The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 23

The Salina Journal Thursday, August 31,1995 F3 Reloaded Husker line ready for '95 season Colorado worft use youth as an excuse By The Associated Press Teams listed according to Big Eight summer poll. 1. NEBRASKA LINCOLN, Neb. Nebraska center Aaron Graham is already tired of answering the question of the day: Will the "new" Corn- huskers line do the job for the national champions? "This is Nebraska," said Graham, the only returning starter from last year's behemoth line that opened holes for the nation's best rushing attack. "We don't drop down, we reload or however they say that." Last season's line averaged 295 pounds, gave up just six sacks and was called for only four holding penalties in leading the team to its llth national rushing title.

I But the "Pipeline" is gone. The i burden of protecting quarterbacks Tommie Frazier and Brook Berringer falls to Graham, senior guard Steve Ott, junior tackle I Chris Dishman and two sopho- mores, guard Aaron Taylor and tackle Eric Anderson, who pulled a hamstring on the first day of practice. At quarterback, Nebraska will start Frazier. Frazier's blood clots are gone; his throwing is better and he is 21-3 as a starter. Returning to the lineup for his junior season is I-back Lawrence PHillips, a leading contender for Heisman Trophy.

He was the nation's third-leading rusher with 1,722 yards last year. 2. COLORADO BOULDER, Colo. Rick Neuheisel can't hide his youth or his team's and he doesn't try. At 34, he's the second-youngest head coach in Division I-A, and his Colorado team has only eight seniors, having lost 10 players to the NFL draft last spring.

Over the past decade, the Buffaloes have consistently produced blue-chip recruiting classes, and that stockpile will be tested in 1995. Colorado went 11-1 last year, finishing No. 3 in the nation. In The Associated Press preseason poll for this season, the Buffs were slotted at No. 13.

By far the key player coming off the shelf is junior quarterback Kqy Detmer. Neuheisel says Detmer will direct a balanced offense with slightly more passing emphasis in 1994, when Rashaan Salaam rushed for 2,055 yards en route to winning the Heisman. Three sophomores Herchell Trjoutman, who ran for eight touchdowns last year; Lendon Henry and Marlon Barnes are battling for Salaam's vacated tailback spot. Colorado boasts perhaps the nation's best interior line in center Bryan Stoltenberg and guards Heath Irwin and Chris Tackle A Good Deal SPORTS 913-826-4900 I 1311 W.Crawford BELOIT HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULES SJ Sept.1.... SepL 8...

Sept, 15.. Sept. 22 Sept. 29 8 Oct. 13....

Oct. 20.... Oct. 26.... BELOIT Southern Cloud At Pike Valley Open Waconda East Mankato At White Rock Jewell At North Center Hlllcrast BELOIT Sept.

1 Clay Center Sept. 8 AtConcordia Sept. 15 At SE Salina Sept. 22 At Ellsworth Sept. 29 Minneapolis Oct.

6 Chapman Oct. 13 At Smith Center Oct. 20 Plalnvllle Oct. 26 AtB.llevllle JBtl9lt 201 S. Mill 738-3501 riSUNFLOWER 1.800-748-M81 Belolt and CawKerClty PORTRAITS BY STRUBLE UllS.MUl Belolt, Ks.

