The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 10

i Page 10 The Lincoln Star KICKOFF CLASSIC Monday, August 29, 1994 1 MMPFr azier draws compansons 1(' I i iKV: ner was so cleared out on the options. But the pass plays in the open field, dropped, were opportunities the receivers have to take care of FRAZIER WASNT UPSET with the two potential touchdowns going through the hands of his re- ccivcrs' "That's all part of the game," he said, "Maybe it was a lack of concentration or something. But I can't get down On anybody for that The offense was doing pretty well, and we won the game." Phillips said he didnt notice any change in Fra-tier's demeanor despite some frustrations. "You could see by the look on his face, be was just more determined the next play," Phillips said. "He told us we could take control of the game at any time, and he did." Frazier ran for touchdowns of 25, 27 and 42 yards on option keepers.

In the second quarter, he ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to break the game open. "We were getting a good jump on the line," said NU senior offensive tackle Zach Wiegeri "That seemed to set up a lot of things: Getting to the outside for the pitches and getting Tommie time to pass. And it seemed to wear down West Virginia's defense." FRAZIER SAID HE WAS SURPRISED by the dominance of the NU offense "West Virginia got fatigued by being on defense so much. And we just stuck to our plan and counted on our conditioning and wore them out By the fourth quarter, we should be the stronger team every time." The only time Frazier seemed rattled at all was CLWith 230 total Husker evokes memories of reat quarterbacks, but fjpesn't impress himself. fey Ken Hambleton Of The Lincoln Star StAST RUTHERFORD, NJ.

la Tommle Frailer comparable to Turner Gill? Major Harris? Charlie Ward? Tommie is Tommie," Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said. Tm very proud o( Tommle. He made some great plays and some not so good." For Frazier, the Kickoff Classic was the second straight Most Valuable Player award. He finished the 1993 season with the MVP award in the Orange Bowl, earning the comparisons to last year's Heis-itian Trophy winner Want Now, with the Kickoff Classic honor, he's being compared to Gill, who now coaches at NU, but won the 1983 award in a 44- victory over Penn State. West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen compared Frazier to Harris, the all-time leading quarterback in West Virginia history.

Frazier, who passed for 100 yards and a touchdown and ran for 130 yards and three more touchdowns, said he was simply in the right place at the rjjjht time. I also fumbled once, threw a couple of intercept tirms one when I shouldn't have thrown the ball -nd I wasnt that impressed," he said. "This; is orje game. Ask me how good I feel tour or five games down the road." 57U I-BACK LAWRENCE PHILLIPS, who gained 126 yards in his first start, said Frazier was incomplete charge of the game. gl guess Tommie could see they weren't playing tip option too well, and every time we'd get to the end to turn upfield, there'd be nobody there," he said.

"The corners were so wide open, the corners ar)d the safeties were making all the tackles, and Temmie knew that" only mishaps came in the passing game. In the first quarter, a pass bounced off Cles-te Johnson's hands and into the hands of a West Vginia defender. Later, another pass that looked like a sure touch- Randy HamptonLincoln Star The Giants Stadium field can be seen In the reflection off the sunglasses worn by Nebraska fan Chris Rickert of Columbus Sunday at East Rutherford, NJ. 1 i NU-West Virginia Notes Rontfv Hompton Lincoln tor Tommie Frazier throws a pass to Abdul Muhammad for a 23-yard gain early in the first quarter, in the second quarter when he was smacked to the ground by West Virginia defensive tackle Mike Horn. Frazier dropped back and threw a pass to Eric Alford in the end zone, but the pass wobbled and was intercepted.

Frazier crumbled to the ground and, finally, walked off the field holding his right shoulder the same shoulder he dislocated last season. "I took a shot on the shoulder, but you could see I got right back in there," he said. "It will take more than that to get me out of there." down, bounced off the hands of Abdul Muhammad. Frazier also had a pass intercepted in the end zone. -i "Tommie was hot with his passing, and sometimes the receivers we're looking to go to second base but forgot to touch first," said NU receivers coach Ron Brown.

"The receivers blocked welL That's why that cor since a 13-0 victory over Baylor in 1990. a What a difference a year can make. "We're a different team today than we were then," said Coach Don Nehlen after being asked whether he thought a Nebraska-Mountaineer Orangle Bowl pairing on New Year's evening would have made for a good game. There's no question it would have been an equitable matchup. There's not a man in America who could probe me wrong on that In major college football there's no way you stub your toe and get a second chance." Nehlen's 1993 team, unbeaten in the regular season, was denied a chance to play the Cornhuskers for the national championship be- i cause of a coalition ranking that placed once-beaten Florida State ahead of it Grant Wistrom, NU outside linebacker who made four tackles, said he was just playing along with the rest of the defense.

