The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 68

Sunday, April 30, 1978, Lincoln, Neb. Sunday Journal and Star WfU impresses opposing scouts something that's going to help. Alii Hi I A 4 was waiting to take Powell to the airport to catch his plane, heard that comment and joked, "Dee, basic defense is all that we are going to play." Powell and Stress were both quite aware Nebraska wasn't going to show any new offensive or defensive schemes because both California and Alabama will receive films of Saturday's game. "We knew beforehand that Tom (Osborne) wasn't going to show us much," Stress said. "But there are still a lot of things you try to pick up the intangibles.

Like what sort of plays they will call in certain situations, their basic approach to moving the ball and how 16 stop it." Stress didn't busy himself writing down a bunch of notes during the game. Instead, he had a transistor radio and a tape recorder with him in the press box, taping the broadcast of one of the local radio stations. "One of the tricks of the trade I've learned being a scout is finding someone to loan me a radio," Stress said. "I tape the game because the radio announcer is going to say "I'm very impressed," said Powell, who played for Paul Bryant at Texas and who now coaches for the Bear at Alabama. "There was tremendous hitting and tackling, it was a great spring game." Stress, a 1971 graduate of California who now coaches the receivers for the Golden Bears' new head Coach Roger Theder, was equally as enthusiastic about the Huskers as Powell.

"This is a very, very good football team," Stress said. "Especially the defense. They are very strong, very sound and very solid." Alabama's Powell, who had to race to catch a plane to Florida for a recruiting trip moments after Saturday's Red-White game, admitted he paid more attention to Nebraska's defense since he coaches the Crimson Tide's offensive line. "I was really impressed the way the defense was able to keep the offense from gaining the momentum," Stress said. "And they were just playing a very basic defense." Nebraska's defensive coordinator Lance Van Zandt, who 'By Dave Sittler 't'y, Staff Sports Writer i 'Although 16,500 fans showed tip aj Memorial Stadium Satur-C'dayiager to cheek out the I latest edition of Nebraska's foolball team, there's no ques- flop who took the most notes at (Off Annual Cornhusker Spring liarrie.

"-fiflkt honor went jointly to ikf. Powell and Skip Stress. and Stress had more casual interest in the I current crop of Cornhuskers. 'football coaches at Alabama respectively, iWrfl and Stress were in Lin-) icplr( because they are going to Jje'seing and thinking a lot pbjiit Nebraska in the next few iijmfths. Cornhuskers will host lidil'omia Sept.

9. and will to Alabama to meet the Wrtison Tide on either Sept. 2 fcrjNQv. 25, depending on when ABC-TV decides it wants to kelpyise the contest. 5ertt by their head coaches to 'jicsijt; Nebraska in its final sceinimage of spring drills, 'Powell and Stress in-(ididaled they would be taking reports to their respec-t Jive bosses.

STAFF PHOTO BY WEB RAY Quarterback Tom Sorley (12) hands off to I. M. gam. In the second period, Sorley had to leave the Hipp (32) during the tirst quarter ior a six-yaiu game auer a oruisnig wiw Statistics White Offense "It's the same in newspapers. Even if the announcer or writer doesn't mean to say or write something, you can usually pick something up about an injury report or who plays and who doesn't.

Works every time." Asked what individuals impressed him, Stress mentioned middle guard Oudious Lee, split end Frank Lockett lot of potential but needs more I-back-fullback Rick Berns, linebacker Dan LaFever, I-back Tim Wurth, fullback Andra Franklin and defensive ends George Andrews and Lawrence Cole. "Cole is very strong," Stress said of the Husker left defensive end. "We're going to have to take advantage of certain personnel against Nebraska's defense because it's so strong. If we attack like any basic defense we'll be in trouble. "For someone like Core, we'll go away from him several times and hope he gets lackadaisical.

