The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 17

Thursday, March 16, 1995 The Lincoln Star Page 1 7 Huskei prove 0 season fj-' 1 devotion Physical testing shows NU football players have worked Trill Probable Starters Iowa, Penn St. win NIT openers Page 20 Ex-Nee assistant, Jaspers in dance Page 20 Nebraska (17-13) NIT gives Huskers chance to get back on winning track. By Curt McKeever of The Lincoln Star Nebraska and Georgia, two men's basketball teams that started the sea-, son planning on being in the NCAA Tournament, will take the first step toward-getting there next year when they meet in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament Thursday at 7:05 p.m. in the Devaney New Jersey rips Orlando again hard this winter. By Ken Hambleton of The Lincoln Star The Nebraska football players closed out the 1994 national pionship celebration and began the 1995 season Wednesday when most of the team completed physical testing in Cook Pavilion.

Page 20 (Ht.) Vr. PI. Rb. Terrance Badgett (6-6) Jr. 8 2 6 4 Melvin Brooks (6-8) Sf.

7 0 4 7 MHtKi Moor (6-11) SO. 76' 62 Jaron Boone (6-6) Jr. 17.9 3 3 Eric Strickland (6-3) 16.4 62i Oflarrthrt a(p attorn vg. 74.7. Georgia (18-9) s- Vr.

Pt b. ShanOon Anderson (9-6) Jr. 12.9 50. Carlos Strong (6-8) Jr. 14 4 6 8 Charles Clarion (7-0) i Sr.

125 8.0i Katu Oavts (6-2) 109 iJ2, 6 Pertna Robmson (6-1) Jr. 6.4 4 1 Orfanstva tvcj. 78.3; dsttnstv avg. 69 4. Tip-off: 7:05 pm Tnursday, Devaney Sports Center.

RadkK KLIN 1400: KFAB 1110. i' This is. the 1 The Bulldogs feature 7-foot, center Charles Claxton, who" was taken by Phoenix as the 50th 4 overall pick in last June's NBA Draft but opted to return for his senior season. Claxton averages 12i points, eight rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game. v' 1 start of next year," said quarterback Tommie Frazier.

"We start to prepare for next season, put in the new offensive plays, the new defensive mmmm'mmmm Nee likens Georgia forward Carlosi Nebraska is 0-0 in NIT homer' strong, who averages 14.4 points and games, but, based on what's happened 6.8 rebounds, to the Utah Jazz's all-pro this year, that streak could be in serial Karl Malone. Sports Center. The Cornhuskers' first NIT appearance since 1989, which follows four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, is expected to draw 7.000 to 8,000 fans. NU's smallest home rrnwri Hnr. ous jeopardy.

plays and get ready, we Actually, already iJ Frazier started about 10 weeks ago. ill is fcita)MW AtHtHtl'1 H0HIH0BIMMMIiHiBH9 The Bulldogs' Achilles' heel has been shooting consistency. They're hitting just 46.7 percent from the 33.7 percent from three-point range. The winner of Thursday's game will face Penn State Monday or Tuest day. Nebraska might not be able to' play at home Monday because of a gymnastics meet in the Sports Cen-; ter.

Nee, of course, would be happy to be playing anywhere after the first round. He said a Nebraska win Thursday would "be huge. The Cornhuskers (17-13) have lost-four straight games, seven of eight and three in a row in the Sports Cen ten Georgia (18-9) won four of its last five regular-season games, including a 16-point win at NCAA Tournament. entrant Florida, before losing to No 20 Alabama in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference ment. The Bulldogs beat Alabama by 14 points during the regular-season and played sixth-ranked Arkansas to a two-point game at Fayetteville.

I Strickland mg the regular" season was 9,882. Nebraska guard Erick Strickland said he thinks Thursday's game will come down to whichever team, both of which have four underclassmen starters, can do the best job of putting its regular-season frustrations behind it. "It's going to boil down to who prepares the most, who wants it the most," Strickland said. Where would Strickland put the Cornhuskers' thrill meter? "You wish you were in the tournament, but as long as you're still playing, that's the main thing," he said. "We want to end on a positive note." How long has it been (since the Ark.

The testing brought an end to winter conditioning, with the players showing gains and growth. Although results will not be released until afternoon.Jt appeared the Cornhuskers have not slacked off in physical training. FRAZIER WAS ONE of many team members who posted personal ibests in some of the tests. He had a 'personal-best vertical jump of 34 inches and 4.61-second time in the 40-yard dash, tied a best in the 10-yard dash with a time of :01.S7 and ran the drill in 04.05. He performed all but the 300-yard shuttle run, running two 400-yard runs instead.

