Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 31

Sports linroln Journal Thursday, April 17, 1980 31 Weaver bout falls to Arum demands Ali set to fight Holmes A former Ali sparring partner, Holmes said that if he beats the former three-time champ, he wants to fight Weaver in the fall to consolidate the title. Ali, whose pro record is 55-3 including 22 title fights, said that Holmes, who has scored 25 knockouts en route to a 34-0 record, wouldn't provide him much of a challenge. "I'm not fighting Joe Frazier in his prime. I'm not fighting George Foreman in his prime. I'm not fighting fast Leon Spinks who was hungry.

I'm fighting a mummy who stands up straight and imitates me," Ali said. Just last month, Holmes said that he didn't "need Muhammad Ali, he needs me." Ali responded then, "When Holmes admits he needs me and gets down on his knees before the press and says he publicly needs me, then he might get a shot" Holmes has made no such statement but Ali explained his decision to meet the WBC champ: "I changed my mind. We do it all the time." Ali had ballooned to more than 250 pounds during his layoff, but has resumed training and is now around 245, some 23 pounds over his fighting weight. "I was going to take Weaver in a little tuneup," he said. "But I don't need tune-ups.

I have fights in the gym. In two months I'll be pretty. I'll eat up the world." Ali's longtime physician, Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, recently recommended that Ali not fight again, saying the three-time champion's body had taken too much punishment. "I fired said Ali.

"When there are 165,000 people at the fight in Brazil, the biggest event ever, he won't be getting any of the fame. He's going to miss out." Muhammad Ali Prime Sports, will co-promote the fight with Don King, promoter of all Holmes' championship fights. Murad has promoted closed circuit showings of several Ali fights along with some New Jersey bouts at Rahway State Prison featuring inmate James Scott, a light-heavyweight. King said by telephone from Miami that he is pleased. "There is a lot of work to be done, but I think it (the fight) is solid," King said.

"I hope so, because Larry Holmes deserves a chance to prove he's the best heavyweight in the world." Holmes, reached in Easton, said: "Everything is supposed to be set. I asked for $4 million and they mentioned $3.5 million. I'm sure a figure can be agreed on." Charles Spaziani, Holmes' attorney, said a letter of credit for his client's share of the purse must be on deposit by May 15. Jk "4 i Huskers 9 Noonan carving own niche APWIREPHOTO Texas Rangers' second baseman Bump out at second back and throwing to first Wills gets a ride on the back of Cleveland's Duane Kuiper after forcing him for a double play. The Rangers won the game, 8-7.

Box scores, Page 33. Nebraska offense impressive in scrimmage I fMM pa 1 I I 11 BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -Muhammad Ali, overweight, out of shape and 38 years old, has shown he is as adept as ever at springing a surprise. At a Wednesday news conference that had been billed as a contract-signing for a fight between Ali and World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Mike Weaver, Ali announced that he will fight, instead, Larry Holmes, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion. Ali said negotiations for the Weaver fight fell apart overnight when promoter Bob Arum made last-minute financial demands.

"The next opponent will be Larry Holmes," Ali said. "He's the best in the world next to myself. I'm kind of glad the Weaver fight broke down. People have been telling me that Holmes can whup me. I've never ducked anybody." Ali, who retired as champion in September 1978, said pride was behind his comeback.

"The main reason is pride, to be the only four-time world champion after I'm already the only three-time world champion," he explained. The agreement for the Ali-Holmes fight calls for the $10 million bout to be held July 11 in Brazil at Rio de Janiero's Maracana Stadium. Although nothing has been signed and there are details to be worked out, the bout appears to be relatively certain. "The money's good, but it's not just for the money. I know I can win," said Ali, who's expected to receive around $6 million.

