10A the university daily kansan
sports
friday, September 12, 2003
by TJ Fuller 18r The University Daily Kansas
Horoscopes
Today's Birthday (Sept. 12).
You may decide to postpone an adventure you'd like to go on with your friends. Complete a big domestic project first.
Ames (march 21-April 19) Today is a 6
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7
You're tough, and that's good, but there's still way too much to be done all by yourself.
This situation is rather tense at times, but it should turn out well. Don't take any risks, however. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 6
Don't let your frustration overtake your common sense. Something that's way too difficult may be easy for somebody else. Find that person and have them take care of it for you.
Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 6 You're adapting to new parameters as fast as you can. Don't throw caution to the wind.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7 A partner and a distant friend help you bring in more cash. There's no shortage of love, either.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 6 Speculation won't happen as hard work. With your practical nature, you may have already figured this out.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 you've collected a lot of information. How do you make it all fit? This is where an expert comes in handy.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7
Accept more work if it means more pay—and the odds are good that it will. This time, don't ask your
friends to help.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a7
The backing of one who loves you will inspire you to new heights.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a7
it may be hard to figure out what to get and what to leave behind. Make the purchase that increases domestic security.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a6
You may not be able to hold top speed all day,but you're showing improvement.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6.
don't let anybody push you into being impulsive or rash. Prayer might be necessary to maintain decorum.
Crossword
1 Kim of "Vertigo"
6 "Star Trek" genre
11 Dolpil
14 Bakery smell
15 Peer recognition
16 "__Got You Under My Skin"
17 Machiavellian type
19 Rte. adviser
20 Infrequently
21 Turkish seaport
23 Fired up
26 Ancient
27 Spoken aloud
28 Composer Strauss
30 __boy!
31 Sitcom demo
32 Puma's lair
35 Lunatic
36 Whammy look
38 Pollen gatherer
39 Mata Hari or 007
40 Gasps
41 Quibble
42 Catches the light
44 Gum arabic tree
46 Christmas songs
48 Breathing device
49 Mexican friend
50 Vishnu incarnation
52 Set afire
53 Junk vending events?
58 CO clock setting
59 Napoleon Solo's org.
60 Tremulous sound
61 Bashful
62 Old anesthetic
63 With regrets
DOWN
1 Siesta
2 Gold in Barcelona
3 Solemn promise
4 Country named after Vespucci
09/12/03
$ \textcircled{2} $ 2003 Tribune Media Services, Inc. All rights reserved.
6 Cut into small pieces
7 Lose heat
8 Very black
9 Opponent
10 Water
11 Arizona player
12 Be of use to
13 Male growth
18 Spawned
22 Branch of Buddhism
23 Pavlov and Reitman
24 Arose
25 Practical details
26 Sailor's call
28 Leaves at the altar
29 Spanish cheers
31 Beer quantity
33 Creepy
34 Katmandu's land
36 Ending follower
37 Boxlike vehicles
41 Italian marble
Thursday's solutions
43 Ship's daily diary
44 Pot starter
45 Freewheels
46 Soothes
47 Pennsylvania sect
48 Knowing more
50 Foot part
51 Crooner Jerry
52 Social insect
54 Put a ___ on it!
56 Corner pipe
57 Foxy
LINCOLN, Neb. — Josh Davis, eat your heart out.
By David Diehl Daily Nebraska University of Nebraska
'Huskers to take on Penn State, Robinson
to look hard. Michael Robinson will be everywhere.
should keep their eyes peeled for that No. 12 in white tomorrow. Not that they'll have
"He's great," Davis said. "He's multi-talented. It takes a lot of knowledge to learn all those positions."
Robinson, Penn State's doeverything sophomore on offense, will carry the ball as an I-back, take snaps at quarterback, line up at receiver and field a punt or two. The 6-foot-2 Richmond, Va., native — listed in PSU's media guide as only a quarterback — introduced his many football talents to Nittany Lion fans a year ago against the Cornhuskers and will have the opportunity to burn Nebraska again in tomorrow's contest at Memorial Stadium.
do the same this year."
"I don't really view that as my breakout game," Robinson said Wednesday. "I really didn't do much, but I was introduced to a national audience and the Nebraska people."
Hold the phone there, Mike.
Didn't do much?
"Hopefully I can get lucky and
With athletes like PSU's Robinson and NU's Davis, coaches open up the doors for those players to get injured or worn out as the season wears on because of the time spent on the playing field. Nebraska coaches and Davis have said they're not worried about the Husker's top I-back breaking down.
Apparently the two touchdowns he scored — one from the receiver slot on a reverse, the other as an I-back off tackle — and the 56 yards he racked up on just four carries aren't "much." Maybe scoring touchdowns on three straight touches, as Robinson would do a week later against Louisiana Tech, qualifies as something.
During Robinson's redshirt freshman season, the former Virginia offensive prep player of the year needed to find a spot on the field, quarterback or otherwise. Robinson's size, and the power and speed behind it, combined with his smarts, made that much clear, even through Joe Paterno's bulletproof spectacles.
To not notice those attributes, Paterno said, "You'd almost have to be blind."
For the second time, Nebraska fans will get to witness them against NU as Robinson is doing much of the same for the Nittany Lions. He's often utilized in the three-man rotation at running back and he's lined up at receiver, but has snagged only one pass. He's also returned two punts. His 108 rushing yards and 18 carries both rank second on the team.
Behind center is where Robinson truly wants to be, and he's spending more time there early on. A week ago against Boston College, No.12 was in long enough to throw 11 passes, though his four completions and
a completion percentage between 30 and 40 makes it pretty clear why Zack Mills sits on top at the No.1 quarterback spot.
