Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 14

Page 14 Lincoln Journal-Star HUSKERS Saturday, November 27, 1993 ackup Harris thrives when thmst into spotlight "Knowing Trev went down, I had to step it up and make this a big game for me and for him," said Harris, a junior from Bessemer, Ala. "I've played a bunch this year, so I knew what I could do. Bruce Moore went in when Trev got hurt and I'm happy he played before me, because he's a senior and I uricti tiim oil iha Hacf putting a lot of pressure on him and I saw Gundy scrambling for his life. I was trying to score, but there were just too many people. I -would like to think my interception started it for us." 1 McBride said he challenged the defense to do just that 1 "I said before the game that we needed to win on defense.

I don't care what happens in the other room (the offensive meeting)," said McBride. "I've been around here long to know that we can't win a title outright if, we don't win on defense. The kids played as well as they have all year. That was a heck of a de- fensive performance. "When Trev got hurt, the whole defense picked it up.

That's what we expect from these kids. Harris goes in and gets player of the game (awarded by the ABC broadcasting crew). He's an outstanding pass rusher and he got some big sacks and got the heat on them." series, you could see the guys settle down." Harris and Tyrone Williams agreed. "After that first drive, the Nebraska defense started to show up," Harris said. "At halftime, Coach McBride said the reason they scored on that first drive was because they wanted it more than we did.

But late in the first quarter, the defense started wanting it more." Williams, who caused the first of three Oklahoma fumbles, said it took time to get into the flow of the game. "We were too emotional and too hyped up," he said. "We blew technique, but once we settled down, it changed the whole game." The first defensive play to change the game was an interception by Toby Wright, whose 25-yard return to the OU 15 set up Nebraska's first touchdown. "I saw Gundy look toward the tight end I was covering and I made a good break on the ball," said Wright 'The defensive line was after Mike Minter recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. The Sooners took over on their 14-yard line and picked up 37 yards on four running plays by freshman James Allen.

A pass play lost a yard and then Harris went to work. He sacked Gundy for consecutive 6-yard losses to halt that drive. After Oklahoma posted 200 yards of total offense in the first half, the NU defense held to Sooners to 94 total yards in the second half. "Dwayne Harris played great," said Alberts. "He has a lot of physical ability, and though he sometimes struggled with the schemes in the past, he showed today what he can do.

Hell be an All-American next year." McBride said he wasn't concerned when Oklahoma marched 74 yards for a score on its first possession of the game. "Our kids were all pumped up to the point where they were just frozen, and I don't mean temperature," McBride said. "After the first Junior steps in for injured Alberts, plays key role for NU defense. By Ryly Jane Hambleton Lincoln Journal-Star What happens to a team when an Ail-American the heart of the defense goes down and leaves the game? "We put another one in there, a guy who's going to be an AH-American," said Charlie I McBride, Nebraska's defensive coordinator. Enter Dwayne Harris.

When Trev Alberts dislocated his right elbow early in Nebraska's showdown with Oklahoma Friday, Harris made the most of his time on the field. He had three quarterback sacks for 17 yards in losses, added three assisted tackles, and joined the defensive line in harassing Sooner quarterback Cale Gundy. still have a year left Dwayne Hams "Everybody's heads dropped for a second when Trev got hurt, but that didn't last long. We knew we had to do it for Trev because he's carried us this year." Harris made his most emphatic statements on the field. Nebraska tied the game 7-7 late in the second quarter, but then failed to convert From Page 1 1 NU Defense OK without leader Effort after Alberts' injury a stark contrast to 1990 outcome.

By Mike Babcock Lincoln Journal-Star Trev Alberts was a redshirted freshman when Nebraska lost to Oklahoma 45-10 in Norman, in 1990. He remembers that afternoon well. The Cornhuskers "went in the tank," he said. i S'ft- fi i( yv an 11-yard return by Corey Dixon, Nebraska drove 27 yards in eight plays before quarterback Tommie Frazier -hit Abdul Muhammad at the OU 2. Muhammad ducked under OU de- fender Darrius Johnson, stepped to the 4, circled to his right and scored on the 11-yard touchdown pass to -break a 7-7 tie with 13 20 left.

On the ensuing kickoff, Olfs Johnson was hit by Mike Minter and fumbled. NU teammate David Seizys recovered the ball at the Oklahoma 20. Nebraska I-back Calvin Jones, held to 3 yards or fewer on 15 of his carries, burst around left end and scored on the next play to increase NU's lead to 21-7 with 13:07 remaining. "That's enough. That's more than enough with the defense playing like it was," Frazier said.