Frazier said he did not want to strain his right ankle, which has been bothering him. He said his leg, which was operated on to prevent recurring blood clots Cornhuskers won a postseason, game)? 1989? It seems like it's been 1989 since we won any game." 1 Strickland agreed. 1 i "A win would really some hopes. It'd really help us out for, next year, that's the main thing," he said. "Georgia is the biggest and most athletic team I've seen.

They can play big, they can play smalL They're very versatile. I wonder why they're not in the NCAA." NU Coach Danny Nee, said. "It'll take everything we have, and more." Harold OrtlmanliLlncoln Star Nebraska split end John Livingston tests out in the vertical jump during spring testing Wednesday in ft' ringer clear all the standards on the that sidelined him most of last season, vertical jump pole. "You're off the Expectations; rjj Huskers! should now; aside neaung wen. "I couldn't do the squat Suctywas the case fora number of until a couple of players.

Frazier said it's a sign that weeks ago, so my strength isn't where eijerybody is as dedicated as ever to want it, but I'm doing just fine and improving physical skills in prepara- Peter said he didn't think there was any letup in the conditioning this winter. The 295-pound senior-to-be went 36l'i inches in the vertical jump, ran a personal-best :01.72 in the 10-yard dash, 05.18 in the 40-yard dash and 04.21 in the agility run. "I know the guys are working hard, if not harder than last year," Peter said. "And if anybody is wondering about, the offensive line, rebuilding from last year, well forget it, they're Before the Nebraska men's my leg isn bothering me at all. Just a tion for improving football skills dur- little calcification in my ankle is all." ing spring practice.

'This is the starting-point for next year's placement on the depth chart basketball team played Washington in the quarterfinals of the 1987 National Invitation Tournament at the Devaney Sports Center, first-year Coach Danny Nee played an audiotape of a radio broadcast BROOK BERRINGER, who will compete with Frazier for the starting quarterback job this spring and next ana aii mai goes wun mat, razier Mike fall had a normal twsV nf V. inh WTV tius hard Babcock following the Cornhuskers' NIT working uke there is no tomorrow. intheverticaljump. rya5 wasnt all "Brook, youYe messing up the sys- iTTe tern here.f said new NU linebacker back thaP $Xeaf imk "i coach Craig Bob), who witnessed Ber- DEFENl T'rKLEXhristian You; can see they believe in the tradi-; quarterfinal victory against Texas ifiJflX LXbrMan at the Sports Center Ui 19 a Sports folumnist 1983... Pfe ease'turn to: Test, Page V9 NFL stops Rams, for now The tape included the sounds of Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York," on the Sports Center public address system.

A couple of hours later, the Sinatra song was played again, in celebration of an 81-76 victory against Washington. The Sports Center was awash in the enthusiasm of a sellout crowd of 14.460. Start spreadin' the news erations on the subject. While the legal case unfolds, the Rams might have to play next season in Anaheim. Shaw said that was "distinctly a possibility." written." Frontiere said.

When asked if she'd consider selling the team to a Los Angeles interest, she said: "Never." -I Missouri attorney general Jay Nixon also has said ho urnnlH filo an Vf'Whatever we have to do, we will antitrust suit by the end of the mojntfl frontiere said, Un I .41 1 r. if the league turned down the RaYns, program, it is now based on qualifying for the NCAA Tournament The expectation was, this would be the season in which the Cornhusker basketball team advanced to another' level by winning an NCAA '( Tournament game or two. we have the NIT. The situation has been aggravated by the Nebraska athletic department's decision to require season-ticket holders in choice locations to contribute significantly to booster clubs. As the cost of a product increases, the attitude is, so should its quality.

THE UNFORTUNATE aspect of all of this is that the joy of Nebraska basketball, of basketball in general, seems to have been lost Though -admittedly disappointing, the season has been extended by at least one home game, with the potential for one or two more. If teams are reasonably well- matched, as Nebraska and Georgia should be, a basketball game shouldn't require a context to be enjoyed. During his weekly radio call-in show. Nee said he expected Thursday; to be a "fun night" The fun has been fnissing from this season, not only -because the Cornhuskers have lost -seven of their last eight games but also because those losses kept them from the NCAA Tournament Last season, Villanova won the NIT. This season, the Wildcats are a No.

3 seed in the NCAA Tournament There is a potential benefit for next season. But Thursday's game can stand on its own merits. Georgia is pretty good. Let's see how Nebraska matches up. Thursday," a long-time soasprj-tickel holder told me.

