The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 33

Friday, December 15, 1972 The Uswl gtor SFOOT SJGf juu.y'niu. By lid Brow Start On Playoff Systom Hardly anyone is challenging Southern Cal'i right to the title as the nation's No. 1 college football team at this time and perhaps for that reason there has been little talk about staging football playoffs daring this break between the regular season and the beginning of the bowl games. defeats the Trojan? If that what if Ohio State happens, yacre bead to hear why shorida't football have toes la alt other sports. i vt vuw bwiis ufiock uic iivjaua, uic vwcia ui sue Associated Press trail would then be left to decide who's me No.

1 team in the country i Trojans and the winner of the in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's mwm. wmm pA Yfi Villi Sr a Ana comes io mat ue national cnampion wouia indeed be a mythical one, leaving enough room to keep bar room and coffee shop arguments going until the first kiekoff of next fall The bowl setup this year presents what amounts to three-fourths of an. opening round in a playoff system. The I.J 1 mm i Z. uuw wgicw payoii sysiem woun Be one prong ue winners the seven major conferences, pins the top independent team.

3 The Rose, Sugar and Cotton eight teams. Southwest Conference champion Texas faces Southeastern Conference champion Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, Pacific lEicht kin? Southern Cal eoes against Bu? 10 chamn Ohio CState in the Rose and Big Eight I Close To Tears 38TH ANNUAL WINNER By HAL BROWN Star Sports Editor New York City Johnny Rodgers has experienced a great deal of pain in his three years as a Husker football star, but the first Nebraskan ever to win the Heisman Trophy has come the closest to breaking up in his greatest moment of triumph. He had another of the latter experiences here Thursday night in accepting the award as the 38th winner of the annual Heisman Trophy. In making his acceptance speech, Rodgers came dose to breaking into tears and had to pause briefly to regain his composure. He explained afterwards that the Thursday night affair was the closest he had come to crying since last year's Orange Bowl victory over Alabama and last year's win over Oklahoma in the Game of The Century.

"I felt like I might poll a Steve Owens on them," Rodgers explained afterward. "I bad to fight hard to keep from it." He was referring to stories he bad beard from members of the sponsoring Downtown Athletic Club about Owens' acceptance speech of three years ago when the former Oklahoma star broke up completely at the speaker's platform and his mother, seated in the audience, followed suit. Rodgers recalled that the closest he had ever come to crying previously had been when he presented the game ball from the Orange Bowl victory last January to former teammate Rex Lowe, who was seriously ill with leukemia. Another time when he was close to tears, he explained, came after the Huskers 35-31 win over Oklahoma a year ago. Rodgers mother, Mrs.

Eddie Jones of Omaha, was not in tears, and was obviously very delighted at her son's being named the nation's number one college football player. "I'm elated," she said. "I'm so happy that I dont know what to say. I'm just proud." Rodgers, in his acceptance speech that was carried over a national radio hookup, first pointed to his parents, Mr. and Mrs.

Eddie Jones, and then to bis grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Stewart The fourth person Rodgers cited was Charles Washington of the Omaha Star, commenting "there's always someone outside the family who deserves an honorary membership in the family and I feel that way about Charles Rodgers also cited his high school coach at Omaha Dick Christie, Husker head coach Bob Devaney, Sports Illustrated writer Dan Jenkins and Husker head coach-to be Tom Osborne. Of Osborne, who was filling in for Devaney at the ceremony, Rodgers said "he's a man who has taught me more than just football, I'd like to introduce a real man in coach Tom Osborne." In his acceptance speech, Rodgers pointed out, "I've hadi some problems, but I'm not as bitter about them now as I had been. "I feel mat I've shown thousands of mothers and fathers that no matter how far down you might get, you can come' me nation top inaepenaent team, renn aiaie, in tne Sugar. the Fiesta Bowl Invited Atlantic Coast Conference champion North Carolina instead of Missouri to meet the Western Athletic winner Arizona State, the first round nf aj via wuuni uait mcu wmncic.

It would then take only a true national champion on of voters. CAREER HIGHLIGHT Rodgers gets trophy from Neil McAllister, president of the Downtown Athletic Club. Husker sports information director Don Bryant is at far right. NU Cagers Hoping To Control Tempo HUSKERS WILL FACE KENTUCKY IN WILDCATS' TOURNAMENT With a regular-season mark of 476-181-12 for a percentage of .720, here's a look at the bowl games: Dec. 78 LIBERTY BOWL IOWA STATE 18, Georgia Tech 14 If the Cyclones can keen coach Johnny Majors in town Adolph Rupp.

Rupp compiled an 879-190 record in 42 years at the UK helm. He is the winningest collegiate basketball coach in history. This is the only the second time since the tourney's inception in 1953 that Kentucky has entered without a winning record. The 1966 team was 2-3 before the meet. Although the Huskers are 1-1 in the series, the Big Eight has not been successful against Kentucky.

The Wildcats have won 17 of 19 previous tests against Big Eight crews. Nebraska, 3-2 entering the Invitational, will not compete again until a Dec. 27 date with Iowa State in the Big Eight Tournament at i i a 1 Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. Kentucky is paced by senior 6-11 center Jim Andrews, a prime all-American prospect, who is averaging 12.3 points per contest. Sophomore forward Kevin Grevey (6-5) is averaging 11.8, while 6 8 sophomore forward Bob Guyette is hitting at a 10.8 clip.

Sophomore Jimmy Dan Conner is scoring 10.3 points. To counteract the potent Wildcat offense, Cipriano is planning to start former Lincoln East sharpshooter Kent Reckewey at a guard position. Reckewey, who made his first start Monday night with a 19-point performance against TCU, will team with senior Tom Gregory at the guard spots. The Wildcats are coached by first-year mentor Joe Hall, who replaced the legendary The winners and losers play Saturday night. "Their fans are impatient.

They like the running style and if the game isn't running, they're liable to be unfriendly," Cipriano said. Despite the Wildcats' 1-3 record (a win at Michigan State and losses to Iowa, Indiana and North Carolina), Cipriano notes the abundance of talent at Kentucyy. "They're a young, but very talented team," he a i "They're playing with the elite group from Kentucky, Indiana ad Ohio. "I think they're hungry for a win and it's important we don't let them get off to a fast start. Our defense will have a big part in our game." long enough to get them ready.

Dec. 23 I FIESTA BOWL ARIZONA STATE 35, Missouri 14 That one-on-one coverage the Tigers use is disastrous against tile kind of speed the Sun Devils have. Dec. 29 PEACH BOWL-NORTH CAROLINA STATE 27, West Virginia 21 Those who claim there are too many bowls have a good point and this is a good example. TANGERINE BOWL-TAMPA 34, Kent State 20 Tampa is coming almost too close to being in the big boys to be messing around with the Kent States.

Dec. 30 SUN BOWL NORTH CAROLINA 28, Texas Tech 21 The Southwest Conference in recent years has been a two-team league. This year, it was a one-team league and Texas Tech wasn't that team. GATOR BOWL-COLORADO 30, Auburn 17 Don't be fooled by Auburn's win over Alabama. The Buffs aren't going to get two punts blocked in the fourth quarter as the Crimson Tide did.

ASTRO.BLUEBONNET LSU 14, Tennessee 10 This is a game that should have been played during the regular Southeastern Conference season. Dec. 37 SUGAR BOWL OKLAHOMA 24, Penn State 14 The Sooners certainly have to be considered national championship material. Jan. 7 COTTON BOWL-TEXAS 27, Alabama 21 When you pick out who you think is the easiest kid hi the next block to fight, you sometimes come up with a bloody nose.

ROSE BOWL-OHIO STATE 14, Southern Cal 10 Never bet aganst Woody Hayes when the marbles are on the table. ORANGE BOWL NEBRASKA 38, Notre Dame 21 There'll be no national championship at stake, but the Huskers and Irish are likely to play like there is. Iowa Staters Preparing For Great Plains Meet fans aid coaches atace aiUag playoffs Jut as the NCAA from amongst the Buckeyes, Penn State-Oklahoma clash Eve. this year pit six of those titleholder Oklahoma faces three more games the field and not in to decide the minds "But since this is the time of final exams, there is a good possibility he won't be here. He's been wrestling pretty hard lately and they (Iowa State) have some other meets coming up so he mv not show.

But Cyc'ones Tom Jean, 158, K.C. Bartles, (126) and Ron Glass, also at 126, have indicated that they will be on Welgbins for the freestyle will be from 6 to 7 a.m. wrestling starting at 9 a.m. Roman event with weighins stated from 7 to a.m. and a.m.

"Joe George (ex-Nebraska 167-pound wrestling star) will be participating in the meet," Copple said "along with several other local wrestlers." Wrestlers will come from around the United States for the tournament from as far away as Baltimore, and throughout the Midwest NAIA ISO-pound wrestling champion Doug Moier Adams Colo, has tent In an application blank along with several others from North Dakota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. "If all the wrestlers show up who have indicated they will, this meet will cover the widest area of any we've had," Copple said. Spectators taking in the Greco-Roman event on Saturday will see 105-pound AAU champion 31-year-old Lin- COlnitO caroiy nanicar, formerly of Hungary a member of the Nebraska Olympic wrestling team. Katiscar, according to Copple, may win a spot on the United States world wrestling team this year. LNE, LHS READY FOR FRIDAY COLLISION Links' Johnson Describes Northeast As 'State's Best' "I'm looking forward to the future.

On the way up to' me top I hope to be able to reach down and take people with me, both black and white. I realize that I couldn't i have done this by myself. "This is the best evening I've had in my first 21 hope you do as well in the next 21 years. "I hope to help by black people get ahead and we' need better black people and we need better white peopleJ I want to do my part and I hope you people do your: part. The main address at the black-tie dinner was giveo by! Lt.

CoL Pete Dawkins, the 1958 Heisman Trophy winner' from Army, who is being groomed as a future chief-of-' staff. Dawkins quipped that he had mixed emotions about honor-'' ing Rodgers, pointing to the Huskers' 77-7 victory over hi alma mater earlier this year. wf PPfe can look on the bright side of that, Dawkins pointed out, "And we can say that Army: Pomts-better than Cumberland was against Georgia' Tech (222-0) and John Heisman was coaching that Tech' team. Of Rodgers selection, Dawkins noted "over the past several years, I have had the privilege of watching past Heisman winners and none have been more exciting than Johnny Rodgers. I would say that he has a brilliant future in foot-ball." AI Heifer of the Mutual Broadcasting Network was suppose ed to be in charge of the national broadcast of the Heismai ceremonies, but had to cancel his appearance because of the death of his wife Thursday.

Heifer, however, sent a telegram congratulating Rodgers! saying, "I'd hope to be with you in your finest hour but fate has decreed otherwise." A telegram from Devaney also was read at the dinner The Husker head coach was forced to miss the ceremonies because of a previous speaking engagement at the University of New Mexico. 1 Osborne, appearing in Devaney's spot, called the pas) three yers great ones in Nebraska football history, citing the national championship teams of 1970 and 1971 and the Individual honor to Rodgers as the nation's most outstanding football player and to teammate Rich Glover as the nation's top lineman this season. Also congratulating Rodgers at the dinner was NTJ Chancellor James Zumberge, 1936 Heisman Trophy winner Larry Kelley of Yale and former Oklahoma standout Tommy Among those seated on the dais to honor Rodgers were pro footballers Don Maynard and Steve Harkey of the Ne York Jets and former Husker teammate Larry Jacobson; along with Curtis Campbell of the New York Giants. State Award To Bahonslcy Lexington, Ky. If Nebraska's basketball team is to have a chance against powerful Kentucky, the Huskers must control the game's early tempo.

"They'll want to run and press against us," said NU head coach Joe Cipriano. "We can't have two passes and shoot except when we're wide open. We have to handle the basketball against them." The Huskers meet Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum at 9:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. Lincoln time) in the second game of the 20th annual Kentucky Invitational Tournament.

The opening game pits Oregon against Colorado State. Ex-Husker Lantz Set For Kings By STEVE GILLISPIE Star Sports Writer Omaha Former Nebraska basketball player Stuart Lantz did some unexpected trailing the past two years. The ex-Husker and his Detroit Piston teammates will meet the Kansas City-Omaha Kings here Friday night at Civic Auditorium at 7:35 p.m. Two years ago Lantz played for the San Diego Rockets and it took two moves to get him to the Pistons. First, the National Basketball Association moved the Rockets to Houstoii.

Then, after Lantz played one season in Houston, he was traded to Detroit for Jimmy Walker on Aug. 1. Lantz, a 6-3 guard, was a third-round draft choice of San Diego in 1968. When he left Nebraska he had set four records, which still stand and is the second-leading scorer in the school's history. He scored 1,266 points over his three-year Husker varsity career.

During his senior year, Lantz established the school mark for the most field goals, 131. In his junior year, the Unlontown, native set three records most field goals (189), most points (478) and best average (19.1). His sophomore year Lantz averaged 12.2 points, his junior season the 19.1 points and 19.2 his last year. Lantz is currently the only former Nebraska player active the pro basketball leagues. He averaging 15.6 points a game as a pro.

His first season at San Diego, he averaged 7.8 points a game, 14.5 points the next, 20.6 his last year at San Diego and 18.5 last season at Houston. The Pistons and Kings are in the NBA's Midwest division. Detroit currently is in the cellar and the Kings one notch higher. The Mil waukee Bucks lead tho Midwest Division with Chicago second. FEATURE RACES At Bay Meadows Vltanpott 4.20 Eaglt Eva My Oallant Way 3.10 3.00 40 i.M to pinpoint where he inflicts the most damage." Aldy is hopeful Fultz, who had 14 rebounds in the loss to East, will help offset some of Novak's front-line effectiveness.

Link forwards Steve Harris (6-2) and Jerry Kletchka (6-1) will also draw part of the assignment. Northeast forward Bruce Maske, the all-state football defensive end, should add to make the scuffle under the boards one of more physical ones in the city this season. Whoever wins the rebound battle very likely will emerge the victor. Bruce Mask: t( formidable task. He will, for the most part, match up with Northeast junior pivot Terry Novak.

Novak, according to Aldy, is the principal reason the Rockets may be the state's most powerful team. "If you remember when Kent Reckewey played for East," recalls Aldy, "all eyes were on him all the time. He had all the moves and was that good. "With a player like Novak," says Aldy, "it's different. You're not watching him all the time, but all of a sudden, just like Reckewey, he's always there all over.

It's hard ROCKET FORWARD By RANDY YORK Prep Sports Writer How good is Lincoln Northeast? According to Lincoln High basketball coach Aldy Johnson, who meets the Rockets Friday night, Northeast is the best in the state. "I don't think there's any question at all about that right now," says Aldy, whose Links take a 1-2 record into the intra-city and Trans-Nebraska Conference contest. The Rockets, easy conquerors of Kearney and Lincoln Southeast, are seeking a third consecutive victory. Friday's game is the first of two intra-city contests at Pershing Auditorium this weekend. Saturday night Lincoln East and Lincoln Pius square off.

The only other Capital City game this weekend pits North Platte against Lincoln Southeast in a Trans-Nebraska -Conference test Saturday night Lincoln High's Johnson Gym. Neither game, however, matches the importance of the Northeast-LHS mat chap. Despite the two setbacks, Aldy points out his Links have "played well enough to win all three games." Their most recent loss was a 43-41 overtime decision to unbeaten East. It came on the heels of a convincing win over Hastings and a five-point road loss to Omaha Westslde. "I'm not dissatisfied at all, says Aldy, who has missed two days of classes this week at Lincoln High because of a severe cold.

"If we everything untracked, we should give Northeast a good ball game. "Even though we've played some good ball," adds Aldy, "I think our best is yet to come. If we're going to beat Northeast, our best will have to come. It will have to be a matter of really rising to the occasion." Mike Fultz, the Links' 6-5 center in his third year as a starter, faces the most By RANDY EICKHOFF Star Sports Writer -Defending NCAA college wrestling champion Iowa State Will be represented at the Great Plains AAU College Open Invitational Wrestling Championships commencing Friday at the Nebraska Coliseum, but super-heavyweight and Olympic Bronze medalist Chris Taylor may not make the trip. "We haven't heard one Way or the other, (about Chris Taylor) tournament director Newt Copple said.

Sports Menu Friday 1MKITSALL NBA: Dttrett ft KJiil? CltyOmjhj Kln, Omah. Clv Auditorium. p.m.) Big Eight: Nt brisKi i at KtntucKV Invitational) Jiy-htwk Claule at Kanian Missouri at vXntair Claile Paru at Doanai Ptatti Junior Colltgt Tournamant at CrtumbM) Northaaflarn at Falrbury Junior CoHtgai Ntbrarta Waitarn at MeCook Junior Co agat Mlnot. tnSSbrw Lincoln Wigh Lincoln Northaait vi. Lincoln High at Panning Auditorium, I WRISTLINO Oraat Plaint AAU at NU CollMum, a.m., 1 and 7:30 p.m.

Lincoln High at Co-lgmbu Framont at, Lincoln North, aiit? 7 p.m.) Lincoln Southaatt at Southaait, p.m.) Lincoln hi Omaha Bryan at MllHrdi Columbui nign. ai newn Nortnoaii, M.m. HOCKBY San Dlago at Omaha KnlghH, Ak-Sar-Ban Coirnum, I p.m. Saturday AIKITBALL Big Bight) Na. bratKi Tat Kantuckv InvlTatlonal) Drakt at Iowa State) Washington at Kaniaa Itatt) Jayhawk Claaalc at Kama) MH-SiSrl' at Volunttar Claiilei Stata Col.

fan: Mt. Marty, S. at Haittagu Nb7aika Wailayan William Parm, kuriuv at loutharn Colorado) Platta JC Tournamant at Cblumbua) Nabrai. la Waitarn at Pafrbury JCi Mlnlt, N.D., at cnaaron) dviiivuc it larKiv, iy Lincoln High Ichooli: Plus vs. Lincoln East at Parshlng Auditorium, I p.m.i North Platta at Lincoln Southaatt, '-'''oraat Plain, AAU Tournamant.

Sunday BAIKITBALL NBAt Kansas City Omaha Kings at Photnm. 7 I Omaha Dan Behensky, a native of St. Paul now living in Lincoln, Thursday was named Nebraska's Outstanding Ama-ture Golfer for 1972 by the Nebraska Amateur Golf Association. NAGA president Dennis Houlihan of Omaha said Bahensky had compiled a wide lead over the rest of the state's amateur golfers, using a point system based on numerous tourneys in the state this year. Bahensky, a University of Nebraska student, won the Men's State Amateur and the Grand Island Tournament of Champions.

He finished fourth in the Omaha Hilton Amateur and fifth at the Indian Summer Open at Hastings. Dan Bahensky V. Runner-up for the award wti Leo Card of Omaha while Rick Schultz of Omaha was third. 1 (tv i 'i-LLn-ffi mm. mm,.