THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2006
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
SPORTS
3B
Cornhuskers poised for comeback
BY SHAWN SHROYER
The Nebraska Cornhuskers say they're back. It won't take long to find out if they're right.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Five weeks later, Nebraska will face the team USC fell to in the national title game — Texas.
On Sept. 16, the Huskers will travel to Los Angeles to take on last year's BCS runner-up, Southern California.
But if any Nebraska team in recent years is prepared to run this gauntlet, it's this one. Of the 15 starters the Cornhuskers return from last season, nine are seniors and eight return on offense. That will prove invaluable to a team trying to — at last — prosper in coach Bill Callahan's west coast offense.
"I think experience is something we didn't have a whole lot of last year," senior quarterback Zac Taylor said. "This year, everybody's a lot more comfortable with each other, a lot more comfortable in the system. We know what to expect and we've been through all the ups and downs."
The 90s were full of ups for Nebraska as they trounced opponents regularly, never winning less than nine games. By those standards, the Cornhuskers have been down recently, failing to reach nine wins three of the past four seasons.
This season, the defense looks set
Nebraska schedule
Sept. 2 - vs. Louisiana Tech
Sept. 9 - vs. Nicholls State
Sept. 16 - at Southern California
Sept. 23 - vs. Troy
Sept. 30 - vs. Kansas
Oct. 7 - at Iowa State
Oct. 14 - at Kansas State
Oct. 21 - vs. Texas
Oct. 28 - at Oklahoma State
Nov. 4 - vs. Missouri (Homecoming)
Nov. 11 - at Texas A&M
Nov. 24 - vs. Colorado
*Source: Nebraska Athletics
Department
to reclaim its daunting "Blackshirt" persona and the offense appears ready to unleash an aerial assault that's been in the works since Callahan arrived in 2004.
In 2005, Taylor started all 12 games for Nebraska, completing 237 of 430 passes for 2,653 yards and 19 touchdowns. However, he had -41 net rushing yards.
As a result, Callahan knows Nebraska won't be able to beat the likes of USC the way Texas did last season with Vince Young.
"Zac is a pro-style quarterback," Callahan said. "We don't ask him to get out there and run the speed option on the edge."
Instead, the Huskers will find speed in the backfield with sophomore running back Marlon Lucky. As a true freshman last season, Lucky played in every game, mainly returning kicks.
If Nebraska chooses to go with a "thunder and lightning" combo in the backfield, 230-pound sophomore Cody Glenn will bring the thunder. As a true freshman last season, Glenn rushed for 131 yards and four touchdowns.
At receiver, Nebraska returns its top two from last season in sophomore Nate Swift and junior Terrence Nunn. The two combined for more than 1,000 yards last season, and scored seven touchdowns apiece.
Also rejoining the mix will be senior tight end Matt Herian, who missed all of last season with a leg injury.
Seniors Greg Austin, guard, and Kurt Mann, center, are the Cornhuskers' only returning starters on the line.
On defense, the Blackshirts will feature two preseason All-Big 12 selections and two underrated cornerbacks in the secondary.
On the line, senior defensive end Adam Carriker has been dubbed a preseason All-American in addition to his all-conference honors. Last season Carriker recorded 17 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks. Senior defensive end Jay Moore is Nebraska's other returning starter on the line.
At linebacker, the Huskers return all three linebackers they had startin-
early early last season in senior Stewart Bradley and juniors Corey McKeon
and Bo Ruud.
McKeon led the team in tackles last season with 98 and was second on the team with seven sacks, which helped him earn all-conference honors this preseason. Ruud was third on the team with 80 tackles last season, while Bradley missed the last seven games last season because of a knee injury.
Nebraska fans can also expect big things from senior Zackary Bowman and junior Cortney Grixby, who are returning to the starting lineup at cornerback.
The two haven't received much preseason attention, but they did combine for three interceptions and 24 pass breakups last season. Bowman said their friendship off the field has helped them perform on the field and by the end of the season, he is confident they will get the attention they deserve.
"In practice we're always pushing each other — who's going to get the first interception or who's going to make the first tackle," Bowman said. "I don't see anybody out there better than us."
Senior Andrew Shanle and junior
Tierre Green are the leading candidates to fill the free safety and strong safety spots, respectively.
With so much the same on Nebraska's roster, there will be one difference. Bowman said the Cornhuskers would go into games this season with a mindset that they will win.
That mentality will be essential for a team that will face last season's title contenders.
"That's just part of going back up to the top. We've been kind of falling down, but now we're moving our way back on up," Bowman said. "To prove to people that we're back on top, we've got to play the best teams."
Kansan sportswriter Shawn Shroyer can be contacted at sshroyer@ kansan.com.
Edited by Erin Wiley
NCAA (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
more magical in this world than witnessing the birth of your first child, football be damned.
I give the utmost props to Eric Butler for making a wonderful decision. To give up football temporarily to care for his child, that's a beautiful thing. I've seen and know plenty of people who have given up their parental duties for much less than a game.
Eric Butler's ruling.
So regardless of whether Eric Butler ever plays college football again, he has something that the game can never duplicate: the pride and joy of being a father.
Kansan sportswriter Fred A. Davis III is a Topeka senior in journalism.
Edited by Natalie Johnson
POKER (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
was definitely one of the spectacles in the room. Every photographer and video crew in the room came by at least once to snap shots, so it was a little aggravating and distracting, but you have to put up with it."
Jensen resumed action Aug. 2, and survived to the third day of play. On that day, he lost the biggest pot of the day after an opponent went all-in with his chips, and Jensen called it with a straight.
What would have been a fourth place finish on the third day turned on 65th place.
The fourth day of play, there was a $200,000 average, and Jensen was in a bad spot with only $100,000.
When three opponents called a hand, Jensen decided he was safe to throw in all of his chips, the first time he had done so the entire tournament.
He went all-in before the flop cards, hoping to intimidate the other players to fold to win their blinds and antes. That didn't happen, and an opponent flopped an ace, costing Jensen the hand and knocking him out of the tournament one hour into the fourth day.
Of the more than 8,000 entrants, the top 873 players end in the money, and Jensen finished 417th, taking home $30,514. The 2006 World Series of Poker Champion was Jamie Gold, 37, of Paramus, N.J., who won the $12 million top prize.
Jensen credits his success in poker to his understanding of human tendencies.
"You really have to understand people, whether you're playing live, at a casino or online," he said. "I know my tendencies as a human being, so it helps me better understand and interpret other's tendencies. I think just understanding people and relating with other people is the best way to get inside someone. Once you get inside of someone and you know what they're thinking, you can manipulate them to basically take their money or to beat them."
Kansan sportswriter Claudia Alterman can be contacted at calterman@kansan.com.
Edited by Brett Bolton
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