To go at him would be a stupid thing to do," Both of the scouts mentioned the early injury to quarterback Tom Sorley. The senior signal-caller left the contest in the first period after being knocked dizzy on a keeper play. "Sorley got dinged and there was no reason for Coach Osborne to put him back in," Stress said. "The one guy I wanted to see was (Mark) Mauer (NU sophomore quarterback who missed most of the spring with a hip injury) because if Nebraska is going to go with the Veer next year they will have to be three deep at quarterback. Quarterbacks take a lot of punishment in the Veer so my concern is who Nebraska's number two quarterback will be.

I heard some good things around town about Mauer." Reflecting on Sorley's injury, Alabama's Powell said, "I was still impressed with Nebraska's offense even though the other quarterbacks had trouble holding on to the ball at times. That's to be expected in the spring." Split end Scott Woodard and I-back-fullback Rick Berns drew praise from the Alabama assistant coach. "Berns looked terrific the time or two he carried the ball. But of course were aware of what he can do," Powell said of Berns. who rushed for 153 yards and scored three times in Nebraska's 31-24 win over Alabama last season.

"Nebraska just has a lot of big, good football players." Switzer: rumors untrue Rushing No Quinn 7 Wurth 20 Juehring 5 Johnson 5 Humphrey 2 Michaelson 4 Kotera 5 Ave 4.9 4.2 3.2 3.2 1.0 0.3 4.0 Yds 34 83 16 16 2 1 20 Randy York 3 They're No. 1 Punting No Yds Ave Gemar 5 216 43.2 Leclair 1 47 47.0 Pass Interceptions No Yds Lewis 1 8 Passing No Co Yds PI Quinn 9 4 47 0 3 57 0 Michaelson 11 4 35 2 Yds 31 16 37 8 47 Pass Receiving No Lockett 2 McCrady 2 Branch 2 Juehring 1 Woodard 4 Punt Returns No McCrady 2 Nelson 1 Lockett 1 Kiekoff Returns No McCrady 3 Lockett 1 Red Offense Yds 11 33 3 Yds 69 19 STAFF PHOTO BY WEB Rat The Whites' Tim Wurth (25) hurdles through the air for two a two-point extra point which later enabled the Whites to win. Defending is Jim Pillen (29) and George Andrews (96). Rushing No Sorley 2 Hipp 13 Franklin 5 Brown 2 Michaelson 3 Berns 6 Ave 3.5 3.9 2.2 5.0 0.0 10.2 3.7 0.5 8.0 4.0 3.4 0.0 0.3 Yds 7 51 11 10 0 61 11 1 8 4 24 0 1 Steels 3 Mathison McCloney Suelter Keith Humphrey, Quinn One thing about Fremont's Scott Berg and Ralston's Paul Branch. If they never make it in college football, their parents probably could care less.

Robert and Joan Berg and Kenneth and Janice Branch know their sons have a lot more goingf for them than football. Berg quarterbacked and captained Fremont into the state Class A play-offs last fall. Branch, a two-year starter at safety, helped lead Ralston into the play-offs with six interceptions. They are obviously gifted athletes, but they are more obviously gifted scholars and therefore merit honorary captain status on the second annual Nebraska Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association's Academic All-State Football Team. Berg is tied for first in his Fremont senior class of 406 with a 4.0 grade point average.

Branch has the No. 1 ranking to himself in Ralston's senior class of 289. He, too, has never experienced a grade below an A. The pair and nine others will be honored May 12 by the Nebraska Chapter of the College Football Foundation. The banquet, featuring 1977 College Coach of the Year Lou Holtz of Arkansas, is open to the public at Omaha's Peony Park.

Hawkins, Lohrberg selected Joining them on the scholar-athlete honor team are Fair-bury end Mike Falloon, Hastings quarterback Kurt Finley, Lincoln East guard Jeff Hawkins, Lincoln Southeast guard Jim Lohrberg, Omaha Gross tackle Dave Mayhan, Ansley tackle Jerry Scott, Omaha South end Pat Sweeney, Minden running back Kris Van Norman and Papillion quarterback Greg Willett. Ansley's Scott had less competition than Berg and Branch to achieve the No. 1 scholastic ranking in his senior class of 45. But the twice Class C-2 all-state selection went one up on that pair. His team also won a state championship last fall.