"I can whup Larry Holmes. Holmes is old. He's 31." Murad Muhammad, a 29-year-old former Ali bodyguard who is president of rTK Sports I Scene Thursday Specials American Angler, 6 p.m., CD Friday Basketball NBA Basketball, Bucks vs. 'Sonics, P.m., CD; 11 p.m., 10:30 would have had a touchdown drive to his credit, if Jimmy Austin hadn't fumbled on a plunge from the one. Van Zandt didn't enjoy his defense getting punctured, but he was able to look at it philosphically.

"Right now," he said, "the offense looks like it's ahead of us by a bunch. "But we've got some good players," he said. "We're just making too many mistakes and missing too many tackles. "I'm not disappointed," he said. "I'm glad the offense looks good.

That'll help the defense next alL" New Creighton AD? OMAHA (UPI) Creighton University scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon, apparently to announce the appointment of a new athletic director. The university declined to confirm reports Dan Offenburger would be named to succeed Tom Apke as head of the athletic department. Apke has said he wants to remain at Creighton as basketball coach and also devote his energy to heading one of the cable television franchises seeking to serve the City of Omaha. 'Munson at fault' WASHINGTON (UPI) New York Yankee catcher Thurman Munson committed a series of pilot errors that led to the crash of his private jet last August, the National Transportation Safety Board says. Munson died in the airplane accident.

Kansas gets cage star AUSTIN, Texas (UPI) Victor Mitchell a 6-10' junior college All-America from Amarillo College who had signed with the University of Texas, now has signed a Big Eight Conference letter of intent with the University of Kansas. Bruce Dorman of Louisville, finished fourth last year in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:52.01. This year, Dorman bettered the Junior Olympic record of 1:50.83 set by Andy Wren with a trials time of 1:50.05. And in the finals, the junior at Kentucky Country Day High School erased that mark with a time of 1:48.86. "I like this pool," Dorman said.

"It's deeper than most and so there aren't any waves. I didn't get any waves from the other swimmers and that makes a difference. "I didn't expect to go that fast" said the veteran of five Junior Olympic meets. "That betters my best time by more than three seconds. "This Is the first time I tapered for a meet this year, so I expected to drop some, but not this much," said Dorman.

Another Junior Olympic record breaker was Cliff Looschen, who must By Randy York Staff Sports Writer John Melton didn't intend the statement for public consumption, but Nebraska's linebacker coach made a good point after the Husker offense finished its best scrimmage in three springs Wednesday. "You want to remember the offense usually wins on Wednesdays, but the defense usually wins on Saturdays," Melton said. "That extra 20 or 30 yards makes a big difference." Head coach Tom Osborne and defensive coordinator Lance Van Zandt agreed with Melton Wednesday. But they were also in agreement that the offense deserved the supreme salute for an exceptional effort. Osborne tempered his enthusiasm with the observation that "you don't have to go as far on Wednesday as you do on Saturday.

There was a lot of scoring, but you should score a lot. Your opportunities are twice as good because of field position." The offense, however, was so impressive that No. 1 quarterback Mark Mauer thought the field position argument should be ignored. Mauer led the No. 1 unit to three touch By Randy York Staff Sports Writer So far, John Noonan may be better known as Joe Noonan's twin brother.

Joe, the fleet split end who started three years at UNO, is possible NFL draft material this spring. John may be a step behind as a junior-to-be at Nebraska. But he's hardly a step slower. One of the four fastest Huskers showed the importance of speed Wednesday when he turned a simple slant pass into a 38-yard touchdown against the Black Shirts. Yes, John Noonan is a split end without a reputation, but a split end worthy of recognition.

"He's an example of a guy who has really worked hard," Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said. "He's come a long way. There was a time when I didn't know if he'd ever be able to play. "He was a very, very average player. But he's improved his speed and his strength and he can play.

I'm not saying he's better than Scott Woodard or Todd Brown, but he's definitely in the picture." Two years ago, Noonan wasn't even in school. After graduating from Omaha Ryan, he was a stocker in an Omaha Hinky-Dinky store. "I wanted to go to college, but I thought I better work first," he said. "I realized how much I missed football, watching Joe's freshman year at UNO. I decided I wanted to play again, but not in Omaha.

