Iowa worse off than Huskers
Brandon Shulte
Two teams, two states and two
directions. The only two things the
Nebraska and Iowa football teams
have in common are suspended
receivers and a matchup on Sept. 4.
When Nebraska takes the field
against Iowa on that date, the
Comhuskers won’t be the only team
with a key loss at the receiver posi
tion.
NU wingback Shevin Wiggins
will not participate in that game or
possibly any other this year: He faces
a criminal charge of sexual assault of
a child.
With the loss of Wiggins,
Nebraska loses the experience of a
five-year player - but more impor
tantly, NU loses the 22 receptions for
326 yards, which both ranked second
on the team last year. He also ranked
No. 2 on the team in both punt and
kick returns.
What on earth will Nebraska do?
Plug someone else in, just as they
have every year. In the spring, NU
coaches thought Wiggins was gone
for good until he received a last
minute sixth year of eligibility.
The three players listed at No. 2
on the depth chart - seniors Sean
Applegate and Frankie London and
junior John Gibson - will be more
than enough to fill Wiggins’ shoes.
And no one can tell me that there
aren’t more than enough athletes to
return kicks until Joe Walker returns
later in the year. The combination of
Keyuo Craver, Mike Demps, DeJuan
Groce and Larry Henderson will get
the job done.
Iowa faces a very similar suspen
sion situation but not such a rosy out
look.
Not only does first-year Coach
^MDS Harris
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Kirk Ferentz take over for a ball club
that was 3-8 last year, he does so
without his top receiver/retum man,
Kahlil Hill.
Hill, son of former NFL receiver
J.D. Hill, was suspended for the entire
1999 season for violating unspecified
team rules.
He shined for the Hawkeyes last
year during his redshirt campaign at
both positions.
Widely considered to be Iowa’s
most exciting returning player, Hill
caught 35 passes for 432 yards and
two scores - all ranking first on the
team.
But he may be missed more on
special teams, where he scored three
touchdowns last fall. Hill ranked No.
18 nationally in kickoffretums with a
25.8-yard average while leading the
Hawkeyes in punt returns with a
17.7- yard average.
wnat win tne nawKeyes ao.'
Probably lose and lose big, but not
just to Nebraska. Iowa’s rushing
game, which ranked fourth from last
nationally last year, probably won’t
pick up the slack.
And with the likes of Bashir
Yamini, Kevin Kasper, Ryan Barton,
Chris Oliver and Tim Dodge waiting
in the wings, strong receiver play
probably isn’t going to turn the
Hawks’ dismal record around, either.
So Nebraska shouldn’t worry
about losing Wiggins. Instead, NU
should be thankful it isn’t in the same
situation as Iowa.
Brandon Schulte is a sopho
more news-editorial major and a
Daily Nebraskan staff writer.
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Steele brings hope,
new attitude to BU
By Jay Saunders
Staff reporter
Editor’s note: This is the first
story of an 11-part series exploring
Nebraska s opposing football teams
in the Big 12 Conference.
There is a new coach and a new
atmosphere this summer in Waco,
Texas.
The big question is: Will it be the
same old Baylor?
Former Nebraska and Carolina
Panthers Assistant Coach Kevin
Steele is the new head man at Baylor,
following the firing of Dave Roberts.
Steele inherits a team that is used
to finishing in the bottom of the Big
12 Conference. In fact, over the last
three years, Baylor has compiled a 3
21 conference record.
But if Steele has his way, things
will be changing - and soon.
“The thought that we don’t have
good enough talent to win at Baylor
is wrong,” Steele said. “We have to
create an environment and teach
them first and foremost not to beat
themselves.”
In 1998, Baylor ranked last in
both total offense and total defense in
the Big 12.
If Steele and the Bears have
something going for them this sea
son, it may be the return of 17 starters
(seven on offense and 10 on defense).
Headlining that pack is a pair of
defensive backs. Junior Gary Baxter
was a second-team All-Big 12 selec
tion last year. Joining Baxter in the
secondary will be senior Rodney
Smith, who led the team in tackles
last season.
But Smith will be making the
move from strong safety to the defen
sive line. Smith said the move doesn’t
bother him, but losing does.
“Losing can make anybody frus
trated,” Smith said. “Hopefully, we
can come out and make some
changes right away.”
On the offensive side of the ball,
the Bears have two quarterbacks with
starting experience. Senior Jermiane
Alfred and junior Odell James will be
competing for playing time.
With no one returning from last
year’s wide receiver corps, however,
Baylor may look to attack on the
ground.
The Bears’ running game ranked
H
Everyone has faith in
Coach Steele. It is
amazing to see the
difference
Joe Jackson
Baylor sophomore
last in the conference last season,
averaging 1 IQ yards per game.
“We have a philosophy,” Steele
said. “That is to physically run the
football.”
In the backfield, fullback Derek
Lagway returns. Lagway was second
on the team in rushing and tied for
first in receptions. Behind Lagway is
last year’s leading rusher, Daryl
Bush.
Though Steele is a first-time
head coach, he is no stranger to run
ning and winning.
He has also surrounded himself
with proven winners on the coaching
staff, including former Nebraska
quarterback Tommie Frazier.
Often, players will say they don’t
prefer one coach over another. That is
not the case at Baylor, where players
have been seemingly open about
their feelings for Steele compared to
Roberts.
“We didn’t necessarily have con
fidence in the coach (last year),”
sophomore Joe Jackson said.
‘Everyone has faith in Coach
Steele.”
“It is amazing to see the differ
ence from last year.”
The jury is still out on the
changes at Baylor, so it may be no
surprise that the media have chosen
the Bears to finish last in the south
division.
The season opener at Boston
College highlights Baylor’s non-con
ference schedule, but the meat of its
schedule will come against the Big
12. Since coming in from the
Southwest Conference, Baylor has
not won more titan one Big 12 game
in a season.
Steele is trying to provide a win
ning attitude in Waco, but road trips
to Texas A&M and Kansas State may
make it difficult for the Bears this
season. •
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