The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 47

jlDOfil'ii'More sports In Section APRIL 1985 injur causes concern among NU staff Turner 'Ss, --If 1 -v- "The first offense looked good on that opening drive," Osborne sail But after one more offensive series by the Red team, which ended in a missed field goal, "it just didnt seem like they had a lot of concentration or poise. Losing Travis had an effect," said Osborne. "I thought our top units were sporadic, at tiroes. That was disappointing." White team built lead The inconsistency, and touchdown runs of 46 and 30 yards by Jones, helped the underdog White team build a 21-10 lead early in the third period. The Reds pulled to within 21-19 by the end of the period, however, on Paul Miles' 10-yard touchdown run and a safety, scored when Jim Skow tackled Wendell Wooten in his own end zone.

Hiemer caught the winning pass, a 10-yarder, from Clete Blakeman with 10:25 remaining in the scrimmage. Hiemer's two touchdown receptions tied a spring game record set by Freeman White in 1965 and tied by the late Rex Lowe in 1968. Miles rushed for. a spring game-record 137 yards on 19 carries. Jeff Smith set the previous record, at 136 yards, a year ago.

"We've got a lot of things to iron out We've got good athletes, but I dont think right now we're a very good football team," Osborne sail Defensive coordinator Charlie McBride agreed. "I think we're fundamentally behind where we were a year ago," he said. "I was pretty disappointed in our overall effort today. It looked kind of sloppy to me. We didnt do anything on defense; we had no chance." ByMikeBabcock With 3:59 remaining In the 20-mlnute first period, quarterback Travis Turner was helped to the sideline.

was a key play Saturday afternoon In Nebraska's intrasquad spring football game, watched by a Memorial Stadium audience of 22I For the- record, the Reds beat the Whites 2J-2L Brian Hiemer caught a pair of touchdown passes, and Keith. Jones scored on two long runs. In the spring game, however, it's not so much whether you win or It's how your Injury list locks afterward. The Cornhuskers learned that a year ago. All-Big Eight linebacker Mike Knox was forced to sit out the fall season because of a knee injury he suffered in the spring game.

It appeared Turner's injury might have similar implications. The initial diagnosis was, it wonl According to George Sullivan, Nebraska's head trainer and physical therapist, Turner's right knee apparently was just badly strained. If It doesn't Improve next however, itH have to be scoped. Possible cartilage tear "They don't suspect ligament damage, but there is the possibility of a cartilage tear," said NU Coach Tom Osborne. If that's the case, It would be about a three-or four-week thing, where he-would have to slow down a little bit But there would be absolutely no problem next fall," Osborne said.

"That's of some relief." The South Stadium training room wasnt filled with seriously injured players late Saturday afternoon. Turner's knee was the only major concern. "Of course, that's a big concern," said Osborne. Losing a veteran quarterback, who's been No. 1 on the depth chart all spring, "can have quite an effect on your football team." That may explain why Osborne "wasn't quite as impressed" as he had hoped he would be following the spring game.

With Turner in charge, the Red team took the opening kickoff and drove the ball 73 yards in seven plays to score against the second-team defense. I-oack Doug DuBose carried three times for 44 yards during the series, and found Hiemer, the tight end, wide open on a 19-yard touchdown pass. TEOKinKSUNDAVXWRNAL-eTMt The White squad's Steve Stanard (90) and Chad Daffer (46) chase l-back Doug DuBose (above) while quarterback Travis Turner is attended to (left) after injuring a knee in the first half. Defensive teamwork upsetting to McBride It ByMikeBabcock Charlie McBnde was concerned about i the pnde of his defense following Ne braska Red-White football game, Saturday in Memorial Stadium. "We don't have nearly the togetherness or team pride we had last year," the NU defensive coordinator said.

"The lack of concentration by the younger players is probably what's caus- ence, among them tackle Jim Skow and linebacker Mike Knox, who missed last season with a knee injury. The problem is, young and inexperienced players are expected to fill many of the back-up positions next fall, and "they're way behind," said McBride. "I'm a little frightened about' our depth. A lot of those younger players dont know what it takes to play in the Big Eight There's a lot of loafing going on, a lot of lack of concentration." Sophomore Danny Noonan, one of the experienced players, spent his time Saturday afternoon at middle guard, a position to which he was switched from See DEFENSE on page 4E According to Osborne, that's understandable to some extent "We limited the defense, and we limited the offense, top. We didnt show everything we have," said Osborne.

