The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 18, 1993, Page 6, Image 6
Cornhusker victory leaves coach puzzled, By Jeff Griesch Senior Reporter The Nebraska football team had an answer for every Kansas State touch down Saturday. But Nebraska coach Tom Osborne had more questions after the Cornhuskers’ 45-28 win over the Wildcats at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. In a conversation with Wildcat coach Bill Snyder before the game, Osborne said he could never remem ber being five games into the year and not knowing how good his team was. After the game, Osborne said he still wasn’t sure how good the Huskcrs were but he said that Snyder should have a better idea of how good Kansas State was. “I hope today he feels like he has a pretty good team, because if they’re not a good team, then we’re in big trouble,” Osborne said. “Honestly, the score wasn’t indicative of the ball game.” Despite winning 45-zts, tnc musk cr defense gave up 565 yards in total o flense. Led by quarterback Tommie Frazier’s career-high 312 total yards, the Huskcrs racked up 545 total yards. Frazier led Nebraska with 158 yards rushing and 154 yards on nine-of-19 passing. Osborne said he fcltconfident about the ability of his secondary coining into the game. But against the Wildcats, the sec ondary was trailing Kansas State re ceivers all day cn route to allowing the second biggest passing total in Big Eight history. Kansas State quarterback Chad May completed 30 of 51 passes for 489 yards, which broke the Big Eight passing record of 480 yards set by Kansas’ Mike Norseth in 1985 and tied by Missouri quarterback Jeff Flandy last season. “Coming into the game, I felt our pass defense had been excellent for two or three games in a row, but today we obviously had some busts,” Osborne said. Defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said the Huskers also dropped three interceptions that could have ended Wildcat drives. “They made some great plays,” McBride said, “but we dropped three. So, I don’t know, maybe we need to carry baskets with us or something.” While Nebraska had some broken coverages, Osborne said, Kansas State also made big plays. “They couldn’t be any more ‘on than they were today,” Osborne said. “It seems like when we play these guys, cither their quarterback plays out of his head or he’s that good all the time...but I didn’t see that guy throw like that before.” Behind May’s passing, Kansas State tied the game twice in the first half. The Wildcats came within three with 7:44 left in the fourth quarter before giving up two Huskcr touch downs in the final minutes. In what proved to be one of the biggest plays of the day, free safety Tyronc Will iams intercepted a pass at the end of the first half. With 45 seconds remaining in the half, Williams, a sophomore from Palmetto. Fla., picked off a pass from Wildcat running back J.J. Smith in tended for quarterback Chad May at the Nebraska 4-yard-line. Williams’ interception prevented the Wildcats from scoring a sure field goal and possibly a touchdown. After a two-yard rushing play up the middle by 1-back Calvin Jones, Kansas State called timeout and Ne braska moved into the hurry-up of fense. 1. Florida St. 2. Notre Dame 3.Ohio State 4. Alabama 5. Nebraska 6. Miami 7. Arizona 8. Tennessee 9. Florida 10. Auburn 11. Texas A&M 12. North Carolina 13. Michigan 14. Penn State 15. Wisconsin 16. Colorado 17. Oklahoma 18. West Virginia 19. UCLA 20. Louisville 21 .Virginia 22.Washington 23.Syracuse 24. Michigan State 25. Washington Stc Record Pvs 7-0-0 1 7-0-0 3 6- 0-0 5 5- 0-1 2 6- 0-0 6 4- 1-0 8 6-0-0 11 5- 1-1 10 5-1-0 4 7- 0-0 19 5-1-0 13 7-1-0 14 4- 2-0 18 5- 1-0 7 6- 0-0 16 4- 2-0 20 5- 1-0 9 5- 0-0 17 4- 2-0 22 6- 1-0 23 5- 1-0 15 4-2-0 12 4-1-1 24 3-2-0 25 i 5-2-0 - DN graphic Three Tommie Frazicr-Abdul Muhammad rcccplions later, Byron Bennett kicked a career-long 48-yard field goal to send Nebraska to the locker room with a 31-14 lead. After the game, Snyder said that calling timeout after the Husker run ning play was a mistake. “I did a silly thing then,” Snyder said. “I thought that when they were running the bal 1 we could use a couple of timeouts and have a chance of a punt return or maybe one offensive down.” Clockwise from right: Nebraska defensive tackle Billy Wade leaps over the block of Kansas State s Eric Wolford while trying to deflect a Chad May pass during Nebraska’s 45-28 win over Kansas State, l-back Calvin Jones takes off upfieid during the first half. Jones had 138 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Quarterback Tommie Frazier (left) pitches before getting hit by Kansas State defensive end Nyle Wiren. Frazier tallied a career-high 312 total yards on the day. Nebraska outside linebacker Trev Alberts charges May (right) while trying to get arouna Kansas State offensive tackle Barrett Brooks.