738-2351 1 GO BLUEJAYS! Jet. 1-800-750-5393 Beloit BIG EIGHT SCHEDULE AUGUST 31 Nebraska at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m.; Ohio at Iowa State, 7 p.m. SEPTEMBER 2 Temple at Kansas State, 6:10 p.m.; Colorado at Wisconsin, 7 p.m.; Cincinnati at Kansas, 1 p.m.; North Texas at Missouri, 6:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER 9 Iowa State at TCU, 7 p.m.; Kansas State at Cincinnati, 6 p.m.; Oklahoma State at Tulsa, 6 p.m.; Colorado State at Colorado, 8:45 p.m.; Kansas at North Texas (Irving, Texas), 1:30 p.m.; Bowling Green at Missouri, 1 p.m.; Nebraska at Michigan State, 11 a.m.; San Diego State at Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER 14 TCU at Kansas, 7 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 16 Iowa at Iowa State, noon; SW Missouri State at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m.; NE Louslana at Colorado 1:10 p.m.; Missouri at Texas Tech, 6:30 p.m.; Arizona State at Nebraska, 1 p.m.; SMU at Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER 23 UNLV at Iowa State, 1 p.m.; Akron at Kansas State, 6:10 p.m.; Oklahoma State at Wyoming, 1 p.m.; Texas at Colorado, 2:30 p.m.; Houston at Kansas, 1 p.m.; NE Louslana at Missouri, 1 p.m.; Pacific at Nebraska, 1 p.m.; North Texas at Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m. SEPTEMBER 30 Northern Illinois at Kansas State, 1:10 p.m.; Oklahoma State at Tennessee, 3 p.m.; Colorado at Oklahoma, 7:45 p.m.; Washington State at Nebraska, 1 p.m.. OCTOBER 7 Oklahoma at Iowa State, 1 p.m.: Missouri at Kansas State, 1:10 p.m.; Kansas at Colorado, 1:10 p.m. OCTOBER 14 Iowa State at Kansas, 1 p.m.; Kansas State at Oklahoma State, 2 p.m.; Missouri at Nebraska, 1 p.m.; Oklahoma vs.

Texas (Dallas), 1:30 p.m. OCTOBER 21 Colorado at Iowa State, 12:10 p.m.; Kansas State at Nebraska, 1 p.m.; Oklahoma State at Missouri, 1 p.m.; Kansas at Oklahoma, 1 p.m. OCTOBER 28 Oklahoma State at Iowa State, 1 p.m.; Kansas at Kansas State, 12:10 p.m.; Nebraska at Colorado, TBA; Oklahoma at Missouri, 1 p.m. NOVEMBER 4 Iowa State at Nebraska, 1 p.m.; Oklahoma at Kansas State, 1:10 p.m.; Colorado at Oklahoma State, 2 p.m.; Missouri at Kansas, 1 p.m. NOVEMBER 11 Kansas State at Iowa State, 1 p.m.; Oklahoma State at Oklahoma, 1 p.m.; Missouri at Colorado, 1:10 p.m.; Nebraska at Kansas, 1 p.m..

NOVEMBER 18 Iowa State at Missouri, 1 p.m.; Colorado at Kansas State, 1:10 p.m.; Kansas at Oklahoma State, 2 p.m.. NOVEMBER 24 Oklahoma at Nebraska, 1:30 p.m. DECEMBER 2 Oklahoma State at Hawaii, 11 p.m. Naeole, but Clint Moore's broken foot makes the left tackle position a question mark. 3.

OKLAHOMA NORMAN, Okla. One of Howard Schnellenberger's pat lines at the start of fall practice was that his eight-month honeymoon as Oklahoma's new head coach was about to end. In truth, the fun should continue at least the first three weeks of the season. The Sooners' first three games, all at home, are against San Diego State, Southern Methodist and North Texas. Those teams combined to win just 12 games last season.

The Sooners can stand some easy afternoons to get a handle on Schnellenberger's offense. No one would benefit more than quarterback Eric Moore, a redshirt freshman who won the starting job in the spring. What makes Schnellenberger breathe a little easier is that Moore is surrounded by experience. Running backs Jerald Moore (no relation), Jeff Frazier and James Allen are all veteran players who can run and catch. Jerald Moore may be on the verge of becoming a dominant player.

He ran for 659 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore last season, but played only nine games due to a hamstring injury. 4. KANSAS STATE See story on Page 1. 5. KANSAS See story on Page 1.

6. MISSOURI ST. LOUIS Coach Larry Smith doesn't have the greatest bunch of talent to work with for his second season. Half of the 44 first- and second-stringers are either freshmen or sophomores and some of them may end up starting. But at least they have a new playing field.

Out with the hated, slippery Omniturf, in with natural grass. That, along with a cushy early schedule, are the only positives as the Tigers face another uphill climb. That leads to step two in the rebuilding program: a light schedule. Missouri opens at home Sept. 2 against North Texas State.

