Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 50

Thursday, November 24. 1994 Page 50 Lincoln Journal-Star Inside Football The Hit in epset of OU still, gets Rrazd BY STEVE StPPLE Lincoln Journal-Star i i It was an act of violence. A collision perfectly clean that still makes you shudder when you see the replays. John Ruud, though never a regular "starter, keeps a special place in Nebraska history for blasting Kelly Phelps early in the fourth quar-; ter of the Cornhuskers' 17-14 upset of then-No. 1 Oklahoma at Memorial Stadium in mid-November 1978.

Mn Husker history, it is The Hit "That's basically why everyone remembers me," recalled Ruud, who is a superintendent for a golf course construction company. "If you're going to be remembered, I suppose it should be for something good." Or, in this case, something violent For many Husker fans, it was probably the most memorable play from a game that matched fourth-ranked Nebraska against an Oklahoma team that included Billy Sims, Thomas Lott, Reggie Kinlaw and Uwe von Schamann, among others. Ruud, now married and raising two daughters in Dallas, burst full speed between blockers and hit Phelps at the 19-yard line near the sideline. The ball popped loose, and Phelps was left sprawling. People watching in the stands and on TV gasped simultaneously.

Oklahoma fumbled nine times that day and lost six. Many people including Ruud think Phelps fumbled, but officials saw it otherwise. Even today, the 37-year-old Ruud raises his voice when asked about the no-fumble call. "Do I think it was a fumble?" Ruud asked increduously. "The ref was blind.

They just missed the calL" In the end. The Hit had little significance in determining the game's outcome. It occurred on the kickoff after Billy Todd's game-winning 24-yard field goal. Nebraska recovered two Sims fumbles late in the game to hold off the Sooners. i -'v-xK" if ball, which squirted loose from Oklahoma's Kelly Phelps (on ground) after The Hit.

Huskers Brent Williams (66) braska as a linebacker and still lives in Lincoln. Tom Ruud was a first-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills in 1975. The younger Ruud said he never wanted to play pro ball and has no regrets about never starting at Nebraska. He sold cars BMWs and Mercedes for a while but got tired of John Ruud (46) has his eye on the "I think we were a bunch of overa-chievers." Ruud said of the 1978 Huskers. "Oklahoma had so much talent but I think we wanted it more." Nebraska went on to lose to Missouri in its last regular-season game and then to Oklahoma in the Orange BowL But the OU game in Lincoln was historic, and many remember it for Where Are that one monster hit the hit that ensured a backup linebacker's place in NU football history.

"It's funny just for that one play," said Ruud, who is currently working on a course in Palo Alto, Calif. It was a play that special-teams Nebraska Travel Roster attempt to turn to Husker game 65 Bryan Pruitt OG 6-1 255 Sr. 66 Brenden Stal OG 6-4 300 Sr. 67 Aaron Taylor OG 6-1 290 Fr. 70 Eric Anderson OT 6-4 295 Fr.

72 ZachWiegert OT 6-5 300 Sr. 74 Scott Saltsman DT 6-2 255 So. 75 Chris Dishman OT 6-3 305 So. 76 JoelWilks OG 6-3 280 Sr. 84 Donta Jones OLB 6-2 220 Sr.

85 Matt Shaw TE 6-3 235 Sr. 86 Dwayne Harris OLB 6-2 225 Sr. 87 MarkGilman TE 6-3 240 Jr. 88 Erie Afford TE 6-2 225 Sr. 91 Ryan Terwiiliger LB 6-5 220 So.

92 Jerad Higman OLB 6-1 230 Sr. 93 JaredTornich OLB 6-2 250 So. 94 Larry Townsend DT 6-4 285 So. 95 Jason Peter DT 6-4 275 Fr. 98 Grant Wistrom OLB 6-5 230 Fr.

99 Terry Cormealy DT 6-5 275 Sr. 23 Larry Amok) LB 64 220 So. 25 Jonvedral WB 5-9 160 Sr. 26 OmtonChtWs IB 6-0 215 Jr. 27 Abdul Muhammad WB 5-9 160 Sr.

28 Bnan Schuster FB 5-11 210 So. 29 KareemMoss ROV 5-10 190 Sr. 32 Ed Stewart LB 6-1 215 Sr. 33 Ctester Johnson WBQB 5-11 210 Jr. 37 Darren Schmadeke CB 5-8 180 Jr 40 CoryScNesmger FB 6-0 230 Sr.

