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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1999)
Loftin’s behavior unusual, says Iowa vice president DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - All agreed that the extortion and theft charges against former Iowa football player Ryan Loftin were unfortunate -but no one could explain why he put himself in that situation. * The charges came two weeks after Loftin quit the team and then had his scholarship revoked by first-year Coach Kirk Ferentz. Loftin is accused of threatening to expose NCAA rules violations in the Iowa program and provide informa tion on the team to opponents - including Nebraska - if he didn’t get his scholarship back “It’s reasonable to expect that some people recruited under one coaching philosophy aren’t going to want to continue under something different,” said Ann Rhodes, Iowa’s vice president for university relations. “But usually people just leave the team. They don’t engage in this kind ofbehavior.” Loftin faces a charge of extortion, a felony that carries a maximum sen tence of five years in prison and a $7,500 fine, and fifth-degree theft, a misdemeanor. According to charges filed by the Johnson County attorney’s office, Ferentz received a letter signed by Loftin threatening to expose NCAA rules violations and share information about the team to opponents if his scholarship was not restored. The letter also said other disgrun tled former players would be enlisted to generate negative publicity about Ferentz and the football program. The theft charge alleges Loftin took notebooks belonging to the ath letic department. It is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $ 100 fine. EXCELLENT PART-TIME OPPORTUNITY Earn extra money! Learn new skills! Make new friends! You can do these things and more by becoming a member of the MDS Harris team. 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Hours vary, approximately 20 hrs/wk, weekend availability preferred. ^ADS Harris Science Advancing Health Human Resources, J-SPR 621 Rose Street Lincoln, NE 68502 AA/EOE Labor Day Weekend Jan Sunday, September 5,1999 6:00 p.m. zoot suit review ; high energy jump swing a 1 • • ' .’*<»>■ . > asian R&B group • B.E.T • ~ * • r a a a _ various vibes reggae rap The Shadow 1516 Jones St. ^Old Market Omaha portion of proceeds go to benefit m.m.m.b.c. A Star Jamm Event I tigers lean on defense By Samuel McKewon Senior staff writer Editor’s note: This is the seventh story in an 11-part series exploring Nebraska s opposing football teams in irie Conference. There aren’t too many souls in Kansas City, St.-Louis or any where else in the Show-Me state p that expect the rQSey University of Missouri football team to replace the 3,438 total yards Corby Jones and Devin West took with them after grad uation. So to nab their third straight win ning season and bowl invitation, the Tigers may have to rely on an unlikely group of players - the defense. While much of the preseason focus in Columbia, Mo., has been on replacing the aforementioned quarter back-tailback combo, it will be the Mizzou defenders who’ll likely deter mine the fate of the team - especially early. And the defense knows it. “Our offense is young and talent ed, but they need time,” said senior cornerback Carlos Posey. “As a defense, we have to do what we’ve been doing to get the offense fired up.” Last season, the Tigers gave up an average of only 18.6 points per game, good for 22nd in the nation. MU got •the same ranking for total yards allowed per game (313.3). More importantly, the defense made big plays; it had five touchdowns of its « We ’ll lean on the defense; we ’ll depend on them. The mentality is they will set up the offense, keep the offense going.” Larry Smith Missouri head coach own in 1998. There are some holes to plug, especially in the secondary, but even Coach Larry Smith sees no other avenue of leadership. “We’ll lean on the defense; we’ll depend on them,” Smith said. “The mentality is they will set up the offense, keep the offense going.” The offense may build itself around All-American center Rob Riti as neither Jim Dougherty nor Kirk Farmer has established himself as the starter at quarterback, and the tailback position will likely be done by com mittee. The receiving corps is relatively deep but suffered a serious loss when starter John Dausman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Aug. 16. Either way, somebody has to get those receivers the ball. Smith said he guesses he’ll play both quarterbacks in early contests - maybe name a permanent starter, maybe not. If that fails, true freshman Darius Outlaw might get a shot. Whoever the signal-caller is, Missouri will likely throw more this season without a solid option tandem. The quarterback situation, Smith said, reflects a larger problem with the 1999 team: inexperience. “I’d say that this is the most talent ed, least experienced team we’ve had in three or four years,” Smith said. “Of the top 44 players, 22 are redshirt freshmen or sophomores.” One sophomore Smith doesn’t have to worry about is defensive end Justin Smith, who had 86 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in