Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 17

3 4' lincoln Journal Friday, September 1, 1978 17; Alabama saving be for first? Sports By Vlroll Parker Sports Editor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. College football is preparing to discard the old show biz adage, "Save the best for the last," here Saturday night For the benefit of a national television audience, a classic matchup between Nebraska and Alabama has been lined up as the Grand Opening. The worry of trying to find a finale to top it will be left for later. The game, originally scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, instead becomes the earliest date for an opening game in the history of either school. In addition to the millions watching on TV, Legion Field will be jammed to its 80,000 capacity.

The press box will be even more crowded. Sportswrit-ers from the Boston Globe to the Los Angeles Times and every major city in between-are on hand. Coach Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide is the preseason choice of many to capture the national championship this fall Nebraska kept Alabama from gaining that distinction last season with a 31-24 triumph, and Coach Tom Osborne's Cornhusk-ers are looking for a repeat performance in order to begin a march toward fulfilling a similar ambition for themselves. SEC championship for the sixth time in seven years and wound up 11-1 after tromping Ohio State, 35-6, in the Sugar Bowl. Osborne and The Bear are tied for fifth place in winning percentage (.770) among the nation's active coaches with five years or more of service.

Bryant enters his 21st year at Alabama with a school mark of 182-37-8. Overall, in 33 years as a head coach, The Bear is 273-76-16. But Bryant's teams have been slow starters in recent years. In addition to losing to Missouri in the opener three years ago, The Tide dropped its first game two seasons back to Ole Miss. Last year, Alabama broke that opening-game jinx by beating Ole Miss, only to lose to Nebraska in the second game.

But 'Bama shares the nation's longest college winning streak 10 games with defending national champion Notre Dame. Both won their last 10 in a row in 1977. Notre Dame lost to Ole Miss in its second game of the fall, but beat poll leader Texas in the Cotton Bowl to vault from fifth to' first. Alabama, third in the polls at the end of the regular season, sneaked up just one place (after its win over Ohio State. hunch we have a pretty good offense.

But we may be facing a good defense maybe the best we'll face all year. We'll find out when we play the game." Osborne says, however, he doesn't think it will be strictly a matchup of the Nebraska offense and the 'Bama defense. "It's going to be extremely important that our defense plays well," Osborne adds, "particularly if we aren't able to move the ball on them as much as we want. I think our defense will have to hold them to fewer points than last year if we hope to win." Saturday night's clash will be the fifth between the two schools. The series stands even at two games each.

Alabama won the first two, 39-28 in the Orange Bowl following the 1965 season and 347 in the Sugar Bowl the next Nebraska wrapped up a perfect 13-0 campaign and its second consecutive national' championship in 1971 with a 38-6 Orange Bowl triumph prior to last fall's regular-season victory. Both clubs won post-season bowl games last year. Nebraska topped North Carolina, 21-17, in the Liberty Bowl to cap a 93 season and a tie for second in the Big Eight while Alabama won the 11 in a row here. However, the Crimson Tide's last loss in Birmingham was also an opener on national TV when the Big Eight's Missouri Tigers beat 'Bama, 20-7. Bryant hopes to prevent a repeat of that performance.

"I've never had such intense early practices," he says. "We have good folks. Our players have a great attitude and are showing a lot of class. We'll be as prepared as we can be. "I don't mean to say that we're ready to set the woods on fiie, however," Bryant adds.

"We've had too many injuries in pre-season practice. We've lost five potential starters. But we hope to be a real good team before this is all over." The Bear admits his squad may be less cautious than he. "Some of our players may have an exaggerated opinion of their ability," he notes, "but that's okay with me. I like for them to have confidence." Osborne says tus Husker players "are impressed with Alabama, but not in awe of them.

"Our team has an excellent attitude and the concentration during this preseason preperation period has been good," the NU coach feels. "There's not a whole lot more we can do. I have a good feeling about our team. I have a sneaking Nebraska's victory in Lincoln last year also before a national TV audience-was the only setback of the season for Alabama, which wound up second in the polls. The "reveng'j" aspect is evident here for the return engagement.

