Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 39

HUSKER EXTRA Lincoln Journal Star Sunday, November 5, 2000 Hi Humble Crouch happy with win 'We put last week behind us it's so hard to do but we've done Eric Crouch BY STEVEN M. SIPPIE Uncdn Journal Star Above all Eric Crouch wants the TrV." He typically brushes off questions about personal stats like he whisks dust off his jacket But he admits his eyes lit up upon hearing his 127 noshing yards in Saturday's 56-17 triumph against Kansas pushed him past Steve Taylor as Nebraska's all-time leading rushing quarterback. "I'm just very honored to be in a group of elite players who have been there and done that and have toughed it out," said Crouch, a junior from Omaha "It's not always easy being a ninning quarterback you take a lot of bumps and bruises and you play a lot of games when you're hurting. "It's a big accomplishment, and I really have to credit everybody who surrounds me on this team." The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder, now 22-4 as a starter, has rushed for 2,152 career yards, topping Taylor's total of 2,125 "from 1986-88. It seemed fitting that Crouch topped the rushing record in a game in which Nebraska pounded its foe with its power running game.

The No. 5 Huskers, now 8-1, finished with 493 yards on the ground, battering 4-5 Kansas with mostly simple stuff. It was the perfect pick-me-up for an offense that performed sluggishly last week in a 31-14 loss at Oklahoma Crouch analyzed the loss and decided to focus on improving offensive tempo. He worked this week on getting nis teammates into and out of the huddle quickly, and then getting them to the line of scrimmage in good time. 'It sets the tone, and we're able to control the game more by doing that," Crouch said.

"I think it gets everybody's adrenaline going when you're consistently pushing to get to the line. "You get in a rhythm. You get in that zone. That's what happened today. We executed very well." Nebraska had 106 rushing yards by the end of its second series.

And by the end of the first half, both Crouch (127 yards) and I-back Dan Alexander (119) topped the century mark rushing. Crouch had four TDs by half-time, on runs of 1, 1,3 and 1 yards. That tied another Nebraska QB record. There was little need for the passing game. Crouch was 3-for-3 for 15 yards, including a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end Tracey TED KIRKUncoln Journal Star Senior l-back Correll Buckhalter (36) stretches the ball over the goal line for a third-quarter TD as Kansas' Ervin Holloman (95) tries to make the tackle.

Playing the power game Wistrom on a ball that was tipped by two KU defenders. "When the running game's working so well, and you can pick and choose from your playbook, and you're getting first downs and a lot of yards, there's not much reason to go away from it," Crouch said. Which is fine by him, anyway. He prefers to run, hence the rushing record. In addition, Crouch passed Taylor and moved into fourth on the school's all-time total offense chart.

His 4,945 yards stand 531 behind Tommie Frazier's record 5,476. Which is all well and good for Crouch as long as Nebraska wins. He said earlier this week the Huskers needed to play as if they were "on a mission" for the rest of the season. "I was really impressed with the week of practice we had," Crouch said. "The tempo was high, the energy was there.

Coming off a big loss, and doing what we needed to do (today). I'm very proud of everybody on this He was particularly pleased with the offensive line, which had a sub-par day against Oklahoma "I think this shows a lot of their character and the type of heart they really have," Crouch said. "Coming off a big loss last week, it's kind of hard not to talk about it and have it motivate them. They know they have to keep doing it. "We put last week behind us it's so hard to do but we've done it Today showed a lot and meant a so much smoother and lighter for teams that win.

After Saturday's game, it was pointed out that a couple of Crouch's touchdowns followed drives during which the I-back canned the load. "I never feel guilty when I get a touchdown," Crouch said, smiling. "The I-backs did a great job today, and I don't control the plav-calling. I just hear a call and go in and nui a play and try to get in the end zone." The plan worked well Saturday. "It's a huge win for us to get back on track and re-establish the running game," Crouch said.

Huskers go back to basics 'i Sip. BY STEVEN M. SIPPIE Lincoln Journal Star Nebraska I-back Dan Alexander felt a return to the basics was in order. Enough of this fancy stuff, he told himself. Enough or this work on being more elusive once he reached the open field.

"I had been concentrating more on the end part of my runs instead of what to do to get there in the first place," he said. "I started getting ahead of myself." Saturday, the 6-foot, 245-pound Alexander concentrated on his strength, which is, of course, his strength. He plowed through Kansas defenders, knocked them to the ground, stiff-armed them. When the dust cleared, he had 1 19 yards on 23 carries and Nebraska had an impressive 56-17 triumph. "We're known as a power team, and we wanted to get back to that," Alexander said.

