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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1993)
SPORTS Nebraskan W«diMMlay, S*pt«mb«r 8,1993 Huskers’ big win brought heavy losses By Jeff Griesch Senior Reporter While the Nebraska football team walked out of Memorial Stadium with a 76-14 win over North Texas or Saturday, the Comhusker losses ma> outweigh the gains. First, Tommie Frazier hobbled ofl the field on the second play of the game. Then, Calvin Jones went down on what was most likely his second to-lastplayofthegame. Finally, Donta Jones limped off the field. Jones strained a ligament in his knee and will miss two to three weeks. A hush came over the crowd as Jones remained on the ground for a few minutes before hobbling off the field with the help of Nebraska train ers. Before the injury, Jones rushed for 124 yards on 16 carries and two touch downs. Jones went down on the two-yard line, one play before Brook Berringer scored the Huskers’ seventh touch down of the day to give Nebraska a 49-7 lead. And it was probably one or two carries before Jones would have been taken out, Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said. Osborne said he left Jones in to get the junior I-back plenty of repetitions. “Our feeling all along has been that a good back has to have 15,16,17 carries a ballgame,” Osborne said. “You were probably looking at his last or next to last carry of the game, so it is kind of a tragic thing.” Along with Jones, quarterback Tommie Frazier was injured on the first series of the game, and did not play the rest of the way. Frazier has a high ankle sprain and is listed as day-to-day and may be able to play this Saturday against Texas Tech. While Frazier experienced a lot of See INJURIES on 9 wSamTEerS! WrtHam Lauef/DN Up and down l-back Calvin Jones, above, chases an errant pitch during Nebraska’s 76-14 victory over North Texas. In the third quarter, left, a Nebraska trainer checks Jones’ knee. Jones strained the medial ligament in his knee while being tackled by Eagles' defenders. Injuries scramble starting lineup By Derek Samson Staff Reporter From the end of spring practice through the end of fall camp, the Nebraska football team had the ma jority of its starters carved in stone. Now, the Cornhuskers face a bit of an identity crisis after injuries to start ing quarterback Tommie Frazier and I-back Calvin Jones in the opener Saturday against North Texas. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said in his weekly press conference Tues day that Frazier, who suffered a sprained ankle on the first play of the season, is questionable for Saturday’s contest with Texas Tech. “Frazier is still a big question,” Osborne said. “He’ll try and do a little (Tuesday) and see how he does.” Osborne said sophomore Brook Berringer will start if Frazier is unable to play and Tony Veland will see a lot of snaps as Berringer’s back-up. “Brook Berringer and Tony Veland did a good job coming in and playing unexpectantly (against North Texas),” Osborne said. “Right now if Frazier can’t play, Berringer will start and then Veland will be second with (Matt) Turman third.” Another big concern comes at I back, Osborne said, where Heisman Trophy candidate Jones went down with a knee injury. ' “Calvin Jones will definitely not play and it will be touch and go for next week,” Osborne said. “How long it will take him to get back, we don’t know.” Freshman Damon Benning earned the start for Saturday. But Osborne said ne nopes to get a iook at a tot oi his backs. “We’ll try to rotate them through a lot for the first three or fourgames and see how they do,” Osborne said. Lawrence Phillips, who sat out Saturday’s game against North Texas because of disciplinary reasons, will back up Benning. Clinton Childs will be the tnird I-back and JefTMakovicka will be the fourth 1-back in the game. Osborne said that the Huskers won ’ t alter any of the offensive philosophy for the replacements. “We’ll run the same plays with Brook or with Tommie,” he said. “We won’t change very much. “Brook’s particular strength is his throwing, but he can run well. He’s taller, and that helps him as a passer. But we’ll stay with pretty much the same plays as we would if Tommie -•« Calvin Jones will definitely not play and It will be touch and go for next week. — Osborne Nebraska football coach' was in there.” Osborne said he isn't worried about the possibility of Berringer or Veland getting nervous during Saturday’s game. “They both didn’t show any signs of distress against North Texas,” he said. “They both staved pretty clear headed. We expect them to play well because that’s why they’re here.” Volleyball team perfect after weekend tourney By Tim Pearson Senior Reporter As the competition gets tougher, sodoes the Nebraska volleyball team. The Comhuskers took three match es over the weekend in the Penn State Invitational at University Park, Pa. The Huskers raised their season record to4-0. Nebraska defeated West Virginia, Pittsburgh and No. 11 Penn State last Friday and Saturday. Husker assistant coach Cathy Noth said the team played well in the invi tational. “Our match against Penn State was the best we’ve played this year,” she said. The Huskers survived five games against the Lady Lions, pulling out a 15-11,9-15,15-4,15-17,15-10win in a match that lasted three hours and five minutes. “Everybody was able to refocus for the Penn State match,” Noth said. “Everybody contributed. No-one stuck out Allison Weston didn’t stick out, and neither did Nikki Strieker. “It was a complete team effort against Penn State. We clearly outplayed Penn State at every posi tion.” Weston, Nebraska’s middle See SWEEP on 10 Match stats M— ■-■_ -M -M-A — |Af MHI-»-l — nGDf3SICd 0616311 If* VirfJIfllil 15-11,15-5,15-0 NeorasKa defeats nnsDurgn 15-6,15-10,11-15,15-9 BLOCKS: ASSISTS: KKXS: 15-11,9-15,15-4,15-17,15-10 11 JenMcFadden I §9 Nikki Strieker ! 