Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 15

Saturday, Nov. 27,1982 Lincoln, Neb. Journal 15 i 1 If' a i 8 fCv7, Vi'iiit. I Nebraska's Turner Gill (12) displays the quick, free for a first-quarter touchdown. Aided by a Rick Bryan (80) and Tom Flemons (93) en route credited Gill's big plays with being the difference shifty running style which allowed him to break block from Dave Rimlngton (50), Gill streaks past to the end zone.

Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer in NU's Big Eight title-clenching 28-24 win. Injured Rozier passes Berns By Mike Babcock Stan Sports Writer I-back Mike Rozier was one reason Nebraska's offensive production was cut in half during the final two quarters of Friday's 28-24 victory, over Oklahoma. It wasn't what Rozier did but rather what the junior from Camden, N.J., couldnt.do play. Because -of a twisted ankle, which he reinjured, Rozier was forced to sit out the second half. He didn't want the time off, not with the Big Eight.

Conference championship and an Orange Bowl berth oh the line at Memorial Stadium in a game televised across the nation by CBS. Rozier wanted to be in there against Oklahoma, but he couldn't be With 1 left in the first half, he bolted around his right end for 13 yards and reinjured his right ankle. "I tried to go back'in, but I was limping too much. They don't need me if I'm limping," he said. "I took myself out of the game because we've got some other good running backs." Kven so; with Rozier available, Nebraska generated 272 yards of total in the first half of Friday's game.

Without him, the Cornhuskers added 137 yards in the second half. weren't as productive." said NU head coach Tom "Rozier had some big runs in the first half that we didn't get in the second. Of course, it wasn't all because Mike wasn't in there. Oklahoma played better defensively, too." Because of his ankle, Rozier wasn't even supposed to start against Oklahoma, but he was in for the game's first snap from scrimmage and carried for a four-yard gain. He carried 14 times more before leaving the game for good early in the third quarter.

Rozier finished with 96 yards and passed Richard Berns on the Cornhuskers' modem-day rushing list. Rozier has 2,521 career yards, second only to Isaiah Hipp's 2,814 yards. Senior Roger Craig filled in for Rozier, and though he lost a fumble the first time he carried the ball, he was up to the task, carrying 17 times for 56 yards and scoring Nebraska's final touchdown on a three-yard run with 6:25 remaining in third quarter. "I wasn't tairing care of the baU," said Craig, who has fumbled only one other time this season. "I tried not to think about it." While Craig tried not to think about fumbles, Rozier had other problems on his mind, one of which had nothing to do with whether Oklahoma could come back on Nebraska.

"I wasn't worried about that," he said. "We were (physically) beating them pretty bad, wearing them down. I had confidence in my teammates, and I knew our defense would rise up. All they had to do was keep their heads." Rozier's concern had more to do with personal comfort. "I'm not used to sitting on the sideline during football games, and I didn't have anythmg to do but sit.

"I was thinking about how cold it was and how I wanted to go inside," Rozier said. "I wasn't worried; I was cold." i 7 Cr til I i I vf'i 'S fill 1 i. ti a 1 i I I i I I I jj Mike Rozier blasts through the Oklahoma line during second-quarter action Friday. Nebraska's Turner Gill is mobbed by teammates, including Jamie Williams (80) following his dramatic touchdown run in the first quarter. 7 1 few xAl'' jfj, 1 1' SWT 1 The final happy story.

1 I fUTKDiiAl UNCOIL Dupree good, but out That was. close to the -He's a good back in worst defense we could have the open field," offered NU been in for a counter sweep," linebacker Steve McWhirter. said Charlie McBride, NU's -But as big as he is, he could defensive coordinator. run into the line a lot harder Cornerback Dave Burke and punch it out a lot more." was me oniy nusKer oe 1 1 -i, i-i vrt' I I r' -Tt -rr -t By Randy York Statf Sports Writer Marcus Dupree was good Saturday, but not good enough for Nebraska's Black Shirts to consider the Sooner freshman from another world, like he's been advertised. "He showed us he could break the long one, but he doesn't hit a hole half as hard as Mike Rozier or Roger Craig," NU cornerback Allen Lyday said of Dupree, who finished with a game-high 149 yards rushing on 25 carries.

Dupree got 86 of those yards on one early third-quarter play when Oklahoma caught Nebraska in a strong safety blitz. "We were thinking sprint- fender with a shot at Dupree. "The guard pulled and got me," he said. "I tried to reach back, but all I got a hold of was Dupree's towel He was gone." Although Dupree's thunderbolt changed the complexion of the game, he paid a dear physical price. On his other 24 carries on this particular afternoon, he averaged only 2.6 yards a carry.

"He just tippy-toed into the line," Lyday said. "That's where we got all our "If you give him a chance to run, Dupree's a good back," said Steve Damkro-ger, the captain of the Black Shirts. "But he's not that tough inside. I think he might be pretty stiff tomorrow." Barry Switzer, apparently, agreed. When writers him why Dupree wasn't in the game in crucial situations down the stretch, Oklahoma's head coach had a simple answer.

"Because he was getting the hell knocked out of him," Switzer said. Roger Braig (21) reacts with joy after scoring Nebraska touch' down as Oklahoma's Steve Haworth (6) shows up too late to prevent the score..