St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 14

I SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1992 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH OCT 2 5 sports COLLEGE FOOTBALL FresGi Fa COS Frazier Evokes Memories Of Quarterback Greats By Jim Thomas Of the Post-Dispatch Staff COLUMBIA, Mo. Years from now, Nebraska football fans may look back on the afternoon of Oct. 24, 1992, as the dawning of the Tommie Frazier Era. "He's going to be a great franchise," Cornhuskers I-back Derek Brown said.

No, not a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. More like a franchise player. Frazier, believed to be the first freshman ever to start at quarterback for Nebraska, looked like equal parts Turner Gill, Jamelle Holieway and Phil Bradley on Saturday against Missouri. He threw for 157 yards and ran for 79 yards and three touchdowns in Nebraska's 34-24 victory. There are no and his back ailing this week.

That was ocuse enough for the Nebraska braintiust to make way for Frazier, a USA T)day All-American from Manatee High in Bradenton, Fla. felt Tommie had progressed when he deserved a chance to start," coacr Tom Osborne said. "And that was Wth two byes in the previous three weeks, the Nebraska staff had plenty of tine to look over Frazier in practice. Nonethless, this was a startling devdopment by Nebraska standards for couple of reasons: Most Cornhuskers normally are a few months shy of Medicare before the earn a starting berth. Osborne is a stckler for player development, and he can recite the depth chart well into the third team to prove it.

Unlike Mizzou, which has switched quarterbacks midway through its ninth consecutive losing season, the 'Huskers still have a lot to play for. Namely, a national ranking and a Big Eight title. If that weren't enough, the big, bad Buffaloes from Colorado visit Lincoln next week. So this was a risky time to be changing quarterbacks. "It was a gamble, but it wasn't too big of a gamble," said Gill, the former 'Huskers quarterback great who is now an assistant coach at Nebraska.

"He has great athleticism. He can throw the football and he can run it. You saw also he has great poise." Which is just about the whole package. But the Nebraska coaching staff discovered another Frazier talent on a fourth and goal from the Mizzou 5 with the game on the line in the fourth quarter. "He has a 36-inch vertical jump, I found that out," Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said with a laugh.

Rolling out to his right on the play, Frazier seemingly waited too long before deciding to scamper toward the end zone. He was hemmed in at the 3-yard line. Then he made like Carl Lewis and leaped into the end zone. "He showed me that he's got winner written after that last name of is," McBride said. "He took it upon himself.

He knew he had to get it in, and he got it in." Frazier said: "I was just determined to go in there and get in the end zone anyway I could." The touchdown gave Nebraska a 34-24 lead with 2 minutes 9 seconds to play. Osborne didn't announce that Frazier was starting before the Mizzou game, saying he wanted to spare his new quarterback the media spotlight. But Osborne didn't hesitate to say that Frazier probably would start against Colorado. Frazier took the party line on the subject. "It's hard to say right now because hopefully Mike will be back in," Frazier said.

"And the coach says that a player can't lose his position by an injury." An exception appears to be in order here. Frazier, after all, has the makings of a great franchise. Questions About Running Attack Bring Tigers' Koetter To A Boil "Mmmaaafefr -I- III mnjn 1111 "'HI Ml III II III HI I I II i III- I I Ifll I' -Ml-l -rfW-l I AP Missouri's Antwan jonnson (left) and Chuck Cole tackling Nebraska's Tyrone Hughes following a punt return in the first half of Saturday's game in Columbia. numerical indexes to measure poise, athleticism and determination, which Frazier displayed in ample amounts. And did we forget confidence? "There were a couple mistakes on the audibles and stuff, but other than that I thought my overall game was an said Frazier, who bears a slight facial resemblance to former Mizzou quarterback Ronnie Cameron.

OK, Professor Frazier. How will you remember your first day running the vaunted 'Huskers offense? "It's just my first career start at Nebraska," Frazier said. "There's going to be many more starts like this, so I'm just going to remember it as my first one." Fifth-year senior Mike Grant had started the 'Huskers' previous five games. But his performance was so-so, MIZZOU NOTEBOOK media." All My Quarterbacks, After junior quarterback Phil Johnson's streak of 18 starts was broken last week, he minced no words in expressing his displeasure. MU coaches said he had the right to say whatever he pleased, but several players questioned that later in the week.