But, while the Alabama players appear confident-even cocky The Bear isn't sure what to expect "I don't know whether it will be a high or low scoring game, lopsided or what," Bryant admits. "Anything can happen hi an opening game. Coaches have all summer to prepare to change -for the first game." Nebraska employed some of that surprise element in topping 'Bama last fall including a fake field goal pass for one touchdown. "Alabama is probably the toughest opening game we've ever had," Osborne observes. "But we should be a better football team than we were last year.

On offense we have some fine skill people and I hope that means putting a lot of points on the board." Alabama will counter with what it considers one of the school's finest defensive units ever. Also, Legion Field is a tough place for a visitor to beat a Bryant-coached team. He's won his last Lineups Ruling favors NEBRASKA OFFENSE ALABAMA No. Name Ht. Wt.

Yr. Pos. Yr. Wt. Ht.

Name No. 84 Smith 6-3 194 Sr. SE Jr. 185 6-1 Pu9h 4 73 K. Clark 6-4 275 Sr.

LT Jr. 235 6 5 AyclPlctte 78 69 Havekost 6-4 210 Jr. LG Jr. 235 6-3 Brock 70 57 Saalfeld 6-4 237 Jr. Jr.

230 6-3 Stephenson 57 68 Lindquist 6-6 250 Sr. RG Jr. 236 6-3 Boothe 60 74 Ohrt 6-4 244 Sr. RT Jr. 241 6-1 Bunch 63 89 Miller 6-4 222 Jr.

TE Jr. 212 6-1 Travis 88 12 Sorter 6-2 200 Sr. QB Sr. 200 6-2 Rutledge 11 32 Hipp 6-0 200 Jr. IB Sr.

207 6-2 Nathan 22 35 Berns 6-2 205 Sr. FB So. 196 6-0 Jackson 33 22 Brown 6-0 176 Jr. WB So. 186 6-0 Oglivie 42 NEBRASKA DEFENSE ALABAMA No.

Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos. Yr.

Wt. Ht. Name No. 81 Cole 6-2 201 So. LE Jr.

228 6-5 Hamilton 94 55 R. Horn 6-5 259 Jr. LT Sr. 243 6-5 Lyons 93 51 Weinmaster 6-0 207 Jr. MG Jr.

257 6-5 McGriff 96 97 Barnett 6-5 235 Jr. RT Sr. 224 6-5 Sebastian 71 96 Andrews 6-4 223 Sr. RE So. 215 6-3 Junior 39 40 Dunning 6-3 215 Jr.

LB Sr. 230 6-2 Wingo 36 38 Kunz 6-1 205 Sr. LB Sr. 238 6-3 Krauss 77 16 Fischer 5-9 165 Sr. CB Jr.

176 6-1 McNeal 28 34 Means 6-0 160 So. CB Jr. 171 6-0 Smith 49 29 Pillen 6-0 193 Sr. Sr. 182 6-0 Legg 19 9 Gary 5-11 180 So.

So. 170 6-0 Tucker 18 Place Legion Field, Birmingham. Time 8:05 p. m. Broadcasts National TV, ABC (Channels 7 Cable 4), Radio KLIN, KFOR, WOW, KLAB.

