Saturday
win key
for A&M,
Huskers
By Samuel McKewon
Senior editor
The question was about confi
dence, about if the Nebraska football
team could feel good about itself after
a loss to Texas and lackluster win over
Kansas.
Head Coach Frank Solich looked
at die reporter and fired away.
“My confidence level,” Solich said
at Tuesday’s weekly press conference,
“isthesameasitwastwoweeksago.lt
is die same as it was at the start of the
season and the same as it was when I
first started coaching.
“I’ve never lacked confidence in
my approach. And I think the confi
dence level of this team is very good”
Still, in Solich’s tenure, the
Cornhuskers haven’t notched too
many significant wins. Some might
argqe there haven’t been any. And
Saturday afternoon’s 2:35 p.m. game
against No. 18 Texas A&M would cer
tainly fit the bill in more ways than
oiifcf'
jno. v JNeorasKa seeKs revenge tor
last year’s 28-21 loss, the first in the
Solich er& It seeks a win against some
team - any team - from die state of
Trams, something that has eluded NU
for nearly two years. And it seeks to
stay alive in the Kg 12 North race that
sees Kansas State firmly indie driver’s
seat should the Huskers lose Saturday.
Significant, indeed.
But Nebraska (7-1) seems ready
for what will be the first of three big
games spanning the next 20 days. And
it will be facing an A&M team that has
stumbled twice this season unexpect
edly in losses to Trams Tech 21-19 and
Oklahoma 51-6.
The Aggies (6-2) need a win to
stay in the Big 12 South race just as
much as NU needs a win Saturday.
Coach R.C. Slocum knows it
“You have to look at it as a week
to-week deal,” Slocum said. “The pos
sibilities of winning the south division
could work out, but winning this
weekend is more important than all of
that.”
w Matt Miller/DN
Nebraska looks to rebound from its 28-21 upset loss last year against Texas A&M, a game In which the Aggies were able to shut down the Huskers’ rush
ing attack, including then-fullback Joel Makovicka.
Slocum prepares the Aggies
for ‘unusual’ Husker offense
By Samuel McKewon
Senior editor
R.C. Slocum made himself a pio
neer Tuesday in his analysis of the
Nebraska football team. He sort of
sounded like one of those confusing
mad riddlers, too.
For one, the Texas A&M coach
called NU^s offense “unusual,” rarely a
term used to describe the meat-and
potatoes philosophy of the Huskers
(though the descripfp^fits this year).
Then hegottoystfc/Or something.
“It’s hard to prepad) fof(Neb©ska)
in a week’s time,” Slodntfjaid. *We’re
teaching the techniques that we used to
teach all the time, and we’re really
good alt it, but our kids have no clue
about it, because, with offenses today,
you don’t have to.”
Seems just mentioning the
Huskers’ multi-option, decoy-laden,
formations-aplenty attack can inspire
the most confounding of descriptions.
Therefore, Slocum preached a wait
and-see approach for the defensive
strategy, considering the difficulty of
predicting exactly what plays NU will
run before 2:38 p.m. Saturday at
Manorial Stadium.
“Whatever works for them might
Please see SLOCUM on 12
A&M players prepared
to bring ‘wrecking crew’
By Darken Ivy
Senior staff writer
During the week, the hammering of construction
Saturday, a different kind of hammering wifi be heard
as Texas A&M’s “wrecking crew” defense,enters
Memorial Stadium with one task in mind - tearing down
NU’s offense. *
“We expect a physical, tough game,-said senior
defensive back Sedrick Curry, who last year made an
interception on NU’s last drive to seal the 28-21 upset for
the Aggies. “As a defense, we know we have to swarm to
the ball. They have a very explosive offense, and the
defenders must be focused on every play.”
Last year in College Station, the “wrecking crew”
punched holes in die Comhuskers’ rushing game much of
the game, limiting Nebraska to 141 rushing yards.
However, it did give up 204 yards through the air.
Please see CREW on 12
Soft-spoken rush end
impresses coaches, team
By Darren Ivy
’ / Senior staff writer
On a Nebraska defense that sports many outgoing per
sonalities, freshman rush end Demoine Adams is a stark
contrast.
He keeps to himself and rarely speaks. When he has
been asked questions in die past by reporters, the soft-spo
ken Adams has addressed them as “sir” or “ma’am” and
been very polite.
But he hasn’t been one to seek out personal attention,
and this fall he has declined interviews for that reason.
However, Adams’ increased play on the field die past
couple of weeks has made it hard not to take notice of the
Pine Bluff, Ark., native.
“He’s a guy right now who I would say is our third rush
aid,” Defensive Coordinator Charlie McBride said. “As a
young player, he has gained confidence every game and
the last few games, he has played a lot more.”
Please see ADAMS on 12
Nebraska Texas A&M
Quarterbacks - Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch is the most potent player
on the Nebraska offensive. In eight games this season he has thrown for 1006
yards and 7 touchdowns, while rushing for 399 yards and 10touchdowns. A&M
Suarterback Randy McCown has also been productive this season. He has
irown for 1901 yards and 12 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Edge: m
Running backs - Dan Alexander and Cornell Buckhalter have given Nebraska
a productive tandem, combining for 905 yards and 9 touchdowns. Last year
against Nebraska both Ja’Mar Toombs and Dante Hall cracked the century mark
against NU as A&M racked up 259 rushing yards, and both return this year.
Edge:
Reclevers - A&M boasts five recievers who have caught more than 10 passes
and have gained more than 200 yards on those receptions. Nebraska has a
three-pronged attack of Matt Davison, Bobby Newcombe and Tracey Wistrom.
Edge:
Offensive Line - A&M averages 255 yards per game passing while NU rushes
for 244.6 yards per game. The Huskers have scored 32 touchdowns to the
Defensive Line - Neither line features a big name player, yet both have been
effective. NU starting linemen have recorded nine sacks and 22 tackles for loss
while their counterparts at A&M have six sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
Edge:
Linebackers - Nebraska features a deep linebacking core with six interchangabie
players. The A&M linebackers are led by weakside linebacker Cornelius Anthony
who has 58 tackles this season.
Edge:
Secondary - Nebraska has two All-Americans in its secondary, Mike and Ralph
Brown. But A&M also has an experienced unit with three seniors and a junior.
Edge:
Coaching - Frank Sonch is in his second year as head coach at Nebraska and
has won over 75 percent of his games. A&M Coach R.C. Slocum is the fifth
winningest coach among active division I coaches.
Edge:
Special teams - Dan Hadenfeldt has averaged 45 yards a punt for Nebraska
this year, and Josh Brown has shown signs of becoming a reliable kicker. The
Aggies have two of the best kickers in the country in Shane Lechler and Terrrence
Kitchens.
Edge:
■
- ■
..V.vw;. _ ■ ‘ . , ■ . - : ^
