Scott Bruhn/DN
Jay Calderon/DN
Huskers impress Saban
By Mike Kluck
Senior Reporter
*j|t.
Excuse Michigan State Coach Nick
Saban for making die understatement
of the day after Saturday’s 55-14 Ne
braska victory.
“I think the most impressive part
of their teqm today was their defense,”
Saban said. ■ *§■*» 'f
“It was probably as good as I’ve
eve seen. We anticipated that, but they
played extremely well. They’re ag
’ gressive; they’ve got great team
speed.”
Nebraska’s defense scored two
f " touchdowns, including an 84-yard in
terception return by senior rover Mike
Minter and a nine-yard interception
return by rush end Grant Wistrom.
The Comhusker defense also set up
M Nebraska’s first touchdown when
Minter intercepted a pass from Spar
tan quarterback Todd Schultz.
Two plays later, Husker quarter
M
We have a lot of young players who went
to the prom in May, then beat Purdue last
week and said, 'Hey, this is easy.’”
*
Nick Saran
MSU football coach
back Scott Frost ran in overthe right
end for the touchdown.
But Saban was as equally im
pressed with Nebraska’s special teams
as he was with the NU defense.
Husker right cornerback Mike
Fullman scored on a 62-yard punt re
turn in the second quarter. Then in the
third quarter, Nebraska junior Eric
Warfield blocked a punt by Paul
Edinger.
Husker freshman Brian Shaw
picked up the ball and returned it seven
yards to the Michigan State 16-yard
line. Three plays later, I-back Ah man
Green scored from oik yard out.
“We thought it was very important
for us to come in here today and win
on special teams, which wefeel is very
important in our program,” Saban said.
“We obviously couldn’t do that.
“If you play a team like Nebraska,
who’s as good offensively and defen
sively as they are, and you can’t con
trol the field position on special teams.
Please see SjABAN on 11
Photos clockwise
FROM BOTTOM LEFT:
KENNY CHEATHAM catches a
30-yard touchdown pass from Matt
Turman early in the fourth quarter,
beating Michigan State’s Amp
Campbell.
RUSH END Grant Wistrom
celebrates as he crosses the goal line
after a nine-yard interception
return for a touchdown.
BRENDAN HOLBEIN fights off
Campbell for the ball, catching a 35
yard touchdown pass from Scott
Frost.
MICHIGAN STATE comerback
Ray Hill wraps up Nebraska’s Jon
Vedral.
SCOTT FROST gets a pass away
avoiding a hard-charging Chris
Smith. '1
Jay Calderon/DN
Jay Calderon/DN
I : 55
Min
Myarrn !■»-UMp^m m T0»
""ujSjjjl^^
Rusting yds 1M S3 hmMmlyw* . 2/10 4/»
Pasnagconpletim 7 14 Kkfaffnl—/yds 1/29 2/2S
Tyi plays 40 IS UMIwmm 4*12 3*19
AwapyOyphy - 5.0 29 Sucks/yds 7/47 1/11
,