41 Ptnl EHis LB 6-2 225 Jr. 44 Jon Hesse LB 6-4 225 So. 45 CM Brown LB 6-1 215 Sr. 46 Doug Cdman LB 6-3 240 Jr. 51 Bin Humphrey 6-2 265 Sr.

52 Aaron Penland LB 6-1 215 Jr. 54 Aaron Graham 6-3 280 Jr. 55 Christian Peter DT 6-2 285 Jr. 56 RobZatechka OT 6-5 310 Sr. 57 Jason Pesterfield DT 6-3 260 Sr.

61 Brady Caskey OT 6-4 290 Sr. No Name Po HI Wt Yr 1 Lawrence Phillips IB 6-0 200 So. 2 Leslie Dennis CB 5-8 165 Fr. 3 Riley Washington SE 5-9 170 So. 4 Troy Dumas LB 6-4 220 Sr.

5 Brendan Holbein SE 5-9 180 So. 5 Oclawus McFarlm ROV 6-0 180 Fr. 6 Darin Erstad 6-2 195 So. 7 ReggieBaJ SE 5-8 170 Jr. 8 Tyrone (Whams CB 6-0 185 Jr.

9 Tonyveland FS 6-2 200 Jr. 9MonteChnsto OB 5-11 175 Fr. 11 MattTurman QB 5-11 165 So. 12TomSler 6-5 205 Sr. 14 Barron Mites CB 5-8 165 Sr.

16 Enc Stokes CB 5-11 175 So. 18 Brook Berringer QB 6-4 210 Jr. 20 Michael Booker CB 6-2 200 So. 21 Damon Benning IB 5-11 205 So. 22 JetfMakovicka IB 5-10 210 Jr.

Probable Starters OFFENSE Wt 170 310 280 280 300 300 235 210 230 200 160 195 Yr. Pos. No. Jr. SE 1 Sr.

LT 76 Sr. LG 73 Jr. 75 Sr. RG 63 Sr. RT 78 Sr.

TE 6 Jr. QB 8 Sr. FB 7 So. IBTB 19 Sr. WBFL 4 So.

16 Player Albert Harry Bruce Chuck Ben J.R.Conrad Michael Garrick Jerald Jeff P.J. Mills Scott 1 rf LINCOLN JOURNAL-STAR and Jim Pillen are behind Ruud. wearing a coat and tie and longed to work outdoors, in jeans and a T-shirt. He is a 12-handicap golfer. "I enjoyed my time (at Nebraska he said.

"Not everyone can start. Hey, that's life. I met a lot of good guys and went to some good bowl games. I'm not one to dwell on what should have, been. "At least I'm remembered, right?" comfortable than he was earlier in the year by the way he reads the defenses, runs the ball and hits the receivers.

I "And now, instead of learning and forcing the offense, he's simply running the team. There isn't the sign of frustration that may have been there earlier this year." il Langston said a number of factors in the regular-season finale with Nebraska should help the Sooners stay consistent on of fense. "This is our last chance, and this should be a game that everybody is up for," he said. "It is Nebraska-Oklahoma, and nothing can take away what that means to all of us involved. It's a big game, a game that we all followed since we were little kids.

"There's no chance of anybody being flat for this game." However, there is a major drawback to playing the No. 1 Huskers. "This is the best defense well see this year," Langston said. "They disguise linebackers bringing them in a big blitz or dropping them off in coverage." Still the chance to face the Cornhuskers is the best opportunity for the Sooners this year. "Playing the No.

1 team on TV with everybody looking at the game is a chance that not everybody gets," Langston said. "How many times do you get to play in a game like this in a college career?" From Page 45 Osborne expressed his concern about the matchup as well. "This game takes on some similar ties to the Iowa State game in that it's -the seniors' last game at home, the. players are loyal to the coach on his', last game and well get their best shot," he said. NOTES: The last time NU was No.

1 going into a game with Oklahoma, in 1987, the Sooners were ranked No. 2 and won 17-7 at Lincoln. This is the ninth time NU-OU have played the day after Thanksgiving and each team has won four times. However, NU has won the last three. OU leads the overall series 39-32-3, including 20-134 at Norman.

Osborne is 9-13 against Oklahoma but his teams have won five of the last six games. If NU wins this game, it would be the first time since 1939-1942 that Nebraska has beaten OU four years inarow. The winner in 24 of the last 31 meetings between the two teams has come from behind. From Page 45 Heisman Trophy favorite. For defensive newcomer, voters5 went for Kansas State cornerback Chris Canty.

