Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1996)
McCamey hopes for improvement By Trevor Parks Senior Reporter No matter how hard Iowa State Football Coach Dan McCamey tries to forget his first head coaching experi ence against Ne- . _ braska, he just can’t do it. The night mare of a 73-14 loss in Lincoln last season — the worst defeat he has suffered in his two years with the Cy clones—is still __ _ vivid in McCar- McCamey ney’smind. “As a player or as a coach,” McCamey said, “that was the longest day I’ve ever spent on the sidelines. That game was a total mismatch. We never stepped it up offensively, and they stepped it up offensively the en tire game.” pieorasKa rusiieu lor ozh yarus — the second-highest total in school his tory—and finished the game with 776 yards, the fifth-highest total in school history. In addition, the Comhuskers scored on their first 10 drives and 11 of 13 for the game. That disastrous November after noon aside, McCamey’s efforts — a 5-15 record in two seasons — have helped turn around an Iowa State pro gram that was 0-10-1 the year before his arrival. Saturday, the Cyclones, who are the last conference team to beat NU — albeit four years ago—look for a bet ter showing against NU at Cyclone Sta dium in Ames. In 1995, McCamey’s .first season, ISU was 3-8 with wins over Ohio, Ne vada-Las Vegas and Oklahoma State. This season, Iowa State, which has the second most difficult schedule in the nation according to the NCAA, has won only twice — back-to-back vic tories aver Northern Iowa and Missouri in September. ISU (2-7 overall and 1 5 in die Big 12) has lost five of seven games by a total of 17 points, includ ing five-straight losses. Despite losing so many close games, McCamey said, his team is con fident that a break will finally cone its way in a tight game. “Each week our kids come back and are ready to play,” McCamey said. “We need to be ready to play this week against one of the finest teams in the country.” After losing to sixth-ranked Colo rado 49-42 last Saturday in Boulder, the Cyclones must play the fifth-ranked Huskers (8-1 and 6-0) and close the season at No. 9 Kansas State. McCamey said his team will need a big-time effort Saturday and against Kansas State to avoid losing all of its final seven games of the season. Sat urday will be the toughest part of that final stretch, he said. “Without question, (Nebraska) is one of the best defenses I have ever seen,” McCamey said. “Week in and week out, they have dominated oppo nents. Their front is so physical that they don’t allow any daylight whatso ever. “If you make any kind of minor mistake, they close a hole and push you backward.” That puts extra pressure on Iowa State’s offensive line, which average 299 pounds and 6-foot-3 per man. Left tackle Tim Kohn is the tallest at 6-5, and center Patrick Augafa weighs 335 pounds. “They’ve gotten very little public ity nationally or locally,” McCamey said, “but they are a big part of what we have done. We’ve got a running back who is 178 yards from becoming a part of history, and they are a major reason for that.” But on the other side of the ball, there is some concern. Iowa State ranks last in the nation in total defense, giving up 493.6 yards per game, and the Cyclones are 99th in scoring defense, giving up 35.2 points per contest. ISU has allowed more than 24 points in every game this season, and in two of its last three games, oppo nents have scored 49 points. Nebraska averages 46.6 points per game, second in the country. “I’m not happy at all with our de fense,” McCamey said. “One area we have improved on was that we’ve scored three defensive touchdowns in the last two games, but we still have a long ways to go.” Huskers sign recruit, may lose Chicago guard RECRUIT from page 9 much-needed weight* he said. “I’m a lot stronger since the spring,” Harriman said. “I’ve added about 10 pounds, and I’ve really been working the weights hard. My uppei body strength has improved a lot.” Harriman said he spent at least an 1A hours in the weight room three or four times a week. Nebraska Coach Danny Nee was excited to see Harriman in a Husker uniform, Harriman said. “He’s been ecstatic about me go ing there,” Harriman said. “He said I’d contribute to the team and come in and play right away if I worked hard.” With the signing of Hairiman, Ne braska still has five scholarships left to offer. 