Wistrom, a true freshman, also had two quarterback sacks. "I kne we could do it and if the play got tunneled to me, then it was natural to make the tackle," he said. a Abdul Muhammad, who caught a 23-yard pass and dropped another one, "I got an today because I could have had that pass and I didnt catch it You get to seeing all that open field ahead of you and your eyes get big. But you need to make the play first I'm glad I got that game out of me." a Nebraska won its three Kick-off Classic games (1983, 1988 and 1994) by a total of 98-20. This was NU's first shutout since a 55-0 win over Oklahoma State in 1992.

It was the first opening day shutout fAest Virg inia punter gets his kicks -fifi want to make a statement for kickers or punters. Ever since ninth grade I wanted to be drafted in the NFL That's my goal in life. Todd Sauerbrun "This is kind of1 my hometown (Sauerbrun's from nearby Setauket, N. on Long Island)," he said. "I guess 30 members of my family were here, I was excited and the adrenalin was just flowing." Nebraska's Scoring Summary NU-WVU Sauerbrun Tim left 90-yarder helps Mountaineer set Kickoff Classic record.

By Curt McKeeveir Qf The Lincoln Star EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. Withhout making a tackle," Todd Sauerbrun was unquestionably the' best defensive player West Virginia had in Sunday's Kickoff Classic. Now, he might never eat another pre-game meal. game meant everything to the coaches and the players and everything to me, and I was just so nervous, I couldn't eat anything all day," said the senior after averaging a game-record 60.1 yards on jjine. punts.

Sauerbrun, the nation's top returning punter, boomed a 90-yarder on his second effort to set a West Virginia record. 3-0 10-0 "He had the ability to get it going way, way up there," Moss said. "I kept dropping back, and then he started to kick short" BUT ONLY BY Sauerbrun's standards. His shortest punt of the game went 51 yards. "I've seen film of his kicks, but It's nothing like we saw today," Moss said.

Sauerbrun's efforts earned him two Player of the Game votes. In con trast NU I-back Lawrence Phillips also got two votes. "Todd punted the ball real well," West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen said. "Only trouble was, he punted so far we couldn't cover it and they still re-; turned it 20 yards." I i That's the way it went for the Mountaineers on Sunday, "There is a lot of risk, especially when you play Nebraska," Nehlen said. "We were young at least we got one game of experience." Darin Erstad also broke the previous Kickoff Classic record by averaging 48.3 yards on three punts, but Sauerbrun had a leg up on him.

"I WANT TO make a statement for kickers or punters," Sauerbrun said. "Ever since ninth grade I wanted to be drafted in the NFL. That's my goal in life." Nebraska's Kareem Moss, who averaged 20.3 yards returning four of Sauerbrun's punts, would pick him. FAST QUARTER Ton Slater 32 fleM goal Drive 55 yards In 13 plays. Set up by Kareem Moss 28 punt return after Todd Sauerbrun 90 punt.

Highlighted by Lawrence PhHIips 5, 7, 13 runs, Tommie Frazier 1 1 run, Frazier 7 pass to Matt GUrnan, Frazier 2 sneak on fourth down. SECOND QUARTER Tommle Frailer 25 run to-49 Drive: 70 yards in 9 plays. Highlighted by PhHIips 6, 11, 13 runs. Frazier 10 run, Jett Makovicka 7 run. Conversion: Sieler kick.

Reggie Baul 12 pats from Frazier Drive: 13 yards 2 plays. Set up by Doug Colman tumble recovery and sack of Chad Boykin. Conversion: Sieler kick. Frazier 27 run i-jq Drive: 74 yards In 6 plays. Highlighted by Baul 23 pass from Frazier, West Virginia roughing penalty on punt, Phillips 12 run.

Conversion: Sieler kk. FOURTH QUARTER Frazier 42 run 7.37 Drive: 77 yards 7 plays. Highlighted by Frailer 9 run. Frazier 7 pass to Brendan Holbein, Cinton ChUds 6 run. Conversion: Sieler kick.

