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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1993)
Net?raskan SPORTS Huskers aim to be brief at ISU By Tim Pearson Senior Reporter_ Nebraska volleyball coach Terry Pettit is hoping his team’s stay in Ames, Iowa, will be a short one. The seventh-ranked Comhuskers travel to Ames to play Iowa State in the Cyclones’ Big Eight home opener Saturday at 7 p.m. “Our goal is to get in and get out ” Pettit said. “We’ll be playing in a small gym with a low ceiling.” Nebraska, 12-1 and 1-0 in the Big Eight, is coming ofT a three-game victory over Kansas State on Wednes day night. The Huskers now have won 61 consecutive regular-season confer ence matches. They’ll attempt to add one more win to that total against Iowa State. The ISU match will begin a three match road swing over the next 12 days. Cyclone coach Jackie Nunez, in her first year at Iowa State, said she wanted her team just to go out and play hard against the Comhuskers. “I just want my team to be able to say that they went out and executed the .best they could,” she said. “We want to play hard and play well.” The Cyclones opened the year with five straight losses before rebounding with back-to-back wins over Virginia and Loyola. * Nebraska has won every contest in the 41-match series. But the Cyclones, who qualified for the Big Eight tournament last year with a third-place finish in the confer ence, made it tough on the Huskers when they visited Ames last year. - I Just want my team to be able to say that they went out and executed the best they could. We want to play hard and play well. —Pettit Nebraska volleyball coach Nebraska won in three games — but all three games were close. The final score was 15-13,18-16,15-11 in favor of the Huskers. Nunez said her first season at the Cyclone helm had been a season of transition for that squad. “We’re fairly young. We have no seniors on the team,” she said. “Also, we have a small squad with only 10 -1? players, so we have to keep every body healthy.” Nunez said she wanted her team to compete against the best. That’s why No. 17 Washington State and Big Ten opponents Michigan and Indiana are on the schedule, she said. “We have had the toughest sched See CYCLONES on 8 Ne|i%^jska (12-1) Vs. IowaState Ames, Iowa <2'8*) Saturday W 7 p.m. * laf. v match Nebraska Probable Starters S Nikki Strieker 5-10 Sr. .8- StopttantaCierc 5-6 -:fHm ■ - J Shaun Sartn/DN Nebraska l-back Jeff Makovicka, a sophomore from Brainard, keeps his balance during a second-quarter run against Colorado State. Makovicka, who has averaged just under lO yards per rush, is trying to find a niche in the Husker backfield. The 5-foot-10,195-pounder has been working out at fullback this week in practice. Makovicka fights for playing time, chance to prove self on field By Jeff Griesch Senior Reporter Jeff Makovicka is trying to avoid being the odd man out in the Nebraska backfield. Makovicka, a sophomore running back from Brainard, has been fighting for playing time with Lawrence Phillips, Damon Benning and Clinton Childs since Calvin Jones went down with a knee injury. While Phillips and Benning were getting the majority of the carries in the Husker offense, Makovicka had been looking for a chance to prove himself. “The coaches have been giving me opportunities, and I have just been tiying to make the best of them,” Makovicka said. “I would like to car ry the ball more, but I understand that we have some really talented backs. I don’t feel like the odd man out.” Makovicka is doing all he can to make sure he’s not left sitting on the bench. He practiced this week at full back. He’s also a member of Nebras ka’s special teams. But at 1-back, during the first three games of the season, Makovicka was the odd man out of playing time — rushing only seven times, with a per carry average of more than 10 yards. Makovicka got the chance to prove himself on Saturday against Colorado State. He rushed seven times for 62 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. After entering the game in the sec ond quarter with the Huskers ieading the Rams 21-3. Makovicka rushed three times for 31 yards during the Huskers’ next scoring drive. For the season, Makovicka has 14 Hurt Huskers hurting more From Staff Reports Cornhusker quarterback Tommie Frazier and wingback Abdul Muhammad