The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, November 11, 1998, Page 11, Image 11
Newcombe has no plans of transferring By Sam McKewon Senior editor Surrounded by 10 tape recorders, a horde of cameras and a number of inquiring minds that wanted to know, Nebraska quarter back Bobby Newcombe returned Tuesday to the Nebraska media to set the record straight. No, he doesn’t plan to transfer. Yes, his knee will be rehabilitated over the next four to six weeks. And yes, the airport lost his lug gage when he returned to Lincoln from a week-long stay in Albuquerque, N.M. Just another strange occurrence for Newcombe in a season of strange occurrences. But Newcombe did say the week spent at home in Albuquerque with his father, Robert, was a welcome departure from an injury-plagued season . “I feel pretty good mentally,” Newcombe said. “I went home and hung out with my dad. I got to visit with my mom for a couple of hours, and it kind of boosted my spir its.” The question regarding Newcombe’s mental state was the first and last personal question asked of the sophomore. What about the knee? “You want to know what I’m to do next, huh?” Newcombe said. “I’ll have four to six weeks of rehab and try and strengthen my leg up and my quadricep and try and compensate for the missing PCL in my leg.” That PCL is the posterior cruci ate ligament in Newcombe’s left knee. Once thought partially torn after the Louisiana Tech game, doc tors in Albuquerque revealed it to be completely torn. Doctors at Nebraska said they knew that almost a month ago. NU Coach Frank Solich said Tuesday that Newcombe would not be available for Saturday’s game against Kansas State. Eric Crouch will get the start, while Monte Christo will be the backup. A four- to six-week rehabilita tion period would put Newcombe on track to possibly play in NU’s bowl game - wherever and whenever that might be. If the knee does not respond, surgery would then be a strong possibility. Solich said he would not set any thing in stone concerning Newcombe’s status, other than to say it would continue to be moni tored. “I have not been in contact with the doctors in New Mexico,” Solich said. “If our doctors haven’t already been in contact with them, they will be soon.” Newcombe also addressed the comment he made to the Albuquerque Journal Nov. 4 about transferring from NU. Newcombe told the Journal he would “keep his options open” concerning his future in college football. Newcombe said he’s not going anywhere. “I don’t plan on transferring,” he said. “I like the Nebraska coaches, the players and everybody around me. When I answered that question, 1 meant that you really never know what’s going to happen on the field or even off the field.” Newcombe also told the Journal he received “hate mail” from fans and said that some of his NU team mates were not supportive of him and had accused him of “goldbrick ing it” after his injury Tuesday, Newcombe said it’s to be expected and that the number of fans and players he was speaking about was a small one. “Ninety-eight percent of the team supports me now and has sup Please see NEWCOMBE on 14 SENIOR JAIME KRONDAK celebrates after a point. The NU senior likes to be different, and that sometimes includes dancing before games. “I want to be remembered as a spunky chick,” she said. Flair helps Krondak through injury By Andrew Strnad Staff writer The odds of being held hostage are approxi mately 5 million to one. That s probably a relief to those who like to live their lives without any surprises. NU volleyball player Jaime Krondak, on the other hand likes to be that one out of 5 million. And she was. Not that the Nebraska outside hitter wanted to be a hostage. It’s just her ultimate desire in life has been to stand apart from the pack. ”1 don’t like boring,” Krondak said. “I need to be different and stand out on my own.” She certainly stood apart in the seventh grade when her mother asked her to go to a Lincoln Jack and Jill grocery store to pick up a bag of potato chips. Like she had done many times before, Krondak rode her bike to the nearby Jack and Jill. The trip didn’t go as planned. ‘I was walking down the aisle, and a guy just yells, ’Hold it!' and I turn around, and this guy has a knife at this other guy’s throat.” Krondak spent the next 20 minutes on the floor with a T-shirt in her mouth as she watched the situation unfold. A crowd gathered outside while the scene _ msiae piayea itseii out. in tne end, nobody got hurt, and the robbers were arrested. Being a hostage, while it isn’t necessarily desirable, is a symbol of what separates the 6 foot senior from everybody else. “That’s something that doesn’t happen to a lot of people, thankfully,” Krondak said. “And it’s an experience that just can’t be shared very easily.” Some things that are easily explained but hardly understood are certain hairstyles, particu larly ones without hair. That’s precisely the look Krondak was look ing for when she thought about shaving her head. “A while ago I really wanted to do that,” Krondak said. “I just don’t like that raging hair that is all over the place. “But I’ve seen some girls with their heads shaved lately, so I think I'll just keep it short.” With her hair short, but not shaved, Krondak also brings her eccentricities to the Comhusker volleyball team. Senior middle blocker Megan Korver can think of several instances where Krondak has provided a plethora of laughs to the team. “Jaime is a dancer, and last year before the Long Beach State match in the regionals, she just went loose everywhere,” Korver said. “She’s never afraid to let loose, which really helps us relax before a match.” For much of last season, Krondak couldn't dance, as she was bothered by a back injury and was forced to miss 10 matches. But that didn't stop her from having an effect on the team. In a match, against Texas A&M last season, Krondak, not in uniform, gave her teammates a pep talk. “It was a pump-up session,” Korver said. “She made a fool of herself at first, but it got us going.” NU won the match and ended its longest los ing streak (three matches) in 20 years. This year, Krondak is free of her back pain and is putting together an All Big 12-type sea son. From the left-side position, .Krondak is hit ting .317 and leads the team in service aces with 22. Although the Huskers have great depth, Coach Terry Pettit said Krondak is quietly hav ing a very good year. “Fd be surprised if there were half a dozen ranked teams in the country with a left-side play er hittmg over .300,” Pettit said. In addition to becoming a national champion for the second time (the first was in 1995. when Krondak was a freshman), Krondak would like to see herself on the all-conference team. “I was a first-team All American in high Please see KRONDAK on 13 THEBflME NlPs Solich: Rush attack must click vs. Wildcats By Adam Klinker Staff writer When two oi'the nation’s top football teams get together, the old adage says something's got to give. However, for No. 11 Nebraska, the hope is that the Cornhuskers will be abie to get a little something more from No. 2 Kansas State - name ly something in the way of gaming ground with the run. But rushing yardage has been hard to find around KSU lately. The Wildcat defense, ranked second in the nation in total defense, has allowed its opposition an average of just 72 yards on the ground. “They’re real mobile,” said Husker center Josh Heskew of the KSU defensive line. “They have great execution on defense, they play then holes real well, and they just have a good, keen sense for the ball.” Heskew and the rest of the NU offensive line will have the duty of fighting off the Wildcat defensive line for the supremacy of the line of scrimmage Saturday. Anchored by defensive end Darren Howard (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) and defensive tackle Damion McIntosh (6-4, 290), the KSU defensive line has shut down every team’s rushing exploits and held Texas running back and national rushing leader Ricky Williams to 43 yards on 25 carries. The Wildcats have allowed just one rushing touchdown all season - by Northern Illinois in Please see OFFENSE on 13 Statistical Showdown in Manhattan Here’s a breakdown of how Nebraska and Kansas State match up in the nation’s statistics: Category National ranking NU KSU Rushing offense 3(270.2) 10(229.2) Rushing defense 16(108.4) 2(72.0) Passing offense 96 (131.2) 24 (248.8) Passing eff. def. 20(104.8) 3(86.4) Total offense 34 (401.4) 10 (478.6) Total defense 17(300.6) 2(219.7) Scoring offense 20 (33.7) 1 (52.4) Scoring defense 7(12.9) 7(7.7) Totals 223 53 Jon Frank/DN