ml Ui NU-Tide TV scorecard ALABAMA NEBRASKA 42 Oglivie RB 45 Whitman RB 47 Braggs MG 49 Smith DB 50 Scott LS 51 DeNiro DE 57 Stephenson 60 Boo'h" OG 62 Allisor OT 63 Bunch OT 70 Brock OT 72 McCombs OT I 74 Hannah DT 77 Krauss LB 78 Avdelette OT 84 Mauro DE 88 Travis TE 92 Gilliland LB 93 Lvons DT 94 Hamilton DE 96 McGriff MG 99 Knox DE I Holt 3 Chapman 4 Pu9h WR 8 Neal TE II Rutledge QB 12 Jones QB 14 Grav QB 16 Reeves DB 17 Crumblev DB 18 Tucker DB 19 Legg DB 22 Nathan RB 25 Coleman WR 26 Sutton DB 28 McNeal DB 30 Ikner RB 32 Bolton WR 33 Jackson RB 35 Turpm RB 36 Wingo LB 39 Junior DE 41 Ferguson R9 55 Horn DT 57 Saalfeld 65 Lee MG 66 Williams LB 67 Coole OG 68 Lindquist OG 69 Havekost OG 71 Glenn OT 72 Goodspeed OT 73 Clark OT 74 Ohrt OT 75 Poeschl DT 80 Lockett WR 81 Cole DE 83 Seiko TE 84 Smith WR 88 Woodard WR 89 Miller TE 92 Nelson DE 93 Pensick DT 96 Andrews DE 97 Barnett DT 3 Sukup 9 Gary DB 10 Hager QB 11 Quinn QB 12 Sorlev QB 14 Todd 14 Fischer DB 22 Brown WR 23 Lerov DB 25 Wurth RB 29 Pillen DB 32 Hipp RB 34 Means DB 35 Berns RB 38 Kunz LB 39 Franklin RB 40 Dunning LB 47 Vering LB 48 Hansen DB 50 Bloom 51 Weinmaslcr MG 54 Cotton OG LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) Los Angeles can have the 1984 Olympic Games without its taxpayers having to pay one penny, the International Olympic Committee has decided. And Lord Killanin, the IOC President, cracked down hard on those calling for a boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow. The Olympic movement, which has been under heavy pressure, suddenly looked healthy and defiant again as the IOC's Executive Board ended a two-day meeting here Thursday night. The board unanimously approved a plan under which Los Angeles can host the 1984 Olympics without any financial responsibility. The U.S.

Olympic Committee will appoint an organizing committee and guarantee any financial loss with the help of federal funds and grants from private industry. The IOC's 89 members need to confirm the decision by postal vote by a simply majority. Then it will be up to Mayor Tom Bradley and the Los Angeles City Council. It may be more than a month before the Los Angeles issue finally is resolved. The USOC is scheduled to meet Sept.

22 at Somerset, N.J., to give final approval to its share in the plan. USOC President Robert Kane talked to Mayor Bradley on the telephone Thursday night and said afterwards: "The issue will be put to the Los Angeles City Council immediately." As for moves to boycott Moscow in 1980, Killanin abandoned his usual gentle, diplomatic image and spoke in strong terms. "The IOC awarded the 1980.Games to Moscow in 1974, and that situation remains," he said. "There are certain groups who are endeavoring once again and it doesn't matter whether it's from the left or right to make use of the Games for political pressures. That we will fight, from whatever source it comes." A campaign to boycott the Moscow Games has been growing in the United States and Britain following the sentences passed on Anatoly Shcharansky and other Soviet dissidents.

The Los Angeles saga, which began early this year, still is not over. The IOC will wait for letters or telegrams from 45 of its members approving the executive board's recommendation. In a way, Los Angeles has won its fight to break down IOC resistance, forcing a deviation from' the Olympic Charter. Under those rules, the host city is required to sign a contract with the IOC agreeing to financial responsibility jointly with the Olympic Committee of the host country. But the IOC Executive Board accepted a compromise.

Los Angeles is being asked to sign a contract with the IOC, promising to observe Olympic rules. Sports Scene Monday Saturday Tennis U.S. Open, noon, 6 10; 11 P.m., 6. Horse racing All-American Futurity, 7 p.m., C4; 10:30 p.m., 3. Football Colts vs.

Cowboys, 8 p.m., 7 C4. -J Tennis U.S. Open, noon, 6 10; 11 p.m., 6. Baseball Major leaguo game, Wide World of Sports Little League World Series, 4 p.m., 7 C4. Horse racing Hambletonian, 4:45 p.m., 6 10.

