The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 45

Jeff Kinney Jerry Tagge Johnny Rodgers si. "jf SHOOTOUT AT OK Thurs Nov. 2S, 1971 45 If key up-fronters Derland Moore and Raymond Hamilton are at full ef-ficiency, as advertised, the Sooners may be able to make enough big plays to throw the Huskers' well-balanced offense off balance. You might say Nebraska's offense is awesome but not awe-inspiring. Howz-at? Well, the Huskers do not cause people's, eyeballs to pop out as consistently as do the Sooners.

The Big Rodders of the North keep throwing Jeff Kinney at you for four, five, seven and eight yards, catch you off guard with a jaunt by fullback Bill Olds and then slip in a Jerry Tagge bomb to fleet Johnny Kodgers or split end Woody Cox. Impressive as the Cornhuskers have been, they've had to play second fiddle offensively to the Sooners. That's probably because the Big Rodders of the South have averaged scoring 30.6 points each first half this fall. That's more than all but 12 major Continued on Page 18, Column 3 to-death, it'll be the death of a lot of folk. Cause of said death: Bad This is supposed to be "The Shootout." Texas and Arkansas THOUGHT they had a couple of those tilings.

But their meetings offered, nothing like this coming.together of the No. 1 offense in the nation and the No. 1 defense. Oklahoma lias averaged 45 points and 5G3.2 yards, 481.4 it on the ground, in annihilating nine foes. Nebraska has yielded only.

6.4 points and 171.7 yards, 70.5 of it running, in wiping out 10 opponents. But anybody who thinks this is just Oklahoma's offense vs. Nebraska's de-, fense needs some of his screws tightened. 1 Nebraska has scored at a 38.9-point pace, averaging running and 1S3.9 throwing, Oklahoma's defense, subject of considerable bad-mouthing whilst giving up 29 points to Pitt and 28 to Kansas has limited Iowa State, Missouri and Kansas to 12, three and 10, respectively, of late. after all, that's almost 102 years of history but neither is it your average backyard game of touch.

The championship of the. prestigious Big Eight Conference will be nothing more than a fringe benefit for the victor in this one. Aprobablo national title is the big prize. There's still the Hangover Day bowling to be considered, Nebraska, having a date with Alabama in Miami and Oklahoma with. Auburn in New Orleans.

But very, few observers think the outfit which gets 'a stranglehold on the national champeenship by -winning Here will blow it New Year's Day. This is not 'the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 'matchup, but: it is the longest time fans have liad to sit around gnawing on their fingernails wailing for it to come off.

Nebraska and OU have been one-two since the second week in October, right after the Sooners shellacked Texas, 48-27, and zoomed from eighth to second in the poll. Nebraska, the defending, national champ; trailed Notre Dame by a nar- By Volhey Mecca Staff Writer NORMAN The dream game. The Big One. THE GAME! The Classic Confrontation. The White Meat on the Turkey Day Menu.

The game of the year. The game ol the decade. The game of the century. The greatest attraction in collegiate football history. Those are a lew of the superlative descriptive phrases used so far on the Nebraska-Oklahoma football game.

But the time for flowery phrases is past because The. Day is finally here. The No. 1 nationally, and No. 2, finally come to the junction of that collision course they've been on for a month and a half 30:50 p.m.

this pulsating Thanksgiving in the sardine-like surroundings of Owen Stadium and on nationwide television. This might not be the greatest attraction in collegiate football, hislory row margin in the pre-season Associat-, ed' Press balloting. But as soon as the' season started and the Huskers started beating up on people, they were back on top to stay. At least until today, when the real No. 1 will stand up.

