Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 38

4D Sept. 16, 1979 Lincoln, Sunday Journal and Star Wortman, Johnson head list of Huskers on NFL rosters Wortman to make all-pro. But the twice Nebraska AIl-Amencaff defensive end turned in a sterling performance in last Sundays-21-13 loss to Dallas. Tony Dorsett, the Cowboys' brilliant back, rushed 19 times-against the 49ers. but was checked to 54 yards.

Harper had five.j solo tackles and three assists on Dorsett alone. It's taken eight years, hundreds of hours of weightlifting, an extra 35 pounds, a renewed sense of confidence, good coaching and tremendous teamwork. But Keith Wortman has clawed his way to the top of his profession. Of Nebraska's 21 players in the National Football League. appears the best candidate to achieve all-pro honors.

Wortman, a starter on the Huskers' two national champion Muuho wnrtman and Oakland linebacker Monte JohnsoU'. Randy York arpn't Nebraska's onlv potential all-pros .1" Add Dutton to the list, of course if he ever comes to with the Colts. ship teams, is reaching the pinnacle of his pro career as the offensive left tackle for the St Louis Cardinals. "I had hopes of making all-pro last year, but I got moved around on the line and then missed a couple of games because of injuries," Wortman says. "But the way things look this year, I'd be the last person on the line to switch in the event of an injury.

So I think I've got a real good shot at all-pro this year." There was a time, even as Hart all afternoon. He also sprung the key block for a 76-yard touchdown run. Wortman believes the bad times are behind him. "It seems like everything is going to stay up now," he says. Everything also is looking up for other Nebraskans in pro football Last year.

Nebraska was tied for eighth with UCLA, Kansas and Grambling with 19 players in the NFL The Huskers ranked behind Southern Cal (41), Colorado and Ohio State (28), Penn State (26) and Oklahoma, Michigan and San Diego State (20). Although the NFL fs still working on this year's compilations, the Huskers will probably move up on the charts. With five rookies surviving final cuts, Nebraska now has 21 players on NFL rosters and should advance to 22 if and when John Dutton is traded by Baltimore. Nebraska also claims three other players in pro football One is New York Jet guard Randy Rasmussen, a 15-year pro from Kearney State. He has a four-year experience edge on Seattle's Bob Newton and a five-year advantage on Wortman.

The others- are UNO grad Dan Fulton, a wide receiver for Buffalo, and Chicago Bear offensive guard Lynn Boden, a graduate of Osceola High School and South Dakota State. Nebraska football fans can be excused for showing favoritism to the Tampa Bucs and the Jets. Each roster includes three Nebraska players. The Bucs have running backs Tony Davis and Rick Berns and linebacker Rik Bonness. None, however, start.

The Jets have Rasmussen, a starter at left guard; Bob Martin, a starter at right linebacker; and Stan Waldemore, the No. 3 guard behind Rasmussen and Eric Cunningham, a rookie from Penn State. San Francisco linebacker Willie Harper isn't as likely as To the rescue came the Cardinals. They picked him up and beefed him up. "I was very fortunate coming to SL Louis," Wortman says.

"To play this game, you have to have confidence in yourself. I didn't have it I came to the Cardinals weighing 240 pounds. Jim llanifan (St. Louis' offensive line coach) saw something in me. lie told me to build myself up and come back for camp.

That's what I did and everything has worked out since then." Although only 6-2, Wortman now plays at 275 pounds. He also credits playing with some very talented linemen and getting some excellent coaching for his transformation into an all-pro possibility. "My peer group (which includes Oklahoma's Tom Braha-ney) deserves the credit," he says. "We all work together and boost each other. We all have big egos, but we blend them together to make it work for all of us.

We take pride in what we accomplish individually and together. But individual recognition conies a lot easier when you win games." St. Louis' opening-game 22-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys was a perfect example of Wortman's contributions being overshadowed by defeat. Wortman did not allow Harvey Martin, the Cowboys' outstanding pass rusher, to get to quarterback Jim Huskers in the NFL Name Pos. Team Andrews, George LB Los Angeles Berns, Rick RB Tampa Bov Bonness, Rik LB Tampa Bay Burns, Ed QB New Orleans Clork, Kelvin OT Denver Cotton, Barney OG Cincinnati Dovis, Tony RB Tampa Bay Ferragomo, Vince OB Los Anqeles Fultz, Mike DT New Orleans Harper, Willie LB San Francisco Humm, Dove QB Oakland Johnson, Monte LB Oakland Kunz, Lee LB Chicago Lee, John DE San Diego Martin, Bob LB New York Jets Newton, Bob OG Seattle Phillips, Ray LB Philadelphia Ruud, Tom LB Cincinnati Waldemore, Stan OG New York Jets Westbrook, Don WR New England Wortman, Keith OG St.

