NU hopes to earn respect
against favored ’Noles
By Derek Samson
Senior Reporter
After Florida State was beaten by Notre
Dame, the team many described as the best in
a decade had fallen from its throne.
Nebraska, however, knows it will face the
same Florida State team New Year’s Day that
had college football fans in awe during most of
its season.
‘They’ve had a very good year and have
done some great things,” linebacker Mike
Anderson said. “We respect what they’ve done
This season, but we’re a good
QLuulGiE .
Nebraska players do not
seem to mind being as much
as a 18-point underdog to the
11-1 Seminoles.
Quarterback Tommie
Frazier said the Huskerswere
far from intimidated by Flor
ida State.
“We look at them as a
good team, but we don’t look
at them like supermen or anything like that,”
Frazier said. “We look at them as we do all our
opponents.
“We know that Florida State can be beat and
we know we have the capability to beat them.
We just have to play our best game.”
Coach Tom Osborne said Nebraska’s lack of
respect was a result of its six-game losing streak
in the bowls.
“A bowl game is kind of the last impression
your team leaves,” Osborne said. “It’s also a lot
more visible as far as a national audience.”
Nebraska defensive tackle Kevin Ramaekcrs
said if Nebraska beats Florida State, the lack of
respect may switch sides.
“We could get all the respect back if we_
would beat a team like Florida Sate,” he said.
“A big win down there would definitely put us
on the map and give us some respect.”
Florida State handed Nebraska its third loss
of the 1992 season in last year’s Orange Bowl
with a 27-14 win. Nebraska has lost three of its
last six bowl games to Florida State.
“We’re not concerned w ith revenge or re
spect at this point,” Anderson said. “We’re just
looking at this game as the national champion
ship and that we have to play our best. That’s
enough motivation.”
Once the game is underway, Frazier said, all
the talk will be forgotten in hopes of the nation
al title.
“It’s just two teams out there trying to win
[he national championship,” he said. “I don’t
:hink there is any extra incentive because it’s
Florida State for the national championship.”
Osborne said Nebraska would try to earn its
admiration with its play.
“As far as respect, that goes kind of like the
weather or the officials,” he said. “You can’t
:ontrol it, other than the way you play on the
field.”
_Ml
Shaun Sartin/DN
Quarterback Tommie Frazier says the Huskers won’t be intimidated by
Florida State. “We don’t look at them like supermen,’’ Frazier says.
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NU rushes to meet FSU’s speed
By Derek Samson
Senior Reporter
The Nebraska offensive line has
blocked itself near the topof the coun
try in rushing, but the Florida State
defense has a quick fix for that suc
cess:
Speed.
Nebraska’s of
fensive linemen
said they knew
what lay ahead —
one of the fastest
defenses in the
country.
“1 think their
strength is their
overall defensive
speed,” tackle Zach
Wicgert said. “It’s
kind of a concern, but it’s definitely
nothing to be scared of.
“I don t think it sjust flat-out speed,
but they flow a lot faster than other
teams.”
Ken Mehlin, a senior guard, said
Nebraska had faced strong 1 incbacking
corps in the past.
“Oklahoma and Colorado had
some great linebackers, so we’ve seen
some good ones already,” he said.
“Florida State is real tough at the
linebacker position, but everybody
thinks they arc superhumans or some
thing.
“They have a lot of speed on de
fense, but if we come out and have a
great technique game, we should be
fine.”
Senior tackle Lance Lundbcrgsaid
the Huskcrs were looking to make up
for a poor offensive showing against
Oklahoma. Nebraska gained just 179
yards, including 122 yards on the
ground, against Oklahoma.
“Wc need to execute as close to
perfection as we can,” Lundbcrg said.
“Wc had some problems againstOkla
homa but wc have a couple of weeks
to iron those out. So far, the bowl
practices have gone well.”
Mchlin said Nebraska might not be
able to rack up the yards it normally
did, but should be able to score.
“They’re a great defensive team
and it is going to be hard to go up and
down the field on them,” Mehlin said.
“Wc have some great athletes just 1 ike
them, and if we do what we need to do,
we should be able to score some points
on them.”
Sophomore center Aaron Graham
said Florida State shouldn’t take Ne
braska’s offense lightly.
“1 think with the way our offense is
set up, that if everybody does what
they are supposed to do, our offense is
going to be tough to stop.”
Orange
Continued from Page 10
year.” Osborne said.
Along with leading the nation in
scoring defense, the Seminolcs also
have the country’s top scoring of
fense.
“They have great athletes on of
fense too. and C harlie Ward is the
catalyst that seems to make it all hang
together.” Osborne said. “There just
isn’t anyone thing you can do to stop
Charlie Ward.”
Despite Florida State’s talent, Ne
braska defensive tackle Kevin
Ramaekers said, the Huskers won’t
be intimidated by the Scminoles.
“They’re a little flashier than we
are,” he said. “They’re a little more
colorful, and maybe they even have a
little nicer uniforms than we do. But
they are adjust football players. They
put their pants on the same way we
do.”
Regardless of the Scminolcs’ tal
ent, Fra/.ier said, Florida State still
must play a great game as a team to
beat the Huskers.
‘‘They don’t do anything different
than any other team,” Fra/.ier said.
“You don’t win or lose on talent alone.
You eould have the most talented
team in the world, but if you’re not
playing together or on the same page,
you’re going to lose."
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