The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 19

sports THE LINCOLN STAR Monday, 1179 Paae 19 Van Zandt: Playing 12 men might stop Oklahoma Nebraska-Oklahoma lineups His KU defense whipped the Sooners' national champions, 23-3, at Norman in 1975. Add this season's 17-14 shutdown of OU at Nebraska and Van Zandt has helped hand Barry Switzer two of his six losses in 69 games as Oklahoma's head coach. "We've got a better defense at Nebraska than we had at Kansas," Van Zandt observeoV'Trouble is, Oklahoma's got a lot better offense. They can strike so quick from anywhere." It was enough to cause Van Zandt to retreat to the balcony off his 10th story room to look at the skyline and listen to the ocean. The X's and O's in his head kept coming up with 12 players in Nebraska uniforms.

They made a nice dream, but Lance Van Zandt knew it couldn't last. When Nebraska and Oklahoma play it again, Sam, he's still going to have to beat the Sooners with 11 players just like he did the first time. By Randy York Staff Sports Writer MIAMI BEACH, Fla. It was well past midnight in his room at the Americana Hotel and Lance Van Zandt started talking about Oklahoma instead of Woody Hayes and what he had just seen the Ohio State coach do on national television. Van Zandt, a man charged with the responsibility of stopping the nation's highest scoring team with the nation's top running back and top offensive lineman for a second time in less than two months, chose to grin and bear the challenge he faces.

"Oklahoma," Nebraska's second-year defensive coordinator said of Monday night's Orange Bowl opponent, "has seen every defensive scheme you can devise. You won't trick 'em and you won't fool 'em. "The only thing you can do that's guaranteed to stop 'em is illegal play 12 men. It would sure help. We're always a man short.

We'd run an eight-man front, Sims no other running back in the country can claim. His 7.9 per carry average was better than Sims' 7.6. The 5-11, 203-pound senior gained 779 yards. In 99 carries, no defense could tackle him for a loss. "We'd like to have Thomas Lott and David Overstreet carry the ball Over-street only averaged 6.5 yards a carry and Lott was clear down to 5.2 yards a carry this season.

They must not be very good," joked Van Zandt. Obviously, he knows otherwise. But that doesn't mean a coach who has been with three different Big Eight teams to four different bowl games in the last five years can't smile at the pressure. Van Zandt was Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl, Kansas' defensive coordinator in the '75 Sun Bowl and Nebraska's defensive coordinator in the Liberty and Orange Bowls. His credentials show he can rise to the challenge as well as anyone.

a four-deep secondary and revolve toward the football" Such a luxury just might be enough to stop Billy Sims, OU's junior Heisman Trophy winner. Might should be emphasized. Nothing, except his own fumbles, could stop Sims this season as he rushed for a nation-leading 1,762 yards. He also scored 120 points, another national best. Sims was particularly awesome in his final five games, rushing for 231 yards against Iowa State, 202 against Kansas State, 221 against Colorado, 153 against Nebraska and 209 against Oklahoma State.

The Hooks, native also hooked 192 yards out of Kansas and 166 out of Missouri, giving him 1,374 of his yards against conference teams. That's an average of 196.3 yards a game. "Billy Sims," Van Zandt admitted, "is unbelievable. But you know something? I still think Kenny King is better." King, in his third and final season as OU's starting fullback, has something on NEBRASKA OFFENSE OKLAHOMA No. Name Ht.

Wt.Yr. Pot Yr.Wt. Ht. Name No. 89 Miller 4-4 222 Jr.

TE Sr. 254 4-3 Hicks 80 73 K. Clark 4-4 275 Sr. LT So 250 4-4 Oubre 44 54 Cotton -5 245 Sr. LG Sr.

244 44 Paul Tabor 73 57 Saalfeld 44 237 Jr. Sr. 250 44 Farthing 53 48 Lindquist 4-4 250 Sr. RG Sr. 238 4-3 Roberts 45 74 Ohrt 44 244 Sr.

RT Sr. 270 44 Claphan 43 84 Smith 4-3 194 Jr. SE Sr. 179 4-1 Kimball 21 12 Sorlev 4-2 200 Sr. QB Sr.

