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Nebraskan
Thursday, Octobur 7,1»»3
Huskers to face league’s toughest defense
-Kiley Timpertey/DN
Nebraska l-back Lawrence Phillips, the Big Eight s leading rusher, tries to elude Colorado
State’s Scott Lynch during the Comhudkers’ win Sept. 25. With l-back Calvin Jones’
return, Phillips may have a hard time holding on to his conference rushing lead.
Jones says short week hurts
By Jeff Griesch
Senior Reporter
The extra week that Nebraska
had to prepare for Oklahoma State
could have a big impact Thursday
night, Cowboys’ coach Pat Jones
said.
“I would have to give the upper
i hand to Nebraska with the week
off,” Jones said. “They arc rested
and they haven’t been tested in
their first four games, although they
did get pressed a little bit against
UCLA.
Because Jones’ team has been
involved in some close games early
in the season, he said, he’s con
cerned about the emotional level of
his team.
“We had three fairly close ball
games of an emotional nature and
that does concern me a little bit,*’
tones «aid “We have cot to ect
fresh and get our legs under us.”
The younger Oklahoma State
players also do not get a chance to
work on their fundamentals during
a short week.
“We have a lot of young guys,
especially on the offensive line,
and the downside of this for us is
probably the young guys need
tough, fundamental work, which
will probably get slighted this
week.” Jones said.
While Jones is concerned about
Oklahoma State’s inexperience on
offense, the defense is the Cow
boys’ strength, he said.
1 Although Oklahoma State has
the top-ranked defense in the Big
Eight, Cowboys’ defensive coordi
nator Bill Miller said he was wor
ried that the Nebraska offense
would be too potent.
“I have a list as long as a horse s
leg about what I am worried about
playing against Nebraska’s of
fense,” Miller said. “They have
great backs; their offensive line
completely overmatches us physi
cally, and they are fresh.”
Along with being concerned
about Nebraska’s offense. Miller
said he also was worried about the
play of his defense.
Although the Cowboys’ defense
hasn’t allowed a rushing touch
down this season, Miller said it did
not play as well as he expected
duringOklahomaState’s27-22 win
over TCU on Saturday.
“I was disappointed with the
way we executed,” Miller said.
“Our guys didn’t do their jobs, and
they better execute this week or
we’ll get run off the field.”
Osborne goes for 200th
victory agai nst Cowboys ,
By Jeff Griesch
Senior Reporter
When Nebraska and Oklahoma
State go head-to-head on Thursday
night, the Big Eight’s best offense
will be 1 ining up against the confer
ence’s top defense.
Nebraska enters the game lead
ing the Big Eight in every major
offensive category besides pass
ing.
Oklahoma State has the confer
ence’s best rushing defense, pass
ing defense and total defense, and
they have not allowed a rushing
touchdown this season.
Because of the opposing
strengths, anticipate a hard-hitting
game with the Cowboys, Nebraska
coach Tom Osborne said.
“Oklahoma State is the best de
fensive team we have faced all
year,” Osborne said. “I think it is
going to be a real head-knocker.”
Nebraska should be able to with
stand a hard-hitting game better.
after a week’s rest, Osborne said.
“The week off has been good,”
Osborne said. “Overall, we should
be in better shape than at any time
this season.”
Tommie Frazier, Donta Jones,
Bruce Moore, Abdul Muhammad
and Corey Dixon will all be playing
healthier than they have been the
See HUSKERS on 8
■ , , --n
Gan
Nebraska
QB 15 Tommie Frazier 6-2 200
FB 40 Cory Schlesinger 6-0 220
IB 44 Calvin Jones 5-11215
LOLB 90 Bruce Moore 6-6 245
DT 67 Kevin Ramaekers 6-4 290
NT99TerTyConneaty 275
art ~ 215
LCB 14 Barron Miles 5-8 160
200
tp t? i«
SE 3 Shannon Culver 5-10 160
FL 22 Rafael Denson 5-8 180
RT 75 Mike Butter 6-2
C 56 Bryan Hope 6-4 260
TE 88 Derek Jones 6-3 255
PK 13 Lawson toughn 6-0 180
FS 36 Scott Harmon
RC 8 Cleavon Williams 5-10178
P 10 Scott Tyner 6-0 185
DN graphic
Huskers will put Cowboy’s numbers to test, coach says
By Tim Pearson
Senior Reporter
Even though Oklahoma State is ranked
first in the Big Eight in total defense through
four games, Cowboy defensive coordinator
Bill Miller isn’t sure how good his defense
really is.
He may find out tonight.
“I’m not sure how good we really arc with
the schedule we’ve played,” he said.
The Cowboys are 3-1 on the season after
last Saturday’s 27-22 win over Texas Chris
tian. The 22 points given up to the Homed
Frogs were the most Oklahoma State has
given up this season.