Oklahoma pulled the plug on Nebraska's power rushing game last week, bruising the Huskers 31-14. But Nebraska lit up Kansas for 493 rushing yards, with three Huskers topping 100 yards on the ground for only the second time in school history. I -backs Ken Clark and Terry Rodgers and quarterback Steve Taylor accomplished the feat in a 46-17 win against Arizona State in 1988. Crouch finished with 127 yards on 13 carries, and backup I-back Conell Buckhalter had 100 yards on 16 attempts. Nebraska stuck to the basics, essentially bypassing the passing game.

The Huskers rarely even turned to the option attack. Diversity wasn't necessary. Nebraska head coach Frank So-lich insisted the emphasis on the power game against Kansas wasn't in response to last week's failures at Oklahoma, where Husker 1-backs were limited to 13 carries. "We just wanted to give Kansas a real good dose of the power game early on and see exactly where they stood and where we stood," Solich said. Nebraska's opening drive was a rowerful dose, all right one that knocked Kansas on its heels.

Alexander rushed six' times for 55 yards during a seven-play, 56-vard march that Crouch capped with a 1 -yard sneak. The tone had been established. It was as if Kansas (4-5) had been inept at stopping the run. The Jayhawks ranked 35th nationally, allowing 1192 yards per game com- TED KIRKLincoln Journal Slar l-back Dan Alexander (38) bets a block from right tackle Dave Volk (58) and breaks through the Kansas line on a second-quarter run. ptutsltar.

Tit. I 1 k-- Here's what NU's top two coaches said when asked to talk about areas after Saturday's game: i mm mm I Frank Sofch, head coach and offensive coordinator: "We're going to work on getting a lot of guys healthy. But really, we didn't play a perfect game. I thought when we called upon the passing game a time or two early, it looked good. But we'll continue to work hard on that phase of the game.

And we'll keep working on the power game and option game. One thing ingin. "When our guys get rolling I'm not surprised by anything," Solich said. "We have great confidence in our running game, and we wanted to make sure everybody understood that." Kansas probably understands. "We have very physical backs," Solich added.

"Those guys didn't get much of a chance to show that in the Oklahoma game. But that's behind us." Alexander topped 100 yards for the sixth time this season, and Buckhalter, also a senior, did it for the fourth time. "All the credit goes to those guys blocking up front, said Buckhalter, a 6-foot, 225-pound native of Collins, Miss. Nebraska wore down Kansas like a boxer takes the air out of a foe with body blows. "I think they were tired of getting hit, tired of tackling, "Alexander said "We were having fun, but we weren't overly excited.

We knew we had to play four quarters of BOHL SOLICH I've learned is that about the time you think you're doing pretty well in an area, and you back off on it, it falls off dramatically." Craig Bohl, defensive coordinator: "I thought there were a few times we might have cut some receivers loose there's a couple reasons why. But we need to make sure we have everybody covered. For the most part, I think we've done a pretty good job matching up with receivers this season. But today there were a couple times we had some receivers running open." ROBERT BECKERLincoln Journal Slar Husker quarterback Eric Crouch fights off Kansas' Andrew Davison (24) on a first-quarter run. GAME BALLS MSipJe4 1 1 (Matiy 1 Hamtileton McKeverjLK Toniu Fonoti Jeremy Slechta John Gibson Carlos Polk Sure, this one could easily go to Eric Crouch or Dan Alexander or Correll Buckhalter.

Sorry, men, everybody already knows you were on top of your games Saturday. The left guard Fonoti was a big reason for that too. Earlier this season Slechta couldn't remember exactly which game he dropped two potential interceptions. "Triey both hit me right in the hands," he said. "Earlier in the week, I didn't have it padded up (his cast) and I caught one, so this was easier." Maybe he just needed a cast He made his thirckiuarter interception Saturday by snagging the ball with his broken right hand before bring The senior wingback from Pa-pillion had just one catch for 7 yards, but what a reception it was.

"Btgtime catch" is what NU receivers coach Ron Brown called Gibson's grab on fourth-and-5 early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jammal Lord delivered a high rocket of a throw toward the sideline, and Gibson somehow got both hands on it while keeping his left foot in bounds. Judd Davies "He came with everything he's got" said teammate Jeremy Slechta. Polk threw Kansas QB Dylen Smith for a 4yard loss on the opening play of the game and never let up, even when the score got out of hand. Polk was one of the ringleaders trying to keep the starters on the field.

He finished with six tackles three fa losses and ruined any chance had of making it a game. ing it toward his body with both hands. "I didn't think I'd catch it but somehow I hung on," he said. Hmmmmm. Slechta has the size to play tight end.

scored on the next play, and while it might not seem like a key touchdown, it cant hurt NU's status with the BCS number cnjnchers. "We o5d some special things to allow him to free up," NU ctefensfvecccrdiriatiyQBigBortsaid; "He made play after play-".