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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1998)
_:___ & P Sam McKewon Sunday’s outcome a done deal I can’t believe it. For the 32nd consecutive time, the NFL has decided to subject football fens to the worst sporting event known to man: the Super Bowl, aJcathe Super Blowout, on Sunday, in San Diego. Ah, yes - that annual four-hour torture in a TV box that features the best teams from America’s Friendly Conference (AFC) and the Nasty Football Combatants (NFC). The Nasties have won 14 straight Super Blowouts. Representing the Friendlies this year are the Denver Broncos, who are 0-4 in the game. For the Nasties, it’s the Green Bay Packers - who are 3-0 in previous Blowouts. Care to guess who’s going to win? Oddsmakers already know Green »Bay’s going to win, and so does the rest of America - but that’s not the real question. The real question lies in why mil lions of households tune in to this slaughter. The NFL hordes in ridicu lous amounts of money from advertis ers and networks for what is consis tently a boring, useless contest between two mismatched teams. Unless you like to watch a team being pummeled into submission (apparently you enjoy kicking your neighbor’s dog as well), or are - God foibid- a Packers fan, there’s really no reason to watch the game. So this year, let’s stick it to the NFL and boycott the Super Bowl. Watch something else, or if you like, do something productive with the day. But in case you really want to know what happens in the game, I’ve prepared a script of how it’s likely to unfold: First quarter Denver will score a touchdown. Green Bay will get 10 points and lead 10-7. Second quarter. This is the quarter where the Broncos lose it Green Bay gets a couple touchdowns and Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre will make at least two plays that cause NBC’s Dick Enberg to say, “Oh my!” Score: 24-7, Green Bay. Halftime: Fireworks. Bad songs. Bathroom breaks. Third quarter: Denver scores a touchdown before the Pack puts down the hammer with two more TD’s. Fourth quarter The contest is ova*, so the game becomes a collage of overhead shots of Qualcomm Stadium and close-ups of Reggie White and John Elway. Final Score: Green Bay 38, Denver 21. There it is. Another Super Bowl in the books. At least you didn’t have to watch it By the way, if anybody is look ing for alternative programs on Sunday, come to my room. I’ll have Lord of the Dance cued up on the VCR. Sam McKewon is a sophomore news-editorial and political science major aad a Daily Nebraskan senior reporter. By Shannon Heffelfinger Senior Reporter Running the Nebraska women’s basketball team’s fast-paced offense presented a challenge for Nicole Rubik in the early weeks of November. Last season, Rubik cracked the Comhuskers’ starting lineup as a shoot ing guard and expected more of the same in her second year with the Huskers. But the 5-foot-10 sophomore fell into the point guard role after LaToya Doage completed her eligibility at die end of last season. The position change led to a whirl wind month for Rubik, who often strug gled with the adjustment But two months and 13 games later, Rubik feels she has made the position her own. And her head is no longer spinning. “I’m not nearly as quick or instinc tive as LaToya was,” Kubik said. “But I’m confident now and more comfort able, which lets me bring different things to the table to help my team.” Kubik, who is averaging 14.2 points per game and ranks second on the team with 18 assists this season, hopes to con tinue her improved play at point guard tonight at Baylor (10-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12 Conference). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas, and NU (14-5 and 3-2) enters the game in search of its third consecutive conference win. Nebraska Coach Paul Sanderford expects the Bears to apply a full-court press against the Huskers throughout the game. But Sanderford said Kubik, who has averaged 18.2 points per game in NU’s last three contests, has grown comfort able handling opponent’s pressure. “Nicole doesn’t get enough credit for everything she has done for us this year,” Sanderford said. “People thought we’d be weak there and (they) came out and tried to press us, but she’s done a good job ofhandling it” Handling pressure is nothing new for Kubik, who followed her older sister, VI MB’S A BasKetball w Starters Today, 7:00 p.m. Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas Nebraska 14-5, (3-2) Pose. Name HL Yr. F JamiKubh 5-11 Sr. Baylor 10-5, (3-2) Pose. Name HL Yr. G UToya Ellis 5-5 Jr. NU starting forward Jami Kubik, to Nebraska. The younger Kubik played point guard on three state championship teams at Cambridge High School in central Nebraska. But Kubik has discovered several differences between the two experi ences. “This year my role is to do anything I can to make the team better,” Kubik said. “I think about things more and I try to keep things a little more controlled. My job is to slow people down when things get out of hand.” With those responsibilities also comes an increased leadership role. It’s a role that Kubik has filled well, said senior Anna DeForge - who shares vocal responsibilities with Kubik on die floor “Maybe this isn’t the best position for her to play,"DeForge said, “but this is where she helps the team the most “And it helps me because other teams are starting to key on her a little bit. We both look to each other on die court, communication- and leadership wise.” NU SOPHOMORE NICOLE KUBIK made the transition from shooting guard to point guard earlior this season and has become a Husker leader both on and off the court._ Kubik, while satisfied with her per formance in some respects, said she won’t feel completely content until she cuts down her turnovers. Kubik owns a one-to-one assist-to-tumover ratio. Sanderford said that number will improve with time. “She understands her role and she makes mistakes, but they’re the same mistakes any young point guard makes,” Sanderford said. “I’m just happy I have two-and-a half years left with her because she is going to develop into a very fine player.’ ’ NU looks to end Lone Star woes By Sam McKewon Senior Reporter Men’s ^ Basketball & Starters Today, 8:05 p.m. Frank Erwin Center« Ai ictin Tovac Nebraska Pom. Name 7-9, (1-4) noncon ference schedule, which included losses to No. 5 Arizona and No. 13 Princeton. Please see TEXAS on 8 - Canadian recruit ready to step ahead By Sam McKewon Senior Reporter In order for Nebraska recruit Dahrran Diedrick to participate in spring football, he had to go hungry. Diedrick, a freshman from Scarborough, Ontario, took extra classes at Cedarbrae High School last fall so he could graduate early and enroll at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this semester. “I had a lot of extra work, so I had to skip my lunch period to take a class,” Diedrick said. “I gave lunch up so I could come here as soon as possible.” The move will allow him to take part in winter conditioning and spring practice before his first year of eligibility. lhe6-foot-l, 210-pounder is the first member of NUb 1998 recruit ing class to arrive in Lincoln for classes. High school athletes cannot sign letters of intent until Feb. 4. After rushing for 1,386yards on 145 carries and 14 touchdowns last year in a Canadian summer league, Diedrick was courted by many major college football programs before choosing NU over Michigan in the early fall. Thai came the push to graduate eariy so Diedrick could participate in spring practice and learn the Husker system before next fall. “The coaches at Nebraska wanted to get me in time for the spring,” Diedrick said. “If puts me two steps ahead of all the other fresh men coming in the fall. Thatls where I want to be. ” Diedrick, who rims a 4.48 elec tronic 40-yard dash, said he would like to see playing time eariy in his career. Ahman Green’s departure to the NFL will leave the starting I-back slot open. Also fighting for the posi tion will be sophomores De Angelo Evans, Correll Buckhalter and Dan Alexander. ThereTs a little extra motivation for Diedrick. The first Husker recruit from Canada, Diedrick said he wants to show college football that there are good players from the North. “I am playing for my country down here,” Diedrick said. “Football is football, no natter where you go, and I want people to know there are Please see RECRUTTon 8