Louis Other Nebraskans in the Boden. Lvnn OG Chicago Fulton, Dan WR Buffalo Rasmussen, Randy OG N.Y. Jets Keith Wortman Ht. Wt. 4-4 223 6-2 215 6-3 220 -2 2" 6-4 275 6-5 245 5- 10 210 -4 -6-3 208 6-5 278 3 6-2 208 7 6-2 5 6-5 240 7 6-3 206 6-2' 253 6-1 214 4 6-5' 260 6-3 221 3 6- 3 226 5 6-4 257 2 5-10 184 3 4-2 275 6-5 260 5' 6-1 ,180 6-2 255 rr: talented as Wortman is, when pro football almost swallowed him up with disappointment.

Drafted in the 10th round by the Green Bay Packers in 1972. it took Wortman two years to win a starting job, even though he played in almost every Packer game those two years. Then disaster struck. After starting at left tackle in 1974 and at right guard in 1975, Wortman was released in 1976. "At that point," he recalls, "I had no plans.

I was taking a wait-and-see attitude. I was ready to be swallowed up." Oklahoma From page ID lig 8 standings Conference All Games WLTPtsOPWLTPIsOP 000 0 0 2 0 0 21 000 0 0 5 0 0 41 13 000 0 0 1 0 0 35 14 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 38 10 000 0 0100 21 6 000 0 0010 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 18 26 000 0 0 020 19 77 Missouri Okla St Nebrosko Iowa 51 Oklahoma Kansas Kansas St. Colorado had anyone knock the ball louse so much. They weren't putting it on the ground, it was knocked loose OU quarterback Kelly Phelps briefly put some muscle in the Oklahoma offense and the sleeping Sooner giant finally came awake in the last quarter. But it wasn't before Iowa runner Dennis Mosely and defensive back Cednc Shaw put a scare into the Soon-ers with visions of an upset.

Iowa started the scoring in the first quarter when quarterback Phil Suess hit a short passs to Mosley in the end zone. Then the Hawkeyes protected that lead until only four minutes remained before the half. Sooner starting quarterback J.C. Walts was shaken up briefly and was replaced by Phelps, who started a Sooner scoring drive with a pass to tight end Forrest Valora for a 27-yard gain. Three plays later Phelps kept the ball and raced 18 yards to set up an easy one-yard scoring dive by 1979 Heis-man Trophy winner Billy Sims.

The Sooners finally awakened in the fourth quarter, scoring on a one-yard run by Watts. Then Sims put it away with a three-yard jaunt. ,5 DO txws mZZ life' Mizzou outlasts Illinois, 14-6 Cornhusker quotes By Wayne Gonyea Cornerback Andy Means "Hippie (Utah State quarterback Eric) is real goad, probably one of the best we will play against. He gave us fits." On Utah State's success with short pass patterns: "We were playing a lot of zone because their receivers had too much speed for us to handle. Against a zone most of the short ones will be open.

"But they didn't show us anything we weren't prepared for. It was just a matter of doing it. We have to play better next week because Iowa will throw on us too." On Hippie's 42-yard TD pass to Ken Thompson: "The TO pass against me was the first time we ployed them man-toman. We wanted to blitz them. It lust shows you how fast their receivers are because I thought I had him covered pretty well and he still got me.

I tried to keep some cushion on him, but he iust got to where there wasn't any cushion for me to handle. It took a perfect pass too, and it was. It's iust something I have to shake off. "It's like the coaches tell us when a lineman mokes a mis- take, it's 10 yards; when a linebacker makes a mistake, it's 20 yards; but when we make a mistake. It's a touchdown." Cornerback Paul Letcher On Nil's defense: "What we didn't want to give them was the long ball.

That's the cheap way to score. We played a zone which leaves the short ones open. We ran up and mode the tackle, but at least it's no touchdown. Monster Mark LeRoy "When vou watch films and a team like Utah State plays teams in their same class, you kind of think they can't throw the ball that way against us. But his (Hippie's) passes were precise and the receivers were fast.

I wasn't satisfied, I know we can play better, more agressive at least. When they make a catch, we should punish the receiver more." Tackle Rod Horn On pressuring Utah State's Hippie: "Utah State's linemen had pretty good blocking technique. We had to contain outside so we didn't lose containment on the quarterback. Because of this we didn't get to the quarterback enough, and when you pass as much as they do you will notice things like that much more. "I think facing a guy like Hippie is good for us defensively, especially for myself.

