Thursday, November 19. 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
Injuries hamper'Huskers
The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. — The once mighty Nebraska Cornhuskers have looked more like patients in a MASH unit than a football team this season, but they are not using it as an excuse for their lowest ranking since 1990.
The 'Huskers started the season with a new quarterback and running back, an inexperienced offensive line and without two defensive All-Americans from the 1997 co-national championship team. Then injuries entered the picture, contributing significantly to Nebraska's 8-3 record and No. 17 ranking.
Nine players listed as starters at the beginning of the season have missed a total of 41 games. Injuries have sideline several important backups.
That compares to just three starting players missing a total of six games from 1995 through 1997, when Nebraska posted a 36-2 record and won or won
shared two national championships.
No excuses, but I've never seen such an avalanche of injuries in one year," said Sports Information Director Chris Anderson, who has kept a running
tally of the injured players for reporters. Let's start at quarterback, where the Huskers have had three different players start games this year.
The problems began when starter Bobby Combe tomore a knee ligament in the season onenter.
He tried to play in several games, but repeated swelling in the knee has forced him to the sideline until after the season, when he might have surgery.
Backup Eric Crouch, who was praised for his play in last week's 40-30 loss to No. 2 Kansas State, has been
bothered by a hip pointer and a pulled hamstring.
The Cornhuskers' top running back, DeAngelo Evans, has been limited to three games by an assortment of injuries, most recently a bruised tailbone suffered Oct. 3 against Oklahoma State; he hasn't played since.
Backup Correll Buckhalter has battled torn bursa sacs in both elbows and a hip pointer.
Dan Alexander, who began the season at third-string running back, is out for the season after tearing a knee ligament against Kansas State.
Other key players who have been injured include: wide receiver Lance Brown, who missed six games with a broken bone in his foot; defensive end Mike Ricker, who is suffering from an inflammation and erosion of the hip bones; safety Clint Finley, who missed three games with a knee injury; and defensive tackle Jason Wiltz, who has had back problems.
Florida coach beefs up defense
The Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Going against a cornerback who intercepted four passes last week for the nation's stingiest defense doesn't seem to bother Florida.
In fact, if you didn't tell quarterback
Doug Johnson about Mario Edwards' record-setting feat, he wouldn't know it happened.
"I didn't even hear about anybody getting four picks, if that tells you anything." Johnson said Tuesday.
That's the kind of attitude that seems to sum it up for the fourth-ranked Gators as they prepare for Saturday's game against Edwards and No.5 Florida State (10-1).
"We don't worry about that kind of stuff," Johnson said. "Just because a guy gets four picks on Wake Forest, we're not going to change anything. He's no different than any other corner. They're all great athletes."
It may sound smug, but a lot of that confidence comes from the fact that the Gators (9-1) have always moved the ball against the Seminoles. Since Steve Spurrier arrived in 1990, Florida has averaged 344 yards passing against FSU defenses that have almost always been among the best in the country.
As much as the talent on Florida's offense, Spurrier's presence seems to serve as the Gators' greatest confidence builder.
There's always a certain mystery as to just what the coach will pull out of the bag for the team he playfully refers to as the "Semis."
"He has a great knack of visualizing ways to get the ball to wide receivers," defensive coordinator Bob Stoops said. "He has ways to find open spots in the defense. It doesn't matter if it's FSU or anybody else ... And players have a good knack of being able to execute our plays."
For the past three seasons, Florida State has thrived on playing an aggressive, bump-style pass defense, similar
to the kind Stoops brought to Florida from Kansas State.
The Seminoles dare teams to attack their defense, and when they do, a good player like Edwards can produce a four-interception game against an overmatched opponent.
Spurrier gladly takes on challenges like that, because he knows he has the talent — both on his team and in his mind — to retaliate.
"When it comes to game plans and coaching during the game, I don't think anyone can hold anything to him," Johnson said. "He's a genius, and just being around him when he comes up with plays, you're thinking, 'Wow, how does he get to that so quick?' That's why it's so fun to play for him."
Asked for his method during Florida State week, Spurrier gives the kind of answer that sums up his team's confidence in a way mere Xs and Os never could.
"We'll draw up a few new plays, but we try not to draw up too much different stuff," he said.
Opposing team's coach, spouse and assistant arrested for scam
The Associated Press
LUBBOCK, Texas — Authorities are still deciding whether to file charges against the Hampton University women's basketball coach, her husband and an assistant who were arrested for allegedly trying to con a woman in a Wal-Mart parking lot.
