Beatrice Daily Sun from Beatrice, Nebraska • 8

Beatrice (Neb.) Daily Sun, Monday, August 29, 1994 A-8 hut down West mm East punter Todd Sauerbrun, who averaged 60 yards on nine kicks, including a school-record 90-yarder in the first quarter. The victory improved Nebraska Kickoff Classic record to 3-0. The Cornhuskers beat Perm State 44-6 in the inaugural game in 1983 and downed Texas 23-14 in 1988. It was West Virginia's first appearance in the game. It was the second shutout in Kickoff Classic history.

Florida State blanked Kansas 42-0 last year. 7-31 0-0 rtabmaka-Waat VlrgWa, Stats Nabraaka 3 21 0 Waat VlrgWa 0 0 0 Neb-FaSW32 Neb-Frazter 25 fun (Stetor Mcfc) Neb 6aul12 pus Irom Frazier (SWr Md4 Neb-Fraztor 27 run (Staler Mck) rMH-Fraztor42 run Staler Mc) Rozier. my teammates played great by blocking forme." And if that continues? Well, Frazier didn't want to think about that "I don't worry about the Heisman Trophy," be said. "I'm concerned about winning week in and week out If the Heisman comes, I'll be happy. If it doesn't, it doesn't Just as long as my team wins." Nebraska's defense, which is quicker than it was in previous years, also was outstanding.

"I don't think we started last season real well, but as the season went on, we started smoking against teams like Oklahoma," defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said. "In the Orange BowL we played about as good as we can play. It's just continuing now." Fourteen of West Virginia's 57 offensive plays went for losses, with Nebraska registering eight sacks. "Our defense has felt all along we could come in and compete with anybody," said Huskers freshman linebacker Grant Wisdom, who had 1 12 sacks. "A lot of people don't pay our defense enough respect and I think we showed everybody today we're for real and we're going to be contenders." West Virginia will have to regroup this week with Ball State scheduled at home next weekend.

"We have a lot of work to do on offense, on defense, everywhere," Nehlen said after his team's worst offensive performance in his tenure as coach. "But we knew that coming in." West Virginia's Robert Walker, who gained a school-record 1,250 yards last season, was held to 46 yards on 12 carries. The only bright spot for West Virginia was All-Big Nebraska dominates No. 24 Mountaineers EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Tommie Frazier took a trip to the Downtown Athletic Club on the eve of the 1994 Kickoff Classic, and the sight of the Heisman Trophy must have inspired the Nebraska quarterback.

Frazier rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns and threw another Sunday as No. 4 Nebraska started its "Unfinished Business" season by dominating No. 24 West Virginia 31-0 at Giants Stadium in the opener of the college football season. "No one is talking big," said tackle Zach Wiegert, part of a massive offensive line that helped Nebraska post a 468-89 advantage in total offense. "But we think we have a good team and we want to get back to play for the title." The Cornhuskers had that chance last year in the Orange Bowl against Florida State, but the national title sailed away with an errant field goal in the closing seconds.

It was the only blemish after an 11-0 regular season. The nucleus of that team is back and it had little trouble handling a West Virginia team hurt by graduation. Last year, a bowl game between the two undefeated teams might have been a great way to decide the national champion. But it was a mismatch on Sunday, especially the way the Cornhuskers' defense harried sophomore quarterbacks Chad Johnston and Eric Boykin. Neither had much experience coming into the game and they were running ragged most of the afternoon.

They were a combined 6-of-19 for 46 yards and two interceptions. On the other side, Frazier was simply running to daylight, especially around left end on the option keeper. The junior sandwiched touchdown runs of 25 and 27 yards around a 12-yard TD pass to Reggie Baul in the second quarter as the Huskers opened a 24-0 halftime lead. Frazier capped his 12-carry, 137-yard effort with a 42-yard TD scamper in the fourth quarter. After that, the only thing of interest was whether West Virginia would be able to avoid its first shutout since 1986.

It could have, but coach Don Nehlen elected to go for a touchdown on a fourth and 9 at the Nebraska 9 in the closing minutes and Boykin's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Sedric Collins. "What's the difference?" asked Nehlen, whose offense did not get the ball in Nebraska territory until a fumble was recovered in the fourth quarter. "Why go for the field goal at that point? We just wanted to execute aplay." While he wasn't perfect, Frazier looked very good. Besides single-handedly outgaining West Virginia on the ground, he also completed 8 of 16 passes for 100 yards. He also threw two interceptions deep in Mountaineer territory.

