FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2005 BIG 12 FOOTBALL
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
Big moves in Big 12 for Nebraska football
BY DANIEL BERK
dberk@kansan.com
KANSAN SENior SPORTSWITTER
Editor's Note: This is the seventh of 11 articles previewing Kansas' competition in the Big 12 Conference. The articles will run every day from now until Sept. 1. Monday the Kansan will look at Iowa State.
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UPCOMING NEBRASKA GAMES
2005 Nebraska Football Schedule
Date Opponent Location
9/3/2005 Maine Lincoln, Neb.
9/10/2005 Wake Forest Lincoln, Neb.
9/17/2005 Pittsburgh Lincoln, Neb.
10/1/2005 Iowa State Lincoln, Neb.
10/8/2005 Texas Tech Lincoln, Neb.
10/15/2005 Baylor Waco, Texas
10/22/2005 Missouri Columbia, Mo.
10/29/2005 Oklahoma Lincoln, Neb.
11/5/2005 Kansas Lawrence
11/12/2005 Kansas State Lincoln, Neb.
11/25/2005 Colorado Boulder, Col.
It's year two of the Bill Callahan era at Nebraska and for Cornhusker fans, it's time to win.
Source: www.huskers.com
Nebraska endured a tough first season under Callahan with a 5-6 record. This season, Callahan is more confident heading into the season because his team is more familiar with the offense that he brought from the NFLs Oakland Raiders.
Even though last year's record was not what Callahan wanted, he said his team learned a lot last year, and it would help them this season.
Jerome Kemp, then sophomore safety, takes down Dane Todd, then sophomore fullback, in the third quarter of the last season in Lincoln, Neb. The Cornhuskers will make their visit to Lawrence this season November 5.
"The biggest thing that I think we have all taken from our first year at Nebraska as a staff, of course, with the players, is we have learned how to overcome adversity," Callahan said. "It's tough to come into any situation transitionally and all of a sudden try to create trust and try to create instant credibility with your players."
Callahan isn't the only one who thinks this year is going to be more successful. Seppo Ewvaraye, senior offensive tackle, feels more comfortable under the new offense and said he
thinks the offense will be able to score more points and move the ball more efficiently.
Kansan file photo
"I remember the first year I was with the playbook terminology, and it looked like Hebrew to me and a bunch of other guys," Evwaraye said. "This year it wasn't the same. We remembered a lot of stuff from the season."
It will be the same offense this season as last, but a different quarterback will be taking the snaps.
"I will tell you, Zac has an upper hand predicated on the experience. It is going to be competitive," Callahan said. "For all those guys, it's going to be interesting in terms of their battles."
Callahan has yet to name a starter for Nebraska's opener against Maine. Junior college transfer Zac Taylor is the favorite to win the job and was named the preseason Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year by the media.
The wild card in the quarterback race is freshman Harrison Beck. Beck was highly recruited coming out of high school last season, and was considered the first big recruit signing of Callahan's tenure.
Taylor played his junior college ball at Butler Community College in Kansas, and has impressed coaches since joining the team.
The most stable position on offense will be running back. The Cornhuskers return leading rusher Cory Ross, who ran for 1,102 yards last season and scored six touchdowns. His strongest performance of the year came against Missouri, in which he rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, the biggest unit to replace will be the secondary. The Cornhuskers lost two defensive backs to the NFL, Josh Bullocks and Fabian Washington. The team only returns one starter in the defensive backfield.
The one returning starter is Bullock's twin brother, Daniel. Daniel Bullocks is on a number of award watch lists heading into the season, and Callahan said he was expecting Bullock to be a leader on the
field for the young players.
"We are leaning on his leadership to provide us a catalyst on defense," Callahan said. "He will be spearheading a young secondary. Secondary is where we lost three starters from a year ago, so his leadership, his ability to communicate, put people in the right
spots will be pivotal for us as we begin this season."
Nebraska's first real test of the season will come Sept. 17, against Pittsburgh. Other important games for Nebraska will be Oct. 22 at Missouri and Nov. 5 at Kansas.
BASEBALL
- Edited by Erick R. Schmidt
Dwight Gooden turns himself in
TAMPA, Fla. - Former baseball star Dwight Gooden turned himself in at a county jailThursday, three days after police said he fled a DUI traffic stop.
Gooden, 40, showed up at the jail warrants facility about 5 p.m., police spokeswoman Laura McEliroy said. He had been missing since early Monday, when an officer pulled over his 2004 BMW near downtown Tampa on suspicion
of drunken driving.
He twice refused to get out of the car for a field sobriety test, then drove away suddenly, police said.
Gooden, who has a history of substance abuse and currently has a domestic violence charge pending in the court, was booked on a felony charge of fleeing police, and misdemeanor charges of DUI and resisting arrest without violence.
He was being held without bondThursday night, McElroy said Gooden is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning for a hearing to revoke his
pond on the March domestic violence charge.
"We're relieved that he has come forward, and this may be the first step toward him getting the help he needs," McElroy said.
Police looking for Gooden had talked to his attorney, Peter Hobson, on Wednesday about the possibility of Gooden surrendering, but he did not indicate if or when it was going to happen, McElroy said.
Hobson contacted the Hillsborough sheriff's office earlier Thursday and made arrangements for Gooden to surrender, sheriff's spokeswoman
Debbie Carter said.
A call to Hobson's Tampa office was not immediately returned.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella said Gooden's situation is sad.
"He needs to get his life in order." Piniella said before Thursday's game against Cleveland. "He's a good young man. He just needs to get his priorities straight. He's got a long life ahead of him and a lot of people that care about him. The only problem is he's got to help himself."
The Associated Press
Robinett
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
ushers to open the doors in the middle of winter isn't. Sitting in a cramped and warm Allen Fieldhouse for two hours tip-off isn't fun.
Before football games, after a couple hours of tailgating, I am able to show up an hour ahead of time and get a seat ten rows up.
Memorial Stadium is also hardly ever cramped.
My final reason is convenience. If the football team is victorious, tomorrow will always be Sunday. I can sleep in, allowing me to party
if the football team is victorious tomorrow will always be Sunday.
all night long. a weekday basketball game sends me straight to bed.
Even though I think football games are more fun than basketball games, the best part about being a KU student is that I don't have to choose between the two. I can enjoy both.
♦ Robinett is an Austin, Texas,
junior in journalism.
earview Baptist Church
Service
Sunday School Sunday Morning Sunday Evening Wednesday Ever
Time
9:45 am
10:30 am
6:00 pm
7:00 pm
Louis R. Turk, Pastor
35800 West 102nd Street
De Soto, KS 66018
913-583-1144 (church)
913-375-1670 (pastor)
www.ClearviewBaptist.us