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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1993)
By Jeff Griesch Senior Reporter Nebraska has been unspectacular, unappreciated and on Friday, the Cornhuskers were unable to move the football. But, somehow, they remained un defeated. The Huskers stumbled for onlv 179 total yards offense in their 21-7 win over Oklahoma, which moved Nebraska to 1 1-0 on the season. The offensive output was the Illth lowest ever bv a Tom Osborne w coached Nebraska team and the low est yardage ever in a Husker win, but it was enough to give Nebraska a national-title shot against Florida State m the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day. “One way or another, we have got the job done,” Osborne said. “We have played well together all year, and the resiliency and resolve of this team sets it apart from other teams.' The Huskers (unshed the season No. 1 in the coalition poll released Sunday. Nebraska was No. 1 in the USA today/CNN poll and No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. Florida State finished second in the coalition poll, edgingoulundefeated West Virginia, which finished third. The defense picked up the slack for a sputtering offense Friday by holding the Sooners to 294 total yards — 94 in the second half while forcing four turnovers. The turnovers turned out to be the difference in the game, as the Huskers converted two of the (our Sooner mis cues into touchdowns. Oklahoma, which was seventh in (he nation in (urnover margin, forced two Huskcr turnovers but were unable to convert them into scores. The Nebraska defense’s play was even more impressive considering the loss of the Huskers’ defensive playmaker, Trev Alberts, who left the game after sufferini: a dislocated el bow during the ninth play of the Soon ers’ opening drive. Despite his absence, Alberts said, he knew the defense would come together. I knew that we would win be cause I could see it in my teammates' m eves,” Alberts said. "All year w;e just keep overcoming obstacles. When it comes down to it, we keep finding a w av to win.” Coalition Bowl! Poll Coalition Poll Point Total! 1. Nebraska (11-0) 3,005 2. Florida State (11-1) 2,956 3. West Virginia (11-0) 2,887 4. Auburn (11-0) 2,732 5. Notre Dame (10-1) 2,706 CNN/USA Today Poll <First -place I ' votes) 1. Nebraska (43) 1,525 ' 2. West Virginia (8) 1,477 . 3. Rorida State (10) 1,448 4. Notre Dame (1) 1,367 5. Tennessee 1,276 I AP PolKFirst -place votes) I 1. Florida State (42) 1,508 I 2. Nebraska (17) 1,480 I 3. West Virginia (1) 1^410 I 4. Auburn (2) 1,366 I 5. Notre Dame 1,339 I DN graphic Dwayne Harris, a b-foot-2, 215 pound, iiimoroulside linebacker lrom Bessemer, Ala., replaced Alberts and made some big play s of his own for the Husker defense. Harris finished the came with six tackles including three sacks ofOkla homa quarterback ('ale (iundy. Nebraska tied the score 7-7 earlier m the second quarter after! obv Wright intercepted a (iundy pass and returned it 25 yards to the Oklahoma 15. r Tommie Fra/ierdovc m for the touch down four plays later After a quiet third quarter for both teams, Fra/ier connected with w ingback Abdul Muhammad for an 1 1-yard touchdown to give the Husk ers a 14-7 lead. On theensuingkickoff, Mike Mmt er forced Oklahoma return man Darrius Johnson to fumble and Dav id Sei/ys recovered for the Huskers. On the next play, Calvin Jones, w ho finished with just N5 yards on 25 carries, scampered 2d yards to give the f fuskers a 21-7 lead. r\o mailer how uizly it was, Jones m said, Nebraska was happy with the win. “I’m just glad my teammates ha\e given me a chance to play for the national championship,” lie said. “I couldn't even put into words what it would mean for me and for this whole team to win it.” % m Shaun Sarfin/DN By Derek Samson Staff Reporter The magic in the Oklahoma Nebraska rivalry finally may have •> w • switched sidelines. Oklahoma’s "Sooner Maeic." which spoiled Nebraska’s national championship hopes many times m the past, looked as il it had returned for the first three quarters of Ne braska’s 21-7 victory Friday. r * But when Nebraska broke a 7-7 tie by running off 14 points in 1 ' seconds during the fourth quarter, the Sooners’ hopes of upsetting the top-ranked Huskers were ruined. Oklahoma coach Gary Gibbs said Oklahoma gave Nebraska too many opportunities. “Nebraska made some key plays when they needed to and got the turnover that led to an easy score to wrap it up,” Gibbs said. “You can’t turn it over and miss opportunities like this and expect to beat a team like Nebraska.' The Sooners’ turnovers helped Nebraska improve to 1 1-0. Okla homa gave up three fumbles and threw one interception. With Oklahoma up 7-0, Sooner mnnmgback Jerald Moore coughed up the ball after rambling 47 yards to the Nebraska 14. “We turned it over a lot in anoth er game we played, which was a de feat .’’Gibbs said. “Field position played a major role, and then the turnovers played a major role in the outcome of the game.” Oklahoma gained 204 total yards compared to Nebraska’s 170, in cluding outgaining the Huskers 220 to 78 m the first half. “I thought m the first half, we probably controlled both sides of the ball,” (iibbs said. “In the sec ond half, their defensive front look charge. I thought our guys, from a physical standpoint, played excel lent.” (iibbs said he was impressed with hisdefcn.se, which held Musk et l-back Calvin Jones to 83 yards