has great natural in stincts,” Steele said. “He’s a big guy and is very, very strong. And, most importantly, he’s developing an under standing of what it takes to play line backer at Nebraska.” Williams said he learned from watching Tyrance. “I’m a great admirer of his,” Wil liams said. “He was just a great line backer and a great leader.” Williams was a co-player of the year in the Catholic League of Chi cago in his senior year. He was re cruited by Michigan, Illinois, Wis consin and Notre Dame. “But ever since I was in seventh grade, I always watched Nebraska,” he said. “It was an easy choice.” Williams said his only goal this year is to help the defense out wher ever he can. “(Petko) has been here a long time and he’s started two years,” Williams said. “I’m just going to learn from him and fit in wherever I can.” ^ ^ • treshman quarterback will have to wait By Todd Cooper Senior Reporter Rarely does a Nebraska quarter back have the opportunity to see play ing time as a true freshman. Tony Veland had that opportunity, and he has seen enough, for this year. “I didn’t do too well today,” Ve land said after missing on all three of his passing attempts during Satur day’s scrimmage. “I had a few bad audibles and I didn’t throw the ball too well. “But I didn’t expect to be there either.” Veland, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound recruit out of Omaha Benson, worked with the second offense against the No. 1 defense during the 3 1/2 hour scrimmage. Coach Tom Osborne decided to play Veland with the second team because of his “initial test scores.” “He tested better than any fresh man we’ve had here,” Osborne said. Veland ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds (electronically limed), Osborne said. He also had a 32-inch vertical jump, according to Osborne. “He’s just a good athlete,” Osborne said. “I just wanted to give him a chance to make it into the top two (quarterbacks).” But after two penalties, three in complete passes and a couple of missed audibles, Veland said his playing days with the varsity may soon be over. “After today, I’d imagine I’ll be redshirted.” Osborne echoed that statement, but Veland wasn’t too disappointed. “It was fun,” Veland said. “It was kind of honoring just to be in that position.” The last quarterback to have a chance to play as a freshman was Steve Taylor, who quarterbacked in Nebraska’s loss to Michigan in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. Taylor went on to BEFORE HE CAN FOLLOW : I followtS^rules^TO Michelle Paulman/Daily Nebraskan Quarterback Tom Haase evades linebacker Troy Branch during Saturday’s scrimmage. earn All-Big Eight honors during his junior and senior years. “We recruited him as an athlete,” Osborne said. “We had intended to develop him as a defensive back, but he said he wanted to play quarter back. We’ll keep him there.” Veland said he could tell after Saturday that, unlike Taylor, he needs a redshirt year. “I had a real hard lime reading the defenses,” he said. “We didn’t do much with audibles in high school, so it was tough. “I kind of had everything thrown at me.” Veland was also recruited as a defensive back. Veland said a year to absorb the system hopefully will alleviate the confusion he felt Saturday. “I hope after this year I’m in a position to compete for the No. 1 spot,” he said. “My arm has to get a lot better and I have to learn how to read the coverages.” Osborne said any one of the three freshman quarterback recruits — Veland, Clester Johnson and Brook Berringer — could compete for the starting spot next year. “All three of them are great ath letes,” he said. ‘They all placed in the top five in the freshman testing.” But for this year, Osborne will plav it safe. “I supposed if they worked hard, they’d have a reasonably good shot of playing well later on in the season.” Osborne said. “But that’s a hard thing to ask them to give up a redshirt year.” I NOTICE TO STUDENTS I All students are eligible tb apply for a refund of their “A** portion of students fees during a period beginning August 26,1991 and ending September 27,1991. Students claiming a refund will lose benefits * provided by Fund “A” users during the Fall semester 1991- 92. Application forms are available at the Student Activities Financial Service Office, Room 222, City Union; ASUNOffice, 115 Vebraska Union or300East Union. Students must bring their student I.D. cards at the time of application. Students who are unable to personally return their application to the Student Activities Financial Services Office should contact Kim Undcrdahl, Room 222 (phone 472-5667) before September 20, 1991 to make arrangements. Students who have completed a refund application and returned it on or before September 27,1991 will be mailed a check for the amount of the refund claimed. Refund checks will be mailed between the dates of September 30 and October 11, 1^91. Students claiming a refund will lose certain fenefits provided by the above listed Fund “A” users. For details on which benefits may be lost, please refer to the cover sheet on the refund application. 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