FOOTBALL
Kentucky
SECTION B
NEBRASKA 63 KANSAS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1996
Henley's playing status still up in air, Mason says
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
LINCOLN, Neb. — Ten June Henleys wouldn't have helped Kansas in its 63-7 loss to Nebraska on Saturday.
Henley, the Jayhawks' senior running back, was suspended for the Nebraska game following his arrest Thursday for suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and other charges.
Kansas coach Glen Mason, in his first public comments about the arrest and suspension, said Henley's status was still up in the air.
Mason also said that he did not know if Henley would play next week against Iowa State.
"I'm not trying to dodge a tough question," Mason said. "I had to deal with it, and I dealt with it. I talked to him, and I told everybody I wasn't going to think about it one bit until the zame was over."
Henley is the Big 12 Conference's fourth-leading rusher at 131.6 yards per game.
"It didn't have a demoralizing effect on me," Mason said. "I wouldn't say demoralizing. It was very disappointing. Anytime any of my guys act inappropriately, I don't like it. I take full responsibility. I had to deal with it appropriately. But it's not the same as if it was one of my own kids."
Mason said that after he learned of the news, he did not want to rush into a decision.
"I'm an emotional guy, and I don't want to fly off the handle," he said. "I didn't want to make a decision and make an announcement and change it later. I'm not sure what I'm going to do."
Junior Eric Vann replaced Henley in the starting lineup and carried 10 times for just 22 yards.
Kansas senior wide receiver Isaac Byrd said Henley's suspension didn't affect him.
"June's a good player, but he's just one of many," he said. "We've played without important players before. He's not the only reason why we win and not having him isn't an excuse for when we lose."
AP Top 25
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 26, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and last week's ranking:
rank team rec pts prv
1. Florida (59) 7-0 1,666 1
2. Ohio St. (4) 7-0 1,579 2
3. Florida St. (3) 6-0 1,563 3
4. Arizona St. (1) 8-0 1,481 4
5. Nebraska 6-1 1,404 5
6. Tennessee 5-1 1,347 6
7. Colorado 6-1 1,210 8
8. North Carolina 6-1 1,195 9
9. Michigan 6-1 1,080 10
10. Alabama 6-1 1,065 7
11. Northwestern 7-1 1,037 11
12. LSU 7-1 868 13
13. Brigham Young 8-1 790 15
14. Kansas St. 7-1 759 16
15. Penn St. 7-2 644 17
16. Virginia 5-2 580 14
17. Wyoming 8-0 576 18
18. West Virginia 7-1 459 12
19. Notre Dame 4-2 439 19
20. Utah 7-1 412 21
21. Washington 5-2 271 23
22. Miami 5-2 265 25
23. Southern Miss. 7-1 257 24
24. Auburn 5-2 231 22
25. Iowa 5-2 190 20
Other team receiving voices: Virginia Tech 106,
Syracuse 72, Army 66, East Carolina 63, Air Force 42, Michigan St. 20, Navy 13, Texas 43, Georgia Tech 6, California 3, Southern Cult 3.
INSIDE
SPORTS INDEX
World Series ... 3B
Scoreboard ... 2B
Horoscopes ... 6B
Entertainment ... 4B
Classifieds ... 5B
A long night for Jayhawks
By Dan Gelston Kansan sportswriter
Kansan sportswriter
LINCOLN, Neb. — Kansas junior quarter back Matt Johner had no choice but to look on the bright side following No. 5 Nebraska's 63-7 drubbing of Kansas on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.
"Well, I guess it doesn't get any worse than this," Johner said. "Thope it never gets worse than this."
While is was hardly surprising that Nebraska won, it was surprising to some at the relative ease they were able to do it. The Cornhuskers racked up 595 total yards, including career-highs by quarterback Scott Frost with 254 passing yards and three touchdowns.
It was Nebraska's 28th consecutive win against Kansas and its school-record 34th straight win at Memorial Stadium, breaking a record set from 1901 to 1906.
