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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1997)
NU aims to block distractions i HUSKY from page 10 the Huskers have become adept at playing under difficult conditions. “We’ve been using ear plugs and silent counts, which have been work ing well, too,” Green said. “If we’re changing plays, all I have to see is (senior quarterback) Scott Frost’s lips.” Makovicka said the silent count has become a stable for the Huskers in practice and they are prepared to use as much as needed against the Huskies. “We’re going to be prepared with our silent counts and our hand sig nals,” he said. “If we can’t hear each other out there, we just have to go without the sounds and use the silent counts.” However, crowd noise might not even be a problem if Nebraska would score a couple of early touchdowns. Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel said NU’s key to pulling out a win will be getting off a good start. “That’s the most important thing I can say to Nebraska, is take the crowd out of the game early,’ Neuheisel said. “If they can get Washington out of their game early, their chances to win are going to go way up.” Makovicka agrees. “We want to take the wind out of their sails a little bit, or it could get tough for us as the game goes on,” Makovicka said. “We really don’t want to get down by a couple of touchdowns in this one.” The key to keeping their heads may be Frost - the only Husker to have played at Husky Stadium. Frost, who replaced injured Cardinal quarterback Scott Stenstrom and led Stanford to a 46-28 upset of the Huskies as a freshman, will be responsible for calling plays and audibles for the Huskers on Saturday. Quarterbacks coach Turner Gill said Frost is up to the task. “He’s got a great head on his shoulders,” Gill said. “He’s got the kind of poise we need to lead this | football team. We have complete confidence in the job he can do.” Even if NU gets down early, Makovicka said it won’t be the end of the game. “We have to trust in our game ' plan and our players,” Makovicka said. “Even if we do fall behind, we’re still going to be in and not let the crowd bother us.” Note: Nebraska second-team center Matt Hoskinson injured an ankle in practice Wednesday and will be questionable for Saturday’s game against Washington. NU coach Tom Osborne said another player fell on Hoskinson’s ankle during practice. Osborne said Hoskinson is the back-up for three different positions on the line and plays enough to be considered a starter. Engesser on way up with Huskers ENGESSER from page 10 “No one gave me a hard time about it,” Engesser said. “I was hoping to get an opportunity to play.” Engesser said the choice was simple; either stay in Portland, or transfer to Nebraska. She said there were no other schools she wanted to attend. She also liked Nebraska because of the familiarity she had with current Huskers Jenny Benson and Sandy Smith. All three played on the North Huntington Beach, Calif., club team that captured the 1995 under-19 national title. “I didn’t want to start over again in my junior year of col lege,” Engesser said. “I knew Sandy and Jenny, and that made it a lot easier adjusting.” Adjusting, Engesser said, is one thing that has not been a problem. She has switched back from defense to offense, which is a place Engesser said she is most comfortable. “In Portland I didn’t feel I was given a real chance,” Engesser said. “Here, I feel that I am really part of the team.” Nebraska coach John Walker said it wasn’t a tough choice in accepting Engesser as a transfer, or moving her up to the front. “When we watched Kim play in club soccer she was always very effective as an attacking player,” Walker said. Even though she has good players around her, Engesser has proven she can shine on the field. .... ,... She scored four goals in four games, including two goals against Colorado. Even in a loss to Texas, Engesser contributed to the Husker offense with several goal-scoring opportunities. Walker said he is thrilled to have Engesser on the team this season. He said he is pleased with how well she has done this season. “We are happy with how she has performed so far this sea son,” Walker said. “She is a smart player, and picks things up very quickly.” If Engesser continues to have this kind of success, she may be in line for a successful career at Nebraska. The high school all American has also been named to the United States 16-under and 20-under national teams. But if Engesser had her way, a team honor would come before any individual trophy or certifi cate. “If you have a bunch of peo ple having individual honors, it probably means you have a suc cessful team,” Engesser said. “I would rather win a national championship.” Focusing key to NU success SOCCER from 10 Cyclones gave the Huskers all they could handle until halftime. This year ISU coach Cathy Klein brings a team with a year of experi ence. Walker said that kind of experi ence across the conference can pro vide a more competitive atmosphere. “They are a high energy team,” Walker said. “When a team is one year older, they can make a tremen dous growth.” ISU has nine returning starters from last year’s 8-12 team. Senior forward Jo Hinks is the top returning scorer with 26 points including 13 goals. Even though Nebraska did lose two games last weekend, Klein said she is worried about the Husker attack. “They are head and shoulders above the teams in our conference,” Klein said. “We want to put ourselves in a position to win a game. To accomplish this we must work hard.” Even though, NU had a good per formance against A&M, Walker said the increased talent and competition level across the country provides an inconsistency in results this season. In the last two weeks, No. 6 Portland, No. 16 Connecticut and No. 19 Florida along with Nebraska have all lost. “If you look at college soccer almost everybody is vulnerable,” Walker said. “If you have to lose a game you want to do it early in the season so you can get a chance to redeem yourselves.” UW s Huard expects good game HUARD from page 10 The Parade All-American from Puyallup, Wash., said it’s his team mates who give him the confidence to be one of the top quarterbacks as a sophomore. “A big thing that comes with experience is poise,” Huard said. “The experience in the huddle adds to that poise.” Huard will need to be poised in front of the NU defense, one that fea tures two pre-season All-American selections in the front four. “(Nebraska) plays the running game very well,” Shehee said. “They play a lot like our defense plays; I’m used to playing with a hard-nosed defense.” * *■ ;v <. v> 'i Nebraska uses an attacking 4-3 defense with four defensive backs. Washington uses a 4-4 defense with three defensive backs. “These two programs are a lot alike,” Huard said. “That’s what makes for a good battle this week end.” The atmosphere in Seattle has been building all week for the game. This will also be the first time two teams ranked this high have played in Husky Stadium. Huard said he just wants to go out and play football, not for himself but for his teammates. “This game is not about individu als,” Huard said. “I’m not concerned whatsoever about glorifying myself.’’ > • , t ,1 ■ / <» » r ■ > • ^ UNL Computer Shop Hewlett Packard Printers * ' *"i 4 • -* HP DeskJets HP LaserJets starting as low as starting as low as 501 N. 10 Street Room 123 (402)472-5787 (southwest of the stadium) Monday-Friday 8-5 Tuesday 8-6 http://compshop.unl.edu
