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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1998)
Big 12 is right match for new assistant ByMkeKluck Staff Reporter Rob Childress had many reasons to not accept the Nebraska assistant base ball coaching position. Childress spent the last three seasons at Northwestern State (La.) and had the opportunity to become the head coach when Dave Van Horn left Nachitoches, La., Childress to fill the Comhuskers’ head coaching position last month. Childress had every reason to stay. He wanted to be^ Division I head coach, he enjoyed the relationships he built at Northwestern and he had a 9 month-old daughter he didn’t want to have to move. But the opportunity to coach in the Big 12 Conference and still work with Van Horn led Childress to leave Northwestern and take the assistant coaching position at Nebraska, where he is in charge of the pitchers. “I’m just really excited to be here,” Childress said. “Leaving Northwestern was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. We built a lot of friendships there, but we are working on doing die same things here. “I still feel that I can be a head coach in five to eight years.” One person who was extremely happy to see Childress move to Nebraska was Van Horn. When Van Horn was hired as Nebraska’s new head coach, he said one of the first things he wanted to do was « He’s brought a more confident attitude ...to the game.” Matthew Schuldt senior pitcher hire Childress as his pitching coach. “Rob makes my job a lot easier,” Van Horn said. “I didn’t have to try and bring somebody in here and show him how to do things. Rob already knows what I want. “We know each other. I know what to expect out of him and vice versa.” Childress has already started to develop the stability of NU’s pitching staff. But one of the flings the staff needs, Childress said, is more structure. He said he wants the pitchers to know their roles on the team. “I want them to know who the starters are, who the middle relievers are and who the closers are,” Childress said Nebraska senior Matthew Schuldt, who pitched last year for Baylor and only has one year of eligibility remaining, said the players appreciate knowing their roles on the team early in the season. “Coach Childress has really tried to instill his competitiveness and aggres siveness in us,” Schuldt said. “He’s brought a more confident attitude and a good approach to the game.” Childress said he has been pleased with the work ethic the Huskers have shown through the first three weeks of. practice. “They have done everything I have asked,” Childress said. “There’s not one guy out there that I’m raising my eye brows at” Although Childress said he is enjoy ing settling in as a Husker and is anx iously awaiting the season opener on Feb. 15 against Minnesota at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, he still thinks about die Northwestern kids. Especially on Tuesday night when the Trojans opened their season against McNeese State. “I know I’ll be calling first thing (Wednesday) morning to see how they did,” Childress said. Game critical for NU’s NCAA quest QUEST from page 9 “When he doesn’t play well, it has a negative effect,” Nee said. “I think he is like a motor boat, and he causes a wake or ripple in our locker room. Our team feeds off Tyronn.” Lue’s ability to slow the game down and the team’s offensive patience will be keys to winning on the road, Nee said. “When we look at the road win in Oklahoma State, the key thing was our patience,” Nee said. “We really slowed the ball down. I think we have to t£e that mentality. We have do some things to shorten the game.” NU needs to shorten the game to keep up with the Missouri Coach Norm Stewart’s deep bench, Nee said. “He can play a big lineup; he can play a small lineup,” Nee said. “He can play a fast lineup, and he can play a big, slow lineup. But he can only play five at a time.” Whatever lineup Stewart decides to use, odds are the final score will be close. In the last five meetings in Missouri, the games have been decid ed by a total of eight points. Last year in Columbia, the Tigers won 75-74 after guard Cookie Belcher missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw with three seconds left. Belcher, who along with Lue is from Missouri, said he has thought about that miss a lot and would like a chance to redeem himself. However, he hopes this game won’t come down to a last-second free throw. The close games and two Missouri natives in the Husker lineup have added to the rivalry between the two Men’s BasteM Starters Today, 7:05 p.m. Hearns Center in Columbia, Mo. Nebraska 13-8 (44) Pot. Name HL Yr. Q ■ lyreonlot ■ -f" 40 Jr. G Cookie Belcher 6-3 So. C \fcnson Hamilton MO Jt F Andy Markowski 6-8 Jr. F tarry Flomriceei^vk Missouri 12-9 (44) Pot. Name HL Yr. G Jeff Hater 68 So. G Brian Giawes 6-0 R. C. Morte Hodge 6-11 Jr. F John Woods 6-3 Jr. F KeSyltemee 66 Sr. teams in recent years. But Nee said a rivalry has existed between Missouri and Nebraska bas ketball teams for many years. However, this year Nee is afraid foot ball will be brought into the mixture. “I think a lot of (the rivalry) revolves around that they lose in foot ball so they are mad at us,” Nee joked., “I can see the crowd now. I am going to take all the punishment that Tom (Osborne) dealt out. Davison’s great catch is going to be thrown on me and our team (tonight). “We don’t have a play where Lue kicks the ball in the hoop, but maybe we will get a Cinderella play and win.” Kecruits sign letters today RECRUITS from page 9 I’d say he’s going to Nebraska,” Randall said. “But he probably won’t make a decision until he’s got the two papers right in front of him.” A 6-foot, 181-pounder, Harmon played five different positions for his high school team, amassing more than 1,500 total yards on offense and 20 touchdowns. Harmon was an all-state selection and ran a 4.55-second hand held 40-yard dash. Harmon, who was also recruited by Michigan and Tennessee, said he was originally headed to Texas before Coach John Mackovic was fired. The Longhorns lost contact with him in the coaching switch. “I wanted to go there,” Harmon said “But they never talked to me again after Mackovic got fired” Another possible recruit has appar ently decided to take his playing abili ties elsewhere. Defensive tackle Tony Benford, from Denver, chose Florida State over Nebraska Tuesday, Thomas Jefferson High School Athletic Director ; ; ~ ’ — / Len Ashford said. Thomas Jefferson Coach Tim Cross said Benford pondered for several days before making a decision. “He couldn’t have gone wrong with either school,” Cross said. “Both have great programs and tradition.” Two other highly touted athletes who were recruited by Nebraska will also make their collegiate decision offi cial today. Larry Foote, a defensive back from Detroit, will choose today between Michigan and Nebraska. Detroit News prep writer Tran Markowski said Foote had probably already made a decision on what school he would attend but will wait until today to tell die media. Jason Thomas, a quarterback from Compton, Calif., will make a choice between the Huskers and Southern California today. Thomas, who was rated the No. 2 run/pass quarterback by the National Recruiting Advisor, originally gave his verbal commitment to USC in the fall but has since taken a visit to NU Jan. 16. NU ready for Tiger challenge MIZZOU from page 9 hate,” Sanderford said. “They are very much a defensive basketball team. They keep the score down in the 50s fairly well.” But Sanderford said he liked NU’s chances against Missouri. The Huskers are currently riding a 12-game home court winning streak - the B^longest in the nation. And Missouri has not beaten the Huskers in seven years. As Nebraska enters what Sanderford calls the most important stretch df the season, he Said he felt encouraged by small things he sees happening on die court The Huskers have proven within the past month they are able to handle full-court pressure, which was the favorite strategy of most teams when facing the Huskers. NU’s post players have also played well lately, Sanderford said. He said he has been particularly pleased with 6-2 center Charlie Rogers and 6-3 center Emily Thompson. Both have earned spots in the starting lineup the last two games. “After the loss to Baylor, we came back refocused and motivated as far as our goals,” Thompson said. “We think we have what we wanted to accomplish for the season back.” The current lineup, Sanderford said has developed a good chemistry on the court ‘We need to continue to work to get better,” Sanderford said. “We have to believe in what we’re trying to get done. I took this job seven days a week, and I’m happy. 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