I was ready to get away from home." He was also ready to learn a new position. "I was a DB (defensive back) in high school," John said. "I had eight or nine interceptions my senior year. Joe was our split end. We had a rotten season.

We only won one game. We beat Dan Hurley at Roncalli." Hurley is now a first-team Husker offensive guard, but he came as a highly-touted scholarship player. Noonan came as a no-name walk-on who didn't even make All-Metro in high school. At Nebraska, though, desire has always been more important than credentials. "I wanted to play," Noonan said.

"I and three yards and hit split end Todd Brown for 15 yards for another touchdown. Mauer ran four times for 19 yards and hit all three of his pass attempts for 40 yards. Osborne also was enthused about the running of No. 1 1-back Jarvis Redwine, who rushed for 32 yards on only three carries in addition to catching a 10-yard pass. Mauer wasn't the only bright spot at quarterback.

Osborne also cited Nate Mason and Steve Michaelson "for doing some good things" in the scrimmage. Mason put the No. 3 offense into the end zone against the No. 3 defense in his first time at the controls. Mason connected with Tim Alberico for a 13-yard pass to set up his own four-yard touchdown run on the next play.

He saved his biggest heroics, however, for the Black Shirts, particularly when he hit split end John Noonan for a 38-yard touchdown on a slant pass. Mason needed six plays to cover 40 yards to burn the Black Shirts again. Fullback Mark Moravec started the drive with a 15-yard gallop. Mason finished it with a 12-yard sprint into the end zone after hitting split end Ricky Simmons for seven yards on a crucial fourth down pass. Bruce Mathison, the standout quarterback in last Sunday's scrimmage, flashed signs of potential again Wednesday.

But his performance was soured by three pass interceptions. Linebacker Brent Evans saved a touchdown with an interception after Mathison marched the offense to the 11-yard line. On the next possession, Mathison directed a drive to the 10, but monster Kris Van Norman intercepted. Ric Lindquist snared the third interception after Mathison again engineered a drive to the 10. Michaelson had runs of 12 and 16 yards during his stint at quarterback.

He also John Noonan thought I could, too if I worked hard enough." Because he didn't report until spring practice, Noonan went straight to the scout team and bypassed competition on the freshman team the next fall. "That didn't bother me," he said. "I wasn't ready to play anyway. I had too much to learn." He continued to learn during his red-shirt season two years ago and shared third-team duty last fall as a sophomore. No one remembers except his family and friends, but Noonan played in two varsity games last fall against Colorado and Kansas.

No passes came his way in either game. No passes had come his way this spring either, until Nate Mason called a 49 sprint 9 slant pass in the huddle Wednesday afternoon. Noonan, 6-2 and 190, caught it, busted out of L.G. Searcey's tackle and zipped 38 yards into the end zone against the surprised Black Shirts. Speed is one of Noonan's greatest assets.

In final winter conditioning drills, he averaged 04.43 for his three 40-yard dashes, joining Jarvis Redwine, Andy Means and Rodney Lewis as the Huskers' speediest players. "I've gotten faster," Noonan said. "I was about a 04.6 in high school. It comes from better starts. I use my arms more.

My technique is better." So, obviously, is his status. "I feel like I can play next year," Noonan said, "but I have to keep improving and I've got to learn my plays. Mental preparation is as important as anything. "All I want," Noonan said, "is to come in and help the team." Ex-NU star Lewellen dies downs in the first 17 plays of the scrimmage against the No. 2 defense.

"The holes were there," Mauer said. "I don't think another 20 yards would have made much difference." Mauer's performance was impressive, but two touchdowns by the No. 2 offense against the No. 1 defense were at least equally noteworthy. "Any time that happens," Van Zandt said, "the offense has to be complimented.

They sure deserve to be today. That's the best I've seen them execute in the three springs I've been here. We really did a pretty good job defensively. They just hammered us pretty good." Osborne called it the best he'd seen the offense "in a long, long time," then amended that to concur with his defensive coordinator's assessment. "It probably was the best in at least three years," Nebraska's head coach said.

