Newcombe to return punts for NU
■ Lacking experience,
Huskers look to quarterback
to help out on special teams.
By Matthew Hansen
Staff writer
With the injury to Joe Walker and
the indefinite suspension of Shevin
Wiggins - Nebraska’s top two return
men - it appeared the Cornhuskers
would begin the season lacking a
punt- or kick-returner with game
experience.
Help will come, however, in the
unexpected figure of quarterback
Bobby Newcombe, who said Tuesday
he will also see time returning punts
this fall.
“I plan on being back there for at
least two or mree
punts per game,”
Newcombe said,
“and I’ll stay
back there as
long as the
coaches let me.”
The plan to
place New
comhe at mint
Newcombs returner was
hatched by NU
Secondary Coach George
Darlington, who also coaches the
punt teams. The quarterback agreed
and got the OK from Coach Frank
Solich several weeks ago - before die
suspension of Wiggins last Friday.
Wiggins ranked No. 2 on die team in
kick and punt returns last season.
Newcombe last returned punts as
a freshman during the 1997 season,
averaging a team-high 20.3 yards per
return.
“I loved returning punts in ’97,”
Newcombe said. “I’m excited about
getting back there again this year.”
Newcombe, who missed much of
last season and all of spring practice
with a knee injury, expressed no con
cerns about the unique combination
of quarterback and punt returner - or
the risk of injury.
“I’m not worried about an injury
at all,” Newcombe said. “All I am
doing is looking forward to the
opportunity to help the team win. It
looked like the team needed help at
punt returner, so I’m ready to go.”
Darlington said he is happy to
have Newcombe perform double
duty.
“Bobby is going to help us out in
terms of experience,” Darlington
said. “The other guys are doing well
in practice, but they have yet to see a
true game situation.”
In addition to Newcombe, sopho
more Keyou Craver and redshirt
freshman Dejuan Groce are also
expected to return punts. Walker, who
led the Huskers in punt returns last
season, is expected back from a knee
injury by midseason.
At kick returner, the current depth
chart lists Craver and redshirt fresh
man Randy Stella as the starters and
Groce and senior Larry Henderson as
the backups.
Despite the fact that none has any
college experience at the position,
Kick Returns Coach Dan Young isn’t
concerned.
“It hurts to lose two starters in
Walker and Wiggins, but our young
guys have the speed and instincts nec
essary to do well,” Young said. “I feel
that kick returner is a position where
you either have it or you don’t, so to
me experience isn’t a big factor.”
Rose not
concerned
with poll
By John Gaskins
Staff writer
Don’t remind Penn State Coach Russ Rose
that the Nittany Lions are the preseason
No. 1-ranked team in die nation.
For one thing, the 21-year veteran - who
guided his team to a 35-1 record and the
national championship game last year - does
n’t care. To him, preseason polls don’t tell him
a thing about how his team will actually per
form on the court.
For another thing, he doesn’t believe his
Nittany Lions have No. 1 caliber yet as they
prepare to take on No. 8 Florida in Friday’s
opening match of the State Farm Volleyball
Classic at the Nebraska Coliseum.
“I’m not going to blow smoke,” Rose said.
“I’m not going to be some great optimist. This
is far from the best preseason we’ve had. I
don’t think we’re prepared for the level of play
we’re about to face this weekend.”
But every team in the four-team pre-con
ference-season tournament will have to be pre
pared for that level. All four teams - PSU, No.
3 Nebraska, No. 6 Pacific and Florida - will
face top-10 competition to open their 1999
campaigns.
The Lions and Gators will face off in
Friday’s first match at 5 p.m., followed by
Nebraska vs. Pacific at 7. The two winners will
advance to Saturday’s 7 p.m. championship
game.
Rose said despite the return of three of the
nation’s top players in seniors setter Bonnie
Bremner, middle hitter Lauren Cacciamani
and outside hitter Carrie Schonveld, he’s con
cerned about filling the four other positions
that were left vacant around them. The three
are PSU’s only returning starters.
“We have a lot of inexperience on our
team,” Rose said. “It will be tough to pull
everything together in time for the tournament.
There’s a strong possibility we’ll put together a
good team this year, but I don’t see any visions
of that happening in August.”
Please see ROSE on 10
NU comerbacks amiably vie for starting left-side position
By Brandon Schuue
Staff writer
Whether it be in the classroom, just hanging
out or helping the Nebraska football team to
improve on a 9-4 record, Hoe NU comerbacks sub
scribe to the all-for-ooe and one-for-aH philosophy.
All-American candidate Ralph Brown anchors
the right-side spot, while three others vie for the
starting left-side position.
Ciarinov
But of the players bat
tling for the open slot - red
shirt freshman DeJuan
Groce, sophomore Keyou
Craver and junior Erwin
Swiney-none considers it a
competition.
“We are all real good
friends on or off of the field,”
Craver said. “Therefc no ani
mosity, we just keep every
thing real cool and in perspective, we re all work
ing for the same goal.”
The goal: Make Nebraska a championship
caliber team.
All three bring different strengths, but when
asked about the weaknesses of his teammates,
Brown refused.
“I don’t throw out weaknesses of my tram
mates,” Brown said. Instead, he pointed out posi
tives of each.
“Keyou is the most aggressive of the three.
tie s so athletic that his abilities stand out more
than most people he covers.
“Swiney has die height that all of us comers
want to guard those taller receivers.
“DeJuan, he just has raw speed He^s very fast
nut there. The way he plays, he looks lazy, bulbed
>o fast he can make up ground.”
Groce has yet to step foot onto the field, though
lie did suit up three times last year in case of an
Please see CORNERBACK on 10
