f I ' . • • .:J
Travis Heying/DN
Nebraska split end Brendan Holbein leads the Huskers out of the tunnel before beating Pacific 49-7 on Sept. 23. Nebraska will play for the national title against Florida
on Jan. 2 in the Fiesta Bowl. >
Huskers compare other teams to Florida
By Derek Samson
Staff Reporter
Everyone agreed that no team Nebraska
played this season truly compares to Florida.
But when the top-ranked
LornnusKers go tor tnetr sec
ond consecutive national
championship against No. 2
Florida in the Fiesta Bowl
on Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m., at Sun
Devil Stadium in Tempe,
Ariz., the opinion differs on
what team the Gators will
WsrmF MM most resemble,
nehnrno Coach Tom Osborne: “I
USDOrne think in terms of throwing
the ball a great deal, Colorado will probably
come the closest because they have great speed
at the receivers and a good thrower, probably
not anyone with the experience and credentials
(Danny) Wuerffel had. They run a somewhat
similar style of offense.”
Second-team All-American linebacker
Terrell Farley: “Passing-wise, I think Washing
ton State was similar, with no backs. But we
haven’t played a high-explosion team like them.”
Cornerback Michael Booker: “The closest
that we’ ve played is probably Kansas State or
KU because of thpr passing. KU didn’t rely on
the pass as much. Kansas State probably did.”
Tight end Sheldon Jackson: “Talent-wise,
the coaches have compared them to Oklahoma
because they have real good athletes. T think
their defense is what is compared to Oklahoma.
They’re a hard-hitting team from what I know.”
But Osborne summed up his thoughts, and
most everyone else’s on the Gators.
“Over the years we’ve seen similar teams,
but nothing exactly like Florida,” he said.
On paper, the Huskers and Gators are very
similar.
11 -0 Nebraska won each game by an average
score of 52-13. Florida won 12 games by
outscoring its opponents 44-16. Nebraska aver
aged 556 yards a game. The Gators averaged
534. The Huskers scored 77 touchdowns this
season, and Florida tallied 74 scores.
Florida is second in the nation in passing,
averaging 360 yards in the air a game, along
with 173 yards on the ground.
Wuerffel’s 178.4 passing efficiency rating
and 35 touchdown passes led the nation. His
passing efficiency rating is the best ever for a
Division I quarterback.
He knows where he wants to go with the ball
and he doesn’t seem to get rattled,” Osborne
said. “He will stay in there until the last possible
minute. He doesn’t feel the pressure, which is a
sign of a great passer.
“But he’s got a good system. He’s got good
receivers, a good offensive line and just good
players all around him.”
However, Osborne said Florida’s running
game was what puts it above other teams that
emphasize the pass.
“Anybody that just tries to go out and throw
it, with no threat of a running game, is going to
have trouble,” said Osborne, who last season
won a bowl game for the first time in seven
years.
Booker, who earned a starting spot in the
Husker secondary before Nebraska’s third game
of the year against Arizona State on Sept. 16,
will shoulder part of the responsibility of stop
ping the passing attack. i
“(Florida State) gave him too much time to
pass,” Booker said. “They weren’t emphasizing
the blitzes at all. Their comers were playing 12
yards off the receivers. We’re going to be up in
their faces. I think they’ll see some more blitzes
from us',4oo.”
Florida coach Steve Spurrier guided Florida
to its first 12-0 season in school history. His
career record is 61-12-1, and his three straight
outright Southeastern Conference titles is
matched only by Alabama legend Paul “Bear”
Bryant.
“Obviously, Steve Spurrier has a great con
cept of the passing game and he’s got the people
to execute it,” Osborne said. “He’s got great
results and he’s been remarkably successful.
You’ve got to have great respect for what he’s
accomplished.”