The Shreveport Journal from Shreveport, Louisiana • 21

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II Why 11 A 0 re Mild VSkItl umeer t4 teams feel the same way about it" At that time Oklahoma was Number 8 in Associated Press ratings That's a long way from being Number 1 When you're eighth in the middle of the season a lot of things have to happen for you to reach the top For 011 all of those things have happened except one The Sooners are 60 football minutes away from the national championship But they're still a long way from being Number 1 THE TEAM on the other side of the line of scrimmage for those 60 minutes is Nebraska which has the Number 1 spot and expects to keep it at Oklahoma's At that time Oklahoma was Number 8 in Associated Press ratings That's a long way from being Number 1 When you're eighth in the middle of the season a lot of things have to happen for you to reach the top For 011 all of those things have happened except one The Sooners are 60 football minutes away from the national championship But they're still a long way from being Number 1 teams le A By Jerry Byrd Lae One of the sports writers huddled around Oklahoma quarterback Jack Mildren's locker after the Sooners' 40-27 victory over Texas at Dallas last month popped THE question: "Do you think Oklahoma is Number "wily NOT?" Mildren answered "I don't mean this to be bragging but I think our players are good enough to be Number 1 It would be ridiculous for me to say we're Number 3 or 4 Being the best is what it's all about That's why you work so hard starting with pre-season two-a-days I'm sure all of the unbeaten One Oklahoma Sooners' popped TI Number this to be 1 enough to to say we'll all about 1 pre-season expense in their nationally televised game (Channel 3 1:30) Thanksgiving afternoon Not since Bud Wilkinson was the magic name and the rest of the Big Eight Conference was known as "The Seven Dwarfs" has Oklahoma been this close to a national championship Bob Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers have been called a lot of things but nobody has accused them of being "Dwarfs" Ironically Nebraska had as tough a row to hoe in reaching the top last year as Oklahoma had this year Until New Year's Day (and New Year's night) only the Carr Sports Ratings had proclaimed the Cornhuskers Number I It took a combination of Texas losing to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl Ohio State losing to Stanford in the Rose Bowl and Nebraska coming from behind in the fourth quarter to beat LSU 17-12 in the Orange Bowl for the Big Eight champions to make it In the middle of the season after a 21-21 tie with Southern Cal the 'Huskers were Number 6 Michigan Alabama Auburn and Penn State fans don't agree with the wire service polls Their teams also have claims to the national championship based on perfect records But the champ is still the champ until he's been beaten and nobody has come within 23 points of beating Nebraska OtTettelpar't egottrttat 1) 0 ri- L--- WEDNESDAY NOV 24 1971 TAGGE RODGERS OLDS NEBRASKA KINNET Figuring the NFL-Nebraska Given t' 'Ns i 4 '41 IN One-Point Edge 0 ON PAPER ON THE FIELD lorP) MI TIJC nrin WYLIE vl ON PA PER 0'000000 MILDREN I CROSSWHITE PRUITT OKLAHOMA'S The diagram above shows Oklahoma's triple option "Wishbone-T" attack Quarterback Jack Mildren can hand off to fullback Leon Cr os hit up the OU Problern ilake Pit middle pitch to Greg Pruitt or Joe Wylie for an end sweep or keep the football himself and turn upfield In the picture at bottom Mildren hands off to Wylie for a big gain off tackle 04 OKLAHOMA QQp000 MIIDREN CR OSSWHILIE 4 l' I 11 Li I I 'T i OKLAHOMA' tr' imbORPAPER ON T-11' l' 1 M0isf y' Ttorm1- -t" '5 tt0xt ti i 1f -t': -4 4 7 6 i i 1 4r '''74 :4 A' 4 '7 -Nkk '73 37 tozt: dirse 1041' 4 i -t tol oi: 0 Ill 1 '-4 t3 ii I l'''': 4 p't--7 1 0 i3 71 gf 4 1 iij Or't: 4 40 4 '1- 1'7