Oklahoma State running back Andre Richardson earned both the offensive newcomer and fresh man of the year honors. OKLAHOMA (6-4, 4-2) Hall Stamps McClure Langston Cavil McDaniel McGee Moore Frazier Blanton NEBRASKA (11-0, 6-0) No. Player Ht 7 Reggie Baul 5-8 56 RobZatechka 6-5 76 Joel Wilks 6-3 54 Aaron Graham 6-3 66 Brenden Stai 6-4 72 Zach Wiegert 6-5 85 Matt Shaw 6-3 18 Brook Berringer 6-4 40 Cory Schlesinger 6-0 1 Lawrence Phillips 6-0 27 Abdul Muhammad 5-9 6 Darin Erstad 6-2 86 Dwayne Harris 6-2 55 Christian Peter 6-2 99 Terry Cormealy 6-5 84 Donta Jones 6-2 4 Troy Dumas 6-4 41 Phil Ellis 6-2 32 Ed Stewart 6-1 14 Barron Miles 5-8 29 KareemMoss 5-10 9 TonyVeland 6-2 8 Tyrone Williams 6-0 6 Darin Erstad 6-2 DEFENSE Sr. LOLBOLB 51 Jr. DTLE 59 Sr.

DTRE 57 Sr. ROLBOLB 56 Sr. SAMSLB 44 Jr. MIKENG 93 Sr. WILLWLB ,45 Sr.

LCB 42 Sr. ROVSS 17 Jr. FS 9 Jr. RCB 31 So. 88 Ht Wt Yr.

5-11 188 Sr. 6-5 309 Jr. 6-5 255 Fr. 6-1 268 Jr. 6-2 310 Sr.

6-5 311 Jr. 6-2 215 So. 6-4 190 Jr. 5-10 230 So. 6-2 213 So.

5-11 182 Jr. 6-2 223 Sr. 6-0 221 So. 6-0 290 Sr. 6-4 288 Jr.

6-3 235 Jr. 5-10 228 Jr. 6-3 280 Fr. 6-1 218 So. 5- 9 179 Jr.

6- 2 198 So. 6-1 195 So. 5-10 191 Jr. 6-3 226 Fr. They Now? players at all levels of football dream about.

"They all want to have one like that." Ruud said. "I think it was my time. They say everyone gets their 15 minutes, and that was mine." Ruud's older brother, Tom, had a more distinguished career at Ne Sooners attention BY KEN HAMBLETON Lincoln Journal-Star Once the media attention dies down, Oklahoma may be able to turn its attention to Nebraska. "That time better come soon." said Sooner center Chuck Langston. "These last couple of weeks have been crazy around here.

Newspaper people, TV cameras and all kinds of radio people are all over the place. "Now, maybe we can get back to football and play a good game." Langston was referring to the recent resignation of OU Coach Gary Gibbs. Two weeks ago, it was rumored and then reported in Oklahoma newspapers that Gibbs was resigning. Then, after he denied the stories for a week, he announced Monday that he was resigning. "It's been a distraction, something on our minds, and it's hard to ignore it," Langston said.

"We will play this game as hard as we can. And that's all I can say." Oklahoma has struggled through part of the season with injuries to as many as six starters as well as the controversy that swirled around Gibbs' job status. "I think our defense has been there all along," Langston said. "Those guys have been steady and consistent. If there's been a disappointment, it's been in the offense.

We just didn't move the ball, or when we did move the ball, we lost it on turnovers and NU-OU get a good seat in front of the TV. And that's gone on ever since I can remember." As a player, the game takes on a different dimension for Connealy and his teammates. "This is one last step to get to the Orange Bowl. We control our destiny." NEBRASKA MAY BE FAVORED to win its 23rd regular-season game in a row but Oklahoma is a different team than the one that was crushed by Colorado and Texas and also lost to Kansas State and Texas. "We've suffered injuries and turnovers and all kinds of Gibbs said.

"But I've got to think we're good enough now to give Nebraska a good game." 1 One factor that should help OU is that tailback Jerald Moore is healthy. Moore missed two games, then returned and scored five touchdowns against Oklahoma State. Oklahoma quarterback Garrick McGee is also playing steadier and with more poise than previously this season, OU center Chuck Langston said. "His confidence in himself shows in Players one vote apiece for the defensive honor. Colorado's only setback this year was to Nebraska, but Salaam, the nation's leading rusher and scorer, still shined.

