Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 38

yj-v Lincoln Journal Star LJ Thursday, November 29, 2007 FOOTBALL if -r i rf il I I IIlIl i 4 Jf. i i v. i-n 0 Tr A -5 Osborne: Search is 'on track' Interim athletic director says a new football coach could be hired by the middle of next week. BY CURT McKEEVER Lincoln Journal Star Tom Osborne talked in a tone that would cause a legion of followers to believe he could end this thing right now. That, if he pulled the trigger and went with someone he's already interviewed for the Nebraska football coaching position, he'd have secured someone who would do the Huskers proud and add one more monumental victory to his legacy.

But, for now, and perhaps as long as into the middle of next week, NU's interim athletic director is keeping his safety switch on. Speaking on the Husker Sports Network's "Sports Nightly" on Wednesday, Osborne said a search that was in its fifth day was "pretty much on track," but that he's weighing two schools of thought and isn't necessarily done talking with Osborne has interviewed LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and University of Buffalo head coach Turner GUI, both of whom have ties to NU. Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe also has been linked to the opening, while another news outlet reported Nebraska had requested permission to speak with Cincinnati's Brian Kelly, who refuted that report. ESPN reported Wednesday night, citing unnamed sources it said were "familiar with the that Gill and Pelini are the final two candidates and that Osborne had phoned others to tell them the process was "winding to a close." Regardless of what you believe, Osborne said during his radio appearance that he's keeping his interview options open. "You can overwhelm yourself with numbers to where you're talking to so many people that you don't really remember what the last person you interviewed said," he said.

"On the other hand, you want to have a large enough pool that you were able to really examine some of the best qualities that some of the best coaches have. And I think we've been able to do that "I'm not saying that we're done yet, but I think we're really in pretty good shape right now." One of Osborne's schools of thought is to find a coach who "either played at Nebraska or has been at Nebraska and understand(s) the culture. They understand where North Platte is and where Oshkosh is, and they know the importance of football to young people in this state. They know what walk-ons meant to the program in the past." Osborne also recognized that "an experienced coach with a solidified staff can come in here and sometimes save himself a lot of time and grief simply because they all have a common terminology. They know each other.

Their systems are well in place and they don't have to spend several months trying to figure out what each one of them is meaning by a certain term." Sounds like he's got some tradeoffs to juggle. How long, then, might it take for his arms to get so tired that he'll feel compelled to come with an offer? Hopefully, next week. "But if it takes longer, it takes longer," Osborne cautioned. "We would hope that we would be moving along pretty well by at least the middle of next week." Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeeverjournalstar.com. Associated Press file photos Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr (15) sneaks over the goal line late in the 1967 NFL Championship Game to score the winning touchdown.

The game, which was dubbed "The Ice Bowl" because it was played in temperatures that were well below zero degrees Farenheit, sent the Packers to their second straight Super Bowl. Starr was the first star quarterback in the Packers-Cowboys rivalry that will be renewed tonight with young gun Tony Romo (bottom left) leading Dallas against future Hall of Famer Brett Favre of Green Bay (right). RIVALRY REBORN Cowboys, Packers playing in another high-stakes contest quarter. With 28 seconds left, the Packers led 34-27, but Meredith had the Cowboys inside the 1. Instead of a tying touchdown, he threw an interception.

"The first year, we probably had too much respect and awe for Green Bay," Lilly said. "The second year, we felt like we were a better team. But by the end of the game, we were hoping to get away alive." That's what it was like playing in the Ice Bowl. The wind chill at kickoff was 48 below, leaving stories of frostbite that guys still felt today. "Every time I get cold I start to shiver, and the first thing I think of is the Ice Bowl.

It was just a bad experience," Adderley said. The Packers probably don't hurt as much because they won21-17onal -yard sneak by Starr with 13 seconds left. It was supposed to be a handoff, but he decided to keep it himself because he feared a running back might slip on the frozen field. Had Starr not scored, the clock would have run out BY JAIME ARON The Associated Press IRVING, Texas With their five Super Bowl trophies and the "America's Team" label they treat like a birthright, it's easy to forget the Dallas Cowboys were once nothing more than wannabes who kept getting turned away by Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. To call their early meetings a rivalry wouldn't be fair to the Packers.