205 5-11 Lott 4 35 Berns 4-2 215 Sr. RB Jr. 205 44 Sims 20 39 Franklin 5-11 195 So. FB Sr. 203 Ml King 30 RB So.

192 5-11 Overstreet 22 22 Brown 44 174 Jr. WB NEBRASKA DEFENSE OKLAHOMA No. Name Ht. wt. Yr.

Pos Yr. Wt. Ht Name No. 81 Cole 4-2 201 Jr. LE Sr.

220 4-1 Mathis 58 55 Horn 4-5 259 Jr. LT Jr. 231 4-5 Goodman 72 51 Weinmaster 44 214 Jr. MG Sr. 230 4-2 Kinlaw 42 93 Pensick 4-5 245 Jr.

RT Sr. 244 44 Phil Tabor 74 94 Andrews 44 223 Sr. RE Jr. 211 44 Taton 5 40 Dunning 4-3 214 Sr. LB Sr.

220 4-3 Hunt 85 38 Kuni 4-1 218 Sr. LB Jr. 205 44 Cumby 28 29 Pillen 4-0 183 Sr. Jr. 210 4-2 Ray 3 14 Fischer 5-9 165 Sr.

CB So. 177 5-11 Banks 17 34 Means 44 172 So. CB So. 171 5-9 Jimerson 15 48 Hansen 4-2 198 Sr. Sr.

197 4-2 Babb 14 Site: The Orange Bowl, Miami, Fla. Kickoff 7 p.m. Telecast: NBC-TV, channels 3 and cable 5. Virgil Parker Sports Editor' Miami memo Mil's Powers relaxes, jokes By Randy York Staff Sports Writer MIAMI BEACH, Fla. Warren Powers was soaking in the sun on the beach outside the Sea View Hotel here Sunday afternoon when he was summoned to the bar for a telephone call.

"It was Ohio State. They want me to fly to Columbus for an interview," the Missouri football coach said as he returned to lounge next to his wife, Linda. Responding with a chuckle, she wasn't about to be taken in by her husband's humor. Linda Powers knew Warren Powers was kidding and this was one time she wasn't even going to investigate the possibility that he might be telling the truth. The comfort of the beach was too relaxing and too secure to worry about the firing of Woody Hayes and who might succeed him other than Lou Holtz.

"The only thing Warren has to worry about tonight is what tie and what coat to wear for New Year's Eve," Linda said. "It feels good, all right, not having to close my eyes and wonder who's going to blitz who tomorrow night," Powers said, referring to the rematch of Big Eight co-champions Nebraska and Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. "I don't care who wins," the long-time Nebraska assistant admitted. "They're both enemies. We've seen more of those two than anyone else trying to recruit Missouri this year.

I think they're trying a crash program against us." Powers, though, has the confidence of a fast finish going for him. His Tigers spoiled Nebraska's national championship chances with a 35-31 win in the regular season finale, then held off LSU to win the Liberty Bowl, 20-15. The final 84 record combined with the return of six offensive and six defensive starters for next year, gives Missouri a strong base from which to recruit. "More than anything else," Powers said, "we accomplished a belief in ourselves. Missouri can be as strong a football team as there is in the country next year." Losing All-Big Eight center Pete Allard and its entire receiving corps will be the biggest obstacles for Mizzou to overcome next season.

"We'll get it done," Powers said. "We feel we've got more than promises to offer now. Nobody really stopped us all year. We stopped ourselves." That same statement is the key to Nebraska's hopes of upsetting Oklahoma, Powers believes. "You have to make Oklahoma drive," he said.

"If you can do that, eventually they'll stop themselves. Give them those home run balls, though, and they'll knock you clear out of the park. They did it to us (45-23). They can do it to anyone." r. -i Associated Press Minnesota Viking Ahmad Rashad (28) catches a pass for touchdown from Fran Tarkenton against Los Angeles in NFC playoff game.

Oilers, Rams playoff winners MIAMI, Fla. From a notebook full of items collected while here for a week awaiting the Nebraska-Oklahoma rematch in the Orange BpwL After dinner the other night, a bunch of us decided to go to the dog races. Arrived just before the start of seventh race. One of the co-favorites was "Red Eyed Tom." He ran out of the money. Let's hope it's not an omen and that Nebraska's Tom Osborne isn't out of the money or red-eyed when the game ends Monday night.

