The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 17

r-r Saturday, November 26, 1994 3" -v IJebiraska gets sroifeir shot COlORd), Win against OU sends 12-ONU back to Orange Bowl in search of national By Ken Hambleton Lincoln Journal-Star NORMAN, Okla. Nebraska com- pleted the full circle and is back where it started last New Year's Day. The 12-0 and top-ranked Cornhusk-ers wrapped up a fourth straight Big Eight football title, a fourth consecutive trip to the Orange Bowl and a second consecutive shot at the mythical national title with a 13-3 victory against Oklahoma Friday afternoon at Owen Field. "We're back to the start of everything, baby," said Nebraska outside linebacker Dwayne Harrisreferring to Nebraska's 18-16 loss to Florida State in last year's Orange Bowk This time, Nebraska will probably meet Miami in the Jaa 1 Orange Bowl if the Hurricanes beat Boston College on Saturday. "Not everybody gets a second chance, and we've got one now," said NU senior linebacker Ed Stewart "We played a tough team in a physi-.

cal game under tough circumstances and we won it We won it all the way to get a chance to win it all." The Cornhuskers struggled to a 3-3, first-half tie and rarely made a dent in the Oklahoma defense. Nebraska gained just 63 yards of total offense in the half compared to 132 for the Soon-ers. The near-deadlock was enough to make Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne glance over his shoulder. "I looked at Tommie a few times," hesaid. Quarterback Tommie Frazier was in uniform and on the sidelines, available to play for the first time since Nebraska's fourth game of the year.

But in the second half, Nebraska outfought outslugged and outgained Oklahoma 239 yards to 47 and, more importantly, tacked on a field goal and a touchdown to pull away. Oklahoma was held to minus-4 yards in the fourth quarter, including five incomplete passes and an interception. "A game like this comes down to a few good plays, and Nebraska is the one who made those plays "said Okla-" homa Coach Gary Gibbs, who an- nounced his resignation Monday. Those few plays were enough to break the half time tie and allow Nebraska to dominate the second half, The biggest play may have been a 44-yard pass from quarterback Brook Berringer to Abdul Muhammad on third-and-10 at the NU 43-yard line on the second play of the fourth quarter. Three plays later, Berringer scored the only touchdown of the game on a 1-yard sneak with 13:25 left "Oklahoma was in the perfect defense for a deep pass for us man-toman coverage and Muhammad was wide open on the option pass," Berringer said.

"That was such a good feeling to get the time (to throw) and get the pass off with the right amount of everything." Tad Klrfal Inral UinwiLtw Nebraska's Barron Miles (1 4) celebrates after blocking Scott Blanton's 33-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter to preserve the Huskers' 3-0 lead. Scoring, Team Stats QB question adds to surrealism Mike Babcock Nebraska 0 3 3 7 13 Oklahoma 0 3 0 03 NU FG Darin Erstad 46 OU FG Scott Blanton 25 NU FG Tom Sieler 26 NU Brook Berringer 1 run (Sieler kick) A 70,216 NU OU First clowns 18 10 Rushes-yards 50-136 32-108 Passing yards 166 71 Total yards 302 179 Passing 13-23-1 6-18-2 Return yards 12 29 Punts Fumbles-tost 2-0 0-0 Penalties-yards 4-28 5-35 Time of possession 36:48 23:12 Third-down conversions 6-17 3-12 FourttKtovvn conversions 2-4 0-0 Sports Columnist NORMAN, Okla. Postgame interviews were put on hold while ABC television's Dean Blevins, a former Oklahoma quarterback, tried to get the network's cameras in place. At the front of the room, in cramped quarters, Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Byrne was flanked by Orange Bowl officials and Comhusker captains Rob Zatechka, Terry Connealy, Zach Wiegert and Ed Stewart The officials were to make the ceremonial invitation to Nebraska to represent the Big Eight in the Orange Bowl game on New Year's night An impatient Tom Osborne stood behind them and to one side, leaning against a wall and holding an orange, which had been handed to him by Orange Bowl President Ed Williamson. The scene was surreal And as such, it was a fitting conclusion to an afternoon on which Nebraska completed its second consecutive undefeated and untied regular season.

The Cornhuskers are 12-0. They will be ranked No. 1 in the major polls again next week, assuming the voters don't regard a 13-3 victory against Oklahoma too unkindly. Nebraska also has something of a quarterback controversy, which, for lack of a better description, is surrealism for you. The controversy is defined by the news media.

But its existence precedes that definition. The principals in the controversy are Brook Berringer, Nebraska's player of the game on Friday according to ABC, and Tommie Frazier, who was on the Comhusker sideline, wearing jersey No. 17. Apparently, Frazier's No. 15 road jersey was messed up during the Texas Tech game, and no one bothered to unmess it seeing as how no one thought capable quarterbacks," Berringer said.

"I'd be surprised to see him play because of the chemistry we've got We're running pretty smooth. I'd think they would stick with me." The Comhusker offense didnt run smoothly early oa It was as lethargic as the gray mist that hung over Owen Field, and the largest crowd in more than two years here. The fog was expected to burn off but never did. Nebraska's offense was more predictable, though only slightly. By its own standards, the Comhusker offense was ineffective, rushing for only 136 yards.

