The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, September 17, 1992, Page 19, Image 18
Sports DN file photo Nebraska l-back Calvin Jones eludes Washington’s Paxton Tailele in last year’s 36-21 Husky win at Memorial Wyoming has eyes on berth By Tim Pearson Staff Reporter Forget that it’s only September — the Wyoming volleyball team is look ing to use its two weekend show- ^ downs against No. 6 Nebraska as a steppingstone to the NCAA tourna ment. The Cowgirls arc off to a 6-1 start this season and will face the Comhuskers twice on Friday and Sat urday. The first match will be in North Platte at the Mid-Plains Coliseum. Saturday’s match will be in Lincoln at the NU Coliseum. Wyoming coach Mike English has his eyes on a possible NCAA tourna ment berth. ft “Being able to play a top-ranked team is important as far as seeding,” English said. “We always have our eyes on going to the big dance, and that’s part of the ticket.” Wyoming won the Spokane Spikeoff last weekend by beating Oregon, Boise Slate and Gon/.aga. Earlier in the week, the Cowgirls had losla five-game match at home to No. 16 Colorado. “The Colorado match was impor tant for us to push us and raise our level of play,” he said. “Other than a couple late errors in the fi fth game, we had a chance to win the match.” This year’s team, English said, was similar to last year’s team that lost to Nebraska in four games. “We have three different starters;” he said. “We’re going to be scrappy defensively, and we’ll be a pretty fair blocking team.” English said playing in North Platte would be an opportunity to showcase volleyball to other parts of the state. “It’s a nice opportunity for Ne braska to promote their program,” he said. “Since we’ve had a good con nection in Nebraska, we hope to turn a few fans’ heads.” English said his team would have to be at its best if it were to beat the Huskers. “We’re concerned about Stephanie Thaler, but who’s not?” he said. “But our concern should not just be with Stephanie_They’re going to come at us with more than just Stephanie Thaler.” English said his team was looking forward to playing Nebraska.. “It’s always an honor to play a quality program like Nebraska,” he said. “1 have a tremendous amount of respect for them.” Huskies anticipate ground war It’s a whole new ball game, Washington’s Hoffman says By Tim Pearson Staff Reporter Last year doesn’t matter to Washington linebacker Dave Hoffman. All that matters is this year and this Saturday’s showdown against No. 12 Nebraska. The Huskies took home a share of the national championship last year with an undefeated record, but Hoffman said 1992 was a new sea son. Hoffman led the H uskics in tack les last year for the second straight year with 71 stops. When Hoffman was named an All-American last year, he became the first Washing ton linebacker to receive that honor since 1982. Although the Huskies came out of Memorial Stadium with a 36-21 win last season, Hoffman said that ihc Husky defense “gave up some big plays.” Hoffman scaled the victory against the Huskcrs with a fourth quarter interception which slopped a final Nebraska threat to score. He also picked up eight tackles in the win. Hoffman said he was hoping for a repeat performance against Nc -f* / know it’s going to go a hard four quar ters. We’re just ex pecting good, old, hard-nosed football. —Hoffman Washington linebacker -44 braska this year, minus the big plays. “Hopefully, both teams won’t run up the field and pul points on the board. I know it’s going to go a hard four quarters,” he said. “We’re justexpccling good, old, hard-nosed football.” Nebraska’s offensive potential — especially defending the option — is a specific concern, Hoffman said. “We have been working on the option,” he said. “They ’ vc got great athletes. They can throw the ball, and they can catch it, loo.” Washington enters Saturday’s contest with victories over Arizona State and Wisconsin. Although the Huskies arc 2-0, Hoffman said the defense needed to get better. NU’s rushing game worries Washington, lineman says By Phil Carter Staff Reporter Whai’s it like trying to fill the shoes of an All-American, an Out land Trophy winner, a Lombardi Trophy winner and No. 1 draft pick? Just ask Washington junior de fensive tackle D’Marco Farr, who has the difficult task of trying to replace former Husky standout Steve Emtman as defensive middle guard. “After losing a lot from last year’s defense across the line, we definitely need to tighten down up front,” Farr said. “Especially this week against Nebraska.” The No. 2 Huskies