Paterno feels the same way about his weapon.
Mills said the same traits that got Robinson on the field in the first place kept him looking behind him to hold onto his No. 1 job. It doesn't help that Robinson hears fan whispers, some louder than others, that he should be running the show.
"I think there's more pressure on me now." Mills said, "than if it was the other way around." And Mills didn't have a do-everything player on his heels.
Robinson is strong and has the body build to endure so much play, the coach said. Robinson is listed at 225 pounds and could probably safely fit 20 more.
'He doesn't use a lot of energy to do what he does,' Paterno said. 'He can hold up pretty good.'
Robinson fares even better when you don't know he's coming, as was the case last year for the Huskers. The element of surprise doesn't work so well three games into your sophomore season, when the opposition has a library of your game film.
Sooner, Fresno State brothers to compete
By Aaron Franci
Oklahoma Daily via U-WIRE
University of Oklahoma
Sooner fans scream at the top of their lungs to try to distract the Fresno State offense, there is going to be
As the Sooner defense takes the field and more than 80,000 rabies
one player on the OU sidelines who will be watching the action through the cracks of his fingers as he nervously shields his eyes on every snap.
That young man is Sooner freshman quarterback Tommy Grady.
It's not that Tommy Grady is a nervous person.
Tomorrow, however, he just might be. Grady's older brother,
Jeff Grady, the Fresno State Bulldogs' starting quarterback.
"It's a little nerve-wracking. I mean, this is such a good defense," said Tommy Grady on his brother's impending matchup with the Oklahoma defense.
Jeff Grady is entering his senior year as FSU's starting quarterback. He took over at the beginning of this season after starting quarterback Paul Pinegar was sidelined.
Funny enough, it is Oklahoma's 6-foot-7-inch Tommy Grady who is actually mimicking his brother this week on the scout team, helping the defense prepare for his older brother.
The Bulldogs have faced some tough defenses so far -- at Tennessee and during last week's upset win at home against Oregon State. Now the Bulldogs must travel to Norman to face the top-ranked Sooners, which will be the first time Fresno State has faced a No. 1 team.
"We have the same capabilities, so I guess it's good because I'm helping out the team," Grady said.
Coach Bob Stoops commented on the situation in his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
"He's just a little bit taller than his brother, but he's wearing No. 15 [Jeff's number] all week." Stoops said. "I was teasing him yesterday not to be giving away any secrets when he talks to him later this week. His older brother will be trying to work him for some information."
Tommy Grady would like to see his older brother do well,but nothing beats Tommy's devotion to his own team.
"I'd like to see him do well, because I've seen how hard he works," said Grady. "Hopefully he does good, but I want to win."
Texas to take on Razorbacks
By Lorne Chan
By Lorne Chan
Daily Texan
University of Texas-Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — Texarkana is a road-tripper's oasis — six exits on I-30 that promise Golden
Arches and Big Gulps f or everyone. It's acityliterally torn by
a border, split into two by the Texas-Arkansas state line and once divided by a football rivalry.
Cornerback Nathan Vasher, one of Texarkana's proudest residents, knows all about the Texas-Arkansas rivalry, and is ready to represent his hometown. Well, at least half of it.
"It's going to be fun," Vasher said. "Back home, I have a lot [of] friends in the area that are going to come down for the game. I'm trying to get as many tickets as I can for this -- I might need a little bit over 30."
Vasher grew up on the Texas side of Texarkana, which is divided into two cities with one in each state. He attended Texas high school, wearing replica Longhorn uniforms and playing
the cross-town Razor-backs every year. While most Texas players don't understand the gravity of the rivalry, Vasher has lived it his whole life.
"This game goes back way longer than everyone on this team has been playing." Vasher said. "They're Hog crazy, and it's really important for them to win for bragging rights."
Ever since Vasher -- who was recruited by Arkansas -- decided to attend Texas, people have been talking to him about the game. His cousin, St. Louis Rams rookie defensive end Randy Garner, went to Arkansas, but Vasher's loyalties don't cross the line, and the Texas side of the city even named May 22 "Nathan Vasher Day."
"A guy that can do what Nathan can do has a lot of"
Vasher, dubbed "ESPN3" for making the highlight reel constantly, has impressed with his 4.3 speed and his catching ability, including the game-saving interception in Texas' 27-24 win at Nebraska.
"He jokes with us, lets us know it's a hardcore town," safety Dakaral Pearson said. "He says it's fiery in Texarkana, but he likes it, and he's the guy there. He likes to go back, and I'm pretty sure the town is behind him 100 percent."
options," defensive coordinator Carl Reese said. "He has really good hands. That sets him apart from other backs."
Reese said Vasher has improved most in his pre-snap reads. Vasher had to adjust to being the senior leader in the secondary this season, but that was nothing compared to the adjustment he made his freshman year. Vasher switched to defense after playing wide receiver in high school, where he caught 12 touchdown passes his senior year.
"He had a problem with [having a wide receiver's mentality] when he came in, but coach [Duane] Akina came in and helped him adjust to tracking the receiver instead. All DBs have that problem, looking in the backfield, but it's not a problem now."
Vasher already had an interception against New Mexico State and is eighth on Texas' alltime list with 12 interceptions. Vasher also has a less-heated rivalry in his own secondary, with Pearson looking to improve on his six interceptions last season.
"Our hands are the same, but I will have to give myself the upper hand on that, considering I can catch the one-handed pick." Pearson said. "Tie goes to me."
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