Nation’s top rushers
to fight for big yards
Phillips, Salaam
ignore Heisman,
focus on winning
By Pffc taw—n
Senior Reporter
The Nebraska-Coloradogame Sat
urday will match the No. 2 and 3
teams in the country for the Big Eight
and possibly the national champion
ship.
But the biggest matchup of this
game features Col
“I’m overwhelmed that I’m even
considered the favorite,” Salaam said.
“I’m surprised my name is comingup,
because I don’t see myself as a Hei sman
Trophy winner. I just see myself as a
hard worker on the team.”
As for Phillips, the Heisman isn’t
what he’s concerned with now, either.
“It would be nice, but the biggest
thing we’re after here at Nebraska is
the national championship, and ev
eryone is focused on that,” Phillips
said. “I don’t get upset when I’m not
mentioned with the others. We’re
doing a good jbb here, and I’m proud
of what I’ve ac
oraao s nasnaan
Salaam and Ne
braska’s Lawrence
Phillips, the No. 1
and 3 rushers in the
country, respec
tively.
Salaam leads
the country with
179.4 yards per
game on the
ground, while Phi
llips has had 154.1
rushing yards per
contest. Both backs
are averaging 6.7
yards a carry.
Phillips said he
wouldn’t be bat
tling Salaam, be
cause with Nebras
ka quarterback
7'm overwhelmed that
I’m even considered the
favorite. I’m surprised
my name is coming up,
because I don’t see
myself as a Heisman
Trophy winner. I just see
myself as a hard worker
on the team. ”
■
RASHAAN SALAAM
Colorado running back
complisbedat Ne
braska.”
Nebraska coach
Tom Osborne said
Salaam and Phil
lips were similar,
except for the of
fenses in which
they ran.
“They’re both
Seat backs, but
ey’re a little dif
ferent, because
they’re running in
a little different
system,” Osborne
said. “Lawrence
runs behind a full
back a lot of the
time, and Salaam
is in the one-back
set.
moo* Derringer
beingfullyrecoveredfromacollapsed
lung, Phillips wouldn’t be carrying
the offensive load.
“I don’t lode at this game asa head
to-head (with Salaam),” Phillips said.
“I don’t think we’re going to be fo
cused on <me type of offense like the
last couple weeks. Brook is healthy
now, so we can get the rest of our
offense in, and it won’t be focused QQ.
me like the past games.”
The Big Eight isn’t finished seeing
its best backs, because Salaam is just
a jpniotamd Phillips is a sophomore.
And the big numbers that both
runners have posted have them in this
year’s Heisman Trophy race—espe
cially Salaam, who is considered the
front-runner for the award.
Salaam said he was surprised with
the attention he had received.
bui tney oom
are instinctive runners, both have
speed, both have strength, and they
both catch the ball well. They both
seem like complete backs.”
But Phillips did find one difference
in their running styles.
“He’s a power runner, and I’m
more a speed runner and try to make
people miss,” he said.
Colorado coach Bill McCartney
didn’t compare Phillips to Salaam but
instead compared him to past Nebras
ka I-backs.
“Historically, Nebraska tailbacks
are rugged runners,” McCartney said.
“They run hard, fast and strong. He’s
out of the same mold. We’ve been
playing good backs all season. You
can compare Phillips to Michigan’s
Tim Biakabutuka and Wisconsin’s
Brent Moss.”
Running for the Newman
Abova: Colorado running hack
Rashaan tslsnw fights Ids way past
Kansas’ Marlin —afcsnay la ths
Buffs’ victory ever the Jay hawks
last season. Loft: Nebraska Mback
Lawrence Phillips runs past
Wyoming’s Chuck Pelssn In
Nebraska's 42-32 win ever the
Cowboys on Oct. 1.