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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1998)
Shannon Heffe Winger Edwards makes NU into believers You had to wonder what was going through Troy Edwards’ mind last week before the unranked Louisiana Tech football team pre pared for its season-opener against No. 3 Nebraska on Saturday. Actually, forget what was going through his mind. Was there any thing in it? Edwards flapped his mouth and said a few choice comments that offended the Blackshirts on Tuesday. This would not seem like a smart thing to do - especially when you consider that NU’s defense returned 10 starters, including three in the secondary. The best of Edwards’ pre-game thoughts: ncuiasr.a just uoesn i ueienu the pass well,” Edwards told Daily Nebraskan senior staff writer Dave Wilson on Tuesday. “I’ve studied their players ... but I think I’m just a better player than they are.” Naturally, this annoyed the Huskers and provided them with some bulletin board material. Most Husker fans thought Edwards was an idiot. What was he doing? Setting himself up to get pulverized by the Blackshirts? But as it turned out, Edwards knew what he was talking about. The Nebraska secondary couldn’t contain him. They couldn’t even keep up with him. And neither will any other secondary he faces this season. The senior wide receiver burned NU’s defensive backs for an NCAA-record 405 yards receiving on 21 receptions. Both were school records against Nebraska. His 94 yard touchdown marked the first time since 1976 that an opponent has completed a 90-plus yard pass against NU. Edwards taunted the Blackshirts throughout the game, which the Bulldogs lost 56-27. Edwards told reporters after the contest that he couldn’t believe NU used man cov erage against him. “T 4-1__1.4. 4.1__ x luuugin IU wake up after the first half,” Edwards said. Edwards was far from gracious, but it doesn’t really matter when you’re that good. “Good sport” is not a qualification for a Heisman contender. And Edwards proved he is a strong one Saturday. Edwards made first-team All Big 12 comerback Ralph Brown a believer. “In all my days, I have never seen a person do what (Edwards) did to us today,” said Brown. “That is the most impressive performance I have even seen in my life.” Turns out Edwards is a pretty smart guy after all. Heffelfinger is a junior news editorial major and a Daily Nebraska senior staff writer. Gill: If needed, Crouch is ready By David Wilson Senior staff writer Nebraska quarterback Bobby Newcombe suffered a knee injury in the third quarter Saturday that could keep him on the sidelines next week when the Comhuskers play host to Alabama Birmingham. NU Quarter backs Coach Turner Gill said Sunday that Newcombe expe rienced pain after hitting the turf on a pitch play with two minutes, 59 sec onds left in the period. I-back Dan Alexander scored on the play to give the Huskers a 42-21 lead. Despite the pain, Newcombe played the next two series before freshman quarterback Eric Crouch entered the game with 6:38 remain ing. Gill said Crouch would likely have played regardless of Newcombe’s injury. An MRI performed Saturday evening revealed a slight tear in the posterior cruciate ligament in Newcombe’s left knee. Gill said he would probably know more about the seriousness of the injury today. “We’re definitely saddened by it, because he had an excellent ball game,” Gill said. In his first ever start Saturday, Newcombe completed 9 of 10 passes u Its one ballgame, but I’m veryy very happy. I feel that they re going to get better and better each and every week.” Turner Gill NU quarterbacks coach for 168 yards as Nebraska rolled to a 56-27 victory over Louisiana Tech. The sophomore also ran 12 times for 12 yards. Crouch, who played in NU’s final two series, completed 1 of 3 passes for five yards and ran once for six yards. If Newcombe is unable to play Saturday, Gill said he would not be worried about starting Crouch. “I feel very, very comfortable if we have to go with Eric Crouch,” Gill said. “Bobby was our Number One guy, but there’s not much difference in speed, quickness, throwing ability, knowing the offense and all those things. They’re very, very close.” Please see INJURY on 11 Alumni lose 4 out of 5 in exhibition By Andrew Strnad Staff writer The Nebraska volleyball team mixed business with pleasure Saturday night as they took on Comhusker stars of days past in the annual Alumni Match. While everyone involved had a good time, the current NU squad won the match 15-3, 15-1,5-15, 15-8,15-5 in front of an estimated crowd of2,000 at the NU Coliseum. The alumni squad featured some of the Huskers all-time greats like three-time All-American Lisa Reitsma and also included players from Nebraska’s 1986 NCAA Final Four team, including Karen Dahlgren, Tisha Delaney, and Enid Schonweise. A 1 : • • • . ' a ,-k.TTT jwilling nit aiuiiini wtit iwu tuiicm i>u assistant coaches, Cathy Noth and Nikki Best. “It’s always fun to bring back everybody and play this match,” Noth said. “ Plus, it’s good for them to play in a game-like atmosphere before the season.” For the Huskers, every player was in uniform except for senior outside hitter Jaime Krondak. Krondak injured her left foot Aug. 24 during practice, but will participate in a limited practice later today. The game itself saw the Huskers dominate the first two games before a sluggish third game. NU Head Coach Terry Pettit said he was fairly pleased with the first two games, but was disappoint ed with what he saw in the final three games. “I wasn’t real pleased with our ball handling, and I wasn’t really happy with our communication,” Pettit said. Senior middle blocker Megan Korver said it appeared the team may have lost focus after the sec ond game. “I think mentally we let up,” Korver said. “We need to have that determination, where right from the beginning to the end we hit it hard.” The Huskers did hit it hard in those first two games as they raced out to big leads before the alum ni could even get warmed up. The quickness gap between the Huskers and alumni was quite apparent in those first two games, but didn’t make much difference in the third game as Noth and the alumni got hot. “When I play against them I know their strengths and weaknesses,” Noth said. “We started to serve the ball and they were a little disoiganized.” With four matches in the next week, it’s impor tant the Huskers get oiganized, as a trip to San Diego and a match with No. 4 Stanford are slated for next weekend. “Four games in a week is a lot, but it’s good to play them now instead of two months down the line.” Pettit said. Before NU travels to the West Coast, the fifth ranked Huskers will play host to Creighton on Sandy Summers/DN KIM BEHRENDS, a UNL sophomore, gets under the ball during their match against UNL alumni vol leyball players Saturday night. ’86 squad started Huskers’ dynasty By James Nicas Staff writer Every great team always has a defining year that begins a tradition. It took Bob Devaney nine years to help Nebraska win a national championship in 1970. Michael Jordan needed seven seasons to reach the NBA finals in 1991. The 1986 Nebraska vol leyball team also can be remembered as a team that started a tradition. Saturday evening, the 1986 team was saluted for its season as the former Comhusker players faced the current Nebraska team in an exhibition at the tt Nebraska volleyball has always been great. We were just the first team to break the barrier.” Tisha Delaney NU setter (’86) NU Coliseum. After reaching the NCAA tournament the previous four years, the 1986 Huskers reached the NCAA finals, cementing the Huskers’ posi tion in the national spotlight. Please see ALUMNI on 11 i