1 17-0 I 244 314 What Others Wrote About Kickoff Classic Individual Statistics West Virginia Offense Rushing As a novelty, maybe the folks running the Kick-off Classic should invite teams that are not so badly mismatched. Having a contender for the national championship is nice, but not when its opponent is overrated and undermanned. Just as Florida State did here last season, Nebraska scored seemingly at will Sunday. And just as Kansas did against the Seminoles, West Virginia scored nil Nebraska's beefy offensive line manhandled West Virginia's vaunted defensive line for all but a few minutes of the third quarter. It was 17-0 before West Virginia got a first down.

It was 24-0 at halftime and could have been Worse. Don Baltimore Sun The first game of college football's 1994 season brought together Nebraska and West Virginia teams that completed unbeaten regular seasons in 1993, but did not meet in a bowl game. Nearly eight months later, the matchup that never was looked like the matchup that never should have been. Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier with a national television audience watching made sure his name would be mentioned among Heisman Trophy hopefuls. This was domination.

Marc Weiszer, The Washington Post West Virginia was hoping this season would begin like last: With a bang. Instead, it began like last season ended: With a whimper. It didn't help that the offensive line often left inexperienced quarterbacks Eric Boykin and Chad Johnston with nowhere to go but backwards. Matt Harvey, The Associated Press No. Yds.

Ave. 3 8 38 20 15 0.0 PI 1 1 Yds. 50 Robert Walker 12 46 Kantroy Barber 6 23 Jimmy Gary 2 4 Jim Freeman 2 3 Jeff Nixon 1 0 Chad Johnston 7 -29 Eric Boykin 8 -39 Passing No. Co. Yds Eric Boykin 13 4 62 Chad Johnston 6 2 19 Receiving No.

Rahsaan Vanterpool 3 LovettPumeH 2 Jimmy Gary Punting No. Yds. From Page 9 NU Ave. 10.8 53 39 7.5 38 65 35 50 50 4.0 PI 2 0 Yds. 46 17 23 7 7 Ave.

48.3 Yds. 81 66 Yds. 8 7 Yds. 0 Ave. NU Schedule Todd Sauerbrun 9 541 601 Kickoff returns No- Yds.

Rahsaan Vanterpool. 1 it1 Punt returns No. 2 10. Rahsaan Vanterpool 4. I-'- Aug.

28 Nebraska 31, West Virginia 0 Sept. at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Sept 17 UCLA, 2:30 p.m. (ABC) SepL 24 Pacific, 1 p.m. Oct 1 Wyoming, 1 p.m.

Oct I Oklahoma State, 1 p.m. Oct 15 at Kansas State, 1 m. Oct 22 at Missouri, 1 p.m. Oct 29 Colorado, TBA (tomeooming). Nov.

5 Kansas, 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at Iowa State 1 m. Nov. 25 at Oklahoma, 1 :30 p.m.

(ABC) i ym, Yds. 0 0 Nebraska Offense Rushing No. Yds. Tommie Frazier 12 130 Lawrence Phillips 24 126 Cory Schiesingar 8 31. Clinton ChUds 4 30 Damon Benning 5 19 Jeff Makovicka 2 11 Brook Barhnger 2 7 Chris Noma, 1 ToddUhNr 1 Brian 1 4 Passing No.

Co. Vds Tommle Frailer 16 100 Lawrence 1 0 0 RscslvInQ No. 3 Lawrence Phillips. 2 Abdul Muhammad 1 MattGHman 1 Brendan 1 Punting No. Yds.

Darin Erstad 3 145 Punt returns No. ttareem 4 Reggie Baul 3 Interception returns No. Sedrlc Collins 1 Barron MNea. 1 Fumble returns No. Doug Colman 1 Defense Tackles UT AT Doug Colman 4 4 Ovwtian 4 3 Jared Tomich 3 2 Ed Stewart 2 2 Jon Hesse 2 1 Grant IrVntrom 1 2 Tony Veiand 2 0 SecHc Cone 0 2 Eric )mii 2 Ctnt Brown 0 2 Aaron Penland 0 2 Troy Dumas 1 1 I any Townaenrl 0 Ryan Terwger 1 1 I Dmmf 0 Jason Peter 1 Dwayne 1 0 MfceMnter 0 1 Jason 1 0 PM" Cory ScMesmger 1 fi Kareem 1 0 0 1 OonU Jorwa 0 1 Jm 1 Trry r.iin.y ft 1 1 0 i Interception returns No.

