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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1998)
Gillespie grows By James Nicas Staff Reporter When looking for a new running backs coach, Nebraska Head Football Coach Frank Solich looked to an old familiar face. Dave Gillespie, a Cornhusker running back from 1974 to 1976, was hired for the position earlier this year. Gillespie also was Nebraska’s recruit ing coordinator from 1986 to 1993. The familiarity with the Husker system made the choice of Gillespie a natural fit for Solich. “I knew Dave would relate well with the players,” said Solich, who served as the running backs coach under former coach Tom Osborne. “He’s got a tremendous worth ethic, and he would do what it takes and contribute in a lot of ways.” So far, Gillespie’s performance has not disappointed Solich. Gillespie said that having the former running backs coach as head coach has been beneficial to both. “(Solich) has given me help and the flexibility to try different things,” Gillespie said. “But certainly in no way do I feel I am ready just take it all over.” Conflict often can arise when a new coach takes over a position while the old coach is still on staff. However, the potential uncomfort able feeling between Solich and Gillespie has been a very smooth transition. “It’s different having the person there who looks over my shoulder,” Gillespie said. “But he has been there to support and guide me, and I’ve appreciated his input.” Although Gillespie has never coached running backs, the players have been very pleased with their new positions coach, NU I-back Dan Alexander said. “He has done a real good job jumping in and knowing the players and material,” Alexander said. “Having been here before has helped him do a great job teaching us.” Between coaching stints at Nebraska, Gillespie was a tight end and defensive backs coach at Kansas. As a former Kansas assistant, Gillespie said it was often difficult when facing his alma mater. “I didn’t feel very good usually. It was an unusual experience being on the opposite sideline,” Gillespie said. “But you have to put the emotion out of the game because you have a job to do and you have to focus on that.” Alexander said Gillespie’s service as a defensive back coach may help in coaching the running backs. “Having knowledge of the defen sive side of the ball has helped us in teaching us what path in a hole to take,” Alexander said. The players, Alexander said, have not noticed any major changes. Alexander said Nebraska could not have chosen a better man for the job. “I don’t think it has really affected the backs,” Alexander said. “Coach Gillespie knows how the system works, and he has fit in very well.” Transfer opens spot for recruit From Staff Reports Nebraska freshman guard Rodney Williams plans to transfer to another school for the 1998-99 season, NU Coach Danny Nee said. The loss of Williams, who saw 39 minutes of action last season, made room for the Cornhuskers’ second signee of the spring period, point guard Joe Holmes, from Tyler (Texas) Junior College. , “In talking with Rodney, he felt that it was in his best interest to continue his basketball career at a c s will have a better chance of getting mbre time on the court at a smaller school.” Tyler Coach Kyle Kellar told the Daily Nebraskan Sunday that Holmes made a verbal commitment to Husker coaches last week. Holmes and Rodney Fields, a guard who signed with NU last fall, were teammates at Tyler. Holmes, originally from Seat Pleasant, Md., averaged 10.4 points and 8.1 assists last season. Nee said the addition of Holmes will help fill the hole at point guard left open by Tyronn Lue, who announced he will forgo his senior season to enter the NBA draft. “Joe Holmes is a player we think can help fill that loss imme diately,” Nee said. “Joe has excel lent quickness and is the type of guard who will distribute the ball to the ngbtpeeple. “We think that bringing in two quality guards who were junior col lege teammates should make for nice chemistry in our backcourt.” Luis Truscott, a high school for ward from Houston, also signed a letter of intent with Nebraska this spring. Return team’s goal to put points right back on board By Sam McKewon Senior Reporter If the Nebraska defense does its job, sophomore defensive back Joe Walker won’t have a real busy sea son returning kickoffs. But just in case the defense Slips up, Walker said, he and the rest of the kick off return team have a simple DariiagtM We want to put the score right back on die board that we just lost,” said Walker, who led NU with 389 kickoff return yards last season. “That’s not going to happen every time, obviously, but that’s the goal.” Little has been said this spring about the return teams, both kickoff and punt, but die Cornhuskers look to be solid at both positions. With the exception of Brandon Harrison, Nebraska brings back its top three returners at both positions. George Darlington, who coaches the punt return team, said Nebraska could be looking at a season where big plays abound in the return game, especially if Nebraska can’t rid itself of fumbles on the punt returns. “We dropped a few balls, or we probably would have led the nation in total yardage on punt returns,” Darlington said. “But we’ve been I E3 consistent in not dropping the ball this spring.” On kickoff returns, Walker is joined by senior wingback Shevin Wiggins, who led the team with 27 yards per return last season. Wiggins also handles some of the duties on punt returns, where the Huskers use a three-man return sys tem rather than just one. Last sea son, NU averaged 11.8 yards per punt return on 51 attempts. One addition that could help bol ster the punt return game is sopho more quarterback Bobby Newcombe. Newcombe led the team with a 20.3 average on punt returns, an average that would have led the nation if he had more returns. While Darlington said he does n’t care if Newcombe wins the quar terback job or not, he said Newcombe is a dangerous threat returning kicks. “It’s selfish to say you want him back, but he is a good returner,” Darlington said. “Still, if we don’t get him we’ve got lots of guys who can make big plays.” Walker said losing Newcombe to a quarterback job is not going to take too much away from the exist ing returners. “Nothing is promised to you,” Walker said. “If we don’t get him back we just have to generate those big plays ourselves.” David Murray, a 6-foot-9, 215 pound forward from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College signed a letter of intent last fall, along with Fields. Note: Nebraska point guard Tyronn Lue has been named the winner of the 1998 Jack Moore Award, given annually to the most valuable play er on the Nebraska basketball team. Lue also earned the honor as a sophomore last season. The 6-foot, 175-pounder helped the Cornhuskers to their first four seasons and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. Lue led NU, averaging 21.2 points per game, along with 4.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds. The Mexico, Mo., native finished as the school’s seventh-leading scorer with 1,577 points. I Career in a Year Meet New & Interesting People • Men’s Women’s Hair hi'i • f- • 38 years of Quality • Job Placement Service • Near UNL Campus Call for Free Brochure