The arrests forced the cancellation of Hampton's scheduled game Tuesday night against No. 12 Texas Tech.
Police Chief Ken Walker said yesterday the circumstances around the arrest and allegations against coach Patricia Bibbs, her husband Ezell Bibbs and assistant coach Vanetta Kelso would be looked into before further action was taken.
"We're looking into the incident to see if this was a case of mistaken identity or not, but we clearly had a victim transported to the scene that said that without a doubt those were the people involved," Walker said.
Those arrested were accused of having tried to play what police refer to as one of the "oldest cons in the book."
"We call it the pigeon drop," Walker said. "Typically the victim of the pigeon drop is elderly. Someone will come up to the victim in a parking lot, telling them they've found a purse with a lot of money. Through some sort of long complicated story, the con artist convinces the person to put up money ... to retain a lawyer so that they can both lay claim to the money. Of course, the victim never sees
the money or the suspect again."
Walker said that after the alleged victim was approached by one of the suspects, she left the Walt Mart parking lot and called police. Police apprehended Bibbs, her husband and Kelso several minutes later at a Holiday Inn parking lot. The victim was brought to the scene of the arrest, where she identified the suspects.
School officials said Kelso, who is pregnant, was traumatized and required medical attention. Police reported that an ambulance was called to the scene of the arrest because she was agitated and nauseated.
The three were released from custody Tuesday evening without being charged, and they returned to Virginia last night.
Richard Kilwien, spokesman for Hampton University, said that both schools agreed to void the game on the schedule. It will count neither as a loss for Hampton, nor as a victory for Tech, and it will not be rescheduled, he said.
Hampton University officials scheduled a news conference today to comment further on the arrests. A release from the school contends the three were "falsely arrested because of mistaken identity" and "the DA's office also communicated orally that no charges will be filed."
we regret that this game had to be canceled." Kilwien said. "Our women's basketball team had looked forward to playing Texas Tech because they are one of the top women's basketball programs in the country."
Police have taken issue with both of those claims. Walker said police had not determined whether the arrest was a mistake. Assistant District Attorney Clay Abbott denied the assertion that his office would not file charges.
Police have taken issue with both of those claims.
Iowa State's Knighten prepares to meet Kansas
AMES, Iowa — There were so many times Kemp Knighten could have said he was sick of losing and quit. So many times he could have gone back home to Florida and escaped Iowa winters forever. So many times he could have stopped working out because his knee hurt so badly.
The Associated Press
But to quit would have betrayed what he stood for, so knighten continued on. He is one of the final five at Iowa State, the last holdovers from the days of former coach Jim Walden.
They will play their last game as Cyclones on Saturday when Kansas visits Jack Trice Stadium. In that group are Knighten, a defensive back turned linebacker; tight end Damian Gibson; defensive back Dawan Anderson; and offensi-
An Anderson; and offensive linemen Charley Bogwill and Eugene Bernal.
All were on the 1994 Iowa State team that went 0-10. All have stayed through the first four years of coach Dan McCarney's tenure, a period that has produced only eight victories.
It hasn't been easy, but Knighten feels he has remained true to the calling that brought him to Iowa State from Hialeah. Fla.
"It's real easy just to jump on the bandwagon of a winning team," Knighten said. "The reason I came here is I wanted to be part of the turnaround. So it was kind of like a mission to me. I wouldn't be satisfied until my mission was complete.
"Unfortunately, my time ran out," he said. "I just wanted to stick it out. I'm pretty sure I'm speaking for the rest of the guys that came here in '94 with me."
Knighten played some as a true freshman in that winless season, making one tackle and breaking up a pass. Walden quit in early November, and McCarney was hired later that month. He made an immediate impression.
"He was real tough," Knighten said. "He let us know right away he meant business, and I'll never forget that. He let us know from the start that he's not going to tolerate any nonsense. Some players didn't listen, and he got rid of them. That let us know right away that he meant business."
McCarnev also stressed no one would get prefer
ence for a starting job. Everyone, holdovers and newcomers, would be treated the same.
Knighten took that to mean he had better get to work.
"Winter conditioning came shortly after he got here, and I busted my tail. I was first in every drill." Knighten said. "That's how he started looking at me because I was a hard worker. They wanted me to start at the corner spot in 95."
But Knighten blew out a knee, tearing an ACL, before the season started and had reconstructive surgery. His dream of starting had been shattered.