3 Nee said Wednesday the Huskers sent letters to “a few” potential recruits this week. “We sent them to a couple of kids just to said them,” Nee said. The early signing period ends Nov. 20. Huskers aim to stop Troy Davis DAVIS from page 9 2,000 yards in more than one season. “You just have to believe in what you can do and bust your mind and bust your offensive technique,” Davis said. “Then you read the blocks and just try to get as many yards as you can.” Believing is a technique Davis has been using since his days at Miami Southridge High School. The USA Today Florida football player of the year heard critics then, too. Many said he was too small to play football at the Division-I level. So Davis left Florida for the wind and cold of Ames. “I am proving people wrong,” he said, “because I can go and {day. I’m showing them the little boy can do it. I’m up here and doing the same thing with the big boys. “Two thousand yards is unbeliev able, and nobody ever thought that I could do it.” Iowa State Coach Eton McCamey said he is not surprised by Davis' suc cess. , “He gives the same effort week in and week out, and that is nice to see,” McCamey said. “Whether he runs for just 90 yards or 400 yards, he always puts forth a tremendous effort.” When McCamey took over at ISU in November 1994, he had to persuade a disgruntled Davis to stay in Ames. Davis rushed for 187 yards on 35 at tempts as a freshman in 1994 under Coach Jim Walden. “Coach McCamey came in and said he wanted to change to the I-offense,” Davis said. “If he hadn't talked to me, I probably would have gone to Miami or Florida State.” Instead, Davis and Iowa State have a chance to act like Florida State or Miami, ending the Huskers hopes for a national championship —just like ISU did four years ago, defeating NU 19-10 in Ames. “Nebraska’s got a real good de fense, and we’ve got a real good of fense,” Davis said. Tm just looking forward to going at it It should be a real good challenge out there.” Regardless of whether Davis gets to 2,000 or wins the Heisman Tiophy, McCamey may still face an uphill battle in keeping Davis in Anies for his senior season. Davis said he has not decided if he will stay or enter the National Football League draft. “After the last game,” Davis said, “I plan to sit down and talk to my par ents and coach. You have to make the decision on what you want to do — if you want to get your degree, or if you want to go and help your family. “My degree is the thing I will need for when I am done playing football. For me, the degree comes first before the NFL.” ISU’s Davis excites Blackshirts umnswais from page a Mike linebacker Jon Hesse said the key to Davis’ rushing is the Iowa State offensive line. “The offensive line helps him,” Hesse said. “He’s got great cuts and acceleration. “He finds holes.” Davis’ ability to find holes con cerns the Nebraska defense. Although many opponents have kept Davis and the Cyclones from winning this season, Wistrom said, Davis could rack up a bunch of yards against the Nebraska defense. “An athlete like Troy Davis,” Wistrom said, “you don’t hope to stop him. You just hope to contain him. We’re going to try to make Troy Davis beat us.” But first, the Nebraska defense is going to try to beat Davis — literally. Wistrom said Nebraska will use its physical style to wear down Davis. “Our brand of physical football takes its toll on a person when the guy’s going to be carrying the ball 30 to 40 times a game,” Wistrom said. “TVoy Davis is not afraid of any contact at all. He’ll stick it to you, if you don’t stick it to him.” Playing against Texas Tech earlier this season will help the NU defense prepare for Davis. Tech features fel low Heisman TVophy candidate Byron Hanspard. Before playing Nebraska, Hanspard was averaging more than 200 yards rushing per game. Against the Blackshirts, he gained only 107 yards in a 24-10 loss to Nebraska. Nebraska’s rush defense ranks sixth nationally, allowing only 74 yards per game, and much of that has come against the reserve units. The Huskers’ No. 1 defense has not allowed a rush ing touchdown this season. But Coach Tom Osborne said Davis may present NU with its biggest challenge. “It’ll be a tougher game than many people suspect,” Osborne said. “We can’t just defense Troy Davis.” Defensive tackle Jason Peter agrees. “We know what Troy Davis can do,” Peter said. “We’re going to come after Iowa State and try to play most of the game in the backfield.” But Davis is expected to take the ball right at the Comhuskers, and Wistrom has other plans for that. “I’ve really enjoyed these past few weeks playing teams that like to try and run the football,” Wistrom said. “It’s kind of like an insult to your manhood if they can run the ball right down your throat when you’re going out there to prove to them they can’t.” 10% Off* any sendee WMudent or faculty LDi) ( Not wM mini ay other offer. Coupon must be presented atttnne of purchase. . JL ' i..»r...TTrii ,ii, „ i»i,hi—— -. . __ J r wiShtg ONCY at the 7030 *0* St store. Cal stow far appointment | AUTO SYSTEMS EXPERTS | ‘ Uncolil 7030 “0" St. 4842282-601 N. 27th St. 477-7724 '