It took until 2:56 left in the first quarter for Nebraska to score. Frost capped off an 81-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Sheldon Jackson. The Nebraska touchdown was the only score of the first quarter.
The loss made it a long night for the Jayhawks.
"The thing I was most surprised about was I looked at my watch and the game was about three hours long," Mason said. "It felt like it was 33 hours long."
Nebraska scored on its next possession in the second quarter, an 11-yard touchdown run by running back Ahman Green.
The Conhuskers scored again on their next possession on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Frost to Brendan Holbein.
Nebraska scored on its next three possessions of the half, six straight, for a Cornhusker 42-7 halftime lead.
The Jayhawks' only score came when Johner hit senior wide receiver Isaac Byrd for a 72-yard touchdown with 13:58 left in the half. It was a career-long play for a score for both Byrd and Johner.
The Jayhawks, 3-4 overall, 1-3 in the Big 12 Conference, were playing without senior running back June Henley, junior linebacker Jason Thoren and senior center Jared Smith.
Henley was suspended on Thursday following his arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Thoren had a sprained knee and Smith had a bad shoulder.
Junior Eric Vann, Henley's replacement, rushed for 22 yards on 10 carries.
"We just couldn't get the running game tonight," Johner said. "We couldn't get any part of our game going tonight. We were just bad all around."
The ongoing saga of, the Quarterback Turns continued on Saturday. Johner was five of nine for 94 yards and a touchdown. Senior Ben Rutz, a former Cornhusker, was nine of 18 for 94 yards and two interceptions.
"I thought Ben did a good job," Mason said. "He did some nice things."
Rutz came to Nebraska in 1992 and red-shirted the season. He played in four games the following year and transferred to North Eastern Oklahoma A&M junior college before coming to Kansas last season.
"It felt really good to come back here and be able to play." Rutz said.
"It doesn't matter when you lose," Byrd said. "No matter how well you do, it never matters when you lose."
Both Johner and Rutz's favorite target was Byrd, who had four catches for 111 yards.
However, Mason praised his star receiver. "Iaasc Byrd has really emerge as a top-notch receiver." Mason said. "He's really doing a nice job."
Nebraska continued its scoring streak on the first play of the second half when Frost had a nine-yard touchdown run. Kansas was finally able to stop Nebraska on its next series, but Nebraska would go on to score two more times in the half for the final 6-7 score.
Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost leaps over Kansas defenders in Saturday night's game. Frost rushed for 35 yards on six carries and threw for 254 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
Steve Purpe / KANSAN
Kansas senior wide receiver Isaac Byrd watches as an incomplete pass hits the ground. Byrd scored the only touchdown for the Jayhawks in the 63-7 Cornhusker victory.
Steve Puppe / KANSAN
Jayhawks burned by Frost
Quarterback leads Nebraska victory with career high
By Dan Gelston Kansan sportswriter
But the Kansas defense has done wonders for opposing quarterbacks' statistics this season. Utah quarterback Mike Fouts threw for 476 yards against Kansas last month. Entering Saturday, the Jayhawks had allowed 189 passing yards a game.
Frost burned the Jayhawks for 254 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in the No. 5 Cornhuskers' 63-7 defeat of Kansas Saturday night.
Frost did most of his damage in the first half. He was 11 of 15 for 220 yards and three touchdowns in the
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost did more than nip at the noses of the Kansas defense.
Frost began the game as the Big 12 Conference's 12th-rated quarterback and had just four touchdown passes all season.
half. Frost connected with Sheldon Jackson for an eight-yard touchdown, Brendan Holbein for a 20 yard score, and Holbein again from 15 yards out.
Frost also had a 10-yard touchdown run in the first half.
"People think they have quarterback woes," Kansas coach Glen Mason said. "But Frost had a hot hand. Of course, he's got a pretty good supporting cast."
Kansas junior safety Tony Blevins said Frost did a better job than he anticipated.
