Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 34

IHUS-tEHS NOVEMBER 10, 198 SUNDAY jOWWAL-8TA 6 DC MPs Skow not impressed with records Cyclones 9 level i frustration Jrite high markf By Ken Hambleton The level of frustration may have reached an all-time high for Coach Jim Criner and the Iowa State Cyclones. Cyclone safety Brian Reffner, in his first starting role for ISU, was credited with 28 tackles, unofficially a team record, in Nebraska's 494) victory over Iowa State Saturday at Memorial Stadium. "I got all those tackles and when a free safety gets that many tackles, you know it's because you have to make that many because it's you and then the end zone," he said. "It's only frustrating. "We ask ourselves to do the job all week.

We go through S31 that work and then have these kind of Saturdays." J2 Criner, whose team fell to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the1 Eight said he had never felt more depressed. "I'm really down. Not down because we got beat by Nebraska, down because of the way our own players played," he sMI "It was a very poorly played game by us. You worked fanny off and coach so hard and work so hard and we're due. It's enough to drive you crazy the way things come out" For instance, the Cyclones gained just 42 yards rushing and 95 passing and managed only seven first downs while dropping their second shutout in a row to the Huskers.

Nebraska blanked ISU 44-0 last year. Iowa State penetrated Nebraska territory just twice, on its first drive of the game and late in the third quarter. Both drives were halted by penalties, the first by a holding infraction and the second by a personal foul "That holding is the most ridiculous tiling. The amount of time1 we spend and the work we put in on that and then to have that kind of crap. I'm sure the referees did a fine job we screwed up," Criner said.

"It wasn't cold, either, that was the reason for all the -dropped passes. We just did not catch it I felt Alex (Espinoza) played welL He threw to the right people, it was just not there at the other "I don't want to point the finger at any one or two guys, but we have to get people who can catch the ball and hold onto it-Tim Iversen, a fifth-year senior linebacker, said he was frustrated, too. "Everybody always says Iowa State is no good. We should be 5-3 before this game," he said. "We've been so close.

It's just hard to explain what's missing. I "I've watched Nebraska since I was a little kid and I know they are always a good team. I went to Iowa State because I thought it was a program on the move. This is my fifth year and we're still not going anywhere with our record. We try.

I think we work to deserve better, but we just dont have it. "Do you know how frustrating that he asked. "Nebraska has that tradition where they walk on the field and expect to win. They've got to win. They've always got something going right "Right now, we have another kind of tradition.

We've got to change that with our last two games." As for the future, Criner showed some optimism when asked about next week's game at Kansas State, another Big Eight cellar-dweller. "I tell you what. Right now, that ought to look like the Super Bowl to us," he said. 1 1 v. 1 .51 ,) I 4.

ry I ax By RylyJaneHambleton If you could say nothing else about Jim Skow, you could call "him a team player. The Nebraska senior defensive tackle was happier about the Husker defense's play in a 49-0 victory over Iowa State than he was about the record he set and the other one he tied. "I'm just glad the defense did welL That's all I care about Records are fine, but let's go to Miami," he said, referring to the Orange Bowl berth that awaits the Big Eight Conference champion. Of course, there is something else you can say about the 6-oot-3, 250-pound Omahan. Skow sacked ISU quarterback Alex Espinoza for an 8-yard loss with 1:11 left in the first half to overtake Willie Harper's school record for yardage on tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Harper, who starred on the Husker national championship teams of 1970 and 71, had tackles for 231 yards in losses. Skow's total moved to 237 with the sack. Skow also tied Kerry Weinmaster's career record of 39 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, set from 1976-79. "When you get records or honors and your team doesn't do that well, it's like sour grapes, so to speak," he said. "Honors would be OK as long as the team wins the Big Eight "I knew Kerry Weinmaster because he was a coach here when I was a freshman.

I didn't know Willie Harper he was a long time ago he's ancient" Skow joked. "I know Weinmaster started four years and was a really good player. "I know Coach (Charlie) McBride's pretty fond of him. And to start for Coach McBride for four years that's saying Something." Skow was self-effacingly blunt when asked why he didnt start all four years. "Because I was terrible and I was too small," he answered.

"I'm still too small, but I'm a senior. I've gained some weight and strength, but I'm still not hardly the biggest guy on the defense. Danny (Noonan) is. Danny's a house." While Skow personally was pleased with the shutout he pointed out that there are others who will benefit from the effort "That means the scout team gets doughnuts," he said. Noonan and Skow combined for six tackles as the Nebraska defense held Iowa State to 42 yards rushing.

"We just wanted to shut down the run, make them pass and force turnovers that way," Noonan said. "I like playing against Iowa State because they're the team I like the least in the Big Eight and it feels good to beat them." Noonan, who was sidelined part of the week when stomach pains were diagnosed as gastroenteritis, said the ailment caused one problem for him Saturday. "I didnt want to sit out but I felt a little weak," he said. "I didn't eat for a couple of days, so I need to catch up." While the cold didn't bother Noonan "I like to play in cold weather and snow," Skow said he was happy Nebraska had heaters on the sidelines. "The hardest part is starting out After awhile, your body gets warm and you don't feel if he said.

"But then you sit down while the offense has a long drive, and you're cold again." Nebraska's Jim Skow wraps up ISU's Kirk Thomas fornogainirithefirst quarter. Cyclones see few weaknesses in Huskers9 game If- couldn't get enough yardage off tha kind of stuff to win the football game, as wide-conscious as their tackles are." I ISU quarterback Alex Espinoza was! harassed by both defenses. Nebraska; limi'cd him to 86 yards passing, Okla' homa to 112. The Huskers also sacked him twice. "Oklahoma's defense is a lot faster terms of speed," Espinoza said.