"I know I wouldn't have wanted to play against our defense. They were causing a ruckus, and they didn't let Oklahoma do anything. The defense got the big plays, and we followed with some big plays and that was it." Oklahoma, which finishes the regular season 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the conference, hammered a 13-play, 74-yard scoring drive on its first posses- einn nf iha 0ama Affarthnt iho Rnnn- The 1990 game provides an instructive contrast to Nebraska's 21-7 victory against the Sooners on Friday afternoon. The Cornhuskers' collapse three years ago followed a game-ending injury to quarterback Mickey Joseph, the heart of the offense. On Friday, Nebraska lost Alberts, the heart of its defense.

The senior co-captain, a finalist for iha Rutlrnc AurarH sc iha notisin'c inn days. He was told he would be sidelined for "four or five weeks," he said, a time frame that might keep him from playing in the Orange Bowl game on New Year's night "I hope I'll be back." ALBERTS SAID the injury occurred when Oklahoma tight end Rickey Brady fell onto his arm as he was trying to regain his balance after slipping on the artificial turf during a Sooner reverse. "He hit me with all his weight. I felt it go," said Alberts, who had never been injured seriously during his Nebraska career. A television reporter asked Alberts if he thought the injury was the result of a "cheap shot" by Brady.

"I don't think he had any intention," Alberts said. "He was just playing hard. If he did cheap shot me, that's fine, too. "That's part of football, I guess." Alberts refused to be pulled into such controversy. "I'm just happy for the team," he said.

"I'll let this happen any day, if that's what it takes for us to win." Cornhusker defensive tackle Kevin Ramaekers said seeing his good friend and teammate injured was "scary." WITH ALBERTS SIDELINED, "I thought to myself, 'This puts a little more responsibility on said Ramaekers, who is among the more demonstrative and emotional leaders of Nebraska's defense. He, Alberts and strongside linebacker Ernie Beler, who missed Friday's game with a knee injury, "are three of the biggest loudmouths on the team, and I was the only one left," Ramaekers said. The cohesiveness of the Cornhusker defense transcends individuals, said Alberts, who was hoarse from cheering for his teammates. "When it comes to crunch time, I would hate to be on offense against our defense "Alberts said. collegiate linebacker, suffered a dis- rev Alberts located elbow and left the game less than four minutes into the first quarter.

UNLIKE 1990, however, the Cornhuskers didnt collapse. Rather, they reached another level, according to Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. "They pulled together," he said. Following the loss of Alberts, "it was like a night-and-day deal." It was like a win-one-for-Alberts deal. "Maybe that's what it was going to take for us to win today," McBride said.

Alberts' replacement, junior Dwayne Harris, was chosen by ABC television as the Cornhuskers' player of 5 thegame. "The way we played today, I don't think they need me," said Alberts, who expected to be wearing a cast in three Ted KirkLincoln Journal-Star All-America linebacker Trev Alberts (right) is led off the field by a trainer after dislocating his elbow in the first quarter. ers suffered four turnovers, including one at the NU 14 on a fumble at the end of a 47-yard run by Jerald Moore, one on a interception that was returned to the OU 15 and another fumble at the OU 36. But the Sooners held the NCAA's top rushing team to 78 yards of offense in the first half and allowed just 101 more in the second half. The Cornhuskers averaged just 2.9 yards per rush and 3.3 yards for 17 pass at- tempts less than one half of their Tight-knit Black Shirts have found right blend this season averages for the season.

'We're going to win this on defense," said Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. "You don't realize all of us are tired of every And by Christian Peter, who came in when the defensive line was depleted by injuries. "(Terry) Connealy had both shoulders wrapped, (David) Noonan was in bad shape with a bad ankle, (Kevin) Ramaekers hurt his shoulder adversity." That's why Nebraska is 11-0, according to Wright. The emotion displayed by the Huskers was a big reason for their 21-7 victory against Oklahoma Friday. "Some kids don't ever play as hard as they can there's another level thov fan an in cat1 WTT 7' early," said McBride.

"I Cohesiveness helps Cornhusker defense rise to the occasion. By Ryly Jane Hambleton 'Lincoln Journal-Star When Trev Alberts, John Reece, Lance Lundberg and Gerald Armstrong, the four Nebraska captains, linked hands to walk onto the field for the coin flip Friday, it wasn't just a show for the fans or the cameras. "We stay together like a tight-knit family. We have an understanding about each other "and everyone cares about each other," said senior Toby Wright. "I've never felt that way on any other team.