We need to work on that (the pass rush) because we will have to face other teams that pass a lot." I Back Jams Redwine On his first game as a Cornhusker: I really enjoyed the game. We were lust coming together as a team in the first game, so I think we are going to look forward to some good things." On Utah State: "I know we could have cleaned up on them, but it was our first game and that was a handicap for us. We made them look better than they were. They aren't picked in the top ten or 20, so thev want to do anything they con. They want to play the spoiler, they wont to get to where we are.

When they got a couple of breaks early on it inspired them. With a team like Utah State that throws a lot, a lot of things can happen." Center Kelly Saalfeld "In oil my years of playing football in grade school, iunio." high, high school and college and in all my years of watching it on TV, that's the worst refereeing I've ever seen in my life. I got called for holding three times and I can't believe any of the calls. Two of the three times, Utah State's noseguard couldn't believe it. He said one was a bad call and iust shrugged his shoulders on the other one.

On one, I had one of the best pass pro blocks I've ever had. I set the noseguard up and pulled him into the air. The official from their conference said I tackled him. I felt handcuffed. Every third play, that official would warn me.

I felt worst about costing Tim (Smith) that touchdown pass, but I've got to put it behind me and hope for better things next week. The important thing was, our first-time starters in the offensive line reacted a lot better than I did last year against Alabama. Randy Sleusener, Dan Steiner and Mark Goodspeed performed like mature veterans, not like first-time starters." Mosley provided much of the Iowa offensive charge, picking 74 yards by halftime, compared with Sims' 36-yard performance. Shaw kept things going for the Hawkeyes defensively by blocking a Sooner punt and knocking the ball loose from Sims to give Iowa another possession. The Sooners lost momentum on two other long drives when kicker John Hoge misssed field goal attempts of 47 and 34 yards.

The Sooners' offensive effort in their opening game was nearly stymied by mistakes and sloppy execution. Oklahoma lost five of seven fumbles and halted many of its own potential scoring drives with poor play. Sims, especially, was frustrated in the early play. But he did loosen up toward the end, collecting 106 yards on 23 carries. Iowa 4(0 06 Oklahoma 0 10 1421 lowo Mosley 10 pass from Suess (kick failed) Okia Sims I run (Hose kick) Okla Sims 3 run (Hoge kick) Okla Watts I run (Hoge kick) INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING-lowa, Maselv 22-79, AAcKH-lip 6-19.

Oklahoma, Sims 23-106, Joiner 12-59. PASSING-lowa, Seuss 13-19-139. Oklahoma. Watts 10-17-157. RECEIVING lowa, Reid 5-52, Mosely 3-41 Ok lohomo, Valora 5-95, Rhodes 3-60.

NU injuries not serious Utah State cornerback Daryl Swanson was treated and released from Lincoln General Hospital Saturday following the Nebraska-Aggie football game. Swanson was believed to have suffered a slight cervical fracture. Aggie quarterback Eric Hippie suffered a muscle tear in his right shoulder, early in the fourth quarter. Nebraska's injuries were "not bad," said NU head trainer and physical therapist George Sullivan. Aside from the usual assortment of bumps and bruises, defensive tackle Bill Barnett sprained an ankle, guard Mo 20 56-242 78 11 9-15-0 4-390 6-2 4-27 III 17 4113! 120 63 11-22-0 538.8 3-2 1-5 First downs Rusnes-vords Possing yards Return yards Posses Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards "No, there was no pressure on me." Missouri Coach Warren Powers said, "Ellis is finally going to get the recognition he deserves.

He's a super back. The key to the game was when the defense rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter. In effect, we gave them five plays inside our five-yard line. When we couldn't stop them with 12 men, we had to use the conventional method." Illinois got down to the Missouri 4-yard line late in the fourth quarter and on the first play from' scrimmage, the Tigers were penalized to the 2-yard line for having 12 men on the field. But Missouri stiffened and kept Illinois from scoring and possibly tying the game with a two-point conversion.

Missouri dominated play in the first half but the Tigers were unable to score and finally took the lead early in the third period. Missouri 0 0 14 014 Illinois 0 0 4 06 Mo Ellis 19 run (Brockhous kick) III Hoi mes 3 run I ick fa I led Mo Ellis 24 run (Brockhaus kick) INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Missouri, Ellis 23-173, Mever 12-25. Hill 6-37. Illinois, Holmes 16- 84. Thomas 12-40.

PASSING Missouri, Bradley 9-15-0 78. Illinois. McCullougn 11 22-0-120. RECEIVING-Missourl. Mever 5-38, Newman 3-29, Ellis Ml.

