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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1994)
NU-CU showdown is special to McCartney ly Twvw Pirki Staff Reporter Colorado plays against another ranked opponent this Saturday, but for Coach Bill McCartney, this game means something more special. This season Colorado has defeated five ranked opponents, including wins over Michigan and Texas on the road. But the Nebraska game has been special to McCartney since he came to Boulder in 1982. “When I came here, I asked around, and we didn’t have anything like that (a rivalry),” McCartney said. “It seemed like the logical team was Ne braska, even though they were much better than us at the time.” But Colorado seems to be on Ne braska’s level now. Thisyear,although the Buffaloes have played a top-notch schedule, McCartney said about the only advantage Colorado would have in Saturday’s game was a high confi dence level.' “I'm really pleased,” McCartney said. “We’ve had a tough schedule, and we’re lucky to get by being 7-0.” Two of Buffaloes’ seven wins have come down to the final seconds. McCartney said beatingTexas with one second left and beating Michigan on the final play with a Hail Mary touchdown pass had shown his team wouldn’t give up. The fourth-quarter heroics contin ued last weekend as well. On a fourth-and-one against Kan sas State from the Colorado 39-yard line, McCartney decided to go for the first down with a little more than 10 minutes remaining. “That play was real important momentum-wise,” McCartney said. “They had the momentum, and when we scored on the next play, it was back with us.” After converting the fourth-down play, Kordell Stewart scored on a 60 yard run to give Colorado a 28-21 lead. Stewart’s run enabled the Buffs to enter this Saturday’s showdown un defeated. And as for Colorado’s latest oppo nent, McCartney said the 11:08 a.m. start time shouldn’t be a problem for his team. “I don’t think it gives either team an advantage,” McCartney said. “I hate to think that it has come to morn ing football.” McCartney said it was important for anyone in a game like this to play well early. With quarterback Tommie Frazier out for the season, McCartney said the Huskers would be in good hands with Brook Berringer at the helm. “Frazier is like a tailback at quar terback,” McCartney said. “Berringer “Berringer can run the option well. He’s what I would call a prototype quarterback’ ...he’s tall and has a very good touch. ” ■ BILL MCCARTNEY Colorado coach can run the option well. He’s what I would call a ‘prototype quarterback’ ... he’s tall and has a very good touch,” But a bigger concern for McCartney is Nebraska’s offensive line. The Huskers should be a test for Colorado’s defensive line, which has given up 98.6 yards per game. “It’s real hard to match up with them,” McCartney said. “With their size, mobility and experience, they are 1 really diversified, and it will really be a test to play hard for 60 minutes.” Although each team offers Heisman Trophy candidates at running back— Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam and Ne braska’s Lawrence Phillips — McCartney said there was more to both teams than just one player. “I don’t look at it like that,” McCartney said. “The way a lot of other guys play will be key.” Nation’s top runner prepared and owes Nebraska no favors ly Dwk Imhwi Senior Reporter It's been a long time since fans watching a Nebraska game have seen the nation’s top run ner without an “N” on his helmet. But when Nebraska has the nation’s top rush ing offense on the field Saturday against Colo rado, the country’s lead ing rusher will be watch ing from the other side line. Heisman Trophy front-runner Rashaan Sa laam has rushed for 1,267 yards in seven games, good enough to lead tne country witn an aver age of 179.4 yards per game, i t*t However, when Salaam came to Colorado, he said he took his social life more seriously than football, and he almost lost the opportu nity to help Colorado win a national champi onship this year. “It had to change or else I wouldn’t be sit ting here in front of all of you (national me dia),” Salaam said. “I was out there trying to live a double life (night life and football life), and that doesn’t cut it in this kind of program. “Coach Mac (Bill McCartney) has always been in my comer and supported me since Day 1.” Salaam, who never has defeated Nebraska, saw Colorado lose to the Comhuskers 32-7 as a freshman and 21-17 as a sophomore — when he rushed for 165 yards. But Salaam remembers the most about Ne braska and its fans from his freshman season, when the Buffaloes lost in Lincoln. “Two years ago, when I was a freshman, it was just a real wild and fun place to play. Their fans are real crazy, but they’re not too crazy about Colorado,” Salaam said. “I don’t feel like we owe them a win; I just think we have to go out and play our game. “Defensively, we need to force turnovers, and offensively, we need to score points. We just need to go out there ami play Colorado football.” After having to face five ranked opponents already this season, Salaam said he didn’t think the 7-0 Buffaloes would ever get to this game. “This is the game we’ve been waiting for all season,” Salaam said. “I’m so glad itTs fi nally here. I know it’s going to be a tough game against a tough team, and a tough week of practice. Whenever we play each other, anything can happen.” When Colorado marches into Memorial Stadium on Saturday, the Buffs will be led by two Heisman Trophy candidates — Salaam and quarterback Kordell Stewart. Salaam said having two Heisman candi dates on the same team did nothing but help. “I don’t think it hurts either one of us,” Salaam said. “It ultimately comes down to the voters. They see Kordell ami I having solid games, solid seasons, and we’re both game breakers. It will just make it harder on (the voters).” Buffalo wide receiver ready to avenge Halloween of‘92 ly Twvor Pita Staff Reporter For Colorado wide receiver Rae Carruth, Halloween night of 1992 won’t soon be for gotten. “That’s the best crowd I’ve ever seen,” Camith said. “That night Nebraska really had the home-field advantage.” The Comhuskcrs won 52-7, and Camith, a freshman then, said he wanted to come back to Lincoln and leave a better impres sion on Nebraska fans. “The guys that were there are using it as motivation for this game,” Camith said. “The younger guys probably won’t know the frustration we had, and hopefully we can avenge it.” In that game two years ago, Camith caught three passes for 19 yards and fin ished his freshman year up with 14 catches for 161 yards. Camith will get his chance for revenge when the Huskers host the 7-0 Buffaloes on Saturday. Last year Camith didn’t play Nebraska. With Charles Johnson, Michael Westbrook, Blake Anderson and James Kidd at the re ceiver position, Camith redshirted. However, this season, Camith is fourth in receiving statistics for the Buffaloes, with 11 receptions for 204 yards. Camith was one of the wide receivers involved in the Hail Mary play that helped CU beat Michigan 27-26 at Ann Aibor on Sept. 24. Although Colorado has pulled out some miraculous victories — on the road at Michigan and Texas — Carruth credited that to playing complete football games. “We are a 60-minute football team,” Carruth said. “The wins helped us gain con fidence. To win at Michigan and Texas is something special.” A major reason for the Buffaloes’ great season is quarterback Kordell Stewart. Carruth said that like himself, Stewart still couldn’t forget about playing Nebraska. In the 1992 nightmare, an injured Stewart passed for 17 yards on only eight attempts. Last year in Boulder, Colo., Stewart again struggled, completing eight of 28 passes. But this season Carruth said he hoped things would be different. “I think week in and week out he (Stewart) has proven himself,” Carruth said. “He can play in the big games.” , Another aspect of that complete team is the offense, and Carruth said it was impor tant for Colorado to jump out quick on the Huskers. “Over the years we have never had an offense that can hang with them,” Carruth said. “The winner will probably be the team that makes the least mistakes and whoever plays the best game.” Lincoln Jaycees & vim'KFnx present at eg Gkrrror 9«rt XX JZ 1023 "0" Street $5.00 donation October 26th - 31st Open: 7:30-11:00pm Wed.Thur & Sun 7:30-12:00pm Fri, Sat & Halloween i :