Guard Mike Bedosky told the Columbia Missourian, "I'm really kind of disappointed in the way Phil's handled it I think you need to have a little reserve and a little class when talking about it." Saturday, Bedosky said, "It was a little tirade; he went on for a little bit. But I think he's all right now. I was kind of in shock he said the things he did. I didn't expect it." Johnson didn't play against Nebraska. Catching Bouquets: MU's receivers particularly Victor Bailey, Mike Jadlot and Kenny Holly made frequent improbable, lunging catches Saturday.

"You can't say enough about the receivers," Koetter said. Bailey, who had eight receptions, said, "Coach Kevin Faulkner stays on us about not only trying to make the easy plays but trying to make the difficult catch, too." Holly, who has at least one recep again, but the 'Huskers got the ball back after Handy's ill-advised pass over the middle was swiped by NU's Kenny Wilhite (Oakville High) and returned 49 yards to the Mizzou 20. As it did all day, MU's defense bristled inside its 10-yard line. But on third and goal at the 9, Frazier picked up his own fumble, retreated to his left to elude Mizzou defenders, then scurried to his right to the 1. On fourth down, Nebraska's Derek Brown, who finished with 148 of NU's 335 rushing yards, sprang over the MU line to make it 21-14 with 4:49 left in the half.

After an MU drive sputtered in 'Husker territory, Nebraska took over with 1:21 to go in the half and zipped downfield for a 26-yard field goal as time ran out to make it 24-14 at halftime. "When they wanted to, they moved the ball on the ground and made some plays," Stull said. But MU didn't crumple at halftime. And the Tigers didn't deflate after kicker Jeff Jacke shanked a 47-yard field goal attempt at the end of MU's 11-play half-opening drive. After Nebraska kicker Byron Bennett followed suit by missing a 41-yard attempt, MU again pierced the 'Husker defense.

On third and 3 at the Nebraska 39, Handy lofted a pass to Victor Bailey, who had Nebraska defenders Steve Carmer and Tyrone Byrd draped over him And then caught it for a 39-yard out and and threw a touchdown strike to Abdul Muhammad who inexplicably dropped the ball in the end zone. Could it be the Tigers' luck had changed? Not quite. Though it deserved to win, Mizzou couldn't get the upper hand. Perhaps the program remains cursed. "We don't worry about all the curses," Stull said.

"We try to play hard and get a play or two into the end zone and win a game." Bob Stull is a graduate of Kansas State. KANSAS STATE! Does this explain his 4-20 Big Eight record or what? Barry Switzer played at Arkansas. He knows big-time football. He knows prep stars don 't choose schools for academic integrity, if you get our drift. This message paid tor by the Angry Alumni For Switzer Campaign.

When compared to previous poundings absorbed against Nebraska -like 50-7, 69-21 and 63-6 the past three seasons this game provided Mizzou a moral victory. "We are lot more competitive, even if we are losing," Stull said. "But I think we're extremely tired of losing. It doesn't make any difference how close we come." By Vahe Gregorian Of the Post-Dispatch Staff COLUMBIA, Mo. After Jeff Handy set or tied three Big Eight Conference passing records in his first collegiate start last weekeend, and after Handy threw for more yards (424) Saturday against Nebraska than any quarterback ever had, Missouri offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wasn't exactly enthralled with questions about MU's anemic running game.

In Mizzou's 34-24 loss to Nebraska, the Tigers managed just 22 yards rushing on 22 carries. "We didn't run the ball great. What's new about that?" Koetter. "But we're a passing team, and I'm a little tired of apologizing for our running game, as a matter of fact. "We're a damned good passing team Not that he wouldn't like to see the Tigers run more efffectively.

"If you can do both, you're going to be better off," he said. "Look at Nebraska. Nebraska is the best running team in the country and their passing game stinks. "It's hard to do both. If it was easy, everybody would do it.

