Gaskins: Sar Jerford helped Fennelly get job; now he wants to beat coach
GASKINS from page 16
matter how good NO was, and was the
program Osborne wanted Nebraska to
be.
The centerfold was obviously
another clear reminder to Sandeiford
about what he has to compete against,
what he wants his program to live up to
and why he is just a little more on the
edge this week than others (according
to his players).
For this is Iowa State week.
The Huskers and Cyclones will
-square Off at die Devaney Center
tonight in a rematch of ISU’s 89-66
smattering of NU in Ames three weeks
ago. It’s also a rematch of NU’s tri
umphant 68-67 thriller at the Devaney
over ISU in front of 13,135 fans - the
r1 ■■ —— mi i
largest Big 12 crowd ever.
tt also happens to come at a time ;!
whenNU is 5-2-two games away
from first place and one game behind
Iowa State in the Big 12 standings -
and riding a four game winning streak,
dating back to the ISU loss. At 11-7, '
NU needs quality wins for an NC.AA
Tournament berth. . ,1 * >. V
To boot, Iowa State incoming off
its first Big 12 loss, Saturday at
Kansas, a place where NU won.
But its more than that. This is a
game about two programs with few j
differetSdes and two extrerftely driven
coaches. \Vhil^Sanderford, in his third
year, is in the process of aiming NU
into a national power, ISU Coach Bill
Fennelly has already done so in five.
Fennelly has also become the dar
lii^of Antes, the Big 12, h&k,NiCAA
women’s basketball -the author behind
the feel-good story of the year A local
hero living in the dream world he creat
ed and built.
And you wonder - how much does
this make Sanderford stew? Sanderford
was supposed to be the Fennelly of
Nebraska, and he might be. But you -
wonder how much watching Fennelly
rise to the top makes the “Bear” growl.
After all, Sanderford helped ,
Fennelly land his dream gig by recom
mending the former Toledo coach to
ISU’s athletic department, saying he
was “heads and tails” better than the
three other candidates.
You also wonder - is Sanderford
even more torqued up for this game
because of all this?
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■ - *He’s nervous, and the veterans
know it,” NU senior guard Brooke
Schwartz said. “He tries to hide it but
he can’t hide it real well.
“This is a big game for him. People
see what Fennelly has done for ISU
and they need to see what Sanderford’s
done for Nebraska. This is a game that
would help take the limelight from
Fennelly and Iowa State and give it to
where it deserves to be. The players
want to win it as much for him as our
selves, to show him how much we
appreciate all he’s done for the pro
gram.” j
Schwartz rarely minces words and
neither does Sanderford. But while
Schwartz called a game against ISU
the “greatest game a player at
Nebraska can play,” Sanderford, look
ing down at the centerfold, refused to
say this is any bigger deal than any
other.
“I don’t think about that,”
Sanderford said. “I know you guys
don’t believe this, but we’re taking this
one game at a time.”
OK Coach, but don’t you realize
the game is on television, that thou
sands of people will be there and that
maybe a must-get, program-making
guard from South Sioux City named
Katie Robinette - who’s teetering on
NU and ISU right now - might be
watching?
“If somebody won’t come here
because we win or lose a certain game,
they don’t have the substance I want,”
Sanderford said.
But Sanderford was more defen
sive, showed a lot more conviction and
aggression, and was just flat out dozens
of pulses faster than the way he usually
interviews on the eve of a game.
He got especially passionate when
defending his program, and he’s not in
great awe of Fennelly’s empire. He
believes NU is just an All-American
(like ISU’s Stacy Frese) and a couple of
home NCAA Tournament games (like
ISU used to draw that loyal fan base)
away from building his own empire.
“I built a program a long time
before Iowa State had a program,” said
Sanderford, who guided Western
Kentucky to two Final Fours in 15
years before coming to NU
“I’m happy for Bill and ISU.
They’ve worked hard and deserve the
stifjpoit they are getting. It’s good for
the game. We went there three weeks
ago and it was a great atmosphere for !
basketball. That’s what its all about.
“But what people don’t remember
is, I was in that for 10 years, 15 years
(at WKU). Are we trying to get to
where they’re at? Ye^But what you
have to remember is, BiIFs been at
Iowa State two years longer than I’ve
been here.
“He’s going to find out what its like
being the hunted instead of the hunter.
He’s finding out right now as we speak.
Hels going to find out What life will be
like without Stacy Frese.”
Both Schwartz and Sanderford said
the rivalry between ISU and NU is one
in which die two teams show deep
respect for one another.
But Schwartz said what Sanderford
wouldn’t - that tonight’s game means a
lot to the Bear. That this is a Fennelly
vs. Sanderford matchup as much as it
is a Nebraska-Iowa State matchup.
And rest assured, Sanderford might
be growling a little bit louder on the
bench tonight than usual. He has too
much pride in himself or his program
not to. In essence, its his forum to show
the world of women’s basketball that
his empire is getting just as big as
Fennelly’s.
“I love the people I’m working
with at Nebraska,” Sanderford said.
“The people in this state are very loyal.
When we get the product where it
needs to be, play the kind of basketball
we’re capable of playing, we’re going
to sell tickets and fill this place up, just
like they do.
“I don’t think Nebraska has to take
a back seat to anybody in the Big 12.
We’re building. Give me five years,
and then come back and ask me where
we are.”
I asked Sanderford if he thinks
Nebraska will win tonight.
“Yeah,” he said with conviction.
I asked him why. Looking a tad
exhausted but almost eerily confident
after having to talk about Iowa State for
15 minutes, he closes up the magazine
and plops it back down.
“Gut instinct.”
John Gaskins is a junior broad
casting major and a Daily Nebraskan
staff writer.
Final day arrives for NU recruits
RECRUITS from page 16
the top classes in the country.
There was some reconsideration
on the commitment of defensive
back Terrell Butler out of Pebble
Brook, Ga. ‘
After committing to NU, Butler
then gave some thought to commit
ting to Tulane.
After evaluating his options,
Butler found Nebraska impossible to
pass up.
“They just told me what I wanted
to hear about playing time and the
style Of defense,” Butler said. “I
think it’s the best fit for me.”
As of now the Huskers have 19
commitments, not counting running
back Thunder Collins. If NU were
not to get Holiday or Mayes, it is
unknown whether ijt would pursue
any other players with the two schol
arships.
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