The Cowboy defense leads the Big Eight
in rushing defense, pass efficiency defense
and total defense. The Cowboys also are
ranked 13th in the country in total defense,
giving up 287.3 yards per game.
But Miller said the Cowboys weren’t
concerned with those statistics right now.
“At the end of the year it would be nice to
be up there " he said. “But it doesn’t mean
anything now.
“We spend absolutely no time looking at
that.”
Miller said this year’s Cowboy defense
could be the best he’s had in his five years at
Oklahoma State.
“1 think we have the chance to be one of
the best here,” he said. “When I coached a
couple of years after I got out of school, we
had a couple of fair defenses.
“But it remains to be seen. This defense
has the opportunity to be a good defense.”
Oklahoma State hasn’t allowed a rushing
touchdown this season, but Miller said it
would be lough to keep that streak alive
against Nebraska.
With running back Calvin Jones healthy
See COWBOYS on 8
Jordan s retirement is giant loss for game of basketball
The “American Dream” has van
ished.
After the teary farewells of Nolan
Ryan and George Brett, the most
shocking retirement of all took place
Wednesday.
Michael Jordan announced his re
tirement before a huge media contin
gent in Deerfield, 111.
Jordan may have been the best
basketball player who ever played the
game.
The loss of Jordan is sort of like a
loss in the family.
Ever since Jordan came into the
league, he has been viewed as an idol
by many.
Just start naming off all of the
commercials you’ve seen him in.
N ike,Gatoradc, Hanes and a whole
slew of others come to mind.
Basketball fans had never seen a
player like Michael Jordan.
Here was a man who led his team
to three consecutive National Basket
ball Association championships. A
man who won seven straight scoring
titles. A man who could perform de
Tying dunks in mid-air.
Bui most of all, Jordan was a man
who almost everyone around the world
admires and idolizes.
Kids all over the world are saying
“1 want to be like Mike.”
Remember those pick-up games
you used to play. You always picked
a player in the NBA.
“I'm Magic Johnson.”
“No I want to be Magic!"
“I’ll be Larry Bird.”
And then there was always the
most popular pick.
“I want to be like Mike.”
The most likely pick for me was
Jordan. Just thinking I was Michael
Jordan made me play better. It just
made me feel special out there on the
court.
I didn’t have anywhere near the
moves that Michael did, but 1 think I
had the better imagination.
I remember shooting on a Nerf
hoop in my room, just trying to be like
Mike.
“Pearsondribbles through bis legs,
bursts through traffic and slams down
Tim
Pearson
a thunderous 360 dunk. The crowd is
going berserk.”
Sorry, I was just daydreaming.
At 10:04 a.m. yesterday, with Jor
dan’s wife to his left and Chicago
Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf to his
right, Jordan announced his retire
ment. It was then that my heart sank.
Even though I despised the Bulls, I
admired Michael Jordan.
Here was a man who gets hounded
by fans and press everywhere he goes.
People follow his every step but he still
maintains his integrity despite the con
stant pressure.
But then Reinsdorf announced the
one thing I didn’t want to hear.
Michael was definitely retiring.
What a loss it will be for the Bulls.
What a loss it will be for the NBA. And
most of all, what a loss it will be for the
fans who love and adore Jordan.
Jordan had been through a lot over
the last year. The Bulls had won their
third straight championship. Jordan
was involved in a gambling scandal
with Richard Esquinas. Then came the
clincher.
James Jordan, Michael’s dad, was
kidnapped and killed this summer.
Michael saidhisdad’sdeath wasn’t
the reason for his retirement.
But he did hit the thousands of
people watching with his most emo
tional reason behind his retirement.
Jordan said the biggest positive out
of his retirement after his dad’s death
was that his dad “saw my last basket
ball game.”
Itrs sort of fitting. Jordan and his
father were very close. Not everyone
would make an underwear commer
cial with their father.
Unfortunately, Jordan wouldn’t be
able to prove anything to his dad any
more. And he just didn’t have anything
else to prove to the basketball world.
Look at what he has accomplished.
He was by far the best basketball play
er to walk the earth.
He’s done everything that’s been
asked of him.
“I don’t have anything else to
prove,” he said. “The desire was not
there.”
For now, golf and pick-up games
arc at the top of Jordan’s list of endeav
ors.
Somehow, it’s hard for me to imag
ine seeing Air Jordan playing a pick
up game on a cement court with nonets
on the baskets.
But then again, Jordan loves the
game, and I’m sure the game will •
never leave him.
Jordan left open the opportunity
that he may come back to basketball
later.
Jordan said he would miss the game.
The game will most certainly miss
Jordan.
Pearioa It a lopkomore aem-edltorlal
major aad a Dally Nebraakaa lealor report
er.