his freshman season. He’ll likely be an All-America candidate this year - and he’s just get ting warmed up, Larry Smith said. “Justin’s just scratched the sur face,” he said. “He’s starting to use his head and not just rely on his ability.” Despite the inexperience and a kicking game that lacks a named start ing kicker or punter, Smith talked optimistically about his squad. In his five-year tenure, he said, MU has garnered credibility in the state and has started to keep the best talent in recruiting season. Posey, Riti and Smith boast about depth in the future. There seems to be a rejuvenat ed attitude among the ranks. The Missouri media guide pro claims, “It’s a great time to be a Tiger!” and despite all the losses on offense, Riti still thinks the team can pull out a winning season. “We’re used to winning,” Riti said. “Winning becomes perpetual, win ning becomes easier. We have the desire to get there again.” NU looks to start new streak By Brandon Schulte Staffwriter Nebraska Coach Terry Pettit said there’s no question the Cornhusker volleyball team would rather be prac ticing today. But sandwiched in between the State Farm Classic and the Florida SunTrust tournament for NU is a home match tonight against Drake at 7 p.m. in the Coliseum. Looking to rebound from its first ever 0-2 start, Nebraska will attempt to start a new home winning streak after having its 65-game winning streak broken in the building last weekend. NU doesn’t appear worried about a third straight loss to start the season. “I know nothing about Drake except that their setter is Heather Harr (graduate of Lincoln Southeast),” NU 66 I know nothing about Drake... our match focus is going to be on Nebraska.” 5 Terry Pettit NU volleyball coach Coach Terry Pettit said. “Our match focus is going to be on Nebraska.” The Huskers will focus on their complicated 6-2 attack that they used last weekend to take advantage of the squad’s depth. f Freshman setter Lindsay Wischmeier, perhaps the least-herald ed member of NU’s recruiting class, will play a big role in the Huskers’ success this year. She had 61 assists in the State Farm Classic - with many of them being to All-American Nancy Meendering, who pounded out 54 kills in the two games. Coming off a 13-14 season, Drake (0-0) will counter with Harr and middle blocker Kim Bahr. Bahr led the Bulldogs with 3.77 kills-per-game last year. After facing two top-eight teams, Wischmeier isn’t overly concerned with Drake - or anyone else for that matter. “If I can survive Penn State and Pacific in my first two games,” Wischmeier said. “From here on out, it’s going to be a lot easier.” 4th-string QB to transfer to UNO Fromptaff reports Nebraska’s fotirth-string quarter back, Jay Runty, has decided to trans fer to Nebraska-Omaha for the 1999 2000 campaign. Runty, the son of former NU quar terback Steve Runty, played in four games last season, rushing three times for 59 yards, including a long of 28 yards against Iowa State. “I expected that would be the case,” Cornhusker Coach Frank Solich said Tuesday. “We wish him well. It was tough on him to be listed fourth.” Runty had been battling for the No. £ slot with fifth-year senior Jeff Perino, who is recovering from three knee surgeries. Perino was vying for the No. 2 quarterback slot for a short time during the spring of 1997 with Matt Turman behind starter Scott Frost Division-II UNO confirmed Runty’s choice on Tuesday via fax. The Mavericks had been going through a quarterback controversy try ing to replace All American Ed Thompson. Curtis Miller will start for UNO this weekend against defending national champion Northwest Missouri State. In other news, Solich confirmed Tuesday that freshman wingback Josh Davis will not make the trip Saturday to Iowa because of team disciplinary guidelines. Davis pleaded guilty to felony bur glary and misdemeanor theft charges after being accused of taking a Sony PlayStation from a Loveland, Colo., home and selling it to a local pawn shop. He was placed on probation and could have the charge dismissed if he completes probation. The son of former Nebraska I backTony Davis, Josh will likely play this season at wingback, and could also possibly return punts. Originally, Davis was recruited as a running back. Solich also said Tuesday that freshmen Toniu Fonoti and John Garrison will most likely play Saturday against the Hawkeyes. Fonoti is the No. 2 left guard behind James Sherman, while Garrison will hold duties as the long snapper in punt and field-goal situations. Ojher freshmen will make the trip, Solich said, but he could not guarantee any playing time for those players. Josh Brown and DeJuan Groce, both redshirt freshmen, should see time Saturday, Solich said, assuming Brown recovers fully from a groin injury that had plagued him through most of fall camp. Groce, the No. 2 left cornerback, joins starters Ralph Brown and Keyou Craver to form a nucleus Solich likes very much. I; “We have three comerbacks who we feel very good about right now,” Solich said. Redshirt freshman Chris Kelsay will also be in the rush end rotation. Right now, Kelsay is listed No. 2 behind Aaron Wills at left rush end.