Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 25

Sunday 3Fourrtal-ftar SEPTEMBER 6, 1987 SIMM Relaxed9 ffiiskers up 'Aggies gang MWHIIIII 1 say, relaxed. An early attempt to start the wave was half-hearted, at best And some of the more jaded fans took to tossing red and white plastic cups at each other late in the game. Fans settled in After Nebraska took the opening kick-off and drove 80 yards on 12 plays for a touchdown, the fans settled in. Any tension they might have felt seemed to evaporate with the red balloons released after Jones crossed the goal line from a yard out Anyway, back to the original problem. Was Brinson's punt return for a touchdown more noteworthy than Bod Smith's, which covered 80 yards? The two punt returns for touchdowns tied the Big Eight record, set by Nebraska against Kansas in 1983.

And how could anyone ignore Nebraska's defense, which allowed Utah State a net of minus 1 yard rushing and sacked Aggie quarterbacks eight times? Linebacker LeRoy EUenne was involved in six tackles. t. Quote of the game Utah State Coach Chuck Shetton on NU tackles Neil Smith and Lee Jones: "They might be the two fastest defensive tackles in America I don't know if any are faster. That one (Smith), if he was at Utah State, he would be a tailback." Scoring, team stats Utah State 0 3 3 6 12 Nebraska 7 21 21 7 56 NU K. Jones 1 run (Orennan kick) NU K.

Jones 1 run (Orennan kick) USU FQ Garner 29 NU Brlnson 57 punt return (Drennan kick) NU Taylor 44 run (Drennan kick) USU FG Garner 26 NU Taylor 58 run (Orennan kick) NU R. Smith 80 punt return (Orennan kick) NU Blakeman 10 run (Drennan kick) USU Tagaloa 50 pass from vj By Mike Babcock Hey, these things happen In 56-12 games. Some notable Individual efforts are going to be overlooked. The Nebraska football team opened its season with a 56-12 victory over Utah State Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. And identifying a key performance for the Cornhuskers, ranked second in the nation in both major wire service pre season polls, was difficult Steve Taylor rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns, on runs of 44 and 58 yards.

His rushing yardage was a school single-game record for a quarterback, breaking the previous mark of 143 yards set by John Bordogna in 1952. But was Taylor's effort more impressive than that of I-back Keith Jones, who ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns? about Dana Brinson's 57-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the first half? It might have helped snap Nebraska out of an apparent lethargy that precipitated a halftime speech from a perturbed Coach Tom Osborne. Halftime speech That's right. Even though the Cornhuskers were ahead 28-3 at intermission, "I chewed them out," Osborne said. "I didnt think we were playing very welL I told them at the end of the game we played fair but that we'd better get with it or we were going to have an awful hard time next week." Third-ranked UCLA comes to town next Saturday.

That may have been part of Nebraska's problem against Utah State. No 6nB in a Memorial Stadium audience of 75,910 mistook the Aggies for UCLA's Bruins. And it had nothing to do with different school colors. "Not to say anything bad, but I had a tougher time in the scrimmage last Saturday against the scout team," said Nebraska's Keven Lightner, a senior offensive tackle who helped open the way for 603 yards of offense. Some veteran Cornhuskers may have been "a little bored with playing this game," according to Osborne.

A 75,910 First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Total yards -Return yards Passing Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Time of possession Third-down conversions USU NU 14 32 29-1) 67-515 226 88 225 603 7. 205 19-46-1 7-19-2 2-0 6-3 4-24 7-75 29:25 30:35 2-16 1 7-12 But if you mention Etienne, you "probably also ought to mention defensive tackles Neil Smith, who broke up one pass by deflecting the ball a split-second after Brent Snyder released it and Tim Rother. Each of them made four tackles, and two of Rother's were sacks, for losses totaling 14 yards. What does a guy have to do to draw some attention in a game like this? For that matter, what does a team have to do to satisfy its coach? "It was just a reasonably good opening game," said Osborne. "I guess I have mixed feelings." Offensively, "we were disappointed with the turnovers," Osborne said.

Nebraska had two passes intercepted and lost three of six fumbles. Otherwise, the score might have been more lopsided. "We probably should have scored 70 or 75 points," said Taylor. "We had the opportunities." Defensively, the Cornhuskers lacked On the Inside Pat Fischer returns after 27 years. Page 4a "It's really hard to be keyed up when everybody tells you it's going to be a slaughter," he said.

"Players absorb the environment." Saturday's environment was, shall we RANDY HAMPTONSUNDAY JOURNAL-STAR Utah State linebacker Steve Davis (right) gets a handful of air, as Nebraska quarterback Steve Taylor See HUSKERS on page 5D (9) breaks loose in the first quarter. Taylor set a record for NU quarterbacks by rushing for 1 57 yards. Inspired Huskers Brinson, Smith both make miraculous returns Back-up quarterback Charles Thompson sparks Oklahoma to 69-14 rout of North Texas State. Page 2D. Omaha Central showcases skill players in 42-16 victory over pre-season No.