Before they begin the Big Eight schedule, the Tigers also hope to load up on the likes of Bowling Green, Texas Tech and Northeast Louisiana. Missouri appears to be strongest on the offensive and defensive lines, linebacker and running back. Tailback Brock Olivo played sparingly the first five games, but ended with freshman school- record 641 yards and five touchdowns, including a 151-yard effort against Kansas State. But quarterback is a question mark. Corso, a junior who was the backup to Jeff Handy the past two seasons, has thrown only 69 passes and has been injured both years.

7. OKLAHOMA STATE STILLWATER, Okla. As he begins his first season as head football coach at Oklahoma State, Bob Simmons has 16 players who were starters last season. The trouble is, they started on a team that only won three games. Saying Simmons faces a long and difficult task in turning around the program is the height of understatement.

Oklahoma State hasn't had a winning season since 1988 and hasn't won a Big Eight game since 1992, a stretch of 18 games. And the Cowboys are thin, as Simmons found out during spring workouts. But the Cowboys are not void of talent. Tailback Andre Richardson was the Big Eight's offensive newcomer of the year as a freshman last season, when he ran for 774 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Another tailback, junior David Thompson, had 819 yards a year ago.

Quarterback Tone' Jones threw for 1,468 yards and eight touch- NEW 65- TO 145-HP JOHN DEERE SERIES TRACTORS RIDE THE ALL-NEW BREED OF POWER I All-new engine performance I All-new John Deere designed hydraulics Three all-new transmissions All-new cab All-new productivity GOOD A DEAL MORE HAUED IMPLEMENT COMPANY INC. Located 2 miles south of Wal-Mart South 81 Highway 825-2141 Salina, Ks. BIG EIGHT CAPSULES By Scrlpps Howard News Service COLORADO LAST SEASON- 11-1. COACH Rick Neuheisel (1st year). RETURNING STARTERS 14.

KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE OB Kordell Stewart, RB Rashaan Salaam, WR Michael Westbrook, OT Derek West, TE Christian Faurla, LB Ted Johnson, CB Chris Hudson, DTs Oarlus Holland, DT Shannon Clavelle. TOP RETURNEES QB Koy Detmer, RBs Herchell Troutman (244 rushing, 8 TDs), Lendon Henry (4.5 per carry), WRs Rae Carruth (14 catches, 18.2 per catch), Phil Savoy (17 catches, 16.2 per catch), Bryan Stoltenberg, DE Qreg Jones (6 sacks), LB Matt Russell (105 tackles), Steve Rosga (74 tackles. 4 Donnell Leomltl (3 TOP NEWCOMER DT Aaron Marshall. KEY STAT Got 2,710 total yards from Stewart, the league's all-time total offense leader. GOING BOWLING IF Adjust quickly to Neuhelsel's new schemes; Detmer, fine WRs keep explosive offense flying, secondary grows up quickly.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IF Brutal early schedule (Wisconsin, Colo. State. Texas Okla. In first 5 weeks) leads to Injuries, team misses former coach Bill McCartney. IOWA STATE LAST SEASON- 0-10-1.

COACH Dan McCarney (1st year). RETURNING STARTERS 12. KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE TE Dan Dostal, OGs Doug Ragaller, Jim Thompson, OT Brian Wilkinson, RB Calvin Branch, Ty Stewart, NG Troy Peterson, DE Anthony Scott, IBs Marc Ullibrldge, Marcus Allen, Cedrlc Linwood. TOP RETURNEES QB Todd Doxzon (745 passing, 3 TDs, 375 rush- Ing), RBs Rodney Guggenheim (332 rushing), Calvin Branch (320 rushing, 19 catches, 4 TDs), WR Mike Horacek (22 catches, 2 TDs), Matt Straight (51 solo tackles), LB Tim Sanders (124 tackles). TOP NEWCOMER LB James Henderson.

KEY STAT Last in nation In rush defense (272.8 per game, 5.7 a car- ry). GOING BOWLING IF No way. McCamey has become tough guy getting rid of six players from what could have been nation's worst team. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IF Count on it. How many bowl teams start two walk-ons on the offensive line? KANSAS LAST SEASON 6-5.

