The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 26

4q November 23, 1975, Lincoln, Sunday Journal and Star It's a Twisted Road for Punt Returner Jimmy Burrow ir vlrn?" p--- I Kl i 1 N-Smith 1 r1 Aty'U yik' 1 LJ hp ks -j One of the bright moments for the Huskers came when Jimmy (34) and Kent Smith (23). With Joe Washington (24) approaching (4). Bob Martin (87) bothers Jim Culbreath (41) just enough to Burrow (2) sprinted and weaved his way for 32 yards on a first from one direction, Burrow cuts the other way (3). Ray Phillips (80) allow tfle streaking Burrow to cut back. The last Oklahoma hope is quarter punt return.

Burrow awaits the descending ball (1) and nas put jim Dodds' (72) to the turf as Burrow picks up momentum the punter, Tinker Owens (11) who lunges (6) and manages to trip starts upheld (2) behind the blocking tandem of Dave Butterfield up the NU return man (7) at the OU 38-yard line. Husker Turnovers Offset Defensive Adjustments stopped when it meant something to the Sooners. He rushed for 130 yards on 29 attempts and scored two touchdowns. "I'm really proud of these kids," Kiffin said. "Not one of them came out of the game on his own even though they were hurting.

Right now their dreams (of a national championship) are shattered, but I've never been around a team with more character." give up was anything to Joe Washington on the outside pitch. And Washington was held to 35 yards on 10 carries. The other halfback, Elvis Peacock, got just five net yards in five carries. "In the second half, they ran to the split end side into the sideline and Davis hurt us until we adjusted," Kiffin said. "We had the safety playing him on both sides because Jimmy (Burrow) has the speed to do it." Davis, it seemed, never was on one drive.

We came off the field and made adjustments and we were ready to play it. Then we had the turnovers. Tougher Near Goal "It's hard to stop a wishbone team when they get the ball too close. It's a four-back offense and it gets tougher close to the goal. You have to give up more on the quarterback than the others, but we still had someone assigned to him." One thing Kiffin didn't want to By Bob Owens Norman, Okla.

Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin says the Nebraska Black Shirts made the adjustments to stop Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis, but when the turnovers started coming like bullets from a machine gun, all chances of victory over the Sooners disappeared. "We felt we had Davis played," Kiffin said. "In fact, we did after he hurt us on the option Craig who was knocked out midway through the first quarter. "He got hit on the chin like a boxer and was knocked out," trainer Paul Schneider said. He spent the night in a hospital in Lincoln for observation.

Linebacker Clete Pillen suffered a knee strain in the opening quarter, but was able to. return to the game. He said the dream of the title began in the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl victory over Florida. "They worked so hard to get near it and then it all boils down to 60 minutes. I can bounce back and coach until I'm 80, but some of them are through with their eligibility and they can't come back." Craig Knocked Out Only injury of any consequence was to wingback Curtis 1 mm ll If, I iff Jx -il Iff' 'r III Senior Brad Jenkins was in no real hurry to find a shower after the final Big Eight battle of his Nebraska career left a bitter taste.

Despite the outcome of the game in Norman, many faithful Cornhusker followers turned out at Municipal Airport to greet the returning Big Eight co-champions. Perhaps the sign at right best expresses the feelings of the NU 'fans. At right, Wonder Monds obliges an autograph seeker despite a bandaged hand injured in the battle. iliiiipll "i Hi tr What Went Wrong? Husker coach Tom Osborne and Athletic Director Bob Devaney share their thoughts following the disappointing jf mmmm I I i -5 I "1 My AM i iiumi ml -V Mt 'y ji. It was a long, tough afternoon.

In the end, with the Sooners out of reach, Nebraska's Black Shirts were a disconsolate band. From left, John Lee (69), Dave Redding (84), Clete Pillen (61), Jim Burrow (2), Dave Butterfield (34), Bob Martin (87) and James Wightman (59)..