And he's a serious basketball fan. Last week, he took off work on Thursday and Friday to watch the boys state high school tournament. Nebraska should have turned down the NIT, the way Georgia Tech did, he said. (The Yellow Jackets are a bunch of soreheads who should ha ve been included in the NCAA ft Tournament but weren't. Apparently, such an attitude isnt.

out of the ordinary, which is both understandable and unfortunate r- for the same reason. EXPECTATIONS FOR Nee's program have increased dramatically during his nine seasons. After four consecutive, though undistinguished, trips to the NCAA Tournament, that has become a minimal standard. i It's also probably an unreasonable' standard, considering the strength of the Big Eight Certainly, other factors are significant. But success in 14 regular-season conference games, and to a lesser extent the conference; tournament, is the most important i For the Nebraska football program, the all-or-nothing mentality is based on winning the national i championship.

For the basketball Team officials, state of Missouri vow to take battle to court. PHOENIX (AP) The Rams might have to make it an even half-century in Southern California. NFL owners overwhelmingly voted down the team's move to St. Louis Wednesday, prompting Rams officials to put their legal machinery in motion. The team owner and the state of Missouri have threatened lawsuits, and Rams president John Shaw said he was "extremely" confident he could beat the league in court.

Rams owner Georgia Frontiere called the decision "arbitrary and capricious" and branded the vote a "kangaroo court." The owners' insistence on more money from the Rams was at the heart of the opposition. Frontiere said she will meet with team lawyers and St. Louis officials in Los Angeles in the next few days to discuss her options and intimated a lawsuit would be next. "As I told them in the meeting room, the last chapter has yet to be Nebraska was heading to Madison Square Garden. Nine seasons later, the Cornhuskers' participation in the NIT is generating little excitement and apparently nowhere near the ticket sales of 1987, when a first-round game against Marquette drew 12,096 and a second-round game against Arkansas drew 14,529.

Those sales enabled Nebraska to get three home games, which enabled the Cornhuskers to get to the semifinals in New York City. All three games were close enough that playing at home mattered. THIS TIME, fans who contributed to the energy that nudged Nebraska on its three-game winning streak, are lamenting the fact that Thursday night's game against Georgia at the Sports Center conflicts with television coverage of the NCAA Tournament's first round. "I'll be as far away from there (the Sports Center) as possible on n. money the big holdup to the deal.

The NFL had wanted about $25 of the $74 million in personal seat license money raised by the St. Louis group called FANS Inc. to finance the move. It also wanted the Rams to contribute about $5 million to create a trust fund for a new stadium in the Los Angeles area. Shaw said the Rams made the league an offer, but didn't specify the terms.

A league source said it was about half the desired amount. The Fox network's concerns about leaving the No. 2 TV market for the 18th also was cited by Tagliabue, who said Fox might demand a rebate if the Rams left. Shaw said he was surprised about that, considering that the Rams were last in the league in attendance last year and had all but 1 one of their games blacked out for local TV. The Rams have been in Southern California for 49 years.

The franchise' began in Cleveland in 1937 before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. Twenty-one owners voted against the move and six abstained. Cincinnati and Tampa Bay joined the Rams in voting for the transfer. The Raiders, Seattle, San Diego, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Atlanta abstained. Approval required assent from 75 percent (23) of the owners.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue didn't completely slam the door on the Rams' move, but was vague about the next step, "We're still hopeful we can avoid litigation," he said. "We're not trying to be confrontational. We're trying to be sensible and fair." The vote ended three days of delib- 1994-95 Winter All-City Teams Basketball i Stat it- i 'if I Boy FIRST TEAM Girts FIRST TEAM Nam, school Ht Yr Pt Reb Wrestling Wt. Nam, achool Vr. Rac.

100 Adrian Galiardo, Northeast So. 15-11 106 Justin Bohaty, Plus 23-10 112 Ryan finest. East 21-8 119 Collin Stprk. East Sr. 24-10 128 John Ruttedge, Est- Sr.

21-12 13 Corr Lyon, tincolri MgH Jr. 21-9 rari Kowsihe. Cnrrsjan Jr. 36-10 142 Jeremy Cumrmngs, Utigh Sr. 21-10 Ht Vr Pt Reb 6-7 Sr.

26 5 W.7 6-2 Jr. 19.1 4 0 Kara Graham, Southeast 5-9 Sr. 112 51 Trisha Pucker, Southeast 5-10 Sr. 119 Undsey Kearns, Southeast 5-6 Sr. 6 2 Mike Bar gen, East Alton Mason.

