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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1991)
fa^^t ^.-^-.m.-~-, * .m>ou -3B,u-.,M.vLa.as . ....£*,* Sooner player aims at victorious return By Jeff Singer Staff Reporter After spending the past two weeks recovering from surgery, the only operating Oklahoma quarterback Calc Gundy wants to think about is on the Nebraska defense. Gundy, who missed the Sooners’ 21-6 win over Oklahoma State last week because of a minor hernia op eration, said he will be ready to play when Oklahoma battles the Com huskers Nov. 29 at Memorial Sta dium. The sophomore from Midwest City, Okla., said his surgery might have been a blessing in disguise as the Sooners prepare for their annual battle with the Huskcrs. “I think I’m in better condition now than I was before my surgery,” Gundy said. “Getting this time off from taking punishment all season has definitely helped.” Gundy practiced for the first time Wednesday and said everything is back to normal in his football routine. He said the Oklahoma offense ran well with backup quarterback Steve Collins playing, but in order for the Sooners to compete with Nebraska, he has to return to run the offense. “Steve Collins did a good job last Saturday, but I think with me being the starter, I have to be out there for the offense,” Gundy said. “We’re a family out there, so it’s key to the team for me to be there.” Gundy said he has been anticipat ing Oklahoma’s game against the Huskers for a while, and is looking forward to playing the Sooners’ Big Eight rival. I “l can’t wait to p\ay in Lincoln, f since it will be my first trip up there," Gundy said. “I know it’s a madhouse there, and that it’s always a challenge playing against the solid red in Memorial Stadium.” The Sooners will be looking to continue their winning ways against Nebraska. Oklahoma holds a 39-29-3 scries record against the Huskcrs, including last year’s 45-10 pounding they handed Nebraska in Norman, Okla. Gundy said he’s not expecting a similar blowout this lime around. “No one would’ve expected that we would beat Nebraska by 35 points, and I know last year’s game was a fluke,’’Gundy said. “We’re definitely going to have to prepare ourselves well for next week’s game.” I The Husker defense will be no pushover, according lo Gundy, who said Nebraska’sdefcnsive units isone of the best Nebraska has put together in a long time. “Their defense really impresses me,” Gundy said. “They’ve got 11 outstanding guys who aren’t afraid of putting it to you.” Gundy said that in order for the Sooners to leave Lincoln with a win, they will need to avoid what plagued them in losses to Texas and Colorado. “We’ve been playing exception ally well lately, and need to continue to play our type of game,” Gundy said. “Our two losses came because of turnovers, and we’ll need to slay away from making similar mistakes against Nebraska.” Gundy said he had no doubts about attending Oklahoma after high school. He said his reasons for attending the school were obvious. , “They were having a quarterback controversy when I was coming out of high school, and I knew I would have the opportunity to play right away,” Gundy said. “They were also changing the offense in a way that fit my style by throwing the ball more, so I knew ttys was the place to be.” Gundy’s brother Mike, who set many school and conference records while playing for Oklahoma State and is now the Cowboys’ receivers coach, wanted Calc to attend Okla homa Stale, but the younger Gundy said it wasn’t a consideration. “1 wanted to go somewhere where 1 could do my own thing,” Gundy said. “I also wanted to play at a school that would have the chance of playing for conference and national champi onships, and l jusl didn’t see that _ happening at OSU.” Gundy, who has completed 54 percent of his passes for I, I OS yards so far this year, said he will take :redit for the Sooners success this season. “We’re 8-2 and I’ve played eight exceptional games this year,” Gundy said. The 6-foot, 187-pound communi cations major said his goals arc simple for his remaining two years at Okla homa. “I want to win the Big Eight title and play for the national champion ship before I end my career,” Gundy said. “I know I’ll probably set most of the school’s passing records while I’m here, but most importantly, I want to win.” Kiley Timperley/DN Oklahoma quarterback Cale Gundy gets off a pass before being hit bv Iowa State’s Matt Grubb. Gundy said he is ready to play again after sitting out Oklahoma s 21 -© win over Oklahoma State on Saturday because of minor surgery. Colorado nearing end of Buffaloes’ lucky trend Colorado coach Bill McCart ney called it resiliency. Quarter back Vance Joseph said it was a never give-up attitude.” I call it luck. tTodd Cooper