5 Lincoln Southeast. Page 9D. Frustrating third quarter plagues Nebraska Wesleyan in 24-7 loss to Gustavus Adolphus. Page6D. the season was over," Brinson said.

"But I had a remarkable recovery. It was just a bruise. Thinking about the first game of the year got me going." "It's amazing what adrenaline will do," said Siiulh. "My foot didn't hurt until we had all that time at halftime. The pressure caused by my shoe was hurting me." Smith didn't play much in the second half, but he made sure Coach Tom Osborne heard his request for one final play (the return) before sitting out the rest of the game.

Brinson sparked the sluggish Cornhuskers with a dazzling 57-yard punt re-tunvin the second quarter to help give Nebraska a 21-3 lead. He broke a tackle at the Utah State 40-yard line and raced behind the wall of blockers into the end zone. Excluding a fumble of the second-half kickoff, Nebraska scored on its next four possessions. "A punt return can do that," Brinson By Ken Hambleton Dana Brinson and Rod Smith might consider holding revivals. The odds of either Nebraska player playing against UtaiuState, much less both of Uiem scoring on punt returns, would have been prohibitive, if odds-makers posted such things.

The two speedy receivers, who double as punt returners, tied the Big Eight record with a pair of punt returns for touchdowns Saturday in Nebraska's 56-12 victory at Memorial Stadium. Brinson scored on a. 57-yard unt return and Smith pn an 80-yard return. A week ago, Brinson was taken off the field on a stretcher during the final Nebraska fall scrimmage. Five days ago, -Smith had half of the nail on his big toe surgically removed and he had trouble putting on his football shoes Saturday morning.

"I have to admit, I thought I had a broken leg or a serious knee injury and said. "It seems to get everybody excited." i As though he was making sure there wasn't any lull in the Cornhusker attack, Smith got his second career punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter. Brinson, who makes the calls on the punts, screamed, "Rod," when he saw the punt by Utah State's Louie Aguiar heading toward Smith. "I think he was so anxious to make something happen, he kind of let the ball drop. But he picked it up and got going," Brinson Smith bobbled the punt but as he picked it up, teammate Jeff Tomjack blasted one would-be tackier.

Two other Utah State players collided at the Nebraska 32 trying to get Smith. ka's Lorenzo Hicks cleared out the last defender at the Utah State 20. "When I bobbled the ball, it kind of See RETURNS on page 4D I 'V Jf if it John McEnroe overcomes one-game penalty to defeat Slobodan Zivojinovic in U.S. Open. Page 7D.

HARALD OREIMANI8SUNDAY JOURNAL-STAR Barry Larkn's three-run homer sparks Reds to fourth straight victory. Page 8D. Dana Brlnson (33) sprints toward the end zpne on a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. NU's record $11.5 million athletic budget looks healthy 0 Salaries Head coaches Others earning more than $30,000 NU athletic budget Where it comes from Ticket Sales (less sales tax) $7,300,000 Football i.3SO,000 Tom Osborne- Bob Devaney. .900,006 i 78,500 Danny Nee Otter.

.50,000 .41,000 Gary Pepin Han't and woman' track Francis Allen 38,728 Athlotlcdlractor Charlie McBrlde 54,500 FootbaHdatanaMi coordinator John waasaaaaaa 53,500 Aattatanl toottwll coach Don 52,500 Asalttant athtoOc dlraclor, aporta mtormatton evador Cletus Fischer M.f-M..MM.. 52,290 Donor group coordinator George 51,000 MiltTenopir feltn'st oynwitttici Cal Bentz .37,875 Shares ..1,125,000 From Big Eight on TV and bowl monay Donations 1 ,000,000 From booatar group Guarantees 900,000 From aohoola NU plays on (ha road 650,000 Radio broadcast Logo rights fees 100,000 TOtdl raMMIMNMlIMNtMMINNIMNMMIMIlMI S1 1 S00f0OO John Sanders 37,873 AngeialSeck Wontan'abaakatbaH Terry Pcrtlt VoHaybaH .49,955 Gary Bargen iaaa a Altant OMkoBwU coach 35,609 .29,500 .23.111 .22,815 Frank Sollch Rick Walton ia a a asM a a 49,000 45.61S 1 W(MtMHt9 QyVMIMtlCaV AaslttanttootbaM coach Al i a a Tim Neumann WraatUng Vi A'hereltgoes' $4,488,030 1,934,932 Men's basketball 866,533 Athfetlctnedlclrte SMaa aaasaaM af 62CUS5 Sports Center operations 503,800 Men's and women's track 43953 Capital Improvements 400CO Women's basketball 259,650 Athletic dept. average raise 3-5 percent The majority of University of Nebraska coaches and other athletic department personnel received raises in the 3-5 percent range this year. Head football Coach Tom Osborne was given a larger (6.5 percent) increase, from $83,600 to $89,000. Osborne has donated his entire $5,400 raise toward the construction of the new football indoor practice field.

