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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1995)
'■ • . m . i> Vi. ■| m Todd Walkenhorst Ripken has eamedchance to set record The countdown is on. It’s been on for about five years. It seems inevitable. In eight games Cal Ripken will own Major League Baseball’s record for consecutive games played. I’m not going to be like other columnists who have suggested that Cal should sit after his 2,130th game and share a prestigious record with one of the true greats of the game. Ripken has earned this record and should be proud of it because it is one of the few records he will actually hold when his career is over. You see, Ripken will never be remembered for his lifetime batting average, but he will be remembered for his 12 straight All-Star appear ances. Some people, includingme.may frown on Ripken’s “vacations” dur ing the streak thanks to strikes. Eight weeks off last year may not seem like a big deal, but Lou Gehrig never got a break. It’s been well-documented that Cal has gone beyond the call of duty this season, signing hundreds of autographs after every game. In a year when darkness has fallen over the game, Ripken has offered a glimpse of light. Not only has he worn the hat with the orange bird on it, but he has . also worn the hat of a public rela tions director for the Orioles and all of baseball. I planned all summer to write a column this week about why Ripken should not break Gehrig’s record; why he should never see the Hall of Fame without paying admission. I did research all summer, look ing up numbers, comparing and contrasting. There was no contro versy that Gehrig was a much better ballplayer, at least offensively. But the more I read about Ripken, the more I searched for trash about him. I’d always come up empty. All I could find were stories about how he gave his hat to a youngster after a game on the road. Other stories would tell about his charity foundation, and the impact he was making on Baltimore. The more I read, the more my attitude changed. Cal Ripken is one of the classi est players in the game, but you may not know it because he is not a flamboyant figure in the media. On Sept, 6, the record should fall. It’s not a done deal, but I’m pulling for him. He’s so close now; what could stop him? A concussion, a broken leg or two? Probably not. Walkenhorst is a senior broadcast lag major and a Dally Nebraskan sports reporter. By Dave Zelio Associated Press Writer OMAHA — Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips can play against Oklahoma State Thursday and in otner games de spite a continuing NCAA investiga tion, the NCAA’s director of eligibil ity said Tuesday. Carrie Doyle said the NCAA de termined that Phillips’ lunch Phillips of California sports agent Steve Feldmari would not affect his eligibility. The NCAA continues to investi gate two other issues involving Phillips, Doyle said. One involves the 1995 Mustang convertible Phillips has been driving. Doyle would not identify the other issue, but the University of Nebraska has provided the NCAA with infor mation about Phillips’ status as a ward of the state of California. “He can play until the institution and legislative services determines that there are violations,” Doyle said. Doyle said Phillips’ play would not result in the forfeiture of any games if violations were found. “As long as the institution acts in good faith to develop the information, it doesn’t seem to me that they will be held responsible,” Doyle said. Phillips has said that Jack Vemer, a recruiter for Feldman, contacted him. Vemer gave Phillips a ride to a Lin coln restaurant and paid for the meal last November, both of which were potential violations of the NCAA’s extra-benefits rule. Nebraska officials reported the lunch to the NCAA, which had con tacted the school after learning that a Feldman employee had been in Lin coln. Nebraska officials have said Phillips repaid Vemer about $20 for Phillips’ portion of the meal. Since the “He can play until the institution and legislative services determines that there are violations. ” CARRIE DOYLE NCAA director of eligibility money was repaid, Doyle said, the incident was considered minor. “It’s not that it’s hunky-dory, but we try to look at a situation and im pose similar conditions that we have imposed in the past,” she said. The NCAA’s legislative services division, which determines ifincidents are violations of NCAA rules, contin ues to work on the other two issues, Doyle said. Legislative services director Steve Mallonee