Continual praise comes from many quarters for the fine impression the Cornhusker players make on everyone they come in contact with. All the fire alarms started sounding in the team headquarters hotel (the plush Americana in North Miami Beach) about 7 p.m. the other night. Following instructions, nobody used the elevators. Everyone started down the stairs.

"I was on the 15th floor with my family. My 8-year-old daughter was petrified when we started down the stairs," a vacationing New York man told me the next day. "Until that is, when we got in the stairwell with those Nebraska football players. "A couple of them kept talking to her, calming her and telling her everything was going to be all right. Then one of them picked her up and carried her the rest of the way to the ground floor.

What great young gentlemen. I sure hope they win the game." P.S. The entire hotel was vacated, although it turned out to be a false alarm. Ex-Huskers on hand tony Davis, Monte Johnson and Tom Davis (no relation to Tony) are just three ex-Husker players on hand for Monday night's game. Tony looks fit after a disappointing season with the Cinci-natti Bengals.

He suffered broken bones in his face and missed several early games. The Bengals got off to a horrendous start, then had a good finish. Johnson, who calls the Oakland Raiders' defensive signals from his middle linebacker spot, says things look good for ex-Husker Dave Humm. Raider Owner Al Davis was very critical of quarterback Ken Stabler after Oakland failed to make the playoffs for the first time in years. Johnson guesses Davis would like to get rid of both Stabler and Coach John Madden and turn the quarterback job over to Humm, who has been in a learning role as the backup QB since leaving Nebraska "Dave really helped himself with the showing he made in our final game of the season," Monte said, "and Davis is very high on him." Johnson missed three games this season with an ankle injury, but off-season surgery won't be needed.

Just a lot of exercise, racquetball and golf after getting back to Lincoln from his "busman's holiday" down here, he says. Tom Davis was drafted by the same Oakland team, but last year's NU center admits he didn't have much chance to make the team since Oakland had an established center. Tom played with Toronto in signed a two-year contract with them and am now kind of sorry I did," Davis admits. "It looks like a lot of established NFL centers may be hanging it up this year. I think I could make it as a backup with someone if I was free to try." Closing notes The press were guests aboard the Navy's newest guided missle destroyer the otiier day.

Interesting! And who should be in charge of our group when we went aboard but Pete Pryjmak, a 10 12 year service veteran from Omaha. Pryjmak was sent to Nebraska from. 1970-72 (when the Huskers were winning two national football championships) to study physics. Maybe he'll prove to be an omen to offset Red-Eyed Tom. To read the Miami papers (or to listen to the radio or TV), you'd think Oklahoma won the regular-season game and Nebraska was coming down here as the challenger not the other way around.

It's all Billy Sims this and the Sooners that. I may not be the most neutral observer, but Nebraska just isn't being treated like the host team. Only "critical" news story I've seen on Oklahoma came after a Miami writer didn't know when Hesiman Trophy winner Sims was kidding. He asked Sims what he'd been doing since he got down here and Billy answered, "Just drinking beer and making love." The writer apparently believed him and wrote a blisterling article condemning the OU players for not taking the game seriously enough. OU Coach Barry Switzer was beside himself when he saw the story.

Sims set for rematch MIAMI BEACH, Fla. Billy Sims' presence in the Nebraska-Oklahoma rematch here Monday night marks the fifth time since 1960 that a Heisman Trophy winner has performed in the Orange BowL The last time produced a dismal performance for Penn State's John Cappelletti. He gained only 21 yards on 11 carries in the Nittany Lions' 16-9 win over LSU in the 73 Orange Bowl. The year before, Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers staged one of the most dazzling Heisman displays ever, having a hand in five touchdowns as the Huskers dispatched Notre Dame, 40-6. Florida's Steve Spurrier completed 14 of 30 passes for 160 yards in the 1966 Orange Bowl to lead his team to a 27-12 triumph over Georgia Tech.