Berringer accepted much of the blame, particularly as it related to the first half, which he described as "one of my poorest performances." On balance, however, Berringer performed well under difficult circumstances and untypical play selection, forced by an emotional, and aggressive, Oklahoma defense. Berringer's jersey was streaked with the green of the grass field. He took a considerable pounding. Berringer kept getting up, however, much to Oklahoma's dismay. He finished with 48 yards rushing, despite being sacked for 25 yards in losses, and he completed 13 of 23 passes for 166 yards, meaning he accounted for two-thirds of Nebraska's offense.

"The second half, I showed a lot of poise," Berringer said. He added a modest postscript: "Hopefully. I tried to." Under ordinary circumstances, there would have been no reason for self-doubt Friday afternoon, however, was anything but ordinary. After he was told Frazier would make the trip and be available to play, "I put it out of my mind," Berringer said. But you know he couldnt Big Eight Standing Conference Algamee 0 1 Frazier would play again this season, on the road or elsewhere.

Yet there he was, ready to play Friday. If needed. What would have been a mundane month of preparation for an Orange Bowl date against in all likelihood, Miami, will now be anything but mundane. "I think Tommie will be there and be ready to play," Osborne said. Frazier's presence, and availability, on Friday put Berringer under a scrutiny he hadnt experienced since leading the Cornhuskers to a 24-7 victory against Colorado.

Every Nebraska player who came to the interview room was asked about the effect Frazier's return would have on Berringer and, consequently, the team. "I'd like to think something like that wouldn't get to him, mentally," Zatechka said. "It's left to be seen," said Abdul Muhammad, who caught five of Berringer's passes for 98 yards. Berringer handled the questions as best he could, avoiding reporters' attempts to draw substance from any inconsistency in his answers. "I think the coaches realize we've got two 2 12 10 8 6 6 3 x-Netxaska Colorado Kansas State Oklahoma Kansas Missouri Oklahoma State 5 8' 7 3 Iowa State 0 10 1 -clinched conference title Friday's result Nebraska 13.

Oklahoma 3 Saturday's games Kansas State at Nevada-Las Vegas Missouri at Hawaii The other big offensive play for the Cornhuskers came in the second Please turn to: NU-OU. Page 22 A Story in Pictures Page 16 Husker women handle BYU Top-ranked NU gets help from Huskers donft miss beat, Neei I -V 4 I Sooners' errors help Huskers to easy win in Big Eight Volleyball Tournament. By Steve Sipple Lincoln Journal-Star OMAHA It is not as if Nebraska needs any. help beating Oklahoma. Even so, the Soon i Nebraska romps to easy victory after coach ejected.

By Curt McKeever Lincoln Journal-Star BAYAMON, Puerto Rico Danny Nee blew up early and got tossed, but his Nebraska men's basketball team came in right on cue and produced a bigger blowout Friday night The Cornhuskers, who saw their coach get ejected after he drew two technical fouls less than six minutes into their season opener against Northeast Louisiana, looked unfazed by the situation and sped to an 18-point halftime lead en route to a 99-77 ers gave the Husk ers a hand. Oklahoma re fL corded 12 service sistency." They also had only one ace compared to Nebraska's 10. The Huskers had only four service errors. As expected, Nebraska had little trouble doing anything in a match that took just 1 hour, 7 minutes. The Huskers dominated from the start and cruised into Saturday's 7:35 championship match with a 28-0 record.

They will face two-time defending tournament champion Colo-' rado, which had to scratch and claw to hold off Iowa State 14-16, 16-14, 11-15, 15-11, 16-14 in a 2-hour, 27-minute shootout The winner of the Big Eight Tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament but Nebraska and Colorado have already locked up spots in the 48-team field. Nebraska reclaimed the regular-season league title from Colorado by finishing 12-0 this season, while the Buffs were 10-2, with both of their losses coming to NU. Now, the Huskers want their tournament title back. They have won 15 of the 18 tourna-ment crowns. Oklahoma's Pabst likes their errors as top- Nebraska 99, Northeast Louisiana 77 NEBRASKA (9 tg 9 n-fa pi m-r LteSianbroO.

0-0 0 0 7 0 Chester Surtej. 24 1-2 6 1 13 6 ChmSaiM 5- 11 3 17 18 Tom WaK) 2-2 2 1 24 12 End. Strickland 1 25' MS JaronBoont 5.13 7-iJ 5 JtuonGlo 3-4 5 1 15 12 Mki Moore 2-5 1-4 -4 21 MeMiBrooks 4-S 2-t 8 3 24-? 10 TerranceBadgelt 1-8 S4 2 2 7 TeamrebounOs 0 Tou S2-8332-SO 88 18200 NORTHEAST LOUISIANA (77) fg-lga It-rta re if MauricsMur 2-7 0-0 -1 5 AhmEdwards 2-9 4-5 3 3 23 8 Oevid Gamble 00 "2 7 0 TedGueux 0 1 16 1 8 Vroe Taylor 4-7 2-3 1 1 28 "ll AknRcrwdwn 2-2 0-0 i 8 4 PaiiMarsftal 0-8 00 0 1 19 0 Cneries VWana 2-t 0-0 4 3 IS 4 Larry Carr S-8 8-10 4 3 22 21 TerrenceBragge 4-7 04 5 4 14 8 Horace Lee 1-9 2-4 6 2 23 4 Oems 2-3 0-0 3 3 t7 4 Team rebounds 0 ToteM 27-7514-22 S3 29200 77 Nebraska. 55 44 J-' 99 Northaest Loueona 37 40 77 Time-point goekj Nebraska 34 (Surlat 1-1. Strickland 1-3.

