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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 1998)
L1 David Wilson Long balls don’t bring game back My roommate will be the first to tell you Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire brought him back to base ball. As a long-time baseball fan, I couldn’t have been happier. 1 felt a certain closeness to my roommate - like we had finally, truly bonded. Then, I realized something. Wednesday night, while chilling at our sweet pad, Weeks, my room mate, flipped on ESPN to find a matchup between Texas and Anaheim - two teams battling neck and neck for the American League West pennant. “What?” he shrilled. “Where the heck is Sammy ‘Baseball Has Been Very, Very Good To Me' Sosa and Mark McGwire? 1 don’t want to watch this.” Though he might have been kid ding. there was a certain honesty in his voice. Suddenly, I was saddened. Baseball isn't back. My roommate isn’t the only one to proclaim the home run race between Sosa and McGwire - both of whom have surpassed Roger Maris’ single-season record of 61 dingers - has brought fans back to baseball. It may have sparked more inter est in the game, but a McGwire fan, a Sosa fan or a home run fan isn’t nec essarily a baseball fan. li b an hum cinuaiia^ing iu tung time fans of the sport. Hometown crowds are booing their pitchers for pitching around McGwire or Sosa. Those aren't baseball fans. And am I the only one outside of Fargo, N.D.(hometown of Maris), who feels that two players having surpassed 61 long balls cheapens a record that stood for 37 years? Attendance is up ... where Sosa and McGwire play. More people are watching baseball onT.V. ... when Sosa and McGwire play. And lots of folks are generally excited about Sosa and McGwire - not baseball. That’s super. But what about the sacrifice fly? What about the beauty of a smoothly turned double play? What about gomg the other way with a 1-2 fast ball? Do you know what I’m talking about, self-proclaimed born-again baseball fans? I didn’t think so. A broadcasting major, doing some sort of McGwire/Sosa project, came down to the Daily Nebraskan Tuesday and asked, “Do you think we’ll see larger crowds for Nebraska baseball games in the spring?” Not unless they give a scholar ship to Sosa or McGwire. The interest may be back, but it’s for all the wrong reasons. David Wilson is a senior news editorial major and a Daily Nebraskan senior staff writer. Injuries test wills of quarterbacks Crouch, Newcombe and Christo discover success despite setbacks By Christopher Heine Staff writer There's a saying that whatever doesn't kill you can only make you stronger. Despite a rash of injuries, Nebraska has survived three closer than-expected games and, in the process, has found that the team has three talented quarterbacks -- the saying rings true. All three signal-callers - Bobby Newcombe, Eric Crouch and Monte Christo - know what it’s like to be injured. Newcombe, who started the first game of the season, suffered a knee injury against Louisiana Tech in the second half of NU’s 56-27 win. The sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M., said his injury could benefit the team in the long run. “1 think it s good the other guys have done well,” Newcombe said. “The coaches have a lot of confi dence in Eric and Monte.” Crouch is one of the signal callers who recently has earned his stripes. He has started the last two games in Newcombe’s absence. Through those games, he too has experienced injury trouble. He got a cramp in his left leg during the sec ond half of the Alabama Birnungham game. He left the game, and then returned, scoring a 59-yard touchdown. The redshirt freshman then start ed the following California game, producing two first-half touchdown runs. Crouch left the game in the third quarter and acknowledged afterwards that his hamstring was only 75 percent healed entering the contest. NU Quarterbacks Coach Turner Gill said his position players have proved they are physically and men tally tough. “I think all three have risen to the occasion,” he said. “Em very satis fied with the way they've dealt with this season's adversity." Of Nebraska's top three quarter backs. no one has had to overcome the injuries that Christo has amassed in his five years on campus. Jerry Weber, NU's head athletic trainer, said Christo has needed surgery on his back, thumb (twice), knee and