COACH Glen Mason (8th year. 33-45-1. BOWL RECORD- 1-0. RETURNING STARTERS 13. KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE OT Mark Allison, OGs Hessley Hempstead, John Jones, QB Ashelkl Preston, WR George White, DTs Darnell Brltt, Sylvester Wright, LB Don Davis, DE Harold Harris, LB Ronnie Ward (Injured), CB Kwamle Lasslter, SS Tony Blevlns (Injured), Gerald McBurrows.

TOP RETURNEES RBs L.T. Levlne (803 rushing, 6.3 per carry. 11 TDs), June Henley (599 rushing), WR Ashaundal Smith (22 catches, 19.4 per catch), OTs Rod Jones. Scott Whltaker, DT Brett McGraw (3 sacks). TOP NEWCOMER OB Ben Rutz.

KEY STAT Worst pass defense in Big Eight (229.5 yards per game, 60.6 percent completions, 14 TDs). GOING BOWLING IF- Defense responds to new coordinator Mike Han- kwltz, juco transfer Rutz or incumbent Mike Williams provides leadership. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IF Defense keeps falling apart on third- and-long situations. Off. line falls to jell.

KANSAS STATE LAST SEASON 9-3. COACH Bill Snyder (7th year, 3631-1). BOWL RECORD- 1-1. RETURNING STARTERS 16. KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE QB Chad May, RB J.J.

Smith, OTs Barren Brooks, Jim Hmlelewskl, DT Darrell Herbert, LB LB Kirby Hocutt. TOP RETURNEES WRs Tyson Schwelger (44 catches, 7 TDs), Kevin Lockett (39 catches, 15.0 per catch), Mitch Running (31 catches), DT Tim Colston (64 solo tackles, 8 sacks), CB Joe Gordon (11 pass breakups), Chuck Marlowe (96 tackles, 3 blocked kicks), LB Percell Gasklns (83 tackles, 5 sacks). TOP NEWCOMER OT Ryan Young. KEY STAT FWh In nation in scoring defense (14.2 per game). GOING BOWLING IF Awesome defense, led by Colston, remains nasty; untested QB Matt Miller gains confidence against soft early schedule (Temple, Cincinnati, Akron, Northem Illinois In first 4 weeks).

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Miller Inconsistent, wasting talented WRs, mean schedule down stretch Kansas, Okla. in last 5 weeks) wears down defense. MISSOURI LAST SEASON- 3-8-1. COACH Larry Smith (2nd year. 38-1).

BOWL RECORD 0-0. RETURNING STARTERS 11. KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE QB Jeff Handy, RB Joe Freeman, WR Brian Sallee, Kyle Pooler, IBs Darryl Major. Travis McDonald, Andre White, CB Kevin Mclntosh. DE Mark Pedrotti.

TOP RETURNEES RB Brock Olivo (641 rushing. 5 TDs), WR Rahset- nu Jenkins (40 catches), OG Mike Morris, OT Chris Buck, NT Steve Martin (12 tackles for loss). LB Daryl Chatman (98 tackles), Demontie Cross (138 tackles), CB Clayton Baker. TOP NEWCOMER Terence Binlon. KEY STAT Next-to-last in league in every defensive category, last in rushing offense (107.9).

GOING BOWLING IF- Tigers learn how to win at home (0-6), junior Brando Corso steps up to take Hendy's place, running game emerges. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IF Jenkins does not play amid rape allegations, opponents continue to trample Tigers (98th in nation in rushing defense, 235.4). NEBRASKA LAST SEASON- 13-0. COACH Tom Osborne (23rd year, 219-47-3). BOWL RECORD- 9-13.

RETURNING STARTERS 12. KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE OTs Rob Zatechka, Zack Wiegert. OGs Joel Wilks, Brendan Stai. RB Cory Schlesinger. DT Terry Connealy, LBs Donta Jones, Troy Dumas, Ed Stewart, CB Barron Miles, Rover Kareem Moss.

