Victoria Advocate from Victoria, Texas • 19

THE VICTORIA ADVOCATE. Saturday. August 26. 200O-3B Tech ready to showcase new offense DRAGGED DOWN 1 I. ill I Ll'BBOCK AP' Texas Tech expects the fine-tuning of its new pass-based offense to continue during its first eame today against New-Mexico, when the Red Raiders debut a new game plan and new head coach Of course, not everything will be new when the Red Raiders take the field veteran running back Ricky Williams is returning to the gridiron after suffering a knee injury, which kept him out for most of last season Two years ago.

Williams finished www.VictOTiiAdvocitt.com Jags sign Brackens for 6 years The Associated Press Pro Bowl defensive end Tony Brackens signed a six-year contract Friday with the Jacksonville Jaguars that could be worth up to $4u million with incentives. 1 The base deal is worth 18 3 mil- FL hn an average of SC 4 million per I year and could be worth $40 million total if all the incentive clauses kick in. A fifth-year veteran. Brackens had 12 sacks last year and made his first Pro Bowl. Extra points Fred Lane's estranged wife killed him with two shotgun blasts to collect on a $5 million insurance policy taken out on him earlier this year, a prosecutor said Deidra Lane "laid in wait kill him" upon his return home July 6 from Nashville.

Tenn where he had been staying with relatives, assistant district attorney Gentry Caudill said at a bond hearing in Charlotte.NC Allen Rossum, who fumbled away his last punt return for the Philadelphia Eagles, was traded to Green Bay for an undisclosed draft pick The New York Giants claimed cornerback Ramos McDonald off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers. McDonald began last season with Minnesota and started the first five games, recording 19 tackles. Compiled from Advocate Wire Reports 3sL New Mexico at Texas Tech T.d. pT rSSA T.C. Baker Advocate Staff Photographer St.

Joseph Flyers flanker Jacob Vasquez Is 3-yard runs, while the young Flyer offense was taken down Friday by a Stockdale defender held scoreless. "I saw a lot of good things, and during a controlled scrimmage at Parti Welder I saw a lot of things we have to go back and Stadium. Stockdale scored twice on 1-yard and work on," said Flyers coach John Mares. COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2000 PREVIEW: HOUSTON COUGARS Dimel working from ground up fourth in the nation in rushing wi an average 143 82 yards per eame He rushed for 1.582 yards on 306 carries getting injured in lat year's opener. Tech coach Mike Leach says Williams i looking forward to running again during the Transamerica Hispanic College Fund Classic, which benefits Hispanic college students and gives both teams 12 games to plav instead of the normal 11.

"The best teacher you get is the first three games." Leach said Tech had its seventh winning season i6-5. 5-3 in the Big 12 1 under former coach Spike Dykes last year, but didn't go to a bowl game. New Mexico isn't sure what to expect from Tech's new passing offense but expects the Red Raiders will be taken back by the opponent's new offensive look, as well. The team boasts ot a new quarterback. Jeremy Denson, who "can threaten as much with his legs, as he can with' his arms." fullback Ted Iacenda said.

The Lobos said they won't let Tech's new passing game throw them and plan to keep an eye on Williams and his funning back counterpart Shaud Williams, as well as quarterback KM Kingsbury. "We're planning that at least half the time they'll have' three receivers with two running backs in the backfield: because two of their most explosive guys in the open field are their two running backs. Shaud and Ricky Williams." New Mexico coach Rocky Long said. "Both of these guys are not very big. but they're real quick and fast." Last year, the Lobos were 3-8 and 4-7.

They hope their new offense and defense will help them overcome those -losing records. They plan to find opportunities to sack Tech's quarterback, which the Lobos admit might be easier said than done with the short passes they expect Kingsbury to throw. "If we can make him hold the ball and if he cannot throw it on time, we will sack him." Long said. However. Leach's pffensive system has proven itself hard to slow.

Before joining Tech. Leach worked as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator. He transformed the Sooners from; a running team into a pass-based team. Under his guid-t ance. they improved from 101st offensively to 11th in the; nation and averaged 427 total yard a game.

5 Top-ranked Nebraska looks strong with Cougars i i HOUSTON (AP) New coach Dana Dimel has more than a passing interest in the University of Houston's offense. He expects the Cougars to be productive running the ball as well. Even though Dimel plans more passing and the Cougars have, lost 2,000 yards of offensive production with the Wyoming after three successful seasons with the Cowboys. Joffrey Reynolds and Leif Penn have the task of trying to replace the running duo of Sanford and Green. McKinley has back Orlando Iglesias.

whose streak of 31 consecutive games with a receptions is third-longest in Houston Cougars at a glance Dimel NCAA I-A, to lead a good crop of wide receivers. "Joffrey Reynolds is as good a running back as I've ever been around." Dimel said. "He's fast and strong. He's chiseled from stone. Lief averaged six yards per carry when he got a chance to play and Joffrey has passed him up, which is positive.