"I made some plays, but I also made some bad ones," said Frazier, who got a glimpse of the Heisman in a trip to New York Gty along with teammates and former Nebraska greats Johnny Rodgers and Mike WVU 9 38-8 81 10 6-19-2 9-60 4-1 544 26:08 Neb 28 60-368 100 152 6-17-2 3- 48 4- 3 6-41 33:52 FMdowna Ruahaa-yardi Passing Return Yards Comp-Att-lnl Punta Fumbtoa-UMl Panalttee-Yarda Time at Possession INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Nebraska, Frazier 12-130. PrH 24-126. ScNaahflar 8-31. CWIds 4-30. Banning 5-19.

Makovfcka Ml. Berrtngsr 2-7. Noma 1-5. 1-5. Schuster 1-4.

We Virginia. Wakar 12-48. Barber 6-23. Oary 2-4. Freeman 2-3.

Ntxom 1-0, Johnston 7-mhus 28), Boykh 6-(iranua 38). PASSINO-Webraato, Frazier 8-18-2-100. Phillips 0-1-0-0. Weal Vtynla, Boyktn 4-13-1-62, Johnston 2-8-1-19. RECEIVING- Nebraska, Baul 3-46, PhHftpe M7.

Muhammad 1-23. Qlman 1-7. Hobetn 1-7. West Virginia, Varterpooi 3-50. Pumsl Oary Hrranua 5).

Speed, quickness pay off for defense EAST RUTHERFORD, J. (AP) All the yean of playing and losing to the likes of Florida Slate and Miami in major bowls taught Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride something there's nothing like speed on defense. Nebraska has been adding more and more quickness on its defense in recent years and on Sunday the Cornhuskers used it to kill West Virginia 31-0 in the Kickoff Classic. The statistics had to be frightening for West Virginia coach Don Nehlen, whose team was shut out for the first time since 1986. The Mountaineers were held to 89 yards, the lowest total since Nehlen took over the program in 1980, and the team did not cross midfield until the fourth quarter.

"A lot of what we do comes from Florida and Florida State," McBride said. 'Tven ugh we pby, I spend a lot of tin talking to their guys over years. We might have bigger defensive ends than them and may not have quite as much speed, but we're fast" And quickness was the key in playing against West Virginia's two sophomore quarterbacks Chad Johnston and Eric Boykin. No matter which way the young QBs turned, there seemed to be Cornhusker coming at them. "That was the game, to come out smoking off the ball," Nebraska tackle Christian Peter said.

"I mean we really wanted to get in their faces and shake them up. I mean, it worked. I think they played with two quarterbacks and I don't think they did too much. It was three and out almost every series." It was especially that way the first three quarters when West Virginia gained just seven yards. West Virginia wide receiver Rahsaan Vanterpool didn't think Nebraska did anything special to take advantage of the Mountaineers young quarterbacks.

"They just did what they do always," he said. "Our young quarterbacks aren't used to seeing all the pressure coming to them." And that was with McBride and Nebraska being generous. "I really should have blitzed more," McBride said. "But the way things were going I didn't have to." Fourteen of West Virginia's 57 offensive plays went for losses, with Nebraska registering eight sacks. "Our defense has felt all along we could come in and compete with anybody," said Huskers freshman linebacker Grant Wistrotn, who had 1.3 sacks.

"A lot of people don't pay our defense enough respect and I think we showed everybody today we're for real and we're going to be contenders." McBride said be saw signs of mat last year, even before Nebraska's outstanding defensive effort in 1 18-16 Orange Bowl losi to Florida State. "I don't think we started the season teal well, but as die season went on, we started smoking against teams like Oklahoma. In the Orange Bowl, we played about as good as we can play. It's just continuing now." cr OS' Qjv i p'n 'VI I (LJ l) rJr 11111 rw 11 -n pact ice tX practice 1 0 4nm, Btric High Schoofs volley- Xt I I I bel and football teams took to T7 J- th court end ekj Saturday I iU d'jfr3 fa-'x annual prpsftason 3 I Jntersquad scrimmage. The teams were preparing for their season openers this --) vesk.