TOP RETURNEES OBs Tommie Frazier (2,159 career passing yards, 1,351 career rushing yards, 48 TDs), Brook Berringer (1,295 passing, 10 TDs in 1994). RB Lawrence Phillips (1.722 rushing. 16 TDs). Aaron Graham, DT Christian Peter (7 seeks). LB Phil Ellis (7 tackles for loss), CB Tyrone Williams (3 TOP NEWCOMER RB Ahman Green.

KEY STAT- Huskers converted almost half their third-down attempts (45.1 percent) while holding opponents to 28.7 percent. GOING BOWLING IF With 26 consecutive postseason trips, Huskers are cinch for No. 27. Run for repeat national title hinges on rebuilding off. line.

Frazier-Berringer staying away from QB controversy. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IF Forget that, but lesser bowl awaits if defense misses lost LBs and has trouble against run. OKLAHOMA LAST SEASON- 6-6. COACH Howard Schnellenberger (1st year). RETURNING STARTERS 18.

KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE Scott Blanton. WR Albert Hall, DE David Campbell. TOP RETURNEES OT J.R. Conrad. QB Garrick McGee (1.909 passing.

8 TDs. 13 RBs Jerald Moore (659 rushing, 10 TDs). James Allen (543 rushing) WR P.J. Mills (29 catches, 14.9 per catch). DE Cedric Jones (14 sacks), LBs Tyrell Peters (101 tackles), Mario Freeman.

TOP NEWCOMER QB Justin Fuente. KEY STAT Held Nebraska to 13 points, Cornhuskers' lowest total of year. GOING BOWLING IF Schnellen- berger motivates talented team; fast, experienced defense turns dominant. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IF McGee is slow recovering from bout with viral meningitis; Sooners again flop in big games (0-4 against Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas St, Texas, and outscored 112-40.) OKLAHOMA STATE LAST SEASON- 3-7-1. COACH- Bob Simmons (1st year).

RETURNING STARTERS 16. KEY PLAYERS TO REPLACE WRs Rafael Denson, Kris Lofton, RB Joe Jefferson, TE Derek Jones. OT Tyler Williams, LBs Line Harden. LB Eric Hobbs. TOP RETURNEES RBs Andre Richardson (774 rushing.

6.4 per carry), David Thompson (819 rushing. 5 TDs), QB Tone Jones (1,468 passing, 8 TDs. 14 LBs Jevon Langford (8 sacks). Louis Adams (69 tackles, 2 Greg Ivy (44.0 per kick). TOP NEWCOMER RB Nathan Simmons.

KEY STAT Jones' 14 ints. led Big Eight. GOING BOWLING IF Fat chance. .500 is possible if Jones cuts down on mistakes, off. line matures, defense forces more turnovers.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS IF Sorry offense (95th in nation In scoring, 16.4) does little, tired defense crumbles. Mean schedule (Neb. in opener. Tennessee, K-State back-to- back) hardly helps. downs as a sophomore last year.

He will begin his third year as the starter. The defense has 12 players who started at least one game a year ago, led by outside linebacker Jevon Langford. 8. IOWA STATE AMES, Iowa Whatever it is that new coach Dan McCarney and his staff are selling, Tim Sanders is buying. "We need to believe in what they're telling us," the Iowa State linebacker said.

Sanders and his victory-starved teammates are looking to McCarney to rescue them from the basement of the Big Eight Conference after their 0-10-1 finish last season. There's some talent on offense with quarterback Todd Doxzon, running back Troy Davis and wide receivers Mike Horacek and Ed Williams. But the offensive line is thin and not as strong as McCarney would like and the defense needs a major patch job after finishing last among 107 Division I-A teams against the run last season. If winning football starts with defense, it's no wonder Iowa State was winless. While Sanders made 126 tackles last fall, he's on the small side at 6-feet and 213 pounds.

None of the other linebackers is very big, either, and there are no standouts in the defensive line. What the defense needs more than anything, McCarney said, is a big-play performer. Last season, had only eight sacks. McCarney said freshmen and walk-ons' will be given every chance to play this fall, especially on defense. You And Tony's Pizza Service! Be sure to make Tony's and Red Baron Pizzas a part of your football game festivities.

We Moke Quality 3019 Scanlan TT" Salina. Kansas.