"Everybody thought Lief would be a Ketric Sanford ability guy so that's a good sign for Joffrey." McKinley will be a major part of the Cougar offense with no experienced backup help. Senior Brian Thiebaud of Corsiana played in one game last season but would departure of running backs Ketric Sanford and Mike Green, Dimel has no plans to abandon the running game. "Passing is a marketing thing, because really you have to run to win and play great defense," Dimel "Those are the things that count when all the glitz and glamor wears off and we get down to trying to win football games." Getting more balance between pass and run is good news for senior quarterback Jason McKinley, whose role as a passer diminished last season as he spent most of the time handing off the gift in scrimmage COACH: Dana Dimel. first year at Houston, fourth overall (23-12 1999 RECORD: 7-4. sixth in Conference USAi.

LAST BOWL APPEARANCE: Liberty Bowl after 1996 season, lost to Syracuse 30-17. STADIUM: Robertson Stadium (32.000). RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offensive. 4 defensive, punterkicker Mike Clark. KEY PLAYERS: QB Jason McKinley.

WR Orlando Iglesias. RB Joffrey Reynolds, OG Josh Lovelady. DT Nikia Adderson. LB Wayne Rogers, CB Jason Parker, jr. KEY DEPARTURES: RB Ketric Sanford, RB Mike Green.

'2000 SCHEDULE: Sept. 2 at Rice: Sept. 9 -at LSU: Sept. 16 Army: Sept. 23 at Texas: Oct.

30 SMU: Oct, 7 at Cincinnati: Oct. 21 at Memphis; Oct. 28 Southern Miss; Nov. .4 at Tulane: Nov. 11 at East Carolina; Nov.

18 Louisville. LINCOLN. Neb. (AP) If Nebraska's scout teams are an accurate representation of San Jose State's offense and defense, the Cornhuskers' preseason No. 1 ranking isn't in much jeopardy.

The Huskers' top offense and defense dominated squads made up of backups Friday afternoon, in the team's final full scrimmage in preparation for next weekend's season opener against San Jose State. "I'm not really sure if that was. a combination of not very good scout team play in representing San Jose San Jose State at Nebraska I I I Associated Press seot.2. 11:30 Houston quarterback Jason McKinley is one of the key players back for the Cougars this season. ed running duo.

"I'm really excited, I love the new offense," McKinley said. "Everyone is excited. We had the best offseason and the best summer workouts since I've been here. I expect us to spread out the offense. The first time I talked to coach Dimel he told me to get ready to throw the ball." The Cougars rode Sanford and Green to a 7-4 record last season but it wasn't enough to get a bowl invitation or save coach Kim Helton's job.

Dimel left McKinley should he get hurt. "Yeah, if Jason goes down, we've got a big problem and we're playing a lot of great football teams with the ability to get to the quarterback," Dimel said. "If Jason went down, we'd have to rely more on the run. That's another reason we can't rely on just the pass." Left guard Josh Lovelady and right tackle Jabari Beauford are the only returning starters in the offensive line. There are only three returning starters on the 4-2-5 defense installed by Dick Bumpas last season.

Bumpas now is sharing the defensive coordinator duties with Mark Stoops, who followed Dimel from Wyoming. Tackle Nikia Adderson, linebacker Wayne Rogers and cornerback Jason Parker are the only returning defensive starters. A fourth returning starter, cornerback Will Pettis, was dismissed from the team for violating team rules. "Our defense is pretty much the same, we'll run the same Rogers said. "We're going to have more size and speed than we'd had in the secondary.

Even with the seniors leaving we should be able to pressure offenses." The Cougars defense ranked 11th nationally last season in turnover ratio and 25th in total defense. "You are going to see a lot of young guys making plays that haven't had a chance to play before," Dimel said. COMETS- COWBOYS- Continued from Page IB State's defense or whether it was just excellent execution on offense." Solich said. "I think it was probably a little combination of both." Solich and his staff were to review the tape from the scrimmage and announce the two-deep roster on Monday. Most of the positions are set.

especially quarterback, where returning starter Eric Crouch played nearly half the scrimmage. Crouch, who had off-season shoulder surgery on his throwing arm. completed 9-of-15 for 195 and two touchdowns, including a short pass to Bobby Newcombe. who broke it for a 65-yard touchdown play. But Solich was more impressed with the quarterback's durability.