But now that CU Coach Bill McCartney has resigned effective at the end of the year, Salaam may also 225 285 275 220 220 225 215 165 190 200 1 85 195 Broderick Simpson David Campbell Cedrtc Jones Stirling Luckey Mario Freeman Martin Chase Tyrell Peters Darrlus Johnson Rod Henderson Anthony Fogle Larry Bush TimDaughtry Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Friday, Owen Field, Norman, Okla TV: ABC (Channel 7). Radio: KFAB (1110 AM), KLIN (1400 AM). Husker Foe didn't score. "That can cause more trouble than any defense we face." 1 The Sooners were blasted 45-7 by Colorado and ripped 37-20 by Kansas State.

Otherwise, Oklahoma has fared well against the Big Eight, topping Missouri, Kansas, Iowa State and Oklahoma State. The Sooners had a wild rally to overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat KU. Against Iowa State, the Sooners rolled for 334 yards rushing. Against Kansas State, OU passed for 308 yards. And through it all, Oklahoma has found some balance with 189 yards a game rushing and 184 yards a game passing.

"The five turnovers against Kansas State and the awful play by everybody here against Colorado kept us from having a good season," Langston said. "I think we have improved tremendously since then and we've started to play well, especially when you consider that we didn't have any turnovers the last two games." Langston said one of the keys to Oklahoma's improvement has been the play of quarterback Garrick McGee. "Here's a guy who just came from junior college, and it took him awhile to get into our system here," Langston said. "You can see he's more the effectiveness of our offense," Langston said of McGee. "When he has the confidence, we seem to avoid the turnovers that killed us against K-State (five) and Colorado (six)." Gibbs said McGee had two bad games.

"Other than the bad games with Colorado and Garrick has played well, operated the offense and taken more than his share of the load. We've had tailbacks in and out of the. game and that has increased the pressure on our line and our quarterback. But the return of Jerald Moore seemed to make a big difference in confidence and our playing level." DEFENSIVELY, THE SOONERS have been steady most of the season, Gibbs said. "We've progressed even though we've lost four potential starters to injuries this year.

"When you're playing the No. 1 team with the No. 1 offense, you know it's a whole different deal. We have a great leader in Cedric Jones (defensive tackle) and we have the personnel to play great defense but the matchup here is something that no coach relishes. Players do." decide to leave.

No one was more commanding in balloting than Salaam. Zach Wiegert, Nebraska's dominating offensive lineman, got one vote, and one vote went to Kansas State quarterback Chad May. The other 14 ballots named Salaam, considered by many as the i Oklahoma Roster 32 Dwayne Chandler FB 6-0 226 Jr. 33 Terry Colder FB 6-0 220 Jr. 34 Lozoya DB 5-10 204 Fr.

35 Ryanvardeman FB 5-11 223 So. 36 Travian Smith OLB 6-4 215 Fr. 37 Lawrence Harold ID DB 5-10 144 Sr. 38 JoshWnite 6-1 191 Fr. 39 John Anderson SS 5-11 190 Sr.

42 Darrius Johnson CB 5-9 179 Jr. 43Coreyfvy IB 6-3 225. Fr. 44 Mario Freeman SLB 5-10 228 Jr. 45 Tyrell Peters WLB 6-1 218 So.

46 Tremayne Green SLB 6-0 238 Sr. 47 BrerttDeOuasie OLB 6-3 232 Jr. 48 Bryan Gorka FB 6-0 230 Sr. 49 Chris Dawson LB 5-11 224 Jr. 50 Jason Cox OL 6-0 226 Fr.

51 Broderick Simpson OLB 6-0 221 So. 53 TmMacias OL 6-4 242 Fr. 54 ClaneLaCrosse 6-2. 217 So. 55 PaulOatts OLB 6 3 241 Jr.

56 Stirling Luckey OLB 6-3 235 Jr. 57 Cednc Jones DE 6-4 288 Jr. 59 DavidCampbell DE 60 290 Sr. 60 Matt Wilson 6-3 268 Sr. 61 TaylaWickersham 6-1 220 Fr.

61 JaySmith OL 6-4 270 Fr. 62 Broderick Roberson OG 6-2 322 Sr. 63 Ben Cava OG 6-2 310 Sr. 64 JonMUac OL 6-4 280 Fr. 65 Jason Comer 6-3 310 Jr.

66 Chns Campbell OT 6-2 312 So. 67 Derrick Nelson OL 6-4 295 Fr. 68 JoeCaroilo OG 6-3 287 Sr. 69 Robert Ingram OL 6-5 270 Fr. 69 David Bullard OL 6-6 299 So.

70 BarryGiles OT 6-7 271 Fr. 71 Jeff Resler OG 6-2 270 Sr. 72 Robert Allenfl NG 6-2 268 Jr. 73 Bruce McClure 6-5 255 Fr. 74 Milton Overton OG 6-0 272 Jr.

