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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1997)
gjl | : Mike Kluck Raimondi gets good news about father’s battle Wednesday was a good day for NU’s Melanie Raimondi. All the cool weather, mist, soft ball practice and classes could not ruin how she felt. That’s because on Tuesday, Raimondi — a pitcher on the NU softball team — learned her father Richard Raimondi — who has been in a Denver hospital since an Au gust car accident — finally had a release date set and is going home on April 28. On Wednesday her enjoyment was uncontrollable. The younger Raimondi was tell ing everyone she knew about her father’s success. It was last July 29 that Richard’s life changed forever. He was driving to the family’s home in Fremont, Calif., but then swerved to miss something in the road, lost control of the car and rolled it about four times. The crash left him paralyzed from the neck down. It also took Richard, the vice president of the claims division of an insurance agency, almost two weeks before he became stable enough to hf=> trfltvsfprTfvt fn fYaio T-tncnital in -0-r Engelwood, Colo. — the same hos pital where Nebraska cheerleader Tracy Jensen is recovering. Since August 12, Craig has been Richard’s home. But that will end in 24 days, and Melanie couldn’t be happier. “He misses home so much,” Melanie said. “I think if he gets home and gets to see some of his old friends that will help a lot.” But he won’t be the same person. The 54-year-old and his family will have to adjust to life as a quad riplegic. He can use his arms but has no fine motor function in his hands. He also needs a ventilator to help him breathe. Melanie said she understands life with her father will be different now from what it used to be. Richard used to attend as many of Melanie’s softball games as pos sible. Sometimes business trips were arranged so he could watch Melanie. If he wasn’t in the stands, Melanie called him after every game. That has continued this season despite the accident. Although the tragedy has changed those conver sations a little bit. Richard is unable to speak on his own, so Melanie must relay her de tails through her sister, Chris Craft. She is also doing it because she knows it is what her father wants. “He’s always wanted to see both his daughters graduate,” said Melanie, who will graduate in Au gust. “Now he can be there for mine.” Kluck is a journalism gradu ate student and a Daily Nebras kan senior reporter. Mike Warren/DN JOE WALKER covers NU split end Billy Haafke during practice Wednesday. Walker enrolled at Nebraska in January. New kids on the block By Vince D’Adamo Staff Reporter The Nebraska football team’s two newest members want a chance this spring to show the other players why they transferred to play for the Comhuskers. Junior defensive tackle Glen Matthews and freshman comerback Joe Walker would like nothing better than to have a stel lar showing during NU’s 15 spring football practices and make names for themselves. Both players em brace the opportunity to play for a program that is in the running for the national title every year. At defensive tackle, the Comhuskers lost starter Jeff Ogard and reserve Scott Saltsman, while at comerback, the most notable de partures are Michael Booker and Mike Fullman. “They made a big impact,” Walker said. “So I’ve got to follow some footsteps.” With the departure of those players, both Walker and Matthews said spring practice is the perfect fimp tn climi/r'QCfl akilihoc tr» the coaching staff. “It’s of utmost importance to show myself,” said Matthews, a transfer from North Dakota School of Science. “Because at this level everyone comes to play. This is a major evaluation session.” Walker feels the same way. “I have to give it all I’ve got,” Walker said. “This is everything that I’ve worked toward. I’ve got to lay it on the line.” Walker, from Arlington, Texas, signed with Baylor prior to last sea son but did not qualify academi cally. He did not go to school in the fall and enrolled at Nebraska in January. On the first day of spring prac tice on Monday, he impressed NU Defensive Backs Coach George Darlington. “For not actually lining up at comer,” Darlington said, “he did a tremendous job.” Darlington said a strong show ing in spring ball can only help a young player like Walker. “He’s paid attention to some of the older players that have helped him out a little bit,” Darlington said. “The main thing is to play your technique. “Spring practice will be a tre mendous boost for a younger player. A defensive back has to have a tough demeanor from the standpoint that if you get beat don’t sell the farm and pack it in.” Walker’s lack of height is a bit of a concern. At 5 foot 11, 185 pounds, he may get picked on be cause of his size. His short stature is not a problem, Walker said. “You’ve got to be focused and look quicker,” Walker said. “You’ve got to watch the quarter back and the receiver.” Matthews faces a different chal lenge at NU. With only two years of eligibility remaining, the 6-3, 303 pounder plans to make the most of his opportunity with the Huskers. “My goal when I came here was to be one of the starting 11,” Matthews said. “And this is where it begins. So there is a sense of ur gency.” Husker defensive linemen have used the first two days of spring prac tice to work on various techniques. Matthews said being fundamen tally sound is even more important because a lineman cannot rely on overpowering someone. “The most important thing is hand placement and quick feet,” Matthews said. “Because if you’re not quick or can’t get your hands in the right place, you’re automati cally beat.” When playing defense against the run, a tackle’s role is like a traf fic cop trying to catch a runaway speeder — set up a road block and keep blockers off the linebackers. Matthews said having a nasty attitude on the field can be used in a positive way to be successful. “You have to be angry, intense and hostile,” Matthews said. “But you also have to be smart because those emotions and hostilities can work against you.” Mtke \ rrfn/DN GLEN MATTHEWS works out with the NU defense Wednesday. Matthews transferred to Nebraska after two years at North Dakota School of Science. Rutgers, Nee not a match Rider Coach Kevin Bannon is the Scarlet Knights’ man. PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Kevin Bannon, who rebuilt Rider’s basketball program and took the Broncs to two NCAA tournament appearances in eight years, has been named coach at Rutgers. Bannon, 39 years old, beat out Nebraska’s Danny Nee as well as Florida State’s Pat Kennedy and Tim Welsh of Iona in getting the position with the Big East Conference school that was passed on by a couple of bet ter-known coaches. South Carolina’s Eddie Fogler and Tom Penders of Texas were wooed by Rutgers but backed away, while Drexel’s Bill Herrion shocked the Scar let Knights on Friday by turning down an offer. That caused athletic director Fred Gruninger and university president Francis Lawrence to scramble to line up candidates during the Final Four last weekend at Indianapolis. Nee — who has coached 11 years at NU and has a career coaching record of 310-213 in 17 years — was inter viewed on Monday in St. Louis. Bannon and Kennedy visited the New Brunswick, N.J., school on Tuesday Please see BANNON on 10 NU opens homestand with Jays By Mike Kluck Senior Reporter Despite the damp weather and cool conditions Wednesday, the Nebraska softball team had added enthusiasm at practice. The energy boost for NU (13-15) comes from the excitement of opening its home season against in-state rival Creighton with a doubleheader at the NU Softball Complex starting at 6 p.m. “I could really feel the energy when the girls were talking about what uni forms they were going to wear and just being at home and playing,” Husker Softball Coach Rhonda Revelle said. “You could really feel that excitement and they’re even more excited than I am. Revelle said NU is also excited because it has had some time to stabi lize its middle infield. It has been 11 days since Nebraska’s All-American shortstop Ali Viola suffered a season-ending knee injury against Iowa on March 22. Since Viola’s injury, freshman Jen nifer Lizama has moved from second to shortstop and walk-on freshman Alice Brewer has been inserted into the lineup at second. “We need to adapt with our new infield,” Revelle said. “Of course, ev ery day in practice we’re getting stron ger with that. I see a real difference Please see CU on 10
