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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1992)
Sports . __ . ---* NU, Buffaloes charge into battle Huskers say focus needed By Nick Hytrek Senior Reporter Nebraska’s matchup with Colo rado Saturday won’t be a simple case of running and throwing. The Comhuskcrs, who enter the game ranked No. 8 with a 5-1 record, 2-0 in the Big Eight, arc averaging 347.5 yards rushing a game. On the other hand, the Buffaloes, also No. 8 at 6-0-1 and 2-0-1, average 334 yards passing a game. Huskcr coach Tom Osborne said people tended to overlook other parts of the game when analyzing big games. “I think there’s a lot that probably will be made of passing game vs. running game in this ballgame,” Osborne said.“But there will be many other factors involved in winning or losing this ballgame besides running and throwing the football.” At the top of the list is defense. “Defense will be a big factor,” Osborne said. “Which defense is able to match up and play the best bal Igamc will be very, very important.” From there, the list gets more spe cific. “1 think turnover margin will be very important,” Osborne said. “The kicking game will be a factor, and of course all those things have to do with field position. “Anyway, it should be an interest ing game. I think both teams are very good football teams and it should be a pretty even, close contest.” Kickoff is scheduled for 3:06 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. ESPN will tele vise the game nationally. When assessing Colorado’s strengths, Osborne wasted no time mentioning one position. “They have an excellent group of receivers,” he said. “They have sev eral that they can run and they have particularly good speed.” Leading the Buffalo receiving corps arc Michael Westbrook and Charles Johnson. The two have com bined for 88 catches, 1,566 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Responsible for gelling the ball to Westbrook and Johnson is quarter back Kordcl I Stewart. The sophomore has completed 88 of 151 passes and 1,324 yards. Backing up Stewart is freshman Koy Detrner, who has thrown for 828 yards this season, in cluding a 418-yard outing against Oklahoma. So far this season, Colorado’s rush ing game has struggled. Osborne said hedidn’tcxpcctihc Buffaloes to aban don their running game against Ne braska. “I suspect that they will not come in here and entirely forget about their running game,” he said. “I think that they will try to show some balance in the ballgamc, although it appears as though the thing that they have done the best overall is throw the football.” The Buffaloes can also get the job done on defense, Osborne said. “What little I’d read about Colo rado before the season, I think that they felt they have about as much defensive talent as they’ve had in a long time, maybe ever,” Osborne said. “I’d say that looking at the film I’d have to go along with that. They’re very, very talented on that side of the ball.” Husker I-back Derek Brown said Nebraska would have to be on top of its game in order to move the ball on the Buffalo defense. See COLORADO on 8 Michelle Paulman/DN Nebraska l-back Calvin Jones runs the ball in a game earlier this season against Utah. Jones and teammate Derek Brown rank as the No. 1 and No. 2 rushers in the Big Eight. CU unsettled at QB spot By Jeff Singer Senior Reporter_ While Nebraska’s quarterback question has been settled, Bill McCartney is still wondering who will be calling his team’s signals Sat urday. McCartney, the coach of eighth ranked Colorado, has seen his top quarterback, sophomore Kordcll Stewart, hampered this week in prac tice by a lingering ankle injury. Stewart’s backup, freshman Koy Dcttner, has been an able replace ment already this season and has helped the Buffaloes to a 6-0-1 record. But don’task McCartney lorcvcal who his starter will be when the teams meet at 3:06 p.m. Saturday at Memo rial Stadium. “On Monday when we went out to practice, I expected (Stewart) to be . OK,” McCartney said. “But his ankle is still gimpy, and he’s still nursing it.” Stewart has completed 88 of 151 passes for 1,324 yards and eight touch downs so far this season, while Dctmcr has thrown for 828 yards, completing 56 of 88 passes and throwing for seven touchdowns. Both quarterbacks have had to learn the Buffaloes’ new one-back, pass ing-style offense that was installed in time for last year’s Blockbuster Bowl against Alabama. “It’s a process,” said McCartney, who used an I-bonc offense in Colorado’s 19-19 lie with Nebraska last year. “Nebraska has had the same offense for so many years that they know it like the back of their hand.” The Buffaloes’ only blemish on their record so far this season has been a tic with Oklahoma two weeks ago. McCartney said the tie made Saturday’sgamcamusl-win situation for Colorado if the Buffaloes were to bring home a fourth straight Big Eight title. “If we had beaten Oklahoma, there’d be less pressure,” McCartney said. “But by virtue of the tic, if we lose to Nebraska, our chances arc all but gone.’! McCarmcy said that if there were any questions whether the Bulfalo Husker game is a rivalry, they would be answered Saturday. “When you walk out onto the field, you’re going to see Memorial Sta dium with more enthusiasm than they’ve had in a long time,” he said. Osborne looks for help from Husker fans From Stall Reports Tom Osborne said Thursday that he hoped the Nebraska crowd will help the Huskcrs Saturday. “We hope the crowd will allow us to audible,” Osborne said. “I’m not going to say what they should do when Colorado has the ball, I’m just asking forquiet when Nebraska has it.” Osborne said practices had gone smoothly for Nebraska this week. “We came through the week in pretty good shape,” he said. “No one got hurl and everyone prac ticed.” While everything is going well on the practice field, the weather could be a problem for both Ne braska and Colorado by kickoff. The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 50 percent c ha ncc of rain on Saturday with a high temperature between 45 and 50 degrees. i Colorado arsenal loaded on defense By Jeff Griesch and Phil Carter Staff Reporters - 1 Dcon Figures and Greg B ickcrt arc two — but not the only — dangerous weapons the Colorado Buffaloes pos sess. Figures is a senior corncrback who owns big-play ability on both defense and special teams. Bickcrt, a senior linebacker, has already left a lasting mark on the Ncbraska-Colorado se ries. Both will be integral parts of the Buffalo defense when Colorado plays Nebraska at 3:06 p.m. on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. A four-year starter, Figures is an All-American candidate and is in con tention for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. Figures said facing the Buffalo offense in practice had improved his defensive play. “The new offense has helped my play,especially myjnan-lo-mancovr cragc,’’ Figures said. “Going against \ guys like Michael Westbrook isgoing to make you better.” Along with his defensive ability, Figures is also one of the Big Eight’s most dangerous return men. “I go in there wanting to run one back every lime I gel the bal IFigures said. Figures is trying to pul profes sional football out of his mind while he prepares for the Cornhuskers and the remainder of the season. “The NFL is in the back of my mind,” Figures said. “I am trying to stay focused so I can go out on a winning note.” Last season, Biekert scooped up a blocked extra point and ran it back for two points. The play helped Colorado forge a 19-19 tie in Boulder. “I think it was one of my better games,” Biekert said. “I just remem ber (the ball) kind of bouncing into my hands. I just started to take off. “I knew (former Husker tight end Johnny) Mitchell would be right be hind me,” Biekert said. “I just had to weave my way through.” Biekcri has been a three-year starter This season, the Buffalo defense atColoradoandisplaying in his fourth gave up 38 points to Baylor, and 20 Ncbraska-Coloradogame. He said this year’s Buffalo defense, still has room " _ 1 ’ -~ to improve. See BUFFALOES on 8