In 1960, Heisman Trophy winner Joe Bellino of Navy experienced an Orange Bowl performance similar to Cappelletti in 73. He gained only four yards on eight carries in a 27-14 loss to Missouri. Bellino, however, did catch a 27-yard touchdown pass in that game. Roger Staubach, rallied in the second half for a 27-20 victory. Dallas will head for Los Angeles, where the Rams, finally beating the Vikings after losing four previous playoffs to them, pum-meled Fran Tarkenton Co.

34-10 in Sunday's NFC playoff. Terry Bradshaw, John Stallworth and Franco Harris formed the brunt of Pittsburgh's relentless assault against Denver, whom they had beaten 21-17 two weeks earlier. The victory avenged Denver's 34-21 triumph over Pittsburgh in the first round of last season's playoffs. Bradshaw completed lfi of 29 passes for 272 yards including fourth-quarter touchdown bombs to Stallworth and Lynn Swann. With the Broncos double-teaming Swann most of the day, Stallworth was a wide-open target.

He caught 10 of Brad-shaw's passes for 156 yards. And Harris rushed for 105 yards, including touchdown bursts of 1 and 18 yards. "It's a travesty if Bradshaw isn't the Most Valuable Player in the AFC. He had a hell of a game," said Norris Weese, who look over for Craig Morton, Denver's starting quarterback, before halftime but failed to move the Broncos with consistency. "We wanted this game bad, really bad.

We just weren't going to be denied," said Harris, who has rushed for 1,155 yards and a record 12 touchdowns in 12 playoff games. Staubach was knocked cold by Atlanta linebacker Robert Pennywell late in the second period of Saturday's game, when Associated Press The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers, each bidding to become the first three-time Super Bowl winner, have taken their first steps toward a rematch of their National Football League championship game in Miami three years ago. But before they can even begin thinking about getting together again in the Orange Bowl they each face a big hurdle namely the Houston Oilers and Los Angeles Rams. The Steelers, who defeated Dallas 21-17 in Super Bowl started their trek toward Super Bowl XIII on Saturday with a 33-10 thumping of the Denver Broncos, the defending American Conference champions. That victory guaranteed Pittsburgh it will be at home next Sunday for the AFC championship.

And the opposition will be the Oilers, who pounded the New England Patriots 31-14 on Sunday as Dan Pastorini threw three touchdown passes in the second period, covering 71 yards to Ken Burrough and 19 and 13 yards to Mike Barber. "I expect a knock-down, drag-out fight with them," Houston Coach Bum Phillips said of the Steelers. What the Patriots can expect from Coach Chuck Fairbanks is a relatively quick departure for the University of Colorado. In the National Conference divisional playoffs, the clock finally tolled midnight for the NFL's Cinderella team, the Atlanta Falcons. They ran out of last-minute miracles Saturday.

The Cowboys, with Danny White at quarterback in place of injured the Falcons built a 20-13 halftime lead. But the Cowboys said he would work out Monday and be ready for the NFC championship game. White rallied Dallas in the second half. His 2-yard pass to veteran tight end Jackie Smith tied the score. And after a shanked Falcon punt gave Dallas the ball at the Atlanta 30, he guided the Cowboys into position for Scott Laidlaw's 1-yard TD dive with less than 10 minutes to play.

It was the second TD of the game for Laidlaw. Pastorini completed 12 of 15 passes for 200 yards in Houston's romp. He wore the same flak jacket which had protected him from Miami's barrages a week ago, and it worked just as well this time, cushioning his battered ribs. Earl Campbell, the NFL rushing champion, punched out 118 yards and a touchdown. New England linebacker Steve ZabeL asked if the uncertainty of the Fairbanks situation disturbed the team, replied: "It was Earl Campbell and Dan Pastorini that disturbed us today." Pat 1 laden of the Rams outplayed Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton perhaps playing his last NFL game by throwing touchdown passes of 9 yards to Willie Miller and 27 yards to Ron Jessie.

Los Angeles put the game away in the third period, breaking out of a 10-10 half-time tie with two touchdowns on Cullen Bryant's 3-yard run and Jessie's scoring reception. The only Minnesota TD came on Tarkenton's 1-yard flip to Ahmad Rashad with six seconds left in the first half. NFL summaries. Page 20 Sports Calendar Prep wrestling Southeast ot Grand Island, 3:45 o.m.i Lincoln High at Kearney. Prep boys swimming Northeast-North Platte at Hastings.