Nope, Colorado’s 30-24 come from-behind victory against Kan sas last week was no stroke of intestinal fortitude. No, Joseph’s 30-yard run on third down-and-a mile against the Jayhawks — who had been whipped Nov. 9 by Ne braska, 59-23 — was not a tremen dous testimony to talent. The half back pass from I-back Lamont * Warren to receiver Charles Johnson, a pass which prevented them from trailing 24-3, was not a portrait of poise. It was a miracle, a true black and gold miracle. Better yet, it was Buff luck; and, anymore, that means tough luck for opponents. The Colorado Buffaloes have had a string of fortune that would make an Irishman proud. It’s out done the luck of the Irish — Notre Dame, that is — and their miracles a couple years ago. The following Buffalo chips from the past two years have, quite sim ply , stunk up any chances for Colo rado opponents: • More so than last week, Colo rado’s comeback against Oklahoma Slate was greater fortune than a genie could muster. Down 12-10 to the 0-9-1 Cowboys and lining up for an apparent field goal, Colo rado third-string wide receiver Robbie James, who has touched a ball three times in a game in his career, look the snap. He then threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris tian Fauria, a redshirt freshman, to win it 16-12. Pat Jones termed McCartney’s play-call “gutsy.” But had Jones’ defense covered the way they should have (it was third down, Pat), McCartney would have looked a little nutsy. •Of course, everybody remcm bers the Colorado-Nebraska tic from See COOPER on 14 Husker fans’ behavior suspect A friend and I were reminiscing the other day about how we used to go to all the Comhuskcr football games when we were growing up. Eventually, the talk turned to “Remember when we used to throw oranges at the Oklahoma games?” Yes, it was a lotof fun. Just like the Colorado fans, who undoubtedly had a lot of fun throwing oranges and snowballs at Folsom Field a few weeks ago when the Huskers were in town. Since that game, the Omaha World Herald’s Voice from the Grandstand letter section has been filled with comments from Nebraska football fans who found the behavior of the Colo rado fans revolting. The letters went on to praise Husker fans and players in general for their “class behavior at all times,” and generally gave thanks to God that no Nebraska fans ever misbehave or make the opposing team or fans feel bad. Nebraska fans arc well-known for being some of the most respectable in the country, and Husker players arc known for their on-field discipline in staying out of trouble. Off the field, well . . . that’s an other story altogether. However... N 1979: After Missouri middle guard Norman Goodman went after Husker I-back Jarvis Rcdwine’s knee on an exira-poinl attempt, the Ncbraska Missouri rivalry exploded into hard feelings that are just now beginning to die down. After the game, the Nebraska media played up the incident to the fullest extent, and Goodman and his parents received threatening phone calls from “classy” Husker fans. S Chuck Green 1980: During the game against Oklahoma, Rcdwinc broke loose on a 90-yard touchdown run. At the Okla homa 30-yard line, Rcdwinc turned to the pursuing Oklahoma defender and pointed at him, taunting him all the way to the end zone. Oklahoma won the game 17-14. 1981: When the Huskers went to the locker room at halftime trailing Auburn 3-0, Nebraska fans sent their team inside with a chorus of boos and obscenities directed at Osborne and struggling quarterback Nate Mason. Nebraska went on to post a 17-3 win, engineered by sophomore quar terback Turner Gill. 1982: This was a big year for Husker no-nos. In the final minute of the 27-24 loss to Penn Slate, a Nittany Lion tight end caught a pass that was clearly out of bounds. But officials ruled he had drug his foot on the way out, and the drive was capped on the next play by the winning touchdown. Nebraska fans still haven’t stopped complaining about this obviously bad call, but little has been said about a worse call, which went Nebraska’s way in the 1988 loss to UCLA. . Safety Mark Bla/ck intercepted a Bruin pass, fell down and rolled. Because he didn’t hear a whistle, he scrambled to his feet and jogged into the end zone for a touchdown. Later in 1982, trailing the worst Missouri team in years, Gill look a cheap shot from Tiger defender Randy Jostes, a native of Omaha. Gill suf fered a concussion when he hit his head on the AstroTurf. For the next week, Jostes parents received death threats in the mail and over the telephone, and one female caller reportedly told Jostes’ mother that she hoped she was raped the next time she left her house. And still later, with seconds re maining in the Oklahoma game, thou sands of Nebraska fans (including See GREEN on 14