Black (and white) shirts save Nebraska
'Hawks see 'Red' at NU
Photo by Ron Bishop
By MARY ARNOLD
In years past the Blackshirts (as the Nebraska defense is called by NU fans) have pulled out many a game for the Cornhuskers. Saturday they didn't have to. The black-and-white shirted officials did it for them and NU shaded KU 21-17.
The Big Blue, looking for their first conference victory and leading in the fourth quarter, could only see red after this one. And here's why:
Nebraska was faced with a fourth-and-16 situation on their own 37-yard line and trailed 17-14. Less than two minutes remained when quarterback Jerry Tagge, under great pressure by the KU line, tossed a long pass that landed at least 15 yards beyond end Jim McFarland. At that moment McFarland collided with defensive back Mark Geraghty and fell at the Jayhawk 32-yard line.
Penalty flags flew, and when Geraghty and captain Emery Hicks protested, another 15-yard penalty was stepped against
the Jayhawks for unsportsmenlike conduct. The 46-yard passpenalty-play was Nebraska'sbiggest gain of the day and it gave them a first down on the KU 17 with only 1:45 remaining.
Aided by another penalty (this one a personal foul call) the Huskers drove in four plays for the winning touchdown which came on a 3-yard run by sophomore Jeff Kinnev.
Every Jayhawk player and fan felt, and with good reason, that they had been robbed of their first conference win of the season, and second victory of the year on the pass interference call.
"I will not comment on that play," said Coach Pepper Rodees.
Fighting his emotions, Rodgers said, "You've got to understand how I feel when these kids work that hard and play a great game against a great team and get beat. I'll tell you one thing, though, and get me right on this. These guys did not lose on their own play. I have to feel somewhat emotionally for my players."
Even though Rodgers didn't care to talk about the interference play, Emery Hicks did.
"It was a bad call." Hicks said, "I don't see how he could have called it that way. Geraghty was inside his man when the pass came and the receiver fell over him. Then he (head linesman Glenn Bowles) called the interference on us. It's ridiculous."
6 KANSAN
Oct.20 1969
An intoxicating new adult game!
SHAKEY'S
PIZZA PARLOR
AND
YE PUBLIC HOUSE
544 W. 23rd VI 1-2266
Lawrence
Even after Paul Rodger's kick made the score 21-17, with 1:22 remaining. Kansas made a desperate attempt to gain back the lead they had only seconds before. Kansas drove from their 10 to the Nebraska 18. The final 30 yards came on a scrambling run by reserve quarterback Phil Easler, who was seeing action for the first time. He replaced Jim Ettinger who suffered a knee injury with 32 seconds to go.
Nebraska built up a 14-0 lead on two field goals and a touchdown. Paul Rodgers kicked both field goals in the first quarter. The first one came on NU's third possession and was 55 yards long establishing a Big Eight conference record. The old record was a 54-yarder by Jerry Hillebrand of Colorado against Oklahoma State in 1961.
That says it all - almost
Four minutes later, Nebraska again tallied—this time on a 46-yard field goal. At this point, it didn't seem like it was going to be KU's day, especially when Nebraska scored its first touchdown on a 43-yard drive.
The touchdown came when NU had good field position on the Kansas 43 after Billy Bell of Kansas punted from the back of the end zone. Needing only four plays to go the distance, Kinney dove over from the one to make it 12-0 in favor of Nebraska.
Electing to go for a two-point conversion, Tagge passed to an open Kinney in the end zone and two more were added on the board.
Down 14-0, Kansas started to move with a 37-yard pass from Ettinger to Jessie. A 22-yard run by John Riggins gave KU a first down on the 12. But the series stalled and on fourth down situation, Bell missed his 25-yard field goal attempt.
SPECIAL HALF-PRICE RATE
FOR FACULTY, STUDENTS,
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
□ 1 year $13
□ 9 mos. $9.75 □ 6 mos. $6.50
□ Check or money order
enclosed
□ Bill me
Seconds later the Jayhawks regained possession when Gary Davenport, making his first start
You pay the other.
Name
Address
State ___ Zip ___
P.O.N
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR®
Box 125, Aster Station
Boston, Massachusetts 02123
for Kansas, recovered Kinney's fumble at the 18.
half and on their first possession in the third quarter the 'Hawks drove 62 yards for the tying touchdown. A 35-yard pass to Jessie set the Jayhawks in scoring position at the 16, and two powerful runs by Riggins gave them a first down at the 5. Rich Rucker drove to the 3, and then Jessie dived inside the one. From there Ettinger sneaked across for the score.
After Chuck Schmidt was stopped for no gain and Riggins was thrown for a yard loss, under a severe rush. Ettinger hit Mosier who caught the pass at the 10 and after breaking one tackle, drug another defender across the goal line for the score.
Bell's kick made it 14-7 and the discouraged Kansas fans, who had been as gloomy as the weather, perked up.
It was a fired-up Kansas team that came out for the second
The 'Hawks tie-breaking score came at the beginning of the last period, when Bell capped a 73-yard march with a 24-yard field goal. The drive began with a 44-yard run by Jessie to the Nebraska 29. A pass from Ettinger to McGowan ate up 18 yards to the 11. Riggins and Jessie took the ball to the six, but a fourth and five situation called for the field goal.
Ahead by three, the Kansas defense hung on and appeared to have the game won. But with time running out, Nebraska's Tagge threw a desperation pass and, what then promises to go down as one (or two for that matter) of the most memorable official's calls in Kansas grid history pumped up the deflated Big Red balloon.
Dine in candlelight atmosphere
In the dining room
Finest sea foods
Open 4:30 1½ MI. N, of Kaw
Monday V-1341