You can see the desire in "everyone's eyes and we're successful because of our togetherness." Wright said that has come because of their experiences this season. "WHEN YOU GO THROUGH hard times and can't get rolling, some teams shut down. We have the attitude that we can get it done," he said. "We have a lot of heart and when we need to get it done, we get it done. "When you put your backs to the wall, you have to find a way to win.

Then, when you need it, you can dig for the times you excelled, knowing you learned how to get out of PETER, A 285-POUND SOPHOMORE, wanted to make the most of his chance. "I had a lot of fun we all did. David had a hurt ankle and Terry was hurt and I was next on the totem poll," he said. "I've waited for this a long time. It's hard to be under control in that situation." Peter, Ramaekers and middle linebacker Mike Anderson teamed to set up Nebraska's go-ahead touchdown.

Anderson was in the Sooner backfield almost simultaneously with the ball and dropped Gundy for a loss at the OU 7-yard line. Peter then stuffed fullback Terry Collier for no gain and Ramaekers followed with a jarring stop at the 10-yard line. It took Nebraska nine plays after Oklahoma punted to take the lead. For the 29 Nebraska seniors, it was their final introduction at home. "We knew this would be an emotional day, especially for the seniors in our last game at Memorial Stadium," said Ramaekers.

"Coach Osborne told us all our emotion should go into playing and not be wasted." Ramaekers said the entire team agreed to dedicate the game to Alberts. "It was mentioned in the defensive meetings, but the whole team wanted to do it for Trev," Ramaekers said. "He makes you play harder and we missed him in the huddle." Charlie McBride christian Peter, waiting for the right time to put him in. We had nobody else left. Peter was just learning and I don't make it easy to get on the field.

But he went in there and he ripped up everyone. Peter was on the sideline all year, but he and Ramaekers did it. They were hot, blitzing in there." That had special meaning for Ramaekers and Peter, who are roommates and toiled last summer in the weight room and helped each other with diets. "When Christian came into the huddle, I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was going to tear somebody up," said Ramaekers. "He looked at me and said This one's for After the game, I told him he had a great game and he said he was just lucky.

I said, Thanks for getting lucky on this defensive coordinator 1 ODY vvri9rt Charlie McBride. "Sometimes you just have to lay the skin back on your eyeballs and go. Today, some of them probably reached a new level, but they're the only ones who will know that They'll know it when they look themselves in the mirror." Wright said there's more where that came from. "WE HAVEN'T MAXED OUT. We learned another level of digging deep into ourselves today and now we can use that to grow even more," he said.

That was evidenced by the play of Dwayne Harris, who rocked Oklahoma quarterback Cale Gundy for losses of 17 yards on three sacks after All-American Alberts had to leave the game with a dislocated right elbow. thing being built on offense. "We got to play with what's in here," he said, pointing to his heart "We're a bunch of little guys scrambling for some recognition. We lose a great player, and we send another one in." After Alberts was injured, Oklahoma finished the long scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Dwayne Chandler to take a 7-0 lead. Nebraska's offense never threatened, but the Cornhusker defense came up with turnovers on the next three Oklahoma possessions.

One of them, an interception and 25-yard return by Toby Wright set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Frazier that tied the score at 7 with 5 38 left in the first half. "The first half, it didn't look like we were even in it," Osborne said. "It was 7-7, but we couldn't get our running game going or get a lot done throwing. They brought the ball right down that first drive, and it didn't look like our defense was in it either. "As the game went along, we got progressively stronger, and by the fourth quarter we were definitely stronger.

"Why it happened that way, I dont know. We talked about being the physical team, hanging together and all those kinds of things. They (the Huskers) have had a lot of resiliency and a lot of resolve and that's the thing that has set them apart from other teams." That resolve showed up in the second quarter, when Dwayne Harris, subbing for Alberts, took part in back-to-back 6-yard sacks of OU's Gundy that stopped a Sooner drive. "You win championships with defense," Anderson said. "We've been a great defense on and off.

Today, you could say we were on." Sooner players say Huskers deserving r-iV 'P 'J -tiym i --i A 'f Bowl's reps like outcome Nebraska's fourth-quarter scoring flurry put smiles on the men in orange in the Cornhusker press box Friday. "I am a whole lot happier now than I was about 20 minutes ago," said Robert Epling, president of the Orange Bowl committee. That came after the Huskers scored 14 points in 13 seconds early in the fourth quarter. The 21-7 victory by top-ranked Nebraska over Oklahoma assured Epling's group of a game that could decide the national champion. The Huskers, who are ranked first in the USA TodayCNN coaches poll and also lead the bowl coalition standings, probably will find out who their New Year's Day opponent will be after the Florida-Florida State game Saturday.