Football Tom Osborne show, 7 p.m., 10; Nebraska vs. Alabama, 8 p.m., 7C4. Tuesday Football Cornhusker football, 7 p.m., 12; East vs. North Platte replay, 7 p.m., C9. Baseball Royals vs.

Angels, 9:30 p.m., C2; Padres vs. Braves replay, 1:30 a.m., C8. Tennis U.S. Open, 10:30 p.m., 10; 11 P.m., 6. Sunday Football Oilers vs.

Falcons, noon, 3 C5; Rams vs. Eagles, noon, 6 10; Raiders vs. Broncos, 3 p.m., 3 C5; Tom Osborne show, 10:30 p.m., 10. Tennis U.S. Open, 3 p.m., 6 10; 11 p.m., 6.

Golf U.S. Amateur, 4 p.m., 7 C4. Wednesday Baseball Braves vs. Padres re play, 1:30 a.m., C8. Nebraska chooses 60 for trip to Alabama STAFF PHOTO BY TED KIRK Northeast Don Price (63) forces Norfolk's Brad Finhouse to fumble during the Rockets' 21-14 win Thursday night.

Finhouse recovered the ball LNE survives Norfolk scare Norfolk ln 0f the first quarter for Northeast's first Coach Bob Els)," Kuck said. "But I think 32-101 touchdowa we outplayed them all the way." Possing vords us io On his next return. Curry came within Passes Jf an eyelash of doing it again, racing 42 "I haven't looked at the stats, but I'm yards from his own 20. sure they had more yards rushing and Fumbies-iost 2-0 An(j wniie a dipping penalty voided a passing than we had," Els admitted. "But penaities-vords 2-10 return Qr touchdown i den't care about that You still have to by Norfolk's Craig Munson, the Rockets put the points on the s-joreboard." BY Chuck Sinclair- for a "Really, it's hard to say enough about Prep Sports Editor total of 10 yards in the contest.

Norfolk." Els added "Thev certainlv through the third quarter of t0 play 1 tWnk Thursday night's season-opening game JJJ tacldes oHensively and defensive'y against Norfolk at Seacrest Field, things ere omy( aboul P13" wh0 ad a plaved very well. It seemed like 73 (Ron dfdn't look good for Lincoln Northeasts iJJ ta Tte. Lmde) Jre No. 4 rated Rockets. wasapreuyiuce wau set up mere.

on every play. After all the statisticians showed the When 11 came down t0 wire tne visiting and unrated Panthers with statis- Puntf wafaU f0e" Norfolk is a good football tical edges like a 16-4 lead in first downs Norfolk tean1, They had battled back mt0 team Kls lnink they are- But and 167 yards rushing on 40 carries to the baU game the s131'08 sad they we've still got a long ways to go. At this just 57 yards on 13 tries for the Rockets shoul(1 be and were ta Psition to come staSe. 1 don't think we're as good as we Even the passing yardage where away with a win right down to the wire. thought we were.

But I think we were Northeast figuredto be strongest with kst dttch drive deeP Nortnest ready to Play footbalL lo" the return of all-stater Randee Johnson ere Ruck sees the effort bv his team as an at nnartprhark was slanted in Norfolk's (oUrln luarter the flrst real Showing IVUtK leaI" an at quarteroacK, was siamea in nohoiks Nnrthoaet rtofoncn emergence from the attitude that Nor- direction, 93 yards to five. t- folk isn't good enough to play with the You might say Northeast was lucky to XnartS RSt "Big City Teams." be in the game at that point even though kei "We started coming out of it in track Norfolk had to battle back from a 14-0 Tom Hahpu i and Jajnce baskeim Kuck sssicis left in the third quarter. as Lincoln schools are concerned, and Itneverseemedatthetimelike North- SiSiSSeS fired UP about iL 1 east would come out of the battle with a fStSSiSSS! we imPressed a few a'SS3E Coach Hal Kuck thought his 'TortheSSilslcordonthe club played well enough to win and memately fouomguieloss. at Rocket Coach Bob Els, after thinking for "You did a heU of a job out there to- while Norfolk meet CoUim5us at a moment said he figured there was a night" Kuck stressed with force that nome little luck involve in the outcome. shook the walls of the dressing room at But the Rockets performed the best in the north end of the field "That's athlet- Norfolk 0 7 7 0-14 departments that aren't always the most ics sometimes you just come out on NLEN' Tcu'm wnt return; pat kick obvious such as return yards and penal- the short end You outplayed those guys, failed.

