Spring Football 98
NU CENTER Dominic Ralola jumps Into the arms of fullback Willie Miller during the Kansas State game. Ralola
looks to anchor the NU offensive line along with Jason Schwab, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility.
Hochstein paces seasoned line
M They should
fear the whole
offensive line...
I think we
stand out more
as a group than
we do as
individuals.”
Russ Hochstein
NU offensive lineman
By David Diehl
Staff writer
Take a quick right after you enter the
doors leading to the Nebraska locker
room. Adorning the wall are 82 painted
portraits of Comhusker All-Americans.
Russ Hochstein motions gently for
you to look at them, as gently as a 300
pound behemoth can. He talks to you
about the company he is in as a part of a
Nebraska offensive line.
“Will Shields, Zach Wiegert, Aaron
Graham, Aaron Taylor,” he lists off. “I
remember all of those guys. They were
fun to watch. Those guys all have their
picture on the wall.”
Please see LINE on 14
WHO'S BACK:
RT Dave Volk
RT Jason Schwab
RG Russ Hochstein
C Dominic Raiola
LG Toniu Fonoti
LG Jon Rutherford
OUTLOOK:
IH22I
LT Adam Julch
James Sherman
Volk will move to left tackle, while
Schwab regains the right tackle
position. Inside trio of Hochstein,
Railo, and Fonoti/Rutherford will
be the Big 12’s best. This group can
run and pull, so don’t be surprised
if Nebraska re-introduces the power
game offense with counters and
sweeps.
Melanie Falk/DN
NU unworried
about injuries
By Sean Callahan
Staff Writer
From a defensive standpoint, the
middle infield of a softball team is an
area where every coach would like to
■ nave great expe
rience and lead
ership.
For at least
another week,
NU Coach
Rhonda Revelle
I might be without
I either.
~ oc^uiiu uasc
Lizama man Jennifer
Lizama will be out two to six weeks
more with a hamstring injury, while
shortstop Leigh Suhr may try to
return for this week’s series against
Colorado State after missing the last
seven games with a hip injury first
sustained in high school.
Their absences haven’t hurt the
Comhuskers so far, as NU has won
seven in a row to improve to 20-15
overall.
Revelle still was being positive
despite the misfortune she has been
hit with as the Huskers look to con
tinue to their season-long win streak,
starting with tonight’s doubleheader
vs. CSU. The doubleheader starts at 5
UI can't really
get caught up in
getting worried
about what we
don’t have. I
have to stay
focused on what
we do need to do
and who is
playing.”
Rhonda Revelle
NU softball coach
p.m. at the NU softball complex.
“I can’t really get caught up in
getting worried about what we don’t
have;’’ Revelle said. “I have to stay
focused on what we do need to do
and who is playing.”
Lizama said she first felt her
hamstring tear last Wednesday in a
Please see SOFTBALL on 14
New Tech coach
brings pass attack
By Brian Christopherson
Staff writer
Defensive coordinators around
the Big 12 Conference are still pluck
ing out gray hairs thanks to Mike
Leach.
This is supposed to be a between
the-tackle, testosterone-pumping,
stuff-it-down-your-throat, pancake
laying league.
Then, Leach had the audacity to
leave Kentucky, where he helped
groom the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick,
quarterback Tim Couch, and take
over the offensive coordinator duties
at Oklahoma last season.
With him, he brought a game plan
that told his Sooners to heave 55 pass
plays a game - the same Sooners that
built decade-long dynasties on the
wishbone.
But after a 7-5 season and the first
bowl trip since the 1994 season, there
weren’t too many complaints.
And there were coaching offers
for Leach, who takes over for the
retired Spike Dykes at Texas Tech and
figures to bring his shotgun and five
receiver sets to Red Raider land this
OFFENSE: Multiple
DEFENSE:4-3
OUTLOOK: Ricky Williams
returns for spring ball as Texas
Tech hires Leach, a pro-passing
coach who was an offensive
coordinator for pass-happy
Oklahoma last year.
season.
“We’re going to throw out four
and five receiver sets, and we’re not
going to change anything from what
Coach Leach did at Oklahoma,”
Texas Tech Associate Coach Manny
Motsakis said.
“This offense was new to that
Oklahoma offense last season just
like it is to these kids, but they were
one of the most explosive offenses in
the country”
Motsakis was the offensive coor
dinator at Wyoming last season
before joining a Tech coaching staff
that has undergone an entire
makeover from last year.
At times during its 6-5 campaign
last season, it seemed as though Texas
Please see TECH on 14
Solich says defense needs ‘to show more hustle’
By Brandon Schulte
Staffwriter
Nebraska Coach Frank Solich had a less than
glowing review of the Nebraska defense after its
performance in die first scrimmage of the spring
football season Saturday.
Upon further review of film, Solich said he
stopped short of giving his defense a ringing
endorsement after it allowed four touchdowns in
10 attempts, including one given up by the
Blackshirts.
Solich said he wants masked improvement by
Spring Football '98 f' **'
this weekend when the team holds its first major
scrimmage of die spring.
“Looking at it from a defensive standpoint, we
need to show more hustle - to get 11 guys to die
ball - than what we showed,” Solich said. “I think
they understand that, and they saw what they were
doing wrong. And I expect that to be corrected.
“Our defenses have always been defenses that
have really worked hard to get to the ball. And I’m
sure that will be die case again this year.”
Solich said the film also revealed that the
young quarterbacks - Jammal Lord, Joe Chrisman
and Brett Lindstrom - are progressing nicely. The
three are playing while Eric Crouch sits out the
spring while his shoulder recovers.
The third-year coach was also impressed by
running backs Robin Miller (three carries for 43
yards in the first scrimmage) and DeAntae Grixby
(two carries for 18 yards on Saturday). Rush end
Kyle Vanden Bosch and weakside linebacker
Blanchard Johnson stood out for the defense.
Notes:
Sophomore wingback Ben Comelson broke
his hand in Monday’s 2Vi-hour workout at
Memorial Stadium. But, Solich said, he had a cast
put on and should be back at practice Wednesday.
The Cornhuskers worked out in full pads
Monday and will be in full garb for the rest of the
week leading up to Saturday’s scrimmage, Solich
said.
“I thought it was a good practice today,” Solich
said. “The guys seemed to be fresh - moved
around well. They were in good spirits and worked
hard at getting things done.”
