8B
Wednesday, August 16, 1995
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Nebraska junior
i-back Lawrence
Phillips averaged
143.5 yards a game
last season and is a
preseason All-
American and a Heisman Trophy
candidate.
BIG EIGHT
CONFERENCE
SERVICE BUREAU
'Huskers hungry for consecutive title
By Matt Irwin Kansan sportswriter
After years of hearing that he hadn't accomplished what his predecessor had, that is, win a national championship, Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne will try to do former coach Bob Devaney one better. Osborne will try to win consensus national championships in consecutive seasons, as determined by the various national college football polls.
"We will get the best from every team every week because we are the defending national champions," senior quarterback Tommie Frazier said. "Our job is to approach each team like it is the best of the year."
Perhaps that thinking is the reason the last team to repeat was Coach Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma Sooners in 1955 and 1956. Since then, four teams have won a national championship one season and shared first place a second season.
If the Cornhuskers are going to repeat, they will have to do it with a new motivation and with several new starters.
Last season, the team was motivated by their 1994 Orange Bowl loss to Florida State and the fact that their esteemed coach had not won a national championship.
"Everyone wanted it for Coach Osborne," senior linebacker Phil Ellis said. "It was a relief for him. To win the national championship again and to win the Big Eight are motivational factors, but it's not as great."
Ellis said that motivation may come from the fact that some players did not participate much last season.
"A lot of seniors left, so everyone is working hard to get that starting job," Ellis said. "We've got some new
guys coming in, but talentwise we're as good or better than we've been."
Besides trying to motivate the Cornhuskers, Osborne also will have to replace seven defensive starters, four starting offensive linemen and a starting fullback. Seven of these players were drafted by NFL teams.
The toughest group to replace may be the offensive linemen. In leading the way to the national championship, the line was compared to the best offensive lines of the past and was called the best line ever by some of the media.
Osborne, who has always had superb run-blocking lines, said that last season's line may have been the best ever.
"Going into spring football I was reasonably concerned about our offensive line but not extremely concerned about that area," Osborne said. "Our backfield is
intact except for Cory Schlesinger. We should be as strong there as ever."
One advantage for Nebraska is that they have two quarterbacks with starting experience. Although senior Tomnie Frazier is a Heisman candidate, he still has to compete with senior Brook Berringer for the starting job.
"They are very capable players." Osborne said. "We feel very confident playing two in a game. I think in the fall one will emerge as the dominant QB, but they will both play."
The backup quarterback may see even more playing time this season. Nebraska plays seven games at home and will face four new Big Eight coaches. Nebraska's road games are Aug. 31 at Oklahoma State, Sept. 9 at Michigan State, Oct.28 at Colorado and Nov. 11 at Kansas.
Kansas State claws its way up Big Eight
By Erlin Johnson
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas State lost quarterback Chad May to the Minnesota Vikings this year, but all is not lost for the Wildcats.
Senior quarterback Matt Miller, who learned how to read defenses and be a good leader by watching May last season, will help lead the K-State offense this fall. K-State football coach Bill Snyder said Miller was a quality leader for the Wildcats.
"He is not a Chad May. Matt can play and win at Kansas Stale," Snyder said of the Texas A&M transfer. "The downside is that he has not logged a lot of playing time. He needs the opportunity to get on the field and make things happen."
Miller said his experience working with May had helped him become a more confident player. However, following in the footsteps of May will be a challenge.
"There is pressure on me. I think any time you're in a Top 20 program there is going to be pressure on you," Miller said. "I think it's a
good challenge. In my life, I like to set goals and challenges. This is just one that I've got to work to get. If you want to learn, it can be a good experience to be behind someone like Chad May."
In addition to Miller's strong arm, the Wildcats have receivers Kevin Lockett, Tyson Schwieger and Mitch Running, who were the top three receivers in the Big Eight Conference last year. Snyder hates to think of the offense as weak this year without May, but admits there are holes to fill.
The Wildcats lost J.J. Smith, who had 1,073 yards rushing last year. But sophomore running backs Eric Hickson and Mike Lawrence are expected to help lead the Wildcat offense.
Snyder also said the Wildcats would have a chance to be a respectable defensive club. The team returns the conference's top three defensive ends including Nyle Wiren, who received first team All-Big Eight honors last season.
"We have to do the same things we've been doing," linebacker Percell Gaskins said of the K-State defense. "We need to play hard. Our defense is predicated on speed, and we have
some guys that can really off the ball. We're going to do what we always do."
"It's an offense's dream to have a defense like ours," Miller said. "I think they're going to do marvelous things this year. I think they're going to be extremely difficult to move the ball against this year."
Some were skeptical of how good the Wildcats really were before they finished second in the Big Eight behind Nebraska last season.
"Not everyone believed Coach Snyder could do it, but he's made believers out of a lot of people," Gaskins said. "When I came here, we said we were going to get after it and just try to get better. I've never seen people work so hard."
As they do every year, the Wildcats have high expectations, with their main goal being to win the Big Eight.
"I feel we can compete with the top teams in the nation," Miller said. "Each game we expect to win. That's what we shoot for and if we don't get it we're not happy. You can't just look at Nebraska and say that's the game that's going to give us the Big Eight Championship."
Paul Kotz / KANSAM
Kansas State junior wide receiver Kevin Lockett eludes a Kansas defender last season. Lockett was a second-team All-Big Eight Conference selection.
AND FOR THE HOME TEAM
Back-to-school means back-to-sports. And where's the best place to watch your favorite sporting event? Molly's, of course. We've got more than enough televisions to keep you covered. and our great specials are sure to be a hit.
MOLLY'S FOOD AND DRINK SPECIALS ARE SCORING POINTS AND MAKING FANS.
$1.00 Drafts
$2.25 Margaritas on rocks
$1.75 Domestic bottles
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Fridays
$2.25 Mr. Beers
$2.95 Long Island & Long Beach tea
Saturdays $2.25 Selected Imports Sundays $1.25 Drafts
Mondays
Tuesdays
$1.00 off Burgers
59 cent Tacos
$4.95 Flautas
$8.95 KC Strip dinner
Fridays
Chicken Fried Steak $4.95 Lunch $6.45 Dinner