Sports
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Huskers, Rams have something to prove
Defense anxious to show what it can do
By Todd Cooper
Senior Reporter
Nebraska’s defense wants to defend itself
—against criticism, that is — Saturday against
Colorado State.
“We’re kind of anxious to get back on the
iiela, strong satety Steve
Carmer said. “We didn’t play
I to our level last Saturday.
“We want to show people
what we can do.”
The Comhuskers will have
to do that against a balanced
Carmer Colorado State attack Satur
day. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
The Rams employ more than 40 offensive
sets in their I-formation offense. The Rams will
pass, but they’ll run more than Utah State,
Husker Coach Tom Osborne said.
“Overall, they’ve been moving the ball pretty
successfully,” Osborne said.
Colorado State, 1-1, averages 430 total yards
per game, including 220 yards passing. They
racked up 255 yards passing in a 31-26 loss to
Air Force last week.
The Husker defense gave up 373 yards pass
ing — the third highest passing output ever
against Nebraska — in last week’s 59-28 vic
tory over Utah State. Utah Stale averaged 6.6
yards per play en route to its highest point
production against Nebraska in the four-game
series.
Carmer—who had his first career intercep
tion and two other pass breakups Saturday —
said he wasn’t making excuses for the defense.
“I credit (Utah State quarterback Ron) Lopez
and the receivers for their performance,” Carmer
said. “With his three-step drops, the receivers
were getting underneath the coverages.
“They just did what they needed to.”
Carmer said the Utah State game will help
the Husker defense in more than one way.
“(The Rams’) quarterback is good,” Carmer
said. “He’s tall just like Lopez, and he’s good
at spotting receivers.”
Carmer said Colorado State has a couple of
good receivers in Greg Primus and Marie Holmes,
who have 155 and 141 total yards receiving,
respectively.
“We’re working on technique this week,”
Carmer said. “I think we relied too much on
emotions Saturday.
“Technique will put you where you need to
be.”
Inside rushing will put Nebraska’s offense
where it needs to be Saturday, sophomore tight
end Johnny Mitchell said.
See CSU on 9
Familiar conqueror returning to Lincoln
By Chuck Green
Senior Editor
Colorado Slate football coach Earle Bruce
is no stranger to playing the Comhuskers.
Or beating them.
Bruce, now in his third season at Colorado
State, coached at Iowa State from 1973 to 1978
and beat the Huskers in 1976 and 1977.
The second win was a
24-21 shocker at Memo
rial Stadium.
Bruce will be trying for
his third career win against
Nebraska on Saturday when
Colorado State plays the
Huskers in Memorial Sta
dium at 1 p.m.
But Bruce said upset
ting Nebraska on Saturday, Bruce
or any other day, isn’t an easy task.
“(Nebraska) has a lot of firepower,” Bruce
said. ‘They have good backs and skill players,
and good linemen, which you expect them to
have. I can’t imagine a Nebraska team without
those types of players. They have it.”
Bruce said he is especially impressed with
Nebraska’s size on the offensive line.
“They are big,” he said. “It’s obvious they
can only put seven players on the line of
scrimmage. If they put eight, it could bulge the
sidelines.”
Bruce said Nebraska’s top three quarter
backs— Keithcn McCant, Mickey Joseph and
Tom Haase — present a special problem for
Colorado State’s defense.
“Whoever is in there, he’ll be fresh,” Bruce
said. “If not, they’ll just put a new face in.”
The Rams enter the game with a 1-1 record
and are coming off a 31 -26 loss to Air Force last
week. Colorado State gave up a touchdown in
the game’s final moments.
. Colorado State made several crucial errors
in the game, including two turnovers that re
sulted in Air Force touchdowns. Bruce said the
Rams have several improvements to make before
Saturday’s game.
“Obviously, you can’t turn the ball over and
expect to win,” he said.
There were bright spots in the game, though,
Bruce said, particularly the play of the Rams’
special teams.
“We did not lose that football game on
special teams,” he said. “We blocked a punt,
downed the ball inside their 10-yard line, three
times kicked off out of the end zone. We
covered well on kickoffs and punts.
See BRUCE on 10