"Nebrasj ka's has a lot more power they have the two power linebackers and their de tensive line is just absolutely superb because they give you so much By Curt McKeever Had Iowa State pulled off an upset Saturday like the one in 1977 in which the Cyclones defeated Nebraska 24-21, the questions would have been different But after suffering through a 494) setback, more people wanted to know how Nebraska will match up against Oklahoma rather than what's wrong with the Cyclones. Every year it seems like the rest of the conference is going to catch up with the "Big Two," but only once since 1969 has anyone ever delivered on the promise, and it's beginning to look like they weeks hence, that probably wont be the case. "People say Nebraska has passing problems? I don't think so," said ISU outside linebacker Tim Iversen. "They got a real good touchdown pass, and they ran so well, who needs it?" Reffner agreed. "I think Oklahoma had a little better blocking, but Nebraska I think has the better backs.

I dont think we made as many tackles in the secondary against Oklahoma because our front played a little better, but today they were running the trap real well and breaking through, won't this year, either. Iowa State's Brian Reffner ought to know Nebraska pretty well after Saturday. The junior free safety got his first start of the year and responded, most times not by choice, with a 28-tackle day. "I can't say that I saw any weaknesses today," Reffner said. "They played well all over.

"The only thing that Nebraska's weakness could be is that everybody is going to key on the run because they dont have a passing game." The Huskers didnt need one against Iowa State. Against Oklahoma two "The thing that Nebraska does better is they have a better misdirection game with the counter reverse that they run," Criner said. "The other team (Oklahoma) counters, but having the extra threat on the option that they have in their dimension it's going to be a great football game. "Defensively, they're (Nebraska) an outstanding football team Their three down linemen are big and very physical and put a lot of pressure on you. They made it awful tough to get outside.

I felt we did a good job of blocking, but we and their option was going pretty well, too. "I expect a showdown. I think itH be a pretty big defensive game. They both have outstanding offenses, but their defenses are so good that I think it's going to stop the offensive displays like they showed today." Iowa State Coach Jim Criner didnt want to make any predictions on the NU-OU contest, but said both teams have a lot of similarities, "especially the way they're (Nebraska) running the option right now. i.u i.v.vi.mii.....u.

mm iimiimiwuhi wmmm 1 1 I A If 1 r- a I iT? 4.A XI Vl I nlinirrm in rm I 1,1. mmWMIMtinl J. Keith Jones shoves Brian Reffner aside and scores from one yard out. 1 WW NU's coming attractions a hit NU freshman QB Steve Taylor skirts past two Cyclone defenders for 4-yard TD In final quarter. Huskers support students' stand quarterbacks Nebraska used.

The second, senior Travis Turner, told Taylor to relax when he went in the game. "He gave me a lot of support, and that helps," Taylor said. The cheers of the crowd helped, too, emotionally. But from a practical standpoint "it really hurts because my voice fait that deep and the linemen cant hear me on the Taylor. "That's all right, though.

IU just have to learn how to speak up louder." Jones is another crowd favorite, who admits he occasionally hears the cheering. "It's exciting, and it's something that's been keeping me up," he said. This season has been a learning experience for the former Omaha Central Super-Stater, who's carried only 29 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns. The lack of playing time has been "a little disappointing," Jones said. "But I've learned to keep faith in God.

I know he's going to take care of me, "It's just a matter of waiting for my turn. I'm going to be patient" 1 While Taylor waited on the sideline for his turn Saturday, be tried to warm up, not an easy task in the cold He smiled at the recollection. 'When I was warming itoi I By Mike Babcock The second half of Nebraska's 49-0 victory over Iowa State at Memorial Stadium Saturday became a preview of coming attractions, you might say. The Cornhuskers' final three touchdowns were scored, in order, by I-back Keith Jones, wingback Von Sheppard and quarterback Steve Taylor. And theyH an be around awhile.

Jones, a true sophomore, rushed for 54 yards on eight carries and scored from one yard out after setting up the touchdown with a 15-yard run. Sheppard, a redshirted sophomore, carried four times for 55 yards, 20 of them on his touchdown run. He's already a regular. Taylor, of course, is a freshman, who drew enthusiastic applause from the hearty fans who stayed until the end, on the bitterly cold afternoon. He ran four yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage after Dan Thayer recovered an Iowa State fumble forced by Todd Prof fit's tackle.

The scoring play was a 38-optlon on which Taylor faked to fullback Dan Casterllne and kept around his left end. There's not much to say abaft it The linemen blocked it really well and an I had to do was run," said Taylor, one of six isn't cutting fat out It's a matter of cutting out positions, eliminating faculty and eliminating programs. "If the people of the state want the university to be pared down and become a lesser institution," Osborne added, "they ought to have the right to do so because they are paying the money. But they need to be aware of what's happening The students, the football players, and everybody else want people to be aware that we are In the process of becoming, not a second-class but certainly a diminished institution. towels in their waistbands.

"I know the student organization was trying to do something to bring attention to the university," Coach Tom Osborne said. "I think the players were supportive of that idea. We took a vote, asking them if they would like to do it, and they said they would." Osborne said the idea came about because "a lot of people at the university feel that the people of the state need to be aware of the fact that after cutting down the budget now for seyan years in a row, we're down to the point where it By Virgil Parker Spom Editor Nebraska students are "blue" over cuts the legislature has made in appropriations for education. They made that point at the Nebraska-Iowa State football game Saturday by painting blue N's on their faces; wearing blue clothing and releasing blue instead of the traditional red balloons when the team scored its first touchdown. Several Comhusker players joined the by.

wearing blue hand was thinking, 'What am I doing here, playing in said "au nr tunn a rmm van iiiaon.