They were the kings of the NFL and Tom Landry's Cowboys were just another team aiming for the crown. Drama arrived in 1967 with championship games played on the very first day of the year and the very, very frigid finale. Both games were decided by one play in the final half-minute. Green Bay came through both times, then went on to beat the AFL champions in the first two Super Bowls. "So the Cowboys were only two plays away from it being the Landry Trophy instead of the Lombardi Trophy," said Herb Adderley, a Hall of Fame defensive back on those Packers teams who later played in two Super Bowls in the playoffs and gets the tiebreaker, making it a two-game lead with four to play.

It really means that this game could determine whether the NFC championship which could be yet another high-stakes Dallas-Green Bay game is played at Texas Stadium or Lambeau Field. "It's certainly the most significant game at this stadium since the last time we played Green Bay and Brett Favre in the (1995) NFC championship game," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. Favre is 0-8 at Texas Stadium, having lost every regular season and postseason matchup from 1993-95, then again in '96, when the Packers were headed to their first Super Bowl title since the late '60s. He lost one more in '99 and hasn't been back since. "Troy and I talk about that every time he does one of our games," Favre said.

"Most of the times we lost down there it was in the playoffs. Good thing was, they went on to win the Super Bowl in all those. We hope that mat's different this year. I know they're playing as well as they were back then." Romo is a big reason for Dallas' latest success, and his story adds to the intrigue of this matchup. A Wisconsin native, he grew up during Favre's prime.

No matter how much Romo has denied this week that he patterned himself after Favre "Honestly, I was a basketball fan," he said just watch them for a few series Thursday night and decide for yourself. (Well, you can watch if you have NFL Network. But that's another story.) During his youth in Packerland, Romo probably learned all about the history of the Dallas-Green Bay series. It goes something like this: Lombardi and Landry had been assistant coaches together on the New York Giants, each leaving to run these teams. The Packers won the first three meetings, but the margin was whittled down each time.

They also played every preseason, so Green Bay knew Dallas was an up-and-coming club when they met at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1967, with the NFL title on the line. Green Bay led 14-0 before Dallas quarterback Don Meredith hit the field, but it was tied at the end of one tor trie Cowboys. Yeah, that's enough to call it a ri- Adderley discovered just how deep those near-misses hurt when he was traded to the Cow QCT valrv- especially when you add in what happened in the 1990s, when boys two years later. "Right on the bulletin board in the Inrkpr rnnm it sairi I'M r-i i.

ii i I jSf Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin led Dallas to three Lombardi Trophies, repeatedly denying Green Bay's Brett Favre and crew a chance to reclaim cA0Qt toarc QnH mrn their franchise's glory. "Payback time is what I Adderley recalled. "It was a genuine hatred for the Packers. I used to wear my Green Bay championship called it," Hall of Fame defensive tackle Bob Lilly said, laughing. The Dallas-Green Bay rivalry moves into a third generation tonight, If rings and that upset people in Dallas, so I stopped.

They never wanted to hear about the Packers or Lombardi. Never." Chris Jenkins in Wisconsin of The Associated Press contributed to this report. when Favre and the 10-1 Packers visit Texas Stadium to face Tony Romo and the 10-1 Cowboys. The winner moves a game up in the race for home-field advantage i 1 lUI GREEN BAY AT DALLAS 7 EM. Fantasy factor: Packers RB Ryan Grant averaged 112.8 yards from scrimmage last 5 games.

Cowboys WR Terrell Owens 2nd in NFL with 13 TD catches. The Buzz: Old gun Brett Favre vs. new guy Tony Romo. Packers' amazing season built around passing game, but will that be enough on road in matchup of NFC's best? Terry Bannon, Chicago Tribune Prediction Dallas 31 Green Bay 27 NFL Network Un Cowboys by 7 Last time: Packers 41-20 (2004) i Huskers Continued from Page ID Nebraska. I suspect they've had to answer some difficult questions." With Osborne out of the office recruiting, and with no interim coach in place, Cassidy and other members of the Nebraska support staff are working to keep things afloat in Lincoln.

"There's plenty to keep us busy," Cassidy said. "At this time of year, with the exception of the recruiting, it's not a difficult task, because typically this time of year, the coaches would've been on the road anyway." What's in Cassidy's future? With his former employer, Texas hiring his good friend and former colleague Mike Sherman this week, Cassidy understands there will speculation about the possibility of him returning to College Station. Cassidy, an Omaha native, wouldn't deny interest but also said he's "gainfully employed" and very happy in Lincoln and working with Osborne. "Tom Osborne has been unbelievable to me," Cassidy said. "He is exactly what you see.