"I knew he was a good quarterback, probably an underrated one," Blevins said. "But I didn't think he would throw for this many yards against us. It's very, very frustrating for us. I don't know what the solution is. We just have to go back to practice and keep working hard."
Kansas junior quarterback Matt Johner was just as complimentary.
"Frost gets a bad rap because he had a tough act to follow," Johrner said. "I think he showed today he's a big, big part of the success Nebraska has had this year."
Frost is following former Husker
quarterback Tommie Frazier, who was last year's Heisman run-up. Frazier had his number retired prior to the game.
Frost rushed for 35 yards on six carries. His 289 total yards were 20 shy of the Husker quarterback record set by Jerry Tagge in 1971 against Missouri.
Nebraska, 6-1 overall, 4-0 Big 12 Conference, had 595 total yards.
Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said Frost possibly had his best performance of the season.
"I though Scott Frost played very, very well," Osborne said. "He threw the ball well, ran the ball well, ran the team well. There's no question that he's got the skills to be an outstanding player."
Frost said he was helped by some advice Osborne passed on earlier in the week.
"Coach Osborne said I'd been playing too tight, worrying about making mistakes instead of worrying about playing." Frost said. "Tonight I let it all hang out."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Henley's repeat violations exceed tolerance level
Because I have to cancel my Orange Bowl travel arrangements, I'll make it short and sweet today.
After living in Lawrence for more than three years, there are still questions that I have yet to find answers to. Is there really a dome at the Holidome? Who goes to Burrito King at 7 a.m. when it opens? Why can't June Henley keep his nose clean for one season?
It seems to me that when the football gods were constructing Henley, they gave him a Greek-god like torso, crushing forearms, overpowering legs and superb speed. But when the gods went looking to buy common sense, they settled on a generic brand.
Henley reminds me of former New York Yankees reliever Steve Howe. Howe had a mountain of talent due
in large part to the lightning bolt in his left arm. But Steve just couldn't straighten up his act, as he has a serious drug problem. Time and time again, Major League Baseball gave him a chance to come back, and time and time again Howe couldn't live up to his end of the bargain.
No, Henley has never tested positive for drugs, but this is the fifth time that he has been involved in what the Nebraska football coaches call "an off-the-field incident." Events range from failing to pay child support to battery and theft. And after each incident, the public consensus is that Henley has learned his lesson, and that he won't do it again. But low and behold, the one-time Heisman candidate turns up again plastered on page one or
on another police report.
My mercy for Henley is all used up and so should be Coach Mason's. Eric Vann should get the starting nod from here on out.
■ Enough June Henley battering, let's talk football. When the 63-7 disaster was all
said and done, one thing was for certain: right up until the bitter end, Kansas didn't quit.
Kansas also didn't stop the run,
Kansas didn't contain the pass,
Kansas didn't give its quarterback
any time to throw and Kansas flat-
Heck, I'd be willing to bet my tuition that the Chiefs couldn't have beaten Nebraska with the drunken performance they turned in yesterday. But I table my Chiefs conversation for another day.
But let's face it, when the Comhuskers are on their game, there aren't many NFL teams that can stop the Nebraska train from chugging along.
out didn't execute on either side of the ball.
Lastly, watching the Atlanta Braves go down in flames was the
Getting back to the Kansas thrashing. Dr. Tom Osborne's decision to go for it on fourth and one in Nebraska territory up 42 points further proves that Osborne-coached teams run up the score on everything except the ACT.
most entertainment I've seen since VIH-1 aired a Lionel Ritchie 24-hour marathon.
But the results of the World Series just might have been one of the worst things to happen to small-market teams like Kansas City and Milwaukee. The New York front office — which ranks first in salary-spending on its players — has sent a message to other large-market organizations. That message is that World Series championships can be bought. With no salary cap to regulate the spending, the sky's the limit for the large markets, and the burden will fall on small-market organizations that can't afford to pay the colossal contracts for pennant winners.
You can e-mail Bill Petulla at:
sports@kansan.com