Charles Emanuel 1 Harold Kidd. 1 Fumble returns No. Bernardo Amerson Matt Taffoni 1 EWndgeWiiiiarns 1 Yds. 0 0 0 1 i I I 1 i TT" 14 TT 6 7 6 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Defense Tackles Charles Emanuel 7 7 BoChatfield 4 6 Aaron Beesiey 4 4 Venn Washington 6 2 Barry 1 4 Matt Tarfoni 0 4 James Thomas 2 2 Steven Perkins 2 2 Jamee Wright 2 2 John Browning 3 1 Bernardo Amerson 3 0 Keith Morns 1 2 Harold KJd 3 Henry Stey. 1 Scott Bailey 2 David MayMd 0 2 Bob Baum 0 2 Lenard Mayweather 1 1 Eldndge Wihams 1 1 Rob Keys 2 0 Bryan Washington 1 0 Jama Sweeney 1 5 Mike Horn rj CanutsKurtts 1 3V "The sad thing about the first half was, we probably should have scored one more time before the half and had a well-thrown ball that went through a receivers' hands for an interception that cost us 14 points, and we lost some more in the second half," Osborne said.

"Those are some things we've got to smooth out and I think we will But we have to wait until we play Colorado, Oklahoma, UCLA before we can say a whole lot about this team." Osborne said he wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the Huskers, ranked third in the preseason USA TodayCNN coaches poll and No. 4 in the Associated Press media ratings, was as good as the game against West Virginia indicated. "The first game is difficult because you don't know how good West Virginia is." he said. "We're pleased, but sometimes you can get overly optimistic." West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen said he didnt need more convincing. "My hat's off to Nebraska," Nehlen said.

"They had the ball 48 plays in the first half. You cant let anybody have the ball 48 plays when it's 90 degrees and high humidity. They are a complete football team." Tom Sieler opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal with 34 seconds left in the first quarter. West Virginia quarterback Chad Johnston was hounded by NU outside linebacker Dwayne Harris and defensive tackle Christian Peter. After West Virginia ended its third series without a first down, Nebraska went to its option game and took control.

The Cornhuskers, behind the running of sophomore Phillips, who gained 128 yards, and Frazier drove for a touchdown with 10:49 left in the first halt Frazier scored on a 25-yard option play around the left end, behind a block by Jeff Makovkka. I I -2. 2-- 2 1 On West Virginia's second play after the score, New Jersey native Doug Colman, playing in front of family and friends, stripped the ball from quarterback Eric Boykin and recovered at the Mountaineer 13-yard line. Just more than a minute later, Frazier hit Reggie Baul on a 12-yard touchdon pass. Nebraska followed with a withering pass rush that led to tackles for losses in order by Colman, Peter and Jared Tomich to set up a final scoring drive before the end of the half.

With 1:20 left in the half, Frazier scored on a 27-yard run around the left end, behind blocks by Makovkka and Johnson, to boost the lead to 24-0. "When the offensive line controls the makes a difference," Osborne said. "And I could see it was tough for their quarterbacks with everything falling around your ears. "Bear in mind that when you start a new quarterback, it makes a difference." Nebraska posted a 44-6 victory over Penn State and two inexperienced quarterbacks in the 1983 Kickoff Classic and earned a 23-14 win over Texas with a more experienced quarterback in the 1988 Kickoff Classic. Tommie's experience gave us a big edge," Phillips said.

"He could see 1 0 1 1 1 i I Kickoff Classic Records Set Ti KtrkLMcWa Mar Deeo in West Viralnia tpmtrw MoKrata' p. tm-, -J. wumi vui iiii iv Mica intercepts a pass lata in the second quarter. The Huskers, however, failed to score on the ensuing drive. tOTVIDUAL Rushing per play Tommle Frazier, Nebraska, 10.8 Rushing touchdown Frazier, Nebraska, 3.

tooting Frazier. Nebraska. 18. Punt return sards Kareem Mosa, Nebraska, 81. Mosl punts Todd Sauerbrun, West Vrgmn, g.

Punting average Sauerbrun, West Vrojnia, 60,1. TEAM Rushing attempts Nebraska, 60. Rushing attempts, both team 98. Rushing yard Nebraska, 368. 9 Fawat yards total often West VTrgWa, 89.

1 they were not going to smother the option, and we were getting wide, wide open a lot of the time. "And the little bit we werent on the field, the defense took care of business." Phillips said it was great to start the season in that fashion. "Getting the national attention, getting off to such a good start, it's all a lot of fun," he said. The beat the humidity, some turnovers, nothing really bothers you much when it's that much fun." Frazier 1.