has declined comment, say ing only that the case is under review. A1 Papik, Nebraska’s associate ath letic director in charge of compliance, said the school sent the NCAA infor mation about the convertible, which Phillips has driven since January. The owners of a group home in Phillips’ hometown of West Covina, Calif., have said they leased it for him. Nebraska has provided information on Phillips’ relationship with Tina McElhannon, the head of the group home. v The state ofCalifomia was Phillips’ official guardian beginning at the age of 12. No. 2 fullback Schuster keeps low profile By Mitch Sherman Senior Editor Think quick. Where is Brian Schuster listed on the Nebraska foot ball depth chart? , If you didn’t know the right answer — No. 2 at fullback — don’t worry. You were in the majority. But you may not be for long. Schuster, a junior from Fullerton, is the least visible of the Comhuskers’ top four fullbacks. “I am kind of confused on the whole subject. I thought I was going to have a no-interview policy this year,” Schuster said, “because no one has ever wanted to talk to me. It’s been kind of a joke to me.” In his career as a Husker, Schuster, whose 7.5 yards a carry average last year was first on the team, said he had been interviewed once. “That was for the Grand Island paper,” he said, “and they do a story on every area guy.” Schuster enjoys the low profile. “I guess it’s kind of a good thing that no one knows me,” he said, “I wouldn’t want to be somebody like Brook (Berringer) or Tommie (Frazier) that can’t go anywhere or even have a meal.” Schuster follows senior Jeff Makovicka on the depth chart, and is listed ahead of redshirt freshman Joel Makovicka and senior Clinton Childs. Once the off-season ends, Schuster’s anonymity may suffer the same fate. As the No. 2 fullback in a run-oriented offense, Schuster said he figured to see plenty of action this fall. “I assume Jeff will start and play the first two or three series,” Schuster said. “If he gets banged up, I’ll go in and play a series or two. We are all just trying to get on the field and help the team. If I was listed fourth instead of second, and I deserved it, I would just do what it took to help the team.” A year from now, Schuster will be in line to take over the starting full back spot. But 5-foot-11,220-pounder Jon Waller/DN Nebraska fullback Brian Schuster pushes a defender aside during a drill in practice Monday. said he wasn’t thinking ahead that far. “Jeffdid a really go6d job filling in for Cory (Schlesinger) last year,” Schuster said. “If Jeff is not having a good game, I can come come in and help. If I am the starter next year, not saying that I am going to be, getting in the game this year when it ’ s on the line will help me out.” Since the Huskers’ 24-17 Orange Bowl win over Miami, a game in wtiich Schlesinger seored two fourth-quar ter touchdowns to secure the national title, Schuster said he had noticed an increased awareness of the fullback. “We have always had the talent there,” Schuster said, “but no one re ally noticed it until he scored the two touchdowns. I have really noticed it. Even in practice, it seems like we get a lot more opportunities to carry die ball.” This year’s batch of fullbacks, he said, has the ability to be as good as any group in school history. “What that translates to on the field,” Schuster said, “is yet to be seen.” 66 players to OSU From Staff Reports The Nebraska football team picked up an early win over the Big Eight. The Big Eight ruled that the Comhuskers could travel with 66 play ers instead of the normal 60 players for Thursday night’s season opener against Oklahoma State. Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne said he was surprised and pleased by the conference’s decision. “It was unexpectedly good news,” Osborne said. “I was thinking that we might have to live with 60. Of course with the heat and all the two-a-days, having six moreplayers is pretty wel comed.” Osborne said he didn’t know if the Big Eight would allow the Huskers to travel with 66 players the rest of the season. “One of the more ludicrous things is to have an airplane with 95 seats and three buses, and you have a whole bunch of empty seats,” Osborne said. “It probably only costs an extra 50 or 60 dollars a person to take them on the trip” Osborne said second-team I-back Damon Benning practiced Tuesday, but wasn’t at full speed. Benning has been hindered by a hamstring injury. NOTE: • The Huskers released their 66 man travel roster after practice Tues day. The roster included 67 players.