And though Epling said he was confident Nebraska would beat the Sooners, he admitted to some discussion of the bowl lineups had things not gone the way they wanted. "We thought about it, but we tried not to think very long about it," he said. "We have a great deal of confidence in Nebraska. They are a second-half, fourth-quarter team. The game was hard-fought on both sides, and Oklahoma had a good game in the line.

"Nebraska just looks like they had them outmanned in the long run." And that leaves the Orange Bowl with a game that will figure prominently in the final voting of both polls. "We are extremely pleased we have the right to host the national championship game," Epling said. Schedules "We got some tough breaks, but I hope they win it all," Johnson said of the Cornhuskers. "They pulled a few games out, and I think they deserve (the No. 1 ranking).

"I think Nebraska proved it should go, at least to play for it all." Tailback James Allen said the Cornhuskers have some improvements to make. But in one half Saturday, they showed him how quick they can adjust. ALLEN RUSHED for 81 yards in the first half. He didn't carry the ball once in the final 30 minutes, but his teammates managed just 94 more yards. "They always come back, you've got to give them credit," Allen said.

"The second half they (played like No. 1). The first half, I wouldn't give them that much respect" Defensive end Russell Allen said he thinks there are better teams than Nebraska, but he's pulling for the Cornhuskers to beat their Orange Bowl opponent. "This was our opportunity to show the nation that Oklahoma football is still around. This shouldn't hurt (Nebraska)," Allen said.

"The final score was 21-7 they were favored by eight. In a big rivalry, you're not going to have too many blowouts, so you can't take much away from them." Nebraska (11-0, 7-0) By Curt McKeever Lincoln Journal-Star Nebraska is going to the Orange Bowl and will likely be the top-rated, team in the country. At least in one poll anyway. Saturday, the Cornhuskers, ranked No. 1 by the CNNUSA Today panel of coaches and No.

2 in the Associated Press media poll, wrapped up an 11-4 regular season by coming from behind to beat Oklahoma 21-7. While the result was far from convincing OU held a 294-179 advantage in total yardage the Sooners weren't crying "overrated" in their locker room after the game. "They were No. 1 coming in. and I don't see any reason they won't stay there," Oklahoma Coach Gary Gibbs said.

"They are No. 1 in our league, and they are an outstanding football team." Saturday, the Cornhuskers were outstanding only in the fact that they capitilized on Sooner mistakes. THEIR FIRST TOUCHDOWN was set up by an interception by Toby Wright that gave them the ball at the Oklahoma 15. The go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter came following a punt that gave NU possession at the Sooner 38. A fumble by Darrius Johnson on the ensuing kick-off return set up the final drive, a 20-yard run by Calvin Jones.

Sept. 4 Nebraska 78. North Texas 14 Sept 11 Nebraska 50, Texaa Tech 27 Sept. 18 Nebraska 14, UCLA 13 Sept. 25 Nebraska 48, Colorado State 13 Oct.

7 Nebraska 27, Oklahoma State 13 Oct. 16 Nebraska 45, Kansas State 28 Oct. 23 Nebraska 49, Missouri 7 Oct. 30 Nebraska 21 Colorado 17 Nov. 6 Nebraska 21 Kansas 20 Nov.

13 Nebraska 49, Iowa State 17 Nov. 26 Nebraska 21 Oklahoma 7 Oklahoma (8-3, 4-3) Sept. 4 Oklahoma 35, Texas Christian 3 Sept. 11 Oklahoma 44, Texas 14 Sept. 25 Oklahoma 41 Tulsa 20 Oct.

2 Oklahoma 24, Iowa State 7 Oct. Oklahoma 38, Texas 17 Oct. 18 Colorado 27, Oklahoma 10 Oct. 23 Oklahoma 38, Kansas 23 Oct. 30 Kansas State 21 Oklahoma 7 Nov.

6 Oklahoma 42, Missouri 23 Nov. 13 Oklahoma 31, Oklahoma State 0 Nov. 26 Nebraska 21. Oklahoma 7 Ttd KlrkLlncoln Journal-Star Nebraska's Toby Wright (3) celebrates with Tyrone Williams (8) after Wright intercepted a pass in the second quarter. Wright's 25-yard return set up Nebraska's first touchdown.

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