ties. and this is going to be the last loss we ne Svobodo, pass from Johnson; Mc PAT Jonnson run. Speedster Tom Curry, although he so keep your heads high. Norfolk Finkhouse, 5 run; PAT wen-gained just 32 yards on eight carries, ac- When Kuck emerged from the dress- Jensen PAT Wentllno celled for a whopping 169 yards in punt ing room, he was composed and relaxed Norfolk -Jensen. 2 run, PAT-Wentlin, returns, tacluding a 93-yarder at the end "You'd have to ask him (Northeast ln Nem.

i run; pat Gaines kick. Nebraska head football coach Tom Osborne announced the biggest regular season travel roster squad since the implementation of the Big Eight travel roster limitations. Sixty players, rather than the usual 55 on the travel roster, will make the trip to Birmingham, Ala. to face the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday night at 8 p.m. The game will be telecast on ABC-TV, locally channel 7 in Omaha.

Osborne sent the Huskers through a brisk 90-minute practice without pads Thursday. The team will leave Friday at 1 p.m and workout for an hour after arriving in Alabama. Defensive tackle Randy Poeschl, a question mark earlier this week, was reported to be back to full speed and will make the trip. The travel roster: Offenst Tight ends Junior Miller, John Stttn, JM Finn. Left tacklM Keivin Clark, Mark Good-speed.

L2 J.n Hoviai, tforney Cot-tan, Paul Potadle Centers Kelly Saalfeld, Jeff Bloom, Dave Rlmlngton. Right guards Steve Lindquist, Lawrence Cooltv, Randv Schleusener. Right tackles Tom Ohrt, Steve Glenn, Split ends Tim Smith, Frank Lockett, Scott Woodard. Quarterbacks Tom Sorlev, Tim Hager, Jeff Quinn, Steve Mlchoelson. Clear skies, warm i weather for contest The National Weather Service re- ported that skies will be fair with tem-' peratures near 80 in Birmingham, Saturday night when the Nebraska Corn- huskers meet the Alabama.

l-bocks Isaiah Hipp, Tim Wurth, Craig Johnson. Fullbacks Rick Berns, Andra Franklin, Jim Kotera. Wingbacks Ken Brown, Anthony Steels, Maurice McCloney. Kickers Billy Todd, Dean Sukup. Defense Left ends Lawrence Cole, Derrie Nelson, Gordon Thiessen.

Left tackles Rod Horn, David Clark. I Middle guards Kerry Weinmaster, Oudi- ous Lee, Curt Hineline. Right tackles Bill Barnett, Dan Pensick, Randv Poeschl. Right ends George Andrews, Dan Lind- Strom. Strongside Linebackers Bruce Dunning, Brent Williams, John Ruud.

Weakside Linebackers Lee Kunz, Tom Vering. 's Left cornerback Tim Fisher, Rodney Lewis. Right cornerback Andy Means, Dorrell Walton, Monstet back Jim Pillen, Jeff Hansen, Mark LoRov. 1 Football tonight Three Capital City football teams are in action Friday night, but just one, Lincoln East, is at home. The Spartans host Trans-Nebraska conference rival North Platte at Seacrest Field with a 7:30 p.m.

kickoff. In games involving other Lincoln teams, Lincoln High is on the road in another Trans-Nebraska conference game at Grand Island and Pius travels to Valentine for its opener. Southeast is idle. The Lincoln East-North Platte game will be telecast live on Cable-vision Channel 9 and broadcast on KBHL-FM. Radio station KFOR will have live coverage of the Lincoln High-Grand Island game.

Saftev Russell Gary. i.