"Mark Mauer had an unusually good day." Mauer, Osborne said, was next to flawless while directing the No. 1 unit in Jeff Quinn's absence. Quinn was out with a nagging ankle injury Wednesday, but is expected back for Saturday's scrimmage. Mauer scored himself on runs of seven Verne Lewellen was a standout foe Nebraska and the Green Bay Packers. 0 ii 1 1 J' Vi it l-y in I hi- fch ill JO swim meet gives NU chance to sell program From News Wires Verne Lewellen, who captained the 1923 Nebraska football team which beat Notre Dame and its famous Four Horsemen, died early Wednesday in a Rockville, Md, hospital Lewellen, 78, was a native of Garland, and is a member of the Lincoln Journal Sports Hall of Fame.

After his Cornhusker career, Lewellen spent 40 years with the Green Bay Packers as a punter, halfback and defensive back and then as an administrator. Lewellen played from 1924 to 1932 and was considered an outstanding punter. He still ranks ninth in all-time scoring for the Packers. He was a member of the NFL all-pro team four times. He was a member of the Packer executive committee from 1950 to 1953 and general manager from 1954 to 1959, when he was replaced by Vince Lombardi.

Lewellen continued as business manager of the National Football League team until he retired in 1967. Despite living in Garland, Lewellen attended Lincoln High where he lettered three times in football basketball and track. At Nebraska he lettered three years each in football and basketball He was a member of the "Mid-Century Dream Team" picked by Club members in 1951. Following graduation from Nebraska with a tew degree, he had a baseball tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates but didn't make the club. He then turned to pro football and the Packers.

The Official National Football League Football Encyclopedia says of Lewellen: "Verne Lewellen's claim to fame is strong enough to overcome the handicap of having been fashioned in the era before official records were kept He was the type of football player who needs no certified evidence in the statistical department to command the highest honors." have felt like it was old home week. Instead of just his coach or his parents watching, as is the case for most AAU swimmers, Looschen arrived in Lincoln to greet his brother, George, who transferred to the University of Nebraska in January and will be swimming for the Huskers next season, and several other relative on hand to watch him. And they were rewarded. The Cocoa Beach, native set a Junior Olympic record in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:52.44. "A lot of my relatives live up here and are here at the meet" said Looschen.

"It makes you want to go better." Looschen said it was nice to perform in front of family, since he is now living in Gainesville, to train with 1976 Olympic bronze medalist Bill Forrester. "I'm ineligible to swim high school since I'm not at home," said the high school junior. "Otherwise I'd be swim By Ryly Jane Hambleton Staff Sports Writer Nebraska swimming coaches Cal Bentz and Ray Huppert are understandably excited to have the Junior Olympic short course swimming championships at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Pool After all, these are some of the best high school swimmers in the country and they are all getting a glimpse of Nebraska's pool and program. "Of course this is an advantage for Nebraska," Bentz said. "This facility is really impressive.

The times are better this year than they were last year when this meet was held at Duke University. "There are several swimmers we are interested in and this makes the first con-, tact much easier since they now know what we mean when we say this pool can Improve their times." One winner will attest to the difference NU's pool makes. ming on my high school team. When I get back, they'll have just two weeks before the state championships so they'll be training hard." Looschen missed the senior short course championship cutoffs by eight-tenths of a second and was seeded fifth in the 200 backstroke and fifth in the 100 backstroke, slated for Saturday. "I didn't like the 200 last year because I wasnt in shape for it" Looschen said.

"But I've started on weights and it seems to be helping a lot I didnt like to work that hard last year, but the weights actually make it easier. "I felt pretty easy at the 100," Looschen said. "My starts are okay but my turns are pretty bad. The middle part where I just swim is where I'm strongest" Looschen's time erased the mark of 1:52.54 set in 1979 by Peter Solomon of Providence, R.L Results, Page 34.