Illinois. Holmes 5-42, Lopez 3-51, Snerrod 114, Powell 1-12. CHAMPAIGN, 111. (AP) -Running back Gerry Ellis had his biggest day ever by scoring two touchdowns and rushing 23 times for 173 yards Saturday but admitted it took a broken play for llth-ranked Missouri to clinch a 14-6, hard-earned football victory over Illinois. "It was a busted play," said KUis.

I was the lead blocker when I saw Phil (Bradley) behind me. He thought I was the pitchback. As soon as I got a relationship with him, we made the play work." Quarterback Bradley had already crossed the line of scrimmage when Kllis suddenly dropped behind to take the lateral pitch and then went the rest of the 24 yards for what proved to be the clinching touchdown. Kllis also scored Missouri's other touchdown on a 19-yard run earlier in the third quarter. "I never had a day like this, never," said Ellis, who again carried the rushing load for Missouri with star running back Jim Wilder still nursing a hamstring pull.

Visitors' views STAFF PHOTO Faced with a first-and-goal at their own three-yard line, the Nebraska defense stiffened allowing Utah State just two yards in four attempts. This third down try ended whfiiZ Aggie quarterback Eric Hippie (10) was brought down by NU linebacker Brent WWiaiffSZ (69) after a one-yard gain over right end. Hippie injured his shoulder on the play and tmr' Aggies gave up possession after a fourth-down pass completion. Randy Schleusener bruised a shoulder, and I-back Isaiah Hipp suffered a badly-bruised hand which had been suspected broken. Tight end Jeff Finn visited the training room with a swollen knee, and monster back Mark LeRoy was suffering from a Charley horse.

Scoring Story! TihJfflE US NU How scored FIRST QUARTER 6-0 Paross19run Individual Statistics Colbert Murphy 2 Brown 2 NWU women lose dual meet KEARNEY Freshmen Mary Torson, Kathy Harders and Debbie Elsasser were the top three finishers to pace Kearney to a cross country victory over Nebraska Wesleyan in a dual meet here Saturday. Torson timed 14:40, Harders 15:33 and Elsasser 15:44 over the 2.5 mile course as Kearney scored 15 points to NWU's 38 for the win. DeeDee Sharp was the top NWU finisher with a 17:05 time. 14 12 23 Nebraska Offense Rushing No. Yds.

Ave. Drive: 34 yards four plays after recovery of fum- bled punt highlighted by 19 pass from Hippie to Thompson and scoring run. Conversion: Steinke kick failed. 6-7 Hipp 9 run 5i42- Drlve: 77 yards In 1 1 plays highlighted by Quinn 20- i yard run. Conversion: Sukup kick.

SECOND QUARTER 6-14 Miller 43 pass from Quinn Drive: 43 yards in one play. Conversion: Sukup i kick. 14-14 Thompson 42 pass from Hippie 831 Drive: 80 yards in six plays highlighted by Paross's 1 22-yard run and scoring play. Conversion: Brown Quinn 19 112 5.9 52 167 91 1 11 16 5 5.8 6.4 9.1 1.0 11.0 8.0 5.0 Franklin 9 Hipp 26 Redwine 10 Wurth 1 Steels 1 Kotera 2 Landwehr 1 Possing By Ken Hambleton and Brent Robinson Tailback Rick Parros On his 19-yard run to put Aggies ahead, 4-0: "I wasn't surprised that play worked. It was iust a pitch and I saw Nebraska was overpursuing the play, cut back to the other side and nobody was there.

"The cutbacks worked a couple of times because Nebraska lust overplayed the pitch," he said. On Husker defense: "I think we gave them one hell of a test. And if they're supposed to be one of the best defenses in the country, then we must have one hell of an offense. "I think we stopped ourselves on offense as often as Nebraska's defense did," Parros said. "I think everybody here was surprised with the wov we played.

They probably hadn't heard of us before we came here, but I'm sure they'll remember us for a long time. I think we proved they're beatable." Elwood Threlfall, linebacker On recovering I. M. Hlpp's fumble early in first quarter: "It was a sweep to the left, I came off my block and the ball was there. I thought we got the momentum going our way after that, and we did for awhile.

On NU offense: "I thought they were pretty mediocre. They weren't as tough as we were led to believe. Their linemen cut at our legs and it took awhile to adiust, but I don't think they were a whole lot tougher than San Jose State. I think they were damn surprised at us." Third quarter: "We were out there for a long time ond that slowed us down." Ken Thompson, receiver On hit 42-yard touchdown reception in second quarter: "We set that play up by going off the end for a lot of plays in a row. Then, on that play I ran to the backside off the defensive back and Hippie hit me on stride.