"That takes a little bit of the luster off both sides because you can't attack as. 1 "But we're going to exchange the film, with Florida State, and there were certain things we didn't want to show." The Cornhuskers open against Florida State, and one thing Osborne would like to show the Seminoles in the fall is an offense with Turner at quarterback. That's why his Injury took on so much significance Saturday vT 1 ing that The younger players havent re- 1 sponded at all the last two weeks the rXl way I thought they would." Only two starters return from last year's defense linebacker Marc Mun-ford and tackle Chris Spachman but several other defenders have expert- TVTI7 Afex juLi sprinter Few impact players seen in NFL draft wins 3 events in Trans-Neb. By Ken Hambleton PrapSpoiK Editor Brandt Traynowtcz FREMONT It might seem that sprinters have it easy. Just a dash or two, change shoes and head home.

But Lincoln Northeast senior Eric i Robinson put quite a bit more into it Saturday in the 20th annual and final Capital Division of the Trans-Nebraska NFL draft begins Tuesday By Virgil Parker SportiEdllor Gil Brandt has been in the pro football business for 30 years. As vice president of player personnel develop-ment for the Dallas Cowboys, Brandt directs the Cowboys' scouting operation and supervises player sign-" tags. Many experts consider him the No. 1 authority in the 1 nation when it comes to evaluating potential NFL superstars who are currently in the college ranks. With the NFL draft upcoming Tuesday, Brandt Is most amazed by two things the general public interest in the draft and the absence of impact players in this year's college crop.

"Every year there is more and more interest in the draft," Brandt said on the telephone from his Dallas office. "I had calls from 25 newspaper guys in just one day this week. If you were to count the number of words written, the draft would be second only to the Super BowL To be honest," Brandt admitted, "the draft is probably overplayed. A lot of people think a team's No. 1 choice is going to save the franchise.

The truth fs that of all 28 first-round draft choices last year, only seven even earned a starting berth on their team." 2 Coming into the NFL as a No.1 choice, Brandt said, doesnt mean that player is going to turn the team from a loser to a winner. "That is especially true this year, in my opinion," he explained, "becuase I dont think there are any impact-type players in the draft this time Two years ago, Eric Dickerson (LA Rams), Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins), John Elway (Denver Broncos) and Curt Warner (Seattle Seahawks) an were impact players. Three of the four all but Marino joined losing teams. Yet all of them led those teams into the playoffs their very first season. They made an impact on the league." Brandt said University of Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar "may be that kind of player this year, but he wont be in Tuesday's draft." Speaking of quarterbacks, the Cowboy VP predicts that for the first time in NFL history, no quarterback win be a first-round choice for the second year in a row.

"If you go back to the days when there were only 12 or 14 teams, that might not have been so unusual Yet it never happened, even then. Now there are 56 first-round picks over a two-year period. Yet no quarterback went in the first round last year, and I'm predicting none will be chosen in the first round this time." What the draft pool does have this year, Brandt says, "is a lot of very good offensive linemen, and three of them Mark Traynowicz, Mark Behning and Harry Grimminger are from Nebraska." Brandt predicts Traynowicz win be the first Nebraska player chosen, probably in the latter part of the first round. They do an excellent job of developing offensive linemen at Nebraska," Brandt said. They come out of there big and strong and well-coached.

"Let me tell you another thing about Nebraska. They recruit kids with outstanding character. They don't mess around with people who aren't top-flight Their players arent spoiled. After working hard for five years they come out of there as team players! And that's the kind of kids who wind up making somebody's team. You draft a guy from Nebraska and you can be pretty darn sure you've drafted a first-class citizen." Brandt feels NU I-back Jeff Smith "is more of a question mark.

He's a specialist type of player, such as a punt returner. But 111 tell you the guy I like and that's (wingback) Shane Swanson. I think he could do well as a punt returner and a wide receiver. He's the hard-nosed, competitive kind of kid I like." In the overall draft picture, Buffalo has already used its No. 1 choice by signing Virginia Tech defensive end See DRAFT on page 3E i i I mOMMWij dim- 4 track and field meet at Fremont High school.