Of course, Michigan, Alabama, Auburn and Penn State partisans are praying for a tic. Rival coaches Bob Devaney of Nebraska and Chuck Fairbanks of Oklahoma are just praying, period. If Oklahoma offenses Nebraska to death or Nebraska defenses Oklahoma 'High Noon Is 1:50 p.m. in the Gunfight -tor-No. OKLAHOMA NEBRASKA Sen 9-0 .205 .203 Mm I ALABAMA MICHIGAN AUBURN- IIP" Oklahoma OFFE.VSB SK 12 Jon Hiirri.soii LT (ill Dean Unruh US 73 Darryl Emmert Tom Brilliancy lid 72 Ken 1ST 79 Robert Jensen TK 8'i Albert Clmnulur QB 11 Jack Allldren LH sr, Roy Hell 1SH 30 Greg I'niitt KB 17 ICon Crosswliilo DEFENSE MS 90 ltay Hamilton LT SS Lurious Selinon 1ST 97 Derland Moore KB GO Lionell Day U5 81 Albert Quails I.I! 13 Sttwc Aywefc Uriseott 1.0 2 Kenllli Pope; ISC 18 S.

25 Larry ISoneh IIS John Shelley KICKERS 1' II) John Carroll VO ill Jolm Carroll Nebraska OEI-'ESSB SB S3 Woody Cos LT 72 Daryl Wlilto LG 77 Mick Rupert 51 Doiik Duniicr 1SG GJ Keith Worlnmn KT 78 Al Austin TE 85 Jerry I.i.sl QB II Jerry TaSKB IB 3,1 Jeff Kinney SB 20 iloliimy Rodgers I'll 11 lllll Olds 57 John Adlclns LT Larry Jaeobson 7,1 Well Glower 1ST 55 Bill Jansscn ISK 81 Wlllo Harper LI! 15 Bob Terrio Lit 51. Jim Branch MB 25 Dave- Mason I.C 27 Joe lllaliak ISC J8 Jim Anderson 21 Bill Koscli KICKEISS 26 Jeff HiiRlies Ffi 13 Rich Sanger GEORGIA COLORADO ARIZ. STATE LSU OFFENSE Scoring Total Per Team Vis. Per fl Team Yds. Vor.G Team Pis.

Per 0 .563.3 1-OKLAUOMA .....15.0 -NEB IS ASK A .171.7 l-Mlchlffan' 6.3 1U. 5 2 Venn Stale' 2-Tolctlo ...170.5 2 NEBRASKA. G.i ,...163.1 NEBRASKA' 38.9'. .179.7 .1 Alabama ,.103.0 4 Arizona State 38.6 Ohio 1K9.3 .1 Toledo ...157.3 5 Mlcldgan 5-Nolro Dame- 398.1 5-Nolro Dimio ,..116.0 Auburn 31.0 .206.2 ft-Gcorgia 8.8 ,..115.3 7 Cltade! ...33.3 7 Stanford 7-Penn Stnto .............10.0 ,,.110.9 8-Alabama 33.1 8-Alabama 348.8 7 Teniiesxeo 10.O ,...112.5 St.r, o-(ierin .347.1 9-rLoulsvliIo 1U.2 ...393.7 10 WnsliiiiBton .34.1 ID-San Diego Stutu 231,0 10-Bistn'ColIego ....11.0 Passing Rushing Passing Team J-OKLAROMA 2 Arizona State. 3 New Mexico I Venn Stnto 3-CtlnileI Houston 7 Arknnsas 8 NEBRASKA' 9 Colorado 10-MIehlRan Rushing Oklahoma Opponents Rushing yardaqo" Per 390.0 337.1! 348.7 320.2 819.7 Team 1 Texas Tech 2 Cincinnati 3 Toledo 1 NSI State; 5 Vanderbilt Arlington 7-Wam, Ohio 7 Louisville- Kent State 10 Nortli'TcjMis Team 1 Michigan 2- XE11KASKA 3 Notre: Uamu 1 Georgia 5W.

Mlcldgan C-Mlnmi, Olilfi 7 (ieorgln Tech 8 Toledo l.oiilsvlllo 10-l'eim Stale Team 1 OKLAHOAIA 2 Now Mexico 3 Michigan 4 Alabama 5 I'enn Stalo 0-Cornell 7 Arizona Stnto 8 Vak Vwcfi 8-GnOTRla 10 Colgate .1 Floriiln Stall; 3 Virginia Tecli Sh-WnHliington I Auburn 5-San Diego Stu (I Wyoming 7 Stanford Arl(unsa O-Utab Stale In NEBISASKA ...230.1 .246.6 ...219.6 ...219.5 ...211.3 .,,1833 Passing vardaga Strategy? It All bepends on People way. a guard could be released BOB HURT TV-Radio Log THURSDAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL-. 1:50 p.m. Nebraska at KOCO-TV (S) and Sooner, network including -WKY KNOB (1-100). ami 8 pimi Clmck Fairbanks Show, WKY-TV (1).

