John Gaskins
Husker band
should cater
to students
I was exposed to a whole new
world of college football Saturday
when I attended the Nebraska
California game in Berkeley,
Calif., at Memorial Stadium.
Having never been to another
major college’s home football
game. I was anxious to see how it
was done somewhere other than the
Sea of Red party.
I found at the California home
game a revelation that opened my
eyes about the way a college foot
ball game should entertain students.
The source of this revelation, sadly,
is missing from Nebraska.
A « i i xv: .1 /-i_ j r
i-ii uaiiiiiuw, nit uaiiu idtcd
the student section, making it obvi
ous who the halftime entertainment
is directed at, and plays modern pop
rock songs from bands that are pop
ular with a large portion of college
students today.
And guess what? The students
are on their feet, dancing and
singing and cheering on the band.
It’s a freakin’ party. They’re having
fun at halftime.
What a novel concept! The
entertainment that goes along with
the football game seems to be
reserved for the students.
Compare this to Nebraska foot
ball games.
How about the band at halftime?
Instead of facing the students, it
faces all the crusty alumni in the
West Stadium press box and stands
who have had those seats since the
Taft Administration.
And what songs does the band
play to cater to these fans?
Some show-stopping classics
from “The Wizard of Oz,” Frank
Sinatra tunes and, if anyone is
lucky, something people under the
age of 60 might by some chance
recognize.
Now, I m not bagging on the
band, nor its commitment to tradi
tional songs. I think our band is ter
rific.
But instead of getting the stu
dents to stay standing and jamming,
they’re hitting the nerve buttons of
some guy in a red sports blazer who
turns to his wife in her red Nancy
Reagan dress and says, “Gee,
Phyllis, that takes me back!”
What is this? Last time I
checked, this was a university. Last
time I checked, everything that was
operated at a university, including
football games, should have been
beneficial to the students.
So why are we catering to non
students with the halftime show?
It’s so wrong and stupid it makes me
sick.
The students should be the ones
who get the red carpet at football
games. If we did, we’d be an even
bigger part of the Nebraska home
games than we are now.
John Gaskins is a sophomore
broadcasting major and a Daily
Nebraskan staff writer.
Receivers a mix of humor, talent
By Shannon Heffelfinger
Senior staff writer
Sheldon Jackson and Shevin Wiggins struggled to
describe the unique bond the Nebraska football team’s
receiving corps shares. The seniors are the leaders,
Jackson is the big-play tight end,
Matt Davison is the possession
receiver... and what about senior
wingback Lance Brown?
“We’re not really sure what to
say about Lance Brown,” Jackson
said, shaking his head.
But both Jackson and
Wiggins agreed that this season’s
receivers shares a special chem
Jackson ist[7w , ...
We go together like two
hydrogens and one oxygen,” Jackson said. “Like peas
and carrots, and peanut butter and jelly. It’s the best
thing since sliced bread.”
Wiggins added: “It’s like a sandwich. You just
can’t have it without Miracle Whip.”
r -.~ ~
The receivers spend most of their otf-the-field
time joking around. But in all seriousness, they could
develop into the best corps of receivers in recent mem
ory.
Of the Comhuskers’ primary receivers, five -
Jackson, Wiggins, Kenny Cheatham, Brown and Billy
Haffke - are seniors. Davison, a sophomore, brings
some youth to the group as the No. 1 split end.
“Because they’ve played together for so long and
have matured together, they are very in sync,” NU
Receivers Coach Ron Brown said. “The work ethic
over the last few years has increased dramatically.”
NU’s mix of experience and talent has allowed
Nebraska Coach Frank Solich to balance the offense
in his first season. NU has passed for more than 150
yards in every game this season, and against
California, Nebraska threw the ball 28 times.
Jackson has led the crew with 158 yards receiving
- and a 26.3-yard average - and two touchdowns.
“I think we have the ability to make big plays at all
of the receiving positions this year,” Brown said. “But
there is no doubt that Sheldon is one of the best route
runners in the country.”
Jackson credits the receivers’ sudden jump.
“Number one, the balls are being thrown,” Jackson
said. “They are showing a lot of confidence in us. And
Number two, most of us are seniors, and we are tech
nically a lot better than we were.”
Jackson labeled the receivers’ improvement “a
three-year long process.” As sophomores, he said, the
1998 seniors struggled.
“There was only about a 50-50 chance we’d catch
the ball,” Jackson said.
Things slowly changed in 1997 as Jackson, Brown
and Cheatham gained experience, and the receivers
have come full-circle this year.
Brown doubts this year’s receivers will earn much
praise. Even though NU has taken to the air at times,
he said, the Huskers don’t throw enough to warrant
much recognition for the group. They do the little
things that make it possible to run the ball effectively.
But NU’s receivers don’t have to worry about
attracting attention.
“The chemistry among that group is excellent, but
it has taken awhile,” Brown said. “They are certainly a
unique bunch. When you get Lance Brown, Sheldon
Jackson, and Kenny Cheatham together, it’s like an
exercise in flamboyance.”
- - |
I _ I
Competition fuels Nil’s Monson
By Shannon Heffelfinger
Senior staff writer
Mandy Monson emerged as one
of the Nebraska volleyball team’s
best all-around players last season.
She led the team in digs, she
ranked third among the Huskers in
kills and finished the season with the
fifth-highest hitting percentage.
But Monson’s impressive 1998
contributions haven’t guaranteed her
anything this season.
The junior outside hitter never
allows herself to relax. Monson finds
herself in a three-way battle for play
ing time at the left side with senior
Jaime Krondak and sophomore
Angie Oxley.
So there is always something to
prove and always a way to improve.
“I’m not going to lie to you -
everyone in practice wants to be on
the court,” Monson said. “I do, Jaime
wants to be on the court, and Angie
wants it on the court. And then the
other players competing at other
positions, they’re practicing to be on
the court.
“So it’s very competitive, but in
the same respect, everybody is help
ing each other out. It’s a total team
effort. That’s what you need to be a
great team; you need a total team
effort.”
Nebraska Volleyball Coach Terry
Pettit has enjoyed depth at every posi
tion this season, especially on die left
side. NU’s depth at outside hitter has
allowed Pettit to substitute for match
up reasons instead of necessity.
The situation is a result of an
injury suffered by Krondak halfway
through last season. A back injury
forced the two-year starter to the
sidelines. Pettit brought Oxley out of
a redshirt year 17 matches into the
season, giving her valuable experi
ence for 1998.
Meanwhile Monson, who started
opposite Oxley, quietly put together a
breakthrough season. With Monson
coming back from a sprained knee
and Krondak healthy once again,
Pettit has three reliable threats on the
outside.
“All three are exceptionally
strong, experienced left side players,”
Pettit said. “They are the best three
ball handlers and passers on the
team.”
Monson takes pride in those
aspects of her game. The native of
tiny Wallace led the Huskers with
338 digs, averaging 3.25 per game -
the fourth best single-season average
in school history.
Monson totaled double-digits in
digs 17 times last season and topped
20 twice.
Her success last season surprised
many, but not Monson. The All-Big
12 Conference candidate saw limited
action her freshman season after
arriving at Nebraska from high
school.
But patience and hard work paid
off for last year for Monson, who
wanted to set an example for small
town girls.
“I think it gives them hope,” she
said of her success with the Huskers.
“It shows kids that hard work pays
off. We have three girls from western
Nebraska, and it’s nice that kids can
look up to that.”
Monson hopes to continue her
success this weekend. NU plays host
to No. 10 Florida, No. 15 Loyola
Marymount and Wyoming in the US
Bank Tournament at the NU
Coliseum.
The Huskers’ depth on the left
side could prove a valuable asset
Friday and Saturday. Nebraska plays
three matches in two days.
But Monson thinks the Huskers
are up to the task. Monson has no
doubts about NU’s potential this sea
son, just as she had no doubts about
her own ability three years ago.
“If I ever doubted that, I wouldn’t
be here,” Monson said.