apparently collided during practice Thurs day, reiiyqring their ankles. Husker coach Tom Osborne said both players left practice early, but he didn’t know how serious the injuries were. Frazier originally sprained his right an kle during Nebraska’s opener against North Texas. Muhammad was injured during practice last week. “I hope they’re both OK and will be able to practice Sun day,” Osborne said, “Sometimes if you roll it over, it just stings for a little while.” Osborne said freshman rov er Mike Mipter was kicked in the calf Thursday night. The Huskers witlTake Friday and Saturday off before resum ing practice Sunday. “I’m hoping some of the guys heal up,” Osborne said. • carries for 135 yards, a 9.6-yard aver age per carry. Despite his success, Makovicka probably will be listed as either third or fourth I-back on the Nebraska depth See MAKOVICKA on 8 Sportscaster sticks by prediction of Husker prominence By Jeff Singer Senior Editor There arc numerous things Nebraska foot ball fans have come to expect every year: nine win seasons, sold-out crowds at Memorial Sta dium and an endorsement from Lee Corso. Corso, one of ESPN’s college football ana lysts, again this year has predicted the Comhuskcrs to challenge for the national cham pionship. But despite years past, which have included finishes of 11 th, 24th, 15th and 14th from 1989 92, respectively. Corso said, this season’ssixth ranked Nebraska team might not make him cat his words. Corso said he believed this year’s Huskcr team would pan out to be a national title contender. “Nobody on their schedule will be able to beat them/Corso said from ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Conn., Thursday. “They are going to go undefeated and play for a piece of tne national championship against either Florida State or Miami.” 1 Corso said Florida State or Miami would be favorites against Nebraska if the Huskcrs made the Orange Bowl. And, Corso said, his list of national champi onship favorites also includes the Seminolcs, the Hurricanes, Florida and Alabama. But, he said, he became more confident in his prediction of good things for Nebraska after the Huskcrs’ win over UCLA two weeks ago. Nebraska squeaked by the Bruins 14-13 in an effort most Husker players and coaches expressed disappointment over. Yet, Corso said, it was a strong showing. “I was really impressed withNebraska when they kept UCLA to 13 points,” he said. “UCLA has a tremendous offense, and they arc a much better team than that.” Corso said since the Huskcrs were able to get through their non-conference schedule un scathed at 4-0, they should be able to end the season undefeated. But, he said, No. 1- ranked Florida State probably won’t be so lucky. The Scminoles’ non-conference foes include Mi ami, Florida and Notre Dame. “They scheduled themselves wit of a chance for a national championship," Corso said. Of Nebraska’s Big Eight opponents, Corso ' said, only Oklahoma has a serious chance of beating the Huskers. While the Huskers should be able to take advantage of Colorado’s weaknesses on de fense, Oklahoma will be a bigger test, he said. “I think Oklahoma will be their toughest game,” Corso said. “Oklahoma waxed Texas A&M (44-14 three weeks ago in Norman, Okla.), and it wasn’t a fluke.” Corso coached at Louisville and Indiana before joining ESPN. He said he felt comfort able picking the Huskers on a regular basis, . primarily from wjiat he learned when he was on the sidelines. “Tom Osborne is as good a coach as there is of getting a team ready to play,” he said. “I like the way Bob Devaney and Osborne have run that program.” Nebraska was4-0 against Indiana from 1975 78, including identical 69-17 wins over the Hoosicrs in Bloomington, Ind., in 1975 and 1978. “Always play Nebraska on the road,” Corso -M They are going to go undefeated and play for a piece of the national championship against either Florida State or Miami. —Corso ESPN commentator ■ -- mm - w w advised. “Never play them at home, because then your friends won’t see you get whipped by them.” As for the Huskers’ chances of beating an opponent in the Orange Bowl for the national title, Corso said, a little help from Mother Nature might be necessary against the Semi nolcs or Hurricanes for a championship. “A rainstorm would help,” Corso said. “It would be the best thing for Nebraska’s speed.”