enter this week’s showdown with the Comhuskers trying to answer sev eral of their own questions after giving up more than 300 yards rush ing in their season opener against Arizona State two weeks ago. “We really need to focus on the run this week,” Farr said. “(Nebraska’s) big, strong and they come at you every play. We need to be wary of the situations they throw at us.” Farr, 6-foot-1 and 265 pounds, is a smaller version of Emtman, who was ihc first pick of the entire NFL draft last spring. Despite the size differential, Farr said he was not concerned about being too small. “As long as I get in there and make the plays, that’s what I’m worried about,” he said. “If I’m double-teamed, that means 600 pounds coming down on me, but it also means I’m doing my job.” The game, which will be tele vised by ESPN, is receiving a lotof attention from both Husky fans and players. “I know how big this game is,” Farr said. “This is the game of the year for this team. After Nebraska, we’ll start to focus on our confer ence race, and re-establish our goals for a tough USC team.” . Farr, who graduated from Kennedy High School in San Pablo, Calif., will face Husker running back Derek Brown — a La Habra, Calif., native — for the first lime since a high school all-star game four years ago. “I remember him well. He gained 148 yards in that game,” Farr said. “On the first play, he blew right by me.” Trick plays, dry weather needed for Husker victory Thiriy-iwo years and counting. That’show long it’s been since the Nebraska football team went on the road and beat a higher-ranked team, and it’s a streak that will continue unless the Comhuskers can shock the college football world with a victory Saturday against second-ranked Washington. Back in 1960, the Huskers traveled to Austin, Texas, and defeated the No. 4 Texas Longhorns to highlight a dismal 4-6 season. But since then, futility has reigned when Nebraska has pul on its white road jerseys to play as an underdog in an opponent’s stadium. In order for the streak to be broken this weekend, the Huskers are going to have to play a near-perfect game this Saturday in Seattle. Can the streak be broken? Yes. Will it be broken? Doubtful. But if the streak is to come to an end in Husky Stadium, then the Husk ers will need to accomplish the fol lowing five things to try to kennel the Huskies: 1. On offense: Utilize fullback Lance Lewis. With so much attention being given to Nebraska 1-backs De rek Brown and Calvin Jones, the Husk ers will need, to take advantage of Lewis’ abilities throughout the game. With teams focusing on the Ne braska 1-backs so far this season, Lewis has been able to score on touchdown runs of 57 and 42 yards, and has a total of 144 yards* in his first two games, while only netting 196 yards all of last year. And if Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne uses Lewis properly, Lance jusl might end up looking like Carl Lewis on Saturday night. 2. On defense: Force Washing ton to run the ball. The Huskerscan’t let the Huskies talented quarterback duo of Billy Joe Hobcrt and Mark Brunei! get on track, otherwise the celebrations in the Pacific Northwest will be starling early. The Huskies arc led by overrated sophomore running back Napoleon Kaufman, and his 159-yard rushing game against Arizona State a couple of weeks ago was in Hated. The Sun Devils’ defense is so bad that half of Nebraska’s high school running backs could run for over 100 yards against Arizona Slate, and that includes the eight-man and six-man players as well. 3. On special teams: Dust off the trick plays. This is where the typi cally-conscrvative Osborne has to loosen up and utilize the trick plays in his playbook. With Nebraska All-American can didate Mike Stigge punting, Wash ington will probably be setting up for punt returns in Puget Sound, therefore giving the Huskers the opportunity to run whatcver’s up the 55-year-old Osborne’s sleeves. 4. Crowd control: Keep the 84,000 Husky fans out of the game. Nebraska can’t allow the Huskies to lake an early lead, otherwise the crowd noise in Husky Stadium will become deafening. This week,a Husky fan told Wash ington football coach Don James that the Husky faithful were saving their voices for this week’s game. But who can blame them, since with the Seahawks, Supersonicsand Mariners playing in Seattle, the only thing people in Washington have to cheer for is for the five days of the year that the sun comes out in the Pac i fic North - west. 5. Pray for dry weather: Keep the Huskies out of their natural See SINGER on 21