Boone 1-2). Northeast LouSiam 9-17 (Hurst 1-3. Gutbeaua 2-4. Taylor 1-2. Wams 0-2.

Cmr S-6( FMd goal percentage Nebraska 510. Northeast Lousuna .360. Free mm percentage Nebraska 640. Northeast tousiana .630. AaeaMa Nebraska 20 (Boone 8L Northeast Louisiana 14 (Taylor 7).

Turnovers Nebraska 12. Northeast LouMmell Blocked ahota Nebraska 7 (Moore 5). Northeast Louwene 7 (Edwards, Newton 2). Steals Nebraska 6 (Boone 4L Northeast Loustana 9 (Taylor 3). Tecnre-caM Nee 2 (qecteca Lee 1.

Offldals Bona, Lamps. Murphy. A 500 (est). ranked Nebraska strolled to a 154, 15-4, 15-5 victory Friday night in the semifinals of the Big Eight Vol- i u-ii rdUSl ment before 3,823 spectators at the City Auditorium. Oklahoma Coach Miles Pabst lamented the Sooners' serving woes.

"(Service errors) do not give us a chance to score points," said Pabst noting OU's four-per-game average Friday. "We knew we had to serve the Morottf Or tenants Uncotn Journal-Star Nebraska's Pvra Aarden arabs a rehnnnr! frnm nmnnn BnQrwm Young's Cindy Pierce (23), Husker Chris Dillavou and BYU Kim Henry in a CableVision Classic women's basketball game Friday. The Huskers won 71-59. Story, Page 19. ball to positions.

But we had no con- Pleas turn to: Volley, Page 21 UlViass knocks off No. 1 Arkansas victory in the opening round of the San Juan Shootout Nebraska will play Virginia Tech, a 69-62 winner against Montana State, in a semifinal game Saturday at 2 p.m. Nee got thrown out with 14:06 remaining in the first half after questioning referee Jim Murphy about a play in which NU guard Tom Wald had a driving shot blocked before he was smashed to the floor by a Northeast Louisiana player. Nebraska led 9-6 at the time, but Larry Carr made 2 of 4 free throws from the technicals, and Ted Guil-beaux sank a three-pointer to put the Indians ahead. The Cornhuskers, trailing 13-11, responded by scoring 26 of the next 38 points to take control at 37-25 with 5:30 left in the half.

"We were playing kind of stagnant but when he (Nee) got thrown out it was just like a light that went off," Wald said of the ejection, Nee's first since he was tossed in a loss at Oklahoma during his first season as the Cornhuskers' coach, in 1987. "I thought we did a really good job of pulling together, and everybody Ohio U. wins Preseason NIT Page 19 NWU, Hastings win at tournament Pag 20 No. 10 Florida rallies vs. Stetson Page 20 "Give a lot of credit to the assistants.

We'd never talked about (being without Nee) before, but we didnt skip a beat because they (the assistants) handled it so welL I think we're Pleas turn to: Nee, Page 1 9 7 sa 1 The Minutemen, who suffered a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Maryland last season, had vowed to make this their season. They got off to an impressive start with a trouncing of the first national champion to return all five starters since UCLA in 1967. Arkansas, which received 63 of 66 first-place votes in the preseason balloting, led only once 4-2 and Massachusetts had its lead to 10 in the opening 11 minutes. It was 44-25 with 3:34 left in the first half. "This game wasnt about winning; it was about setting a tone for the season," Calipari said.

a Third-rated Minutemen rout defending champions. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. AP) As decisively as Arkansas was the preseason choice for No. 1 is also how decisively the Razorbacks lost to third-ranked Massachusetts on Friday night in the Tipoff Classic. Massachusetts beat the defending NCAA Tournament champions every way possible up and down the floor, on the boards, to spots in the half-court offense and especially on the scoreboard, 104-'80.

i "I am very proud the way my team responded, Minutemen Coach John Calipari said. "They showed no fear, I never want to play Arkansas again, everToday we were better. Today. Today." The marquee individual matchup at forward went Massachusetts' way in convincing fashion. Lou Roe finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds.

Corliss Williamson, the leading vote getter on the AP preseason All-America team, had 15 points and shot just 4-for-ll from the field. "Corliss was a very big challenge," Roe said. "I wanted to go out and prove I am one of the premier players in the country also." started communicaung a little more..