Section B · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, October 30, 1997
Nebraska, Oklahoma to write ending to 71-year-old series
By Richard Rosonblatt The Associated Press
For 71 consecutive years, there has been Nebraska-Oklahoma.
After Saturday's game in Lincoln, Neb., the series takes a two-year break, courtesy of Big 12 Conference schedule-makers.
"There have been a lot of consecutive Nebraska-Oklahoma games over the last 35 years or so, and in most cases, they have been very significant games," said Tom Osborn, Cornhuskers coach. "From that standpoint, it is sad to see it end."
The end may not be soon enough for the Sooners (3-5), who enter the game against No. 1 Nebraska (7-0) without 1,000-yard rusher DeMond Parker.
Nebraska has won the last six meetings, including last year's 73-21 rout — the worst loss in the 103-year history of Oklahoma football. Before the Huskers began their domination, the teams battled almost annually for the Big Eight title and a berth in the Orange Bowl.
For the Huskers, Scott Frost directs the nation's top-ranked offense (501.7 yards per game), while Ahman Green, with 993 yards and 13 touchdowns, paces the top-rated running game (398.7 yards per game)
Led by end Grant Wistrom and a solid set of linebackers, the defense allows just 66 yards rushing and 14.1 points per game.
The Sooners, meanwhile, counter with youth — two freshmen are expected to fill in for Parker (1,123 yards), who missed most of last week's game against Kansas State with bruised stomach muscles.
And coach John Blake says he will use three quarterbacks — Justin Fuente, Eric Moore and Brandon Daniels.
While Nebraska-Oklahoma seems like a mismatch, the Florida-Georgia game at Jacksonville, Fla., could be competitive.
Although the Gators (6-1, 4-1 SEC) have won the last seven meetings, the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1) have plenty to play for this time. The loser drops out of first place in the SEC East.
"There's certainly a lot on the line this year." Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. "It makes it a little bit more interesting and exciting when both teams are pursuing the conference championship."
The picks:
Oklahoma at No. 1 Nebraska Huskers dominate what used to be an important game ... Nebraska 57-10.
No. 2 Penn State at Northwestern
Runt, Curtis, run...Penn State 41-14.
North Carolina State at No. 3 Florida State Travis Minor looks like the answer to Seminoles' running woes ... Florida State 51-14.
Nebraska at No. 4 Michigan
Warmup next game at Penn State
...Michigan 35-8.
No. 5 North Carolina at Georgia Tech (Today)
Tar Heels ripe for upset ... Georgia Tech 24-21.
No. 6 Florida vs. No. 14 Georgia (at
Jacksonville, Fla.)
Doug Johnson returns at quarterback for Gators. ... Florida 45-21.
Southern California at No. 7 Washington Huskies running back Rashaan Sheehews over the Troians ... Washington 38-13.
South Carolina at No. 8 Tennessee
Vols quarterback Peyton Manning updates his
Heisman resume ... Tennessee 45-21.
No. 9 Ohio State at No. 21 Michigan State Buckeyes quarterback Joe Germaine comes through with necessary touchdown passes ... Ohio State 28-21.
No. 10 Washington State at No. 20 Arizona State
No faith in unbeaten Cougars? ... Arizona State 38-34.
Mississippi State at No. 11 Auburn Now that Heisman folks have Dameyune Craig's bio, Tigers quarterback must produce. Auburn 35-14
No.12 UCLA at Stanford
Bruins have too much firepower for Cardinal. ... UCLA 41-31.
No. 13 Kansas State at Texas Tech Can Spike Dyke's Red Raiders pull off another upset? ... Texas Tech 24-20.
No.18 Purdue at No.15 Iowa Hawkeyes average 44.9 points, Boilermakers 35.9... Iowa 42-35.
No. 16 LSU at Kentucky
We still like Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch... Kentucky 35:31.
No. 17 West Virginia at Syracuse Orangemen have outscored Mountainers 52-7 in last two meetings ... Syracuse 31-23.
No. 19 Oklahoma State at No. 25
Tower Acrs
Aggies have lost two straight, Cowboys coming off first loss. Oklahoma State 28-27.
Miami, Ohio A No. 12 Yosemite Rockets looking to go 8-0... Miami, Ohio 29-24.
