Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1993)
Strickland Continued from Page 7 coaches this year and thinks he would play strong safety on defense or wingback on offense, he said. Last year, Strickland said, Nebraska foot ball coach Tom Osborne told him that he was “welcome" on the football team. “I have a little better chance at making it on the defensive side of the ball, because I don’t have the blazing 4.4 speed,” Strickland said. “But I love playing both sides of the ball so I really don’t care what I play." Strickland said that playing foot ball was not a fleeting idea. He said he started to think about playing football again when he returned to Lincoln this summer afler the baseball season ended. “I had a week off between the time I got back from baseball and school starting and I thought about it a lot,” S trickland said. “I decided I wanted to try and play again to see if I can still play and to keep every option open. “I want to play all three and then start eliminating my options begin ning with the sport that 1 think 1 am making the least progress in.” The process of elimination could be tough for Strickland. Strickland was the Omaha World Herald male athlete-of-the-year in 1992 for his basketball and baseball feats. In football, Strickland, who was an all-state wide receiver at Bellevue West as a junior, drew the interest of some NFL and college scouts before injuring his shoulder. Afler an all-state senior season in high school baseball, Strickland was __Vital stats Erick Strickland |< FLORIDA MARUNS / Class A Team, Elmira N.Y. 6 AB H R RBI Avg. 59 213 56 30 36 .263 NEBRASKA BASKETBALL FG 3-pt PPG pet FG pet FT pet 7.8 45.4 36.4% 72.9% Assists Steals Career-Mgli 66 47(2nd 28 vs MU on team) DN graphic drafted by the Florida Martins in the 31 st round of the 1992 draft. After spending last summer in the rookie leagues, Strickland moved up to the Marlins’ Class A Minor League team in Elmira, N.Y., this year. As an outfielder, Strickland played in 59 games for Elmira and finished the season with a .263 batting aver age. After beginning the season in right field, Strickland said he was moved to center field as his arm strength im-v proved during the season. The coach es liked his range and overall defen sive skills. Unlike basketball, Strickland said that professional baseball is more of a job for him since he is under more pressure to produce from the coaches. He also said that he feels if he continues to improve on the numbers -II / had a week off be tween the time I got back from baseball and school starting and I thought about It a lot / decided I wanted to try and play again to see If I can still play and to keep every option open. -Erick Strickland Nebraska basketball player -99 “ he put up this season, then he will move up. “It’s all about production at the professional level,” Strickland said. “As long as you keep on producing then you will keep moving up. “From all indications that 1 have received, I am in the Marlins’ plans for the future.” In basketball, Strickland, who was the Big Eight Freshman-of-the-Year last season, said he has been working hard for the upcoming season. Strickland said he wants to be known as more than just a defensive player this season. “Everyone talks about my defense, but I am really an all-around player,” Strickland said. “I think 1 can go out and score and pass and rebound, and I showed that last season.” ON fHe photo Nebraska basketball player Erick Strickland dribbles downcourt during Nebraska s win over Iowa State last season. DBs Continued from Page 7 caught it, and I was off to the races.” Wright came to Nebraska last year after being named a junior college All-American at Phoenix College in 1991. Last year he played in all 11 games as a backup strong safety to Steve _ Carmer, and he started when the Huskers operated out of the dime. He finished the season with 33 tackles, including three quarterback sacks. Wright said last year was tough for him, even though he played in every game last season. “I came here with high hopes, and with hard work I knew! could be in the position I am in right now,” he said. “I had a hard time last year, but I’m at home now this season." The new 4-3 defense will be beneficial to everyone in the Husker defense, Wright said. “I think we made a change for the better,” he said. “Instead of one or two guys attacking, we’ll have sixor seven. “Once we get it down and the games get better, the defense will become more comfortable and work as a unit.” Moss said the 4-3 defense was a change that would benefit the Huskers in the long run. “We adjusted well to the new defense,” Moss said. “The defense has gotten better and better since the spring, and it should continue to get better.” The Huskers haven't shown everything they can do with the new defense yet, Wright said. “Overall we weren’t expecting everything to go perfect,” he said. “We had trouble with North Texas quick-sets. We all have to know what each of us are doing. “Communication is our key. We’re going to have to be able to communicate with each other and get set right off.” Wright said the new defense fit the style of the Husker secondary perfectly. “We have a lot more hitters in the secondary, and we’re more aggressive,” he said. “We have one of the hardest-hitting secondaries around, and we also have a lot of good speed on defense. “We’re among the top secondaries, if not the top one, in the nation right now.” An Eruption of Hot Music 'v r\ /v On Sale at Twisters £ •nciudei .CNESGME 3G0 'HE MISSION ora ON WITH 'HE DOE AM Damn the Machine r Monster Magnet ■PEerapy?^ am >fKiudm TEETHGWNDER V NAUSEA ixxjPtRVERSONAUTV Therapy 1 I CD's •1401 "O" St. »East Park Plaza »6105 "O" St. »48th & Van Dorn 434-2500 434-2510 434-2510 434-2510 Prices effective through 9-22-93 Soundgarden HA^MFF'BSX ^c'oaw HOLE h€D ond WHEN 3 6 2 | Hammerbox wT Jaw yt$.\ VKWtflv: Paw