We can't worry about it. We have to play with what we've got. We're not going to sit there and beat our heads against the wall to try to run the ball to please the Mizzou From page one for attempts (73) and completions (43) last week, finished with 29 completions in 44 attempts for 424 yards the most yardage any quarterback ever has thrown for against Nebraska. Beginning with Handy's 34-yard pass to Mike Jadlot, the Tigers drove 80 yards on five plays to make it 14-7 on a 1-yard run by Mark Jackson (Kirkwood High). "We just went back to work," Stull said, adding, "Everybody talks about emotions, but the thing that really creates emotions are plays." Emotions were further stoked after the Tigers held the 'Huskers on three plays on the next series.

On third and 1 at its own 36, normally efficient Nebraska made the rare blunder of committing an illegal procedure to set it back to third and 6. MU held I-back Calvin Jones to 2 yards on the play, and the Tigers took over on their own 39 after Kenny Holly's 17-yard punt return. This time, it took MU just four plays to go the distance. Sparked by Ronnell Kayhill's 41-yard catch and run to the Nebraska 13, the Tigers then scored on Handy's pass to A.J. Ofodile to make it 14-14 with 11 minutes 19 seconds to play in the half.

MU stopped Nebraska on downs Gordon From page one or three games this season." Bob Stull came to Mizzou as one of college football's most coveted young coaches. The disastrous Woody Wi-denhofer regime left the program in ruins, and Coach Stull is rebuilding it brick by brick. Progress is being made. Do we want a cheat-and-spend maverick at our state university? Missouri deserves an honorable coach. This message paid for by the Optimists Behind Stull Campaign.

When a series of breaks went the Tigers' way in the second half, it appeared their losing spell might finally break. Handy hung a pass that Cornhuskers free safety Tyrone Byrd should have intercepted. But as he cut in front of Victor Bailey, he hit teammate Steve Carmer and Bailey emerged with the football and a touchdown. Under great duress, Cornhuskers quarterback Tommie Frazier rolled tion in 18 successive games, had seven catches for 70 yards. Jadlot, who played in place of injured Brian Sal-lee, had five catches for 90 yards.

"Whenever the ball goes out there, I try to zone out and give 100 percent lor it," Jadlot said. Sallee, who suffered a sprained ankle against Oklahoma State, suited up but did not play. "I can't complain. I couldn't have done any better," Sallee said. Action For Jackson: Sophomore Mark Jackson, a Kirkwood High product, saw his most extensive playing time at MU and scored his first collegiate touchdown.

It came on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. "We started to get a rhythm, and they just kept me in there and things went right at the time," said Jackson, who had 23 yards on 10 carries. On his leaping touchdown, he said, "The line did a good job getting under their linemen. I didn't want to take too much time trying to find holes." Noteworthy: Center Doug Hem-brough left the game because of a sprained ankle in the first half and did not return. He was replaced by Matt Burgess.

Nebraska's Kenny Wil-hite, from Oakville High, had a 49-yard interception return in front of 23 friends and relatives who attended the game. touchdown as Byrd and Carmer collided. "I can't see anything but the ball," said Bailey, who didn't know what befell Byrd and Carmer. That trimmed it to 24-21 Nebraska with 7:17 to play in the third quarter. Nebraska then mounted a glittering 16-play drive that consumed 7:21 but resulted in just a 26-yard field goal by Bennett to make it 27-2 1 MU again responded, moving from its own 17 to a first and goal at the Nebraska 9.

But momentum was dashed when Nebraska's Alberts took advantage of a missed blocking assignment by MU to drop Mark Jackson for an 8-yard loss on second and goal from the 6. The Tigers, who rushed for just 22 yards, had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Jacke. But 27-24 was as close as it would get. MU held Nebraska on the next series, but a Handy pass to Jadlot hit Carmer on the head and bounced to NU's John Reece, whose interception gave Nebraska the ball at MU's 49. "It hit off his facemask and into the cornerback's hands," Bailey said.

