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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1996)
Tommie Frazier figures he is qualified to pass judgment on the Nebraska offensive line. The senior quarterback last year called signals behind a Cornhusker line considered by many to be the greatest ever. And now, in his fourth year as a starter, Frazier stands behind an inexperienced group of linemen, only one of whom has ever started in a Nebraska uniform. But after one game with the new line at Oklahoma State, Frazier said he did not notice any drop-off from last season. “I knew what they could do,” Frazier said. “It was just time for them to go out there and show everyone else what they could do.” Frazier said the play of Chris Dishman, Aaron Taylor, Aaron Graham, Steve Ott and Eric Anderson was every bit as impressive as that of the 1994 offensive line. “They were able to go out there and show everybody that you could forget last year’s line,” Frazier said. “This is a new year, and we focus on the line we have this year.” A year ago, behind the dominating play of Graham, Rob Zatechka, Zach Wiegert, Brendan Stai and Joel Wilks, the Huskers rumbled for a nation-leading 340 yards a game. “They may not be as big,” Frazier said, “but to me, they seem faster, and in some areas, they probably know more than last year’s line.” Three members of the 1994 group are now playing in the National Football League. Zatechka is with the New York Giants;Wiegert is playing for the St. Louis Rams; and Stai is a Pittsburgh Steeler. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said he never doubted the ability of the 1995 line. “I felt during spring ball that we would be a decent offensive line,” Osborne said.“I felt during fall camp that we had a chance to be a very good offensive line. I wouldn’t say that we are great yet, but these guys are great athletes.” Last week, playing its first game as the No. 1 unit, the offensive line paved the way for 517 yards rushing, including almost 200 yards on the ground during a 30-point second quarter. Osborne said depth at the line spots was a major concern before last spring. But the emergence of several backups — most notably junior tackle Adam Treu — has allowed Osborne to relax when the second-tteam is inserted. “Overall, it’s a pretty good group right now,” Osborne said. Frazier said it was a group capable of leading Nebraska’s backfield to another rushing title — and another national title. “Whenever someone says there are question marks at some positions, you are going to want to go out and prove them wrong,” said Frazier, who ran for 65 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in the Huskers’ season-opening 43-point win. “They have taken that attitude that people don’t believe they can get the job done. Now it’s time for them to go out there and prove people wrong, just like we had to do last year.” - Mitch Sherman Oklahoma St. 21 Nebraska 64 Passing Att-Comp. Int. Yds. _ _ Frazier 6-10 0 120 Team Stats NU OU _ FirstDowns 28 14 Receiving No. Yds. Rushes-yards 55-513 38-144 Gilman 31 Passing 158 138 Holbein 21 Return Yards 48 12 Baul 76 Comp-Att-Int 12-20-1 11-27-3 0 .. Punts-avg. 1-53 7-43 Kushing Att. Yds. Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0 Phillips 12 153 Penalties-Yards 6-55 5-33 Frazier 10 64 Time of Possession 29:55 30:05 Benning 8 62 MBjp U Jon Waller/DN Nebraska linebacker Jared Tomich celebrates during the Huskers' victory over Oklahoma State. Tomich overcomes nerves „ V Jared Tomich experienced a severe case of nerves before making his first start as a ComhuskerAug. 31. Against Oklahoma State,Tomich, the 6-foot-2,250-pound junior rush end, made his first start and harassed Cowboy quarterback Tone’Jones on his first defensive play. He forced Jones into throwing his first pass of the game away to the Oklahoma State sidelines. Tomich said starting was different because he didn’t play in the first quarter of any game last season. “Last year I had to sit down in the first quarter and watch everybody else,” Tomich said. “Now, you’re thrown in there for the first time to start, and you have to read the game as it goes along instead of watching on the sideline.” And Tomich said that gave him confidence for the remainder of the game. “It felt good to not have to sit and wait and get right after it,” he said. One play later,Tomich got after business again, pressuring Jones and sacking him for an 11-yard loss. Tomich said getting off to a good start in his first series helped him to relax. “That was crucial to calm down all the butterflies and nerves early” Tomich said. Tomich continued to wreak havoc on the Cowboys, breaking up two passes and throwing Jones for another 11-yard sack. He finished the game with four tackles. The two sacks already have doubled his total from last season, when he recorded a 7-yard sack in the Kickoff Classic against West Virginia. Overall he recorded 23 tackles last year, including 12 solo tackles. At halftime,Tomich said the Nebraska defense just wanted to keep the pressure on Jones and the rest of his Cowboy teammates in the second half. “After the half we came out and stopped them,” Tomich said. “The defense did really well despite making a couple of mistakes, but nothing too bad.” M Trevor Parks