Northeast JR. Edwards. Southeast Greg Gerlsch, Northeast J. Heunstadter. Northeast Honorary captain Mason.

55 30 51 50 101 6-1 Jr. 151 6-7 Sr. 17 1 64 Sr. 9.0 27 50 5.5 Sth-A 6th-A 6th-0 4th-A 6th-A 1st-A 2nd-B 3rd-A 8.1 I Ere Zlomke. Pius, Jr.

25-11 Staph Aden. Uneoln High 5-9 Sr. Jaime Krondak. East 64 Sr. Honorary captain Graham.

SECOND TEAM 131 Dfou vvaitun, oouirvasi dr. 1 1 160 T.J. Goegtem. East Sr. 27 172 Joe Fraas.

Pius Sr. 31-3 185 Ted Kastl. Pus Jr. 26-8 215 Ryan Shanesy. L.

High Sr. 25-8 Hwt Brian Jarrett Northeast Sr. 20-9 SECOND TEAM Roman Evans, Unoom High 5-9 Sr. 1 1 5 Scon Schmidt. Southeast 6-5 Sr.

11 9 Matt Orevo. Christian 6-8 Jr 16 0 Jeff Wets. Northeast 6-1 Sr. 8 1 BJ. Namen.

Northeast 6-1 Jr. 6S 166 97 80 72 6.5 62 35 53 20 33 30 91 81 65 17 Sara VanEngen, Christian 5-7 Sr. Missy Schomaker, Northeast 5-10 So. She Kapler. Pus 5-10 Courtney Wtrtstnjck, Southeast 5-4 So.

Libby King, East 5-6 Jr. Honorary captain Goeglem. Boy' honorabl mention Brian Schwartt. Pius Paulo Van dsn Bern Uncnin Wnh- ih Southeast. Cory Adarr Southeut, M.

Keney. Northeast; Tm McEwwl ChnwH T' i i ''A ii Swimming (Place, bm at state meet) i Boy 200 medley rata Lincoln High (David Foster. Andy Sawatztd. Govtnda Tid- ban. Jo Tidbal).

1st, 1:36 36 if Ai.J 200 mmtyt Andy Ash. East. 6th, 1:47.54 200 mdrvkkwl nwdkty Pat Rowan. Southeast. 2nd.

1 57.16 50 InMstyl Andy Sawatzki, Lincoln High, 10th, 22.70 Diving Justin Sethom, Southeast 6th. 348 85 100 butterfly Daw) Foster. Lincoln High, 1st. 49 82 100 trMstyl Justin Hyde, Southeast, 5th. :48.92 500 tnmtyte Andy Ash.

East. 5th. 4 53 51 200 treeitvt riv Lincoln Hoh (David Foster. Andv Sawatiki. Govtvte Girts 200 medley relay Southeast (Ami Rowan, Megan Moncura, KsM John, on.

ErUMoncur) 4th. 1:57 38 200 treettyt Kek Johnson. Southeast. 1 55 21 200 Individual medtoy Knstma Nevus. Northeast 5th, 2:1661 50 mMstyl Macaela Stephenson.

Southeast Drving Amanda Zins. East 1st 453 85 100 butterfly Knstna Nevus, Northeast. 10th, 1:04 14 100 trstyl Ken Johnson, Southeast (swam 500 at state, fWshed 3rd, 5:1549) 500 freestyle Elsa Campos, East. 5th. 823 47 200 freestyle relay Southeast (Anne Rowan, Ashley Sahmg, Macaela Stephenson.

Erin Moncure) 6th, 1 44 06 100 backstroke Ame Rowan. Southeast. 3rd, 01 37 i 100bresutrokOanaaSchwa(ierer. Nx1heast. 8th.

-r 1 400 freestyle reuy Southeast (Annie Rowan, Em Moncure, Macaela Ste-nrnnn KaikM An, ,7 jg TWtiall. Jo Tidball), 2nd. 1 28 24 i i 100 backatrok David Foster. Lincoln High. 1st, 5095 100 bratrrok Govinda Tidball.

Linooin High, 5th. 1:01.46 400 trMttyl relay Southeast (Justin Hyde, Matt Hathaway, Chns Hunzek-ar. Pat Rowan) 4rh, 3.16 59 I Tad KtrkLlnceln Stof Unfjoln Southeast's Trisha Plucker (center) splits two defenders before nuttinn nn a chnt snsim Honorary captain i en io Omaha Bryan in the Class A girls' 1 basketball championship game. Lincoln East's T.J. Goeglein celebrates winning the Class A 1 60-pound wrestling title.

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