Osborne remains the highest-paid person in the athletic department, followed by men's basketball Coach Danny Nee at $78,500, up from $75,000 a year ago (a 4i percent increase). Athletic Director Bob Devaney ranks third at $69,600. Devaney, was paid $67,500 last year, so he received a 3.1 percent hike. The salaries of six others four assistant football coaches, plus Don Bryant, assistant athletic director and sports information director, and Cletus Fischer, donor group coordinator range from $51,000 to $54,500. The highest-paid of that group is football defensive coordinator Charlie McBride.

After that group, assistant basketball coach Gary Bargen is next in line at $49,955. The largest salary increase, both from a percentage standpoint (15.6 percent) and in actual dollars went to football backfield coach Frank Solich. His salary jumped from $42,392 in 1986-87 to $49,000 for the current fiscal year. A total of 28 athletic department employees will be paid $30,000 or more, a By Virgil Parker Nebraska's athletic teams have long been dubbed Big Red. But the university's athletic department remains in the black.

Despite inflation and the tight-money crunch which has forced a cutback in sports at many major colleges, Nebraska athletics remain healthy. In fact, the NU athletic department will operate on a record $11,585,458 budget during the 1987-88 fiscal year which began July 1. 'That's an increase of $1,404,938 in expenditures over the $10,180,500 which was projected to be spent a year ago. The final accounting of last year's budget has not been completed. Expenses aren't up as dramatically as it may seem, Gary Fouraker, athletic department business manager, said.

The projected income for the current year is up almost the same amount $1,350,000 despite the toss of $200,000 in state funding for women's athletics. That money was eliminated by the Legislature. "We will have one more home game this fall than last," Fouraker explained. "But while that represents more income from ticket sales (each game generates about it also represents a higher cost in guarantees to the visiting schools." Utah State, which played Nebraska in Memorial Stadium Saturday, received a standard 40 percent share of the gate for its appearance, or $360,000. The Aggies were paid an additional $25,009 for changing their schedule to move the game up two weeks from its original date.

Utah State had a conflict with another opponent which had to be resolved in order to accommodate Nebraska's re-See BUDGET on page 7D 42,600 AasWant to a aMatte dlraclor George Sullivan-. Physical tharaptatlralnar Ray Huppert, 22,673 Woman's RonWoliorth .19,055 MtHMMMKNtMl i aa a a MnM Gary Fouraker. Butlnaaamanaoar Jack Softball Kerry McDermott 41,000 Football racnilf atilrtant coach Gf3KfUM floaf Wwi4 And vKMMNt't tsnntft' .19,000 .13,930 Men's swimming .38,500 Dan Larry Romjue mw war a Man's goR (part-am) 229,508 216,889 183,734 171,435 143.43S 148,354. Academic services Men's gymnastics. Tony Robin Scherer.

12,000 Si nit i ii ISi aSt AsWHBnl fOOwsM OOWCfl Women's swimming .37,000 Ron WresilingwMw. ttttlttantffffrlhafl rrtarh .145,770 Volleyball HHNtNMMtHHftll .35,135 Boyd Epley Men's and women's tennis Sfrangth coach 140,688 133,311 Women's gymnastics 35,020 Helen Wagner aa as a a a a a a a hmh a a as a a a Strength complex 138,243 Tlcfcat SoftbsH Dave Gillespie 63,418 Men's golf flMialUiiy coordinator Eiojimaaa tar aach aporl tndutit eoachlng staff toftri, laam hsml and racrvltlng coats, guarantaa ta matttnt toamt and th aoat of sefralarsNps 9 aWatic ddpartmant paift th tmtmrtRy roam, board, booka and tuttjon chartiaa tor aach aoWarsNpaSilata). fejmtntatrath axpanaaa Includa tha trtnga-banaBta chargaa for avaryona in fha aBiiatJc dopartmant. aatartaa and oparadng coat for tha adralnlatratrva oWoaa (attMte dhac-' tor, aporta Information, buatwaa. Sdtal, acadsmSc counaat-: tng.

rundoWno, and thabsndyatl aquad trawl aanaaa). .33,500 .32,000 .31,500 Roger Grooters Women's goli 52,282 $11,585,438 1 TOtflt aaaa qjaaaaaa.aai BarbHIbner Projected, surplus $14,562 Womwt flsfftlsVc iRfVclof r.O ifTpiiHtnift it rt 11 jfj iffi y..