Prop girls basketball Kearney at East, North Platte ot Lincoln High, both p.m. Prep girls gymnastics North Piatt at Lincoln High, 3:30 P.m. Local channels In blackface, coble channels In white face Sports on TV Monday Monday Colleoe mens football Nebraska Ploys Oklahoma In the Orange Bowl, Mioml Beach, scheduled television alrtlme, 7 p.m. Hunting Second portion ol crow season begins, statewide. Tuesday College mens basketball Sterling, Kon.

ot Hastings. Prep wrestling Waverly ot Lincoln Plus X. Wednesday College mens batketball Doone at Kearney State. Thursday College mens basketball wichito Stole at Crelghton, 7:30 p.m., Omaha Civic Auditorium; Bellovu at Dana, 7:30 p.m. Prep wrestling Plus ot Centennial.

Pre girls gymnastics Northeast at Beatrice, 7 p.m.; East-O. Tech ot O. Northwest, 7 p.m. Hunting Duck season ends In high Plains. Friday Prep boys basketball East ot Kearney, Lincoln High at North Plattg, North, east at Hastings, Plus ol Lonlngign, an P.m.

Saturday Special! Sporti Spectacular, 1:30 p.m., stuntmen, boxing, East-West Shrine Bowl highlights, CD Wide World ol Sports, Hula Bowl coverage, 3 p.m., QD Bawling Miller High Life Classic, 1:30 p.m., OLD Basketball NCAA batketball, 12:30 P.m., Nebraska vi. Iowa State, 12:30 P.m., CD NBA batketball, 12:30 p.m., 789 Rutgers vi. UCLA, 2:30 p.m., rn NBA basketball, 3:30 p.m., Notre Dame vi. Villanova, 9:15 p.m., CD Batketball Crelghton basketball, 10:30 p.m., a Special! Lai Vegai Sportiline, p.m., CB Thursday Specials Outdoor Nebraska, 8 p.m., (Q Lai Vegas Sportiline, p.m., CD Batketball Michigan vi. Minnesota, 7 p.m., CD Friday Special! Las Vegai Sportiline, 10 p.m., CD Batketball Rocked vi.

Hawki, 1 :30 a.m., CD NFL Playoffs Football Sugar Bowl, Penn Stale vi. Alabama, 1 p.m., CD Cotton Bowl, Notre Dame vi. Houston, 1 p.m., CD Rote Bowl, USC vi. Michigan, 3:45 p.m., CD Orange Bowl, Nebraska vi. Oklahoma, 7 p.m., 0 CB Tuesday Basketball Sum vi.

Knicks, 6:30 p.m., CD Wednesday Hockey Rangers vi. Canadieni, 6:30 p.m., tD Saturday College mens basketball Tulsa at Crelghton, 7:30 p.m., Omaha Civic Auditorium; Kearney at Hastings; Bellevue at Midland, 7:30 p.m., Fremont. College wreslllng Lack Hoven State ot Nebraska. Prep boys basketball Omaha Burkg at East, Omaha Benson vs. Northeast ot Johnson Gvm, Southeast at Omaha West-side; Lincoln Christian at Prague, all I p.m.

Prop wrestling Spartan Invitational ot East, 9 a.m.; Plus ot Fremont Btr-gon. Prep govt swimming East, Northeast, Southeast at Ralston Invitational, II O.m. Prep girts basketball Hastings ot Northeast, I p.m.; Southeast gt Grand lt lond, 1 p.m. Norris ot Plus X. Prep girls gymnastics Souttteosl al Grand island, 1:45 p.m.

National Conference Lai Angolao 34, Minnesota 10 tunaav, Jan. 1 AFC Championship Houston at Pittsburgh, I P.m. NFC Championship Dallas at Los Angeles, 4 30 m. Sunday, Jan. 31 SUPER.

SOWL XIII AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion ol All Timet EST Divisional Playoffs Saturday, 0c. Amtrlcon Conference flltsburgh 13, Denver 10 Ngtlonal Conference Polios J7, Atlanta Sunday, Doc. It Amtrlcon Conference Houston 31, New England I.