75 Chuck Langston 6-1 268 Jr. 76 Harry Stamps OT 6-5 309 Jr. 77 Jason Byers 6-2 269 So. 78 R. Conrad OT 6-5 311 Jr.

79 Brian Andrews DE 6-4 254 Fr. 80 Stephen Alexander TE 6-5 230 Fr. 61 Torrance Matone OLB 6-3 225 Fr. 82 KyleKramer TE 6-5 230 Sr. 84 Dale Allen OLB 6-3 230 Fr.

85 Roderick Manuel -TE 6-5 245 So. 86 Jason Harman TE 6-4 255 So. 88 TimDaughtry 6-3 226 Fr. 89 JaJuanPenny SE 5-11 199 Jr. 91 MikePhipps DE 6-4 259 Fr.

92 Baron Tanner DE 6-5 302 So. 93 Martin Chase NG 6-3 280 Fr. 94 GregMoyer DL 6-3 240 Fr. 95 Fred Lewis NG 8-2 275 Jr. 96 Arthur Atkins DE 6-4 270 Jr.

97 Zenck Rollins "OLB 6-5 234 So. 98 Dusty Loveless NG 6-1 288 Fr. 99 Carlos Baker DL 6-5 250 Fr. No Name Pos Ht Wt Yr 1 Albert Hall SE 5-11 188 Sr. 2 Eric Moore OB 6-2 175 Fr.

3 Terence Brown QB 6-0 193 So. 4 P.J. Mills FL 5-11 182 Jr. 5 Mayion Wesley DB 5-10 175 Jr. 6 Michael McDaniel TE 6-2 215 So.

7 Jerald Moore TB 5-10 230 So. 8 Garrick McGee QB 6-4 190 Jr. 9 Anthony Fogje FS 6-1 195 So. 11 MikeOwens WR 6-1 192 Fr. 12 JoeBrown WR 5-10 187 Sr.

13 Terry White SS 6-0 180 Fr. 14 Buddy Davis OB 6-1 200 Fr. 15 Jeremy Alexander KP 5-11 170 Fr. 16 Scott Blanton 6-2 223 Sr. 17 RodHenderson SS' 6-2 198 So.

18 Ronnie Bums WR 5-10 170 Fr. 19 Jeff Frazier TB 6-2 213 So. 20 Michael Rose TB 6-0 215 Fr. 21 Michael Thompson FL 6-0 195 Jr. 22 Cedric Stephens CB 5-11 180 Fr.

23 Tim Denton CB 6-0 176 Jr. 24 Chris Bocker SS 6-2 185 Fr. 25 James Allen TB 6-1 207 So. 26 Perry Collier FS 80 190 Jr. 27 Collin Rosenberg OLB 6-4 235 So.

28 Wendell Davis CB 5-11 184 Jr. 29 Kerth Sparks FB 5-9 208 Jr. 30 JermaineFazande FB 6-1 245 Fr. 31 Larry Bush CB 5-10 191 Jr. HARRAH'SODDS Peon State -21 vs Michigan State Ternessee-IIMVanderbM Arkansas -7 vs.

LSU at Little Rock, Ark. Mississippi State -3 at Mississippi Louisve-11vii vs. Tulsa Southern Cal -4 vs. Notre Dame Rice -17Vi at Houston San Diego State -5Vt vs. Fresno State Hawaii -4 vs.

Missouri nfl Thursday's games Buffato-ivi at Detroit Dallas -8 vs. Green Bay Sunday's games NY. Jets -1 vs. Miami Cleveland -8V vs. Houston Philadelphia -1Vi at Atlanta Minnesota -1 3 vs.

Tampa Bay Kansas City -3 at Seattle L.A. Raiders -3 vs. Pittsburgh Washington -3 vs. N.Y. Giants Arizona -3 vs.

Chicago Denver -8V vs. Cincinnati -San Diego -7V vs. LA. Rams -kxtenapolis -1 vs. New England Monday's game San Francisco -8V4 at New Orleans Colleges Thursday's gwnM Baylor -3 vs.

Texas -West Virginia -2 vs. Syracuse Friday's gam Virginia -14 vs. North Carolina Stale Texas Tech -5 at Texas Christian Nebraska -14 at Oklahoma Georgia -1 7 vs. Georgia Tech Arizona -14V4 vs. Arizona State Saturday's game Florida State -2Mr vs.

Florida Miami, Fla. -14 vs. Boston College 4.