He's treated me with the absolute, utmost respect. He's been great to work with." Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or Drosenttiaiejournalstar.com. Daniel chosen Big 12 Offensive Player of Year Chase Daniel, who elbowed his way into the Heisman Trophy forefront while leading Missouri to its first No. 1 ranking since 1960, was a unanimous pick Wednesday as the Associated Press' Big 12 offensive player of the year. Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton, the top playmaker on a defense that will try to slow down the Tigers in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday night, is the defensive player of the year.

Prolific Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, a freshman who leads the nation in receptions, is the offensive newcomer of the year. The defensive newcomer of the year is Kansas freshman defensive back Chris Harris, who helped the Jayhawks win their first yi games and rise to No. 2. Missouri is the only school in the country to score 30 points in every game and everything revolves around the unflappable Daniel. He's among the top five in the nation in touchdown passes (33), completion percentage (70.5), total offense (351) and passing yards with a knack for coming up with big plays.

The latest example came In the Big 12 North title game last week, when Daniel was 40-for-49 for 361 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-28 victory that also spoiled Kansas' unbeaten season. "You saw it, America saw it," coach Gary Pinkel said. "This guy is special, and America got to see how special he is." The last unanimous choice as conference offensive player of the year, Texas quarterback Vince Young in 2005, led the Longhoms to a national title that year. Lofton, a junior, played a pivotal role in Missouri's lone loss when he returned a botched handoff from Daniel to Jeremy Maclin for a touchdown that helped Oklahoma pull away for a 41-31 victory in mid-October. He also had 18 tackles in the game.

Coach Bob Stoops called Lofton, by far the Sooners' leading tackier with 132 stops, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, the most productive linebacker in school history. "The guy has just been amazing at causing turnovers and making plays. He's been the most productive linebacker we've ever had," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. Crabtree is the top target in Texas Tech's high-scoring offense with 125 receptions, a 14.9-yard average and 21 touchdowns. Harris started nine games for Kansas, stepping after an injury to returning starter Kendrick Harper, totaling 61 tackles and an interception.

BAYLOR HIRES BRILES: Houston coach Art Briles is next to take on the task of pulling Baylor out of the Big 12 basement. Greeted by enthusiastic applause, Briles flashed the school's trademark bear claw sign to supporters when he walked into a crowded room to be introduced as Baylor's 25th coach. Briles got a seven-year contract that will pay him up to $1.8 million per season, Including all incentives. Briles, who turns 52 Monday, had four years left on his Houston contract with a base salary of $900,000 annually. Briles replaces Guy Mor-riss, who was fired Nov.

18 after five seasons. Morriss' firing came the day after the Bears (3-9) completed their 12th straight losing season with their 12th consecutive Big 12 loss, 45-14 to Oklahoma State. USC MAY MAKE ROSE BOWL HOME: Southern California is negotiating with Rose Bowl officials to begin playing home football games in Pasadena next year. A potential lease agreement will be considered at a Dec. 6 meeting of the Rose Bowl Operating Company, USC officials said in a written statement USC, which has played at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1923, would have to share the Rose Bowl with its football rival, UCLA, which already plays home games in Pasadena.

UCLA's lease runs through 2023. SPURRIER VISITS DUKE: A familiar name from Duke's football past was on campus Steve Spurrier. The South Carolina coach was at Cameron Indoor Stadium meeting with athletic director Joe Alleva, two days after the Blue Devils fired coach Ted Roof. A school spokesman said the two are old friends. Earlier this week, Alleva said he planned to consult with Spurrier during his search for a replacement for Roof, who went 645 in four-plus seasons leading the Blue Devils.

Spurrier was 20-13-1 from 1987-89 at Duke, leading the school to its most recent Atlantic Coast Conference title in 1989 before leaving for his alma mater, Florida. ROBINSON TO RETURN TO SYRACUSE: Embattled Greg Robinson will have another season to get Syracuse turned around. Athletic director Daryl Gross announced that Robinson will remain as coach in 2008, despite leading the Orange through the worst three-year stretch in the history of the program, Including the first two 10-loss seasons in school history..