28 Allison Weston j PERCENTAGE: .778 Jen McFadden DN graphic With Frazier injured, replacements seized day By Jeff Griesch Sorior Reporter While Tommie Frazier was nurs ing a sore ankle on the sideline in Nebraska’s 76-14 win over North Texas on Saturday, Brook Berringer and Tony Veland seized their oppor tunity to shine on the field. Berringer took over the Nebraska offense after Frazier sprained his an kle on the opening series and led the offense to its highest point total since an 84 point performance in 1983 at Minnesota. Berringer, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound sophomore fromGoodland, Kan., was a perfect 7-for-7 passing for 124 yards ami a touchdown. He also added two touchdowns on the ground. “I thought I played pretty well,” Berrigner said. “I went out and showed what I could do.” Berringer said that he expected to (;o into the game with the Huskers eading 35-0 or 35-7 rather than on the first drive. • “The way it happened, 1 was kind of surprised at first, but I really dicin’ t have time to be nervous,” Berringer said. “I just put my helmet on and went into the game. I was ready.” While Berringer said that he ac cepts the role of backup but said he See QBS on 9 HuskerJans not to worry about a victory over Red Raiders well, tne Big Red iootbaii season is underway, and despite a less-than spcctacular victory over those poor guys from North Texas, Nebraska fans nave plenty to talk about. Nd>raska scored the most points since its 84-point outburst against Minnesota in the Metrodome in 1983. And news at the tip of every Busk er fan’s tongue are the injuries to Tommie Frazier, Calvin Jones and Donta Jones. While the average Husker fans were looking for some answers in the game against North Texas, they were left with a lot more questions. Like: “Will Tommie Frazier be back for this week’s game?” “Will Donta Jones play this week?” And maybe the biggest question on the mindof“AverageHusker Fan.” win uaivin dc Dack lor UULA7 Well, even if Frazier, and the Joneses aren't back for Texas Tech, most average Husker fans agree that Nebraska will waltz past the Red Raid ers anyway. And as long as all three are back for the Bruins, everything will be hunky dory in HuskerLand. But, wait a minute, Average Husk er Fan. I realize that all eyes are looking towards the Sept. 18 matchup in the Rose Bowl as a measuring stick for how good this group of Huskers really is. But aren’t you, Average Husker Fan, looking past this week? “Ah, it's only Texas Tech. It’s not like its Texas A&M or anything.’’ But let’s pause together, Average Husker Fan, and take time to look at Jeff Griesch the opponent we’re looking past — Texas Tech. While it is true that the Red Raid ers are not the Aggies of A&M, Texas Tech will be traveling to Lincoln with a better offense than tne Aggies would have brought to Memorial Stadium. Last season, Tech finished tied for second in the Southwest Conference, right behind the Aggies, and lost a heartbreaker to A&M, 19-17, in Col lege Station, Texas. The Red Raiders averaged more than 420 yards in total offense and are returning starters on ofTense, includ ing quarterback Robert Hall, split end Lloyd Hill, and I-back Byron “Bam" Morris. Last year, Hall had 1,645 yards through the air — most of them to Hill, who had 1,261 receiving yards and is considered one of the top re ceivers in the country. Morris rushed for 69 more yards on the season (1,279) than Calvin Jones did last year. For evidence, look no farther than the Red Raiders’ 55-point explosion last week against Pacific. Tech rolled up 587 yards in total offense. “So their offense is pretty good, but their defense can’t be that great if they were only 5-6 last season." Good point. Average Husker Fan. The Red Raiders stunk last year on the defensive side of the bail. In fact, Tech ranked 9Sth nationally in total defense and allowed more than 30 points per game. “See, I told you we could forget about these yahoos.” Not so fast. Average Husker Fan. Tech has installed a new defense similar to Washington's, and accord ing to Tom Osborne, they have better team speed that last season. If you need evidence of an im proved defense, Average HuskerFan, look at Tech’s game witn Pacific again. Tech allowed the Tigers only sev en points and 229 yards in total of fense. Along with these impressive Red Raiders’ statistics, Tech also has some intangibles that improve its chances See GRIESCH on 10