That really makes it easy for a receiver. On NU defense: "Nebraska didn't seem very aggressive on defense. And after my touchdown they had the linebackers trying to cover us short and that's why we moved so well on the short passes. They really don't have much speed." Rulon Jones, All-America candidate at defensive tackle "Glad to meet you, goodbye." Donnie Henderson, Cornerback Nebraska Is a damn good football team, and Hipp Is iust quicker than hell. Their offensive line lust took it too us, they didn't need to pass." On the Huikers only throwing twelve times: Nebraska has a super running game, that's their strength." On Quinn: Their quarterback is tough and elusive too.

You can't tell whether he's going to pass or run. Everytlme he went back to pass It would seem like he'd run for 10 or 15 yards." No. Co. Yds PI Quinn 12 6 96 1 pass from Hippie. THIRD QUARTER 14-21 Hipp 1 run Drive: 71 yards In 14 plays highlighted by Hipp runs of 15 and 14 yards.

Conversion Sukup kick FOURTH QUARTER 14-28 Hipp 3 run Drive: 84 yards In 14 plays highlighted by Hlpp's Pass Receiving No. Miller 4 Steels 2 Punting Yds. 73 23 Punting No. Yds. Ave.

McClwe 6 234 39.0 Klckoff returns No. Yds. Colbert 1 23 Robinson 3 48 Pass Interceptions No. Yds. Thompkins 1 15 Defense Linemen UT AT TT Jones 4 7 11 Miller 3 0 3 Kirwln 4 4 8 Albrittain 5 3 8 Cornelius 4 2 6 Resnick 1 0 1 Linebackers Bluford 5 3 8 Clancone 4 0 4 Ure 6 4 10 O'Hara 0 1 1 Drake 5 2 7 DeLoach 3 7 10 Threlfall 6 10 16 Farmer 1 0 1 Anderson 1 1 2 Backs Horn 1 2 3 Clark 0 1 1 Weinmaster 4 0 4 Lee 1 1 2 Barnett 1 2 3 Penslck ...1 0 1 Nelson 4 2 6 Lindstrom 0 1 1 Linebackers Baker 2 3 5 Vering 4 3 7 B.

Williams 5 3 8 Damkroger 1 0 1 McWhirter 1 1 2 Ruud 1 0 1 Backs Letcher 2 1 3 LeRoy 3 0 3 Sims 2 0 2 Gary 0 1 1 Means 3 0 3 Utah St. Offense Rushing No. Yds. Ave. Hippie 12 25 2.1 Parr os 8 52 6,5 Martin 5 9 1.8 Murphy 1 24 24.0 Turner 1 6 6.0 Possing No.

Co. Yds PI Hippie 28 18 219 1 Brodshaw 5 0 0 1 Pass receiving No. Yds. K.Thompson 4 94 W. Thompson 2 23 Parros 5 30 Martin 2 23 No.

Yds. Ave. Smith 2 85 42.5 12-yard run, Qulnn's 15-yard run and Qulnn's 18- yard pass to Smith. Conversion: Sukup kick. 14-35 Wurth 1 run 132 Drive: 58 yards in eight plays highlighted by Red wine's 23-yard run.

Conversion: Sukup kick. Utah State 6 8 0 Nebraska 7 7 7 Punt Returns No. Llegl 1 Brown. 3 Klckoff returns No. Steels 2 Redwine 1 Pass Interceptions No.

LeRoy 1 Yds. 10 10 Yds. 52 26 Yds. 0 NWU spikers down Bellevue Pam Samuelson and Sheila Somerhalter paced the ortense and defense at Knight Field House Saturday as Nebraska Wesleyan took a 15-3, 15-5, 15-8 volleyball victory over Bellevue. Lisa Cehr was NWU's top server with 12 serves for three games.

NWU evened its record to 2-2 with the win and will meet Doaneiand Kearney at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Knight Field House. Doanc tops Yankton Henderson 3 2 Hogue 6 1 Salvo 5 1 Brady 2 1 Thompkins 3 2 Logan 1 0 Clayton 1 1 Defense Linemen UT AT TT Rlmlngton 0 1 1 Cole 4 3 7 J. Williams 1 0 1 YANKTON, D. (AP) -Kendall Hoggins scored twice as Doane Improved its record to 2-0 with a 2fcl3 decision oyer Yankton Saturday night Doane led 21-0 at the half; -Hoggins counted on runsZfS and 3 yards.

Mike MejiOC went 2 yars for the otherv touchdown for the winners. I.