In volleyball action, Vil'nerd, top left, and Juf Shoff put up bg Mock, vttuie Luke Cummings, right, looks for a block in footbsH gcticn. The led Orange opens Thursday night at Grs-d Island Central 1 CAthc'c, Ciss-s f.i's crons, vtVe fre travel to ill i-y pigM for ter frst cov c17U. Kickoff Classic EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. (AP) Notes from Nebraska's 31-0 victory over West Virginia in tbe Kickoff Classic on Sunday: Nebraska beat Perm State 44-6 in tbe inaugural Kickoff Classic in 1983 and Texas AJtM 23-14 to 19SS. No other team has played in three games.

Tbe crowd of 58.223 wu the fifth largest in Kickoff Classic history, almost 7,500 larger man the 51.734 that attended Florida State's 42-0 victory over Kansas last year. It wu the largest since 1991 hen a sellout of 77,409 saw Perm State beat Georgia Tech. Each team earned $650,000 for its appearance. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne leads active Division I-A coaches with an 81. 5 winning percentage at 207-47-3.

Nebraska has won eight straight openers since a 17-13 loss to Florida State in 1985. Nebraska increased its regnlar-seasoo. winning streak to 14 games and snapped West Virginia's 1 2-game regular-seasoo streak. Both teams were 11-0 in tbe regular season last year before losing bowl games. Florida State beat Nebraska 18-16 in tbe Orange Bowl and Florida routed West Virginia 4 1 -7 in tbe Sugar Bowl Tbe game wu the second straight shutout and the sixth oonsec-iine decided by 10 a more points.

West Virginia plays Ball State at home Saturday and Nebraska is off until Thursday, Sept 8 hen it plays at Texu Tech. Tommie Frazier is tbe third Nebraska quarterback to win tbe MVP award, foOowing Tamer Gia in 19S3 and Steve Taylor in 19SS. Fraiier bad a band in all of Nebraska's toncbdowns, runcieg for fcree and passing for tbe other. He set Kickoff Classic records for toocbdewos, points with 18 and average gain per play at 10.8 yards with 130 yards on 1 2 carriers. He wu 8-for-l 6 passing for 1 00 yards.

West Virginia punier Todd Saaerbrua. third in the cocntry list season wish a 45. 1 -yard avenge, set a school and Kickoff Classic record with a 90-yarder bis record cine attempts. He also bad 71-and 64-yard punts to set a game record with a 60.1 average, West Vpnia occerDack and kick retamer Mie Logta broke bis rigbt ana in opening mesne. Safety David Marfteld sprained an ankle and backup coroerbsck Haroid KkJd broke a refer.

Strike continues into 18th day "At tii point is time, I wonld they would feke place," be said Sunday. "Everything is whject to roicm." Four yean the sesskn is Dallas darixg owDert' 32-kxkoot was csscekd to How negotiations la la 1981, a meet-k KaWas Otj, Mo, was csHed oT some sty to prevent some owners tea etpressicg dis-SCSL STXIG SAID HE wodds't wast tbe roeel-trrs to feierfere widi btrpursEg. "Thas's ssi ooocers," be said. 'That's samettifig weB take a look at" Raritts said tbe tteetitg isa't secessary becaoK of tbe constat stlephone convwtaijons and cocifereDce csUs. be probably will speak id the parties today sod another barjainir tesskia for die middle of Cie week.

MANAGEMENT segotiator Rictard Rjvjidi saiJ ha Tborsday be etpeca the f-xa each side wi2 he snaDer at fotare les-urn. There were 35 peopte is tbe rooa durirg WeieJgy's saeeasg 6e first since tbe strike began. "TlM was pess cm my pan." be said. 1 tsvaft charped my foes." No prrpess is foneea is the talks trotil at least sJfcr tbe caen' faanery tneetinfv sched-eVd for Drtrr fh Sqr 7-9. Curt ht tw rran (hat the tneexp wi3 be caikd off.

Sdlg sad not true. NEW YORK (AP) Players and ewn expect to speik to federal sedition tod it (Monday), to ISA Uy of fce baxbed scike. Taere wass't say activity over tbe weekend, tfcird w-hboot major leap bsse baH since players struck Aug. 12. Mae more fames were canceled today, raisffig tbe total to 232, mere 10 percent of tbe season.

Tbert's Bcshirg gooig on," executive cctb-c2 coaeTMB Bod Sefcg sad Sunday by telepfcw fern M2wsskee, Nefotiatksa broke off Tbamday cad bo farther talks are scfcedsle-4 to eod tie licet. Te bad so contact anyone," nk bead DcwsJd Febr sd. Est Jots Gallon Wtlh, director of tbe Federal Maaco and CoodLaboe Seract, sad I.