Crouch had seven carries for 58 yards and two touchdowns. W'earing a green jersey, supposedly making him off-limits to tackling, he still endured several hits. "He needed a lot of work because we have not had major contact on him this year." Solich said. "There were times, when he got bumped around a little bit and brought down. And it probably wasn't all bad now that he survived it." Dan Alexander, voted one of six co-captains Friday, rushed for 126 yards on, six carries and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard touchdown run.

Backup I-back Correll Buckhalter had 92 yards on just three carries with a 65-yard TD. "Every play that 1 can think of we ran crisp and clean," said guard Russ Hochstein, who was also voted co-captain along with tackle Jason Schwab. "The guys were moving really well. We put the ball in the end zone. Let's just hope that happens week-to-week." Defensively, the Huskers stifled the scout team With eight sacks, including three by linebacker Randy Stella and two from end Kyle Vanden Bosch, one of three defensive co-captains.

The other co-captains on defense are linebacker Carlos Polk and tackle Loran Kaiser, who missed Friday's scrimmage because he is still recovering from having his appendix removed Wednesday. Kaiser expects to be ready to play next weekend. "Not a doubt in my mind," he said. The Huskers could use him because much of the defensive line is banged up. Nose tackle Jason Lohr has had a toe injury during fall camp and sat out Friday's scrimmage.

His status for Saturday's game is still up in the air. scorer Sheryl Swoopes also acknowledged that they weren't best friends off the court. Then came the playoffs, and it has been the same old Comets. They blanked the Sparks 2-0 in the Western Conference finals and now have New York on the brink of elimination. "I think you have to give them credit." New York coach Richie Adubato said.

"They are a very good defensive team, one of the best in the league. Our offensive execution broke down." The Liberty lost Game 1 in New York last season, too, but forced Game 3 when Weatherspoon hit a 50-foot shot at the buzzer for a 68-67 victory. The Liberty feel they can win again in Compaq Center, where the Comets have two losses this season. "Well, to me, we went down there last year and won, so we know we can win there," Adubato said, "if we can win one game there and take it to a final game, you never know." The Liberty shot poorly in Game 1 and will have to do better if there is to be a Game 3. "We just didn't knock any shots down," guard Becky Hammon said.

"They played great, but we just had, open looks that we just didn't hit. You can't beat Houston if you can't make shots." have in the regular season opener at home against Philadelphia is Smith back on the field. The NFLs leading active career rusher was held out of preseason games, mostly as a precaution, because of a strained right calf that followed a big toe injury early in training camp. COWBOYS NOTES: Players got the day off Friday while Campo and his staff evaluated film while preparing to make necessary roster moves. The Cowboys have to cut 17 players by Sunday to get to the league-mandated opening day roster of 53.

Those evaluations were slowed Friday because of a one-hour power outage at the team's Valley Ranch facility. Campo said tight end David LaFleur, held out of the first four preseason games because of strained groin muscles, "came through with flying colors" after starting Thursday's game. The Cowboys will practice for just more than an hour today, get Sunday off, have another short practice Monday and then get another break Tuesday. Continued from Page IB victim twice in three years and this time, they want to get jt right. "We're going to walk in and lift our heads is what we're going to do," New York guard Teresa Weatherspoon said.

"We can't allow this game (Game 1) to get us down. You do and walk into that arena in Houston, and you're dead. "We gotta believe in the impossible when no one else does." It was Weatherspoon's impossible shot in last year's Game 2 of the championship series, a heave from beyond halfcourt at the final buzzer, that forced a final game' for the title. The Comets don't want to be in that position again. "Don't forget that last-second shot last year," coach Van Chancellor said.

"We are going back to Houston, and we've got a game to play. We respect New York. Just because we go to Houston doesn't mean we win." This was supposed to be the year the Comets vacated the throne. Houston lost three straight regular-season games to the heir-apparent Los Angeles Sparks and three-time MVP Cynthia Cooper announced her retirement. Cooper and WNBA leading three Super Bowl championships in the first half of the 1990s.

It is a variation of an offense in which quarterback Troy Aikman has had much "For what we did and the daunting task ahead of us when we were installing it, you couldn't have asked for us to execute at the level we are executing now," said Aikman, who is in his 12th NFL season. "We put in a lot of stuff in a short period of time." Not all of it has been shown! "There are a lot of things we haven't put out there," said Joey Galloway, the speedy receiver the Cowboys acquired in the offseason. "The first team has moved the ball well, and we need to carry that into the regular season." Aikman hit 6-of-7 passes for 71 yards, against St. Louis, his only miss being a badly underthrown ball to Galloway that was, intercepted at the goal line. One more thing the Cowboys will.