"Our mouths just opened. Not again. Why does this happen to us?" Said MU guard Mike Bedosky: "The tipped ball was just another fluke of nature. Just like the blocked field goal last week." Nebraska then drove in for the score, finishing the drive on Frazier's sensational leap into the end zone on fourth and 5 with 2:09 to play. Or does it? Last season, the Tigers got hammered 227-73 in their last five games.

They were beaten up and demoralized. These Tigers have fewer victories but much more going for them. Stull-bashers will have to give the team a little credit. Missouri doesn't need slush funds and $100 handshakes to rebuild its football program. It needs patience and stability.

And who is more patient and stable than Bob Stull? Do you want NCAA investigators opening a branch office on Broadway? Huh? This message paid for by the Optimists Behind Stull Campaign. In the end, this game provided Tigers fans gripping entertainment but ambiguous results. Is Stull really going to turn this thing around? Well maybe he could, but this guy just absolutely, positively has to win games to prove something. "We're just not quite good enough to make the plays we needed, I guess," Stull said. "We're coming closer, but our rewards are victories, not coming closer." The struggle continues.

I Forest NEBRASKA MISSOURI 14 0 FIRST QUARTER NEB. Frazier 3 run (Bennett kick), 5:32 NEB. Frazier 7 run (Bennett kick), 0:21. SECOND QUARTER MU Jackson 1 run (Jacke kick), 14:25 MU Ofotile 13 pass from Handy (Jacke kick), 11:19 NEB. Jones 1 run (Bennett kick), 5:49 NEB.

Bennett 26 FG, 0:00. THIRD QUARTER MU Bailey 39 pass from Handy (Jacke kick), FOURTH QUARTER NEB. Bennett 26 FG, 14:56 MU Jacke 25 FG, 10:13 NEB. Frazier 5 run (Bennett kick), 2:09. TEAM STATISTICS Huskers First downs 29 Third down efficiency 7-15-47 Total net yards 492 Total offensive plays 84 Rushes-yards 64-344 Passing yards 157 Total return yards 49 Passes 9-20-0 Sacks-yards lost 1-5 Punts Fumbles-lost 3-1 Penalties-yards 5-48 Time of possession 35:50 Tigers 24 6-12-50 466 66 22-22 424 21 29-44-2 0-0 2-1 5-54 24:10 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Att.

Yds. Avg. Huskers TD 0 3 1 0 0 TD 0 1 0 0 0 Brown 25 Frazier 14 Jones 17 Lewis 7 Hockins 1 Tigers Att. Freeman 3 Jackson 10 Kayhill 5 Handy 3 Schlef 1 148 77 74 28 8 Yds. -1 23 9 5.9 5.5 4.4 4.0 8.0 Avg.

2.3 1.8 0.0 PASSING Huskers Att. Comp Yds. Int. Frazier 20 9 157 0 Tigers Att. Comp Yds.

Int. Handy 44 29 424 2 RECEIVING Huskers No. Yds. Lg Jones 2 42 24 Brown 4 53 22 Hockins 2 52 43 Bell 1 10 10 Tigers No. Yds.

Lg Freeman 2 14 10 Bailey 8 159 39 Holly 7 70 17 Jadlot 5 90 34 Kayhill 4 64 41 Gardner 2 14 13 Ofotile 1 13 13 TD 0 TD 2 TD 0 0 0 0 TD 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 PUNTING Huskers No. Avg. Stigge 4 43.8 Tigers No. Avg. Pooler 3 42.0 PUNT RETURNS No.

Yds. 2 4 No. Yds. 4 21 Huskers Hughes Tigers Holly Lg 4 14 TD 0 TD 0 KICKOFF RETURNS Huskers No. Yds.

Hughes 3 56 Tigsw No. Yds. Jackson 1 17 Madison 1 21 Lg 26 Lg 17 21 TD 0 TD 0 0 Save Forest Park's Centennial Trees Give to the Tree Trust The Tree Trust was launched in February of 1 990 to protect, maintain and increase Forest Park's 1 50,000 trees. Since thousands of individuals and organizations have contributed to the effort. This year, the focus is on saving the centennial trees, which are mostly swamp oaks.

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