7:05 p.m. Georgia at Georgia Tech, KOCO-TV (5); V1SO FOOTBALL aim. Kansas City nt. I)c WICY-TV (4) 2:30 p.m. Us- Angeles nt Dalian, KWTV (ft) ami MI (02.5), COLLEGE BASHETBAIX 7 p.na.

Christian' In' John Brown KWIIP-FJI (97.7). FRIDAY PKEP FOOTBALL p.m. Lawtoii al ailtlwost City, Class i A Playoff, K.JEM- KU (104.7). HOCICEV 8' p.m. OmaJia, at Blazers) HOCY(liMO).

PRO BASKETBALL 1 p.m. Baltimore Bullets nt yoti- get good rushbut -they're not getting A'nodicr Oklahoma has good but appears weak 'it concedes' the short pass. Spotier pass defense is based on a-briij-the-bomb principle. It-has, yieldedro'riiy two "bombs" 'this year. -V, -Nebraska's Jerry.TaggeV' with radar in his arm i and fine receivers, is well equipped to probe the'soft' middle.

Still another coach "offers hope, for Sooner "Oklahoma's'-defense is underrated," he said. Everybody compares fense ''which'' is the best ever. But good; I think the defense' 'may1: let-: up 'a little when the offense ltfql.fig well 2 ve got a hunch you niight a lot better on' Most interesting, t6yie: coaches will Coiiiiiiucd on Pagqf. ailuiiin two assistants'. In return for privacy, they promised frankness, Their will be withheld to protect them from reprisals.

Conclusion No. 1 advanced by our anonymous scouting board was a It was the same conclusion you can 'find lying around at any barber shop, pool hall or corner tavern: In a big one, the team with the most defense and fewest errors will win, That description fits Nebraska. Statistically, Nebraska's defense is the best on this planet. Oklahoma, which handles, the ball' often in close quarters, is more error-prone. The Huskers averaged 2,0 turnovers per game to 2.9 for the Sooners.

What about individual mruehuis? Do any loom large? One coach recalled Notre Dame somewhat slowed Texas' Wishbone in the Cotton Bowl last voar with a nhvsl- 'Pull up tlie Xs and Os'and dust oil the' blackboard, iollcs. It's strategy time. Strategy. That's, what you flaunt it: works, forgetif it doesn't, And, somb-oy, strategy works when "used by. better people.

But what role for strategy in that football game Thursday between Nebraska and Oklahoma? Chuck Fairbanks shrugged. Heck, he-almost chuckled. The Oklahoma coach foresees no "strategic gems" affect-ingthe outcome. Chuck is a spoilsport. Fans love to talk of blitzes and traps and everything nice, Such terms appropriately applied wltn a knowing wink and a nudge in the ribs, can do wonders for one's grandstand esteem.

So, for the fans, a layman's scouting report. It was compiled by talking with fniii- Rlcr 'Ripl'ir hpnrl nnnphns and to mess up, linebackers if Glover couia be a single mortal. Another. coach asked if Oklahoma' had a good enough athiote to cover flanker-spilt end Johnny Rodgers. onc-on-one.

That would be handy. But, heck, Ringling Brothers doesn't have a' tent big enough to cover the flitting, I-lusker receiver. What about team a si Areas to probe? The scouting panel was unanimous on this. Nebraska has, none and Oklahoma has one, pass defense. That's not exactly a trade secret.

Statistics show the Sooners Havc. yielded 157.6 passing yards per game, "Oklahoma. pass defense is most vul-nerable," said one coach. "The two safeties are. so deep they become vulnerable.

It's not a' bad pass defense if cal mismatch in the middle. That seemed to put extra emphasis on the duel, between Oklahoma's All-America type center, Tom Brahaney, and Ne-b a ska's super-quick, super-strong middle guard, Rich Glover. The collision may be recorded on Richtcr scales. But Oklahoma double-teams the middle miard much 'of the 'time, any.