Miami, Ohio at No. 22 Toledo
Alabama-Birmingham at No. 23
Virginia Tech
Hokies prepared for huge underdog this time around ... Virginia Tech 35-7.
No. 24 Southern Mississippi at Cincinnati Golden Eagles want to stick around Top 25 next week, too ... Southern Mississippi 31-21.
Rumors NFL beckons if coach fired
The Associated Press
Rumors anger Texas star
AUSTIN — Ricky Williams has been one of the lone bright spots on a Texas football team that has stumbled to a 3-4 record and put coach John Mackovic squarely on the hot seat.
After running for a school-record three straight 200-yard games, Williams is the nation's leading rusher (168.3 yards per game) and could well be playing his final season of college football.
"It's hard to enjoy being the top rusher because we have a losing record, so it doesn't really mean much," said Williams, a junior who already is projected as a high first-round pick in the NFL draft should he turn professional early.
Williams has been one of the most outspoken players in support of
Mackovic, who this week was the subject of a newspaper report that said the school's board of regents had reached a consensus to get rid of him after the season's end.
Longhorns' officials and some regents have blasted the report as unfounded.
"I was pretty sure I would be coming back for my senior year," Williams said. "Now, I'm just kind of upset with a lot of people around here and the way they've been treating coach Mackovic.
"He's done a lot for this program that people are looking past right now. If he's not going to be around, then I don't really want to be here."
While most speculate that Williams will go to the NFL next
year, one temptation for him to come back for a senior season is the chance to break all of Earl Campbell's rushing records.
Williams has the nickname "Little Earl" because of his physical similarities to the 1977 Heisman Trophy winner.
"I know if I stayed, I could become a legend like he is, and if I leave, I'll just be another great player to come and go." Williams said.
To break Campbell's single-season rushing record of 1,744 yards, which Campbell set in 1977, Williams would have to average 141 yards a game against Baylor, Texas Tech, Kansas and Texas A&M.
Williams has rushed for 3,440 yards, second only to Campbell, who finished at Texas with 4,443 yards.
"It's scary," Campbell said. "He reminds me more of myself than my sons. I've been hearing 'Little Earl' stories ever since I left Texas, but he's the only one who's lived up to the expectations."
Fine contributes to Orioles' dispute
Manager may not finish out contract
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos now has a reason to fire manager Davey Johnson, who may not be asked back for the third and final year of his contract.
for the Orioles' next game.
In what Angelos calls an infraction of serious proportions, Johnson ordered second baseman Roberto Alomar to pay a $10,500 fine for violating team policy to a charity that retains Johnson's wife as a fund-raiser.
"The money belongs to the ballclub," Angelos said yesterday.
Johnson fined Alomar $10,000 in July after Alomar skipped an exhibition game between the Orioles and their Triple-A team without permission.
Alomar tried to be with his family in Puerto Rico after the death of his grandmother, but ended up staying in Baltimore because he could not get a flight back in time
Johnson on
tacked on an
extra $500
because Alo-
mar also
missed a team
banquet in April.
Johnson ordered Alomar to pay the fine to a scholarship fund run by Benjamin Carson of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Johnson's wife, Susan, is involved in fundraising for the Carson Scholars Foundation.
The fine has not been paid because of an objection raised by the Major League Baseball Players Association, which protested the amount of the fine and its designation to a charity picked by Johnson.
"Unless this matter is resolved, there will be a grievance filed on behalf of the player," Rich Weiss, union representative, said yesterday.
Under Johnson, the Orioles compiled the best record in the American League and won their first division title in 14 years. But Ange-
los and Johnson, both strong-willed, have had their differences during the past two years.
Before the fine controversy, Angelos said he probably would bring Johnson back for the final year of his $2.5 million contract. Johnson, in turn, sent a fax to the Orioles asking for an extension or a buyout.
Now it appears that Angelos can justify dismissing Johnson without compensation, even though the former Oriole has led the team to the playoffs in each of the last two years.
Angelos said it was too strong to say he was considering firing Johnson, but did not offer any words of hope for Johnson either.
"The matter remains under review," Angelos said. "We have to do what is proper and correct."
Since Angelos took control as majority owner of the Orioles in 1993, Johnson is the only manager to last two full seasons under Angelos. The two have not talked since Baltimore, vying for its first World Series appearance since 1983, lost the AL championship series to the Cleveland Indians in six games.
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