"That was real tough because I had never received a major injury ever before, and I've been playing football and running track all my life," he said. "When it hit me and Doc (Thomas) Greenwald told me I'd be out for a year. I just broke down in tears. I thought I would never be able to play football again."
Knighten missed the 1995 season and played singly the following year. But even during his lowest and most painful moments, he said he never thought about leaving.
"Football is the reason why I'm here, but it's not the entire reason," he said. "If that was taken away from me and I went home, then I was missing out on the football deal as well as the education deal. I didn't see myself excelling in life, so I just stuck it out."
Knighten got back into the regular rotation of defensive backs last season and made 35 tackles. He was looking for more of the same this year, but his hamstrings started giving him problems and Knighten found himself splitting time on the second team at free safety. He didn't even play in the season opener.
Defensive coordinator John Skladany then approached Knighten and asked if he'd consider moving to linebacker, a position Knighten had never played. He has been there ever since.
"He's done a great job," McCarney said. "He's very unselfish."
he as learned the position, Knighten's playing time increased. He had his best game against Nebraska two weeks ago, making nine tackles, and he made five last week at Colorado.
"Actually when I got to linebacker, there wasn't as much running involved so my hamstrings didn't even bother me after a few weeks," Knighten said. "But the last two weeks, I've been coming on and getting some reps in games."
AFL, NFL coaching legend Weeb Ewbank dies at age 91
The Associated Press
More than his two football championships. Weeb Ewbank was a teacher of the game, a friend to his players and a fatherly coach with great passion.
Over the years, you would get to know Webe and see and understand his true love for the game," Joe Namath said yesterday. "It consumed him. The people he worked with, he was always so concerned for. If you knew Webe, you had to like him."
Ewbank, the only coach to win titles in the AFL and NFL, died Tuesday at his home in Oxford, Ohio, at 91.
Namath, the flamboyant quarterback of the New York Jets, was so shaken by Ewbank's death that he chose not to comment Tuesday night. When he finally talked, he spoke of the Jets' closeness with their former coach.
the NFL the following year.
Ewbank's most memorable victory came in the 1969 Super Bowl, when the Jets, spurred by Namath's bold prediction of victory, upset Ewbank's old team, the Baltimore Colts, 16-7. That victory, by the upstart Jets of the AFL, triggered the merger with
"The things I have felt about Webe and the other guys felt ... you see a football and jam it with a nail and the air comes out," Namath said. "You feel very empty. Something is gone, and you are afraid it is not going to be back, and it won't."
The last time Namath saw Ewbank was in the second week of this season when the Jets played Baltimore — now the Ravens.
"That weekend was the alumni get-together, and Weeb was great," Namath said. "He seemed weaker than he did before, but was getting around fairly well, and we talked about football and the Jets.
"He would ask about people who were on the team ... what they are doing. For him just to be able to get from the hotel to the area we were doing things was a strain, but he never let on. He loved the people he had been with."
Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, who led Ewbank's Colts to a 23-17 victory against the New York Giants in overtime in the 1958 NFL championship game that is widely considered the league's greatest game, also expressed affection for his coach.
"I consider him the best coach I ever played for." Uunitas said. "He gave me the opportunity to play professional football in Baltimore.
Don Shula, the winningest coach in pro football history, also had great respect for Ewbank.
"He was an important part of my life and helped shape my coaching philosophy." Shula said.
Shula coached Baltimore from 1963-70 after succeeding Ewbank, then guided the Miami Dolphins from
1970-95 before retiring with 328 victories.
"He was an outstanding teacher of the game, and I learned a lot from him when I played for him," Shula said. "In fact, when I replaced him as head coach of the Colts, many of the things I did in Baltimore and then in Miami I learned from him."
Another former Colts player, defensive tackle Art Donovan, said Ewbank was largely responsible for his earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Any success I've had in pro football is due to him," Donovan said. "He taught me how to play football."
"He took two of the worst teams — the 1954 Colts and in the '60s the Jets—and made them world champs. You can't do any better than that."
Donovan described Ewbank as a little man with a big heart. Ewbank was supposed to be in Baltimore for a banquet today marking the anniversary of the Colts' '1968 victory.
Bill Parcells, the current Jets' coach, admired Ewbank's accomplishments.
"Any of us in football is saddened by the loss of anyone who was so much a part of the league," he said. "He was well-respected in coaching circles..."
Visitation is Friday at Oxford Presbyterian Church in Ohio. The funeral is Saturday in Oxford.