Robinson won the long jump, the 100 and the 200 with top 10 performances for the season and competed in the triple jump. i. Fremont, paced by Gerry Gdowskj's meet record performance in the 800 and victory in the 400, and Matt Myers victories in the 300 and 1,600, ran away with the boys' team title. Lincoln Southeast senior Kim Stevens, set meet records in winning the 1,600 and 300, and won the girls 800. But Fremont's girls blitzed the eight-team for its second straight team title.

See TRACK on page 6E Qrimmlngtr Mmlng humler Cornliusker wins, but wind blows away mark I silffZ- Larry MIms collected six hits in seven at-bats to lead Nebraska to a 17-4 and 8-5 sweep Of UNO. Page 2E. Nine Lincoln high school seniors will play in the annual Shrine Bowl game this summer. Page 2E. Ak-Sar-Ben begins the celebration of its golden anniversary when the Omaha oval opens its 1985 meeting Wednesday.

Page 6E. When approximately 1,000 runners toe the line next Sunday at the eighth annual Lincoln Marathon, a lot of eyes will be on 52-year-old Norman Green. Page 1 f. By Virgil Parker Sport Editor DES MOINES, Iowa For a few moments Saturday, it appeared as if Nebraska had set two records in as many days at the 76th annual Drake Relays. But it was a sudden gust of wind, not the opposition, that kept Husker hurdler Rhonda Blanford from setting a standard in her speciality.

Before the meet's 21st consecutive final-day sellout of 18,000 fans, Blanford successfully defended her title time was announced as 1191 seconds. Her carrer best had Then it was discovered the wind had been blowing 175 miles per second, which was over the allowable 2.0. Just one event earlier, the breeze was measured at a gentle (L58. "Even with the wind I'm happy with the result," Blanford said. "It was almost like a mini-NCAA championship with the top three collegians in the race.

That gave me some extra incentive." Anita Epps and Maria Usifo, both from Texas ran a close 'Technical problems' Blanford left for California two hours after the race to run in the ML Sac Relays Sunday afternoon. That will also be a great field," the Nebraska senior from Aurora, Colo, predicted "Several Olympians win be running. "I can still go faster than I did today It wouldnt be obvious to the average fan, but I had some technical problems today. I landed flat-footed after going over the 7th, 8th and 9th hurdles. "maybe tt win come at the NCAAs or maybe even tomorrow.

After Sunday TO work on rhythm and quickness drills until the Big Eight meet (two weeks away in Manhattan, Cornhusker Coach Gary Pepin said Blanford probably wont any records in that meet "I hope I dont need her in five events again this time (Blanford was the women's MVP at last year's conference meet after winning the gold medal in five events)," Pepin said. "But the way things are going (or our women's team, I may need her in six or seven." Others disappointing Except for BlanforcTs effort, Pepin was less than enthusiastic. Especially with the effort in the finals of the women's 4x400 relay, in which Nebraska finished fifth before moving up to fourth because of a disqualification to Jackson State for interference. "Martia (Tate) ran a very poor strategical open 400," Pepin said of his senior's third-place effort in "She came back with the best split of anybody in the relay but it's about time for her to run like she can in every race." Michelle Maxey, an ex-Lincoln High standout who attends Kansas State, won the open 400 with a :S2.s) clocking. Pepin was also disappointed over the, performances of Nicole AH "We wanted to qualify her for the NCAAs in the open 800.

She not only didnt do that (finishing 5th), but then had to come back 40 minutes later and run a lap of the relay. That was just too much for her." An the news for the Nebraska women was not bad, bow-ever. In addition to BlanfonTs victory, Laura Wight ran the L500 in school record time although she had to settle for 6th place. 1 There's more than corn and wheat out on the rolling Nebraska farmland. Ask any bass angler and he'll tell you But rve been taprovtag ever since last years Olympic Trials.

that farm ponds are the place It was there that I discovered what tt takes to get to the top. to go If you want to harvest That belpedme with the mentalpart My goal is the collegiate i "Sice I didnt get the record here, Blanlord reasoned, Sea DRAKE on pass 4E Nebraska's Rhonda Blanford drives for the tape in the women's 100-meJer hurdles. Texas Southern's MarlaUslfo (right) was thirl 4'.