East's Hawkins is close to No. l'. He ranks second in a class of 436. A starter on a highly-ranked football team and a letter-man on the Spartans' state championship basketball team, Hawkins epitomizes the quality on this type of honor team. "Jeff exemplifies the best in a high school athlete," East Coach Lee Zentic observed.

"He does not have the outstanding ability, but he works like mad to contribute and play. He'd go through a brick wall. He trains hard. His attitude, hustle, determination and leadership were a source of inspiration to all of his teammates in every sport." Southeast's Lohrberg was one of those forgotten men in the Knights' offensive line last season. It was mostly rebuilt from last year's reserve team and highly underrated in a state championship season.

Lohrberg found time to start at guard and still maintain a 1.04 grade point average. It ranks sixth in Southeast's senior class of 506. West Point wants Sweeney Fairbury's Falloon, a first team all-stater in both football and basketball, ranks 11th in his class of 129. South's Sweeney, 31st in a class of 607, also earned first team all-state acclaim in football and has received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Nebraska recruited Minden's Van Norman and the Huskers got more than the star of the Whippets' Class state championship team. They also got a student who finished as a National Merit semifinalist, ranking in the' top 27o nationally. Nebraska missed a couple other premier scholar-athletes, but both received major college football scholarships. Gross' Mayhan, 21st in a class of 277, rejected his NU scholarship offer in favor of one from Iowa. Willett, seventh in a class of 365, quarterbacked Papillion to last year's state playoff semifinals.

He signed with Colorado. Finley fits in nicely with the group. Class A's leading passer the past two years with more than 2,400 yards, the Hastings quarterback is 26th in class of 295. The Bergs of Fremont and the Branches from Ralston aren't the only ones holding their heads high. Other young men also have shown their parents that extra effort on the field can carry over into the classroom.

Scoring Punting No Yds Ave Smith 1 35 35.0 Todd 3 130 43.3 Mensing 3 100 33.3 Pass Interceptions No Yds Dunning 1 25 Baker 1 4 Passing No Co Yds PI Sorley 6 5 53 0 Michaelson 3 1 6 0 Mathison 9 1 23 1 Quinn 5 3 12 0 NORMAN. OKLA. (UPI) -Oklahoma football coach Barrv Switzer Saturday branded reports he might resign as "science fiction," while a a member of the regents and a vice president said there had been no discussion of his leaving the Sooners. Switzer was asked, following Saturday's OU Varsity-Alumni game, about a published report he might resign. "There's no truth to that," Switzer said.

"I haven't even talked to the man." The report said a deep personal feud which caused Switzer's head assistant, Larry Lacewell, to leave the program might also cost Switzer his job. Asked how such a rumor of his resignation might have started, Switzer replied, "I don't know, I guess sitting around a coffee table." Switzer was told a member of the regents had expressed support for him and said he was in no danger of losing his job. "I felt that would be the position they were going to take," he said. Switzer said he would not comment on any of the reports. "I don't start those rumors and it would dignify them too much to even deny them," he said.

"They're science fiction." J. R. Morris, OU vice president for the university community, said Saturday, "Barry Switzer is not resigning." "He has not been asked to resign and there has been no discussion about it," Morris said. A member of the regents said earlier there was nothing to the report that a feud with Lacewell could cause Switzer to lose his job. "I can guarantee you that's not true," said Richard A.

Bell, a Norman attorney and university regent, of reports Switzer would be fired. Asked if Switzer would resign, he said, "Not that I know about." Bell said regents had not had any meetings, formally or informally, about the OU football program. "We have not had any meetings dealing with any rumors or anything," he said. "I don't know why we would fire a man over that," he said of the reports of a personal Switzer-Lacewell feud. Lacewell resigned March 24 to become public relations director for a Wichita, firm, but shortly afterwards became executive vice president of a real estate and investment firm owned by Yukon banker Clarence R.