shoulder. “He’s gone through about every thing a guy could go through,” Weber said. “It has taken a lot of rehabilitation to get back from those injuries.” Finally, the painful work is begin ning to pay dividends for Christo. Last Saturday against California, the senior from Kearney directed the Husker offense on a critical, nine play, 70-yard fourth-quarter touch down drive. Because of his history of set backs, Christo said, being involved in a close game meant something special. “1 had a lot of emotions after the game,” he said. Newcombe said it hasn’t been easy watching the other two quarter backs while nursing his injury. The former wingback ran for two touch downs and threw for another against Louisiana Tech. “After about the fifth play (of each game) it gets really hard to watch,” he said. “I’ve just been try ing to focus on every play to stay mentally sharp.” Despite the three quarterbacks combining equally to complete an impressive 40 of 62 passes this sea son, Gill said there is not a contro versy if Newcombe is healthy. He will start. “Bobby's the No. 1 guy,” Gill said. “Although they have all played very well." Crouch said even though some NU fans have doubts because of the close games, the Huskers know what the most important score is. “I think the big picture is the fact that we’re 3-0,” he said. % ■■ - Mike Warren/DN SECOND STRING quarterback Eric Crouch has seen two consecutive starts since starting quarterback Bobby Newcombe sustained a knee injury. Crouch and walk-on quarterback Monte Christo both saw extensive playing time against Alabama-Birmingham and California. Comparing Quarterbacks Rushing Stats Passing Stats Att Yds TD Comp/Att Yds. TD Rating Bobby Newcombe 12 12 2 9-10 168 1 264.12 Eric Crouch 24 134 4 18-36 206 1 101.68 Monte Christo 16 43 0 13-16 187 2 220.67 Depth key for NU going into tourney By Shannon Heffelfinger Senior staff writer As his team warmed up for its match with Nebraska at the Ohio State Tournament, OSU Volleyball Coach Jim Stone specu lated on the inten sity of NU’s prac tices. “Before we played, Jim Stone said, ‘Boy, I bet your scrimmages are pretty interest ing,’” Nebraska Volleyball Coach Pettit Terry Pettit said. “And I’m looking down there on the bench and there was (Mandy) Monson, (Jenny) Kropp, (Katie) Jahnke and (Kim) Behrends. Those are pretty nice players to have on the bench.” The No. 3 Comhuskers (6-0) are as deep and talented as they have been in a long time. NU has used its long list of talent to its advantage this season. Nebraska has defeated No. 4 Stanford, No. 21 San Diego and No. 14 OSU. And this weekend, the Huskers hope to benefit from their depth again in US Bank Invitational. They play host to No. 10 Florida (5-1), No. 15 Loyola Marymount (6-0) and Wyoming (4-2). NU begins action Friday at 7:30 p.m. against LMU at the NU Coliseum. This weekend marks the first time this year the Huskers have played three matches in two days, and Pettit expects to play most of his roster. “It’s one thing to have subs,” Pettit said. “It’s quite another thing to have subs (when) you’re playing a really good team - one of the best teams in the country - and you’re happy with putting any of your left-side players in.” The left side is one of NU’s strengths this season. Three players with starting experience - sophomore Angie Oxley, junior Mandy Monson and senior Jaime Krondak - provide valu able ball-handling and defense. The Huskers are also strong in the middle and on the right side where five letterwinners and freshman Jenny Kropp are competing for playing time. The competition leads to intense practices, Monson said. But the Huskers are more concerned with team goals this weekend. “It's a big weekend for us, and we're happy to be back home and to be able to see that sea of red in the stands from our fans,” Monson said. “We did very well on he road, which was exciting, but those nps of three or four days get pretty' long.” Pettit said the Huskers are anxious o play in the Coliseum. “Everybody knows this is a big weekend,” Pettit said. “Our fans know' it. We probably had 100 people travel to San Diego to see us play, and they've undoubtedly interacted with other fans about what this team can do.” US Bank Invitational NU Coliseum Friday - Saturday Nebraska Loyola Marymount Record: 6-0 Record: 6-0 Ranking:3 Ranking:15 A. Florida Wyoming Record: 5-1 Record: 4-2 Ranking:10 Ranking:NR