Sports Weekend Friday, April 19 1996 Page 9 Mike Kluck Sad twist of fate strikes Husker family Brook Berringer was looking forward to this weekend to get a little direction in his life. Berringer hadn’t had to do much since the Cornhuskers defeated Florida 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2 to win their second consecu tive national championship. An NFL combine and a few workouts with professional foot ball teams were the only things Berringer had worried about the last four months. He had a chance to enjoy him self since graduating in December with a degree in business manage ment. Turkey hunting, spending time with his mother in Goodland, Kan., and playing basketball with other former football players had kept him occupied. He was having fun, his mother, Jan, said just last week. Last Friday, Berringer and the Nebraska seniors played against the Goodland area all-stars in a charity game, and it wasn’t surprising Berringer was the leading scorer and received the most applause from the adoring crowd. “It’s been really fun to have him at home,” Jan Berringer said last Friday. “I really think Brook is en joying it and it’s nice to have him around here again.” This weekend, that was all sup posed to end. Tonight, he was scheduled to make a surprise appearance on stage with Sawyer Brown at the celebra tion to commemorate his former team’s triumph. Berr inger ’ s 1 i fe after college was going to begin. He was going to learn where he would be living next fall. Although tscrringer wasn t scheduled to be drafted in the early rounds, most draft experts predicted he would go somewhere between rounds four and nine. Berringer was listed as one of the six best quarterbacks available, which isn’t bad for a person who enjoyed backup duties last season. But most pleasing to his mom was that both the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs had ex pressed interest in having Berringer play for them next season. “I just want him to play some place where I can get to his games,” said Jan, a fourth-grade teacher. “Kansas City would be nice be cause his grandparents live there and they could see him play.” But Thursday, the hope, direc tion and future of Berringer’s life came to a sudden end in an alfalfa field near Raymond. In what was supposed to be the most exciting week in his 22 years, his life came to a surprising and stunning end. And for a woman who lost her husband 15 years ago, now she must ask why she is burying a son, whose dream was just about to come true. Klack Is a graduate studeat la Joar b alls in aad a Dally Nebraskan senior reporter. Spring game showcases talent ..jiimuiiiiiiri.ii main mm Matt Miller/DN Scott Frost, Nebraska’s No. 1 quarterback, is chased by reserve linebacker Ben Buettenback during last week’s scrimmage. Frost will start Saturday for the red team in the spring game. Huskers home for 11 games By David Wilson Staff Reporter As the outfield grass at Buck Beltzcr Field turns from brown to green, the Nebraska baseball team returns to Lin coln for an 11-game homestand, look ing to snap a two-game losing skid. The Comhuskers, 17-21-1 overall and 6-H in the Big Eight, will play host to Kansas, 18-20 and 8-12, begin ning today at 9 p.m. The Jayhawks defeated Nebraska in Lawrence, Kan., Tuesday and Wednesday—winningboth games by one run. The Huskers, who have won seven of their last 10, are looking to improve on a 10-4 record at home. “We took a little step backward tnose last couple ot games, Sanders said. “We were on a nice little run, and things were going pret\tC'$sr' 1. Jets (3-13) 2. Jaguars (4-12) 3. CardtiialS (4^-12) 4. Ravens (5-11) 5. Giants (5-11) 6. Rams (7-9) 7. Patriots (6-10) 8. Panthers (7-9) 9. Oilers (7-9) 10. Bengals (7-9) :ourted by many NFL teams, in dudingthe Jets, Kiper said hedidn’t feel New York was the best place for Phillips. “What NFL clubs have to weigh vith Phillips is risk versus benefit,” fCiper said. “Then the question is at vhat point in the draft is someone »oing be willing to bring him into he fold. See DRAFT on 11 By Trevor Parks Senior Reporter Although Saturday afternoon’s an nual Red-White Spring Game signi fies the end of spring football drills, the game also marks one more step in Nebraska’s quest for a third consecu tive national cham pionship. “It’sjust another brick in the build ing,” defensive _ said. “Football Peter never really ends. If ft’s not winter conditioning, then it’s spring ball. From spring ball we go right into summer conditioning and then right into fall camp. “We don’t look at it like football’s over for a while.’’ But the 47th annual spring game, which kicks off at 1 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, will give fans a chance to sec what the 1996 edition of the Comhuskers looks like after 15 spring practices. The No. 1 defense and No. 2 of fense will be on the white team, while the No. 1 offense and No. 2 defense will be on the red squad. Some players may switch teams during the game, Coach Tom Osborne said. Osborne, who will again watch the game from the press box, said no mat ter what happened Saturday, there might be some roster changes after summer conditioningand 29 preseason praetiees in the fall. “I don’t want any player leaving spring ball thinking that his position on the depth chart is safe,” Osborne said. “We don’t operate that way, and there is still an opportunity to change that.” Peter, a 6-foot-4,285-pound junior to-be, said this spring game would be See SPRING GAME on 10 Nebraska to compete in Oklahoma By Antone Oseka Staff Reporter After a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday, the Nebraska softball team is gearing up for what Coach Rhonda Revelle is calling the biggest weekend of the season. The Comhuskers, 31-13 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12 travel to Norman, Okla., this weekend for a three-game series against Oklahoma after sweep ing Northern Iowa in a doubleheader Wednesday. Nebraska then travels 60 milcsnorth toStillwater, Okla., for adoublehcader against first-place Oklahoma State on Monday afternoon. The Huskers take on the Sooners, 35-17 and 9-4, in a doublehcader Sat urday at Reaves Park. The games start at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The three-game set finishes up with a single game at noon Sunday. Oklahoma is in second place in the Big 12*racc. The Huskers, third in the confer ence, can move into the top spot by winning four of the five games against the Sooners and the Cowgirls. Revellc said she was concentrating on Oklahoma first before thinking about playing league-leading Okla homa State. The Sooners are led on the mound by the leading strikeout pitcher in the Big 12, Jill Most. Most leads the con ference with 74 strikeouts in 62.2 in See SOFTBALL on 11