Wright. Wright, an Oklahoma State football booster, has said Lacewell told him he left OU because of personal animosity with SwiUer. However, Lacewell said on resigning he had decided "I could not turn down this opportunity and that it would be best for my future, for my wife and my family." Two assistant coaches, Jerry Pettibone and Gene Hochevar, quit April 24, saying they wanted to take advantage of a business opportunity in Oklahoma City. They will each own one-third of a partnership in Acme Oil Co. Pass Receiving No Woodard 2 Miller 2 Brown 2 Markfort 1 Berns 2 Hipp 1 Yds 16 18 27 23 14 -4 Yds 18 0 1 18 Yds 41 18 20 Punt Returns No Brown 1 Keith 1 Lockett 1 Andrews 1 Kiekoff Returns No Brown 2 Lockett 1 Suelter 1 STAFF PHOTO BY WEB RAY How Scored Time left Red-White The referee calls for time out after Scott Woodard in the Whites final drive for a first down.

Knocking hauls in a clutch 20-yard pass from Brad Humphrey Woodard out of bounds is Steve Agee (30). Second Quarter 12:53 0-3 From page 1E- 3-3 Royals Brett suffers injury KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Kansas City third baseman George Brett was removed from the lineup Saturday night after being injured in a play at second base against the Milwaukee Brewers. Team officials said Brett, the 1976 AL batting champion, suffered a possible shoulder separation and would be X-rayed for a possible collarbone fracture. He was injured in the first inning while colliding with Brewers shortstop Tim Nordbrook as Brett attempted to break up a double play.

Brett was batting .242, but had snapped out of an early-season slump with four hits 6-3 3:46 12:23 9:11 :17 :19 13-3 'ilFootball -Helped set the stage of Sukup's game-: wwet kicked it on first down because -uew9re out of timeouts and not taking "ait.V -chances," Sukup said. "I just -lapped off a little bit during the then lined it back up again. It viih important kick to me." I 1 5sip has been exposed to pressure for at fcait 12 years. When he was nine, he National Punt. Pass and Kick -Vwnpetition for his age group at the Bowl in Miami.

XAs-ipleased as he was with the dlacskickers, Osborne also expressed mintine eame in the Sukup 26-yard field goal Drive: 26-yard drive in six plays, highlighted by Quinn's 17-yard run. Todd 40-yard field goal Drive: 46 yards in eight plays, highlighted by a 23-yard pass from Mathison to Markfort. Third Quarter. Todd 41-yard field goal Drive: 25 yards in four plays, set up by a 25-yard interception by Dunning. Conversion: Bergkampkick.

Quinn 2-yard run Drive: 27 yards in four plays, highlighted by a 20-yard run by Berns, set up by blocked punt by Andrews. Nelson 33-yard run with blocked punt. Conversion: Wurth run. Fourth Quarter Sukup 30-yard field goal Drive: 77 yards in 7 plays, highlighted Humphrey pass to Branch for 18 yards and Humphrey pass to Woodard for 20 yards. 0 3 10 0 3f 8 without hesitation or prodding.

"Scott Woodard (six catches for 63 yards) showed he can catch the ball and so did some others." Showing the true nature of a head coach though. Osborne didn't dwell long on the positive. "Our offensive execution at times was sloppy." he said. "We had too many fumbles, bad exchanges and We've really got a lot of things to iron out in the fall. "We've got to run the ball better than we did today," Osborne said.

"I'm not pleased about that at all." "Something's been rattling in the back of my mind about that," he admitted, but Scott Gemar showed today he can punt (averaging 43 yards on five kicks). "I would like to have seen a little more hang time," Osborne said, "but the kicking is rigged toward the return team, since they have the front-line players, so even the blocks today are not as big a worry as you might think." Osborne showed genuine pleasure about three things Saturday the intensity of the hitting, the absence of a serious injury and an obviously improved passing game over last year. We'll be better there this year," Osborne said of the passing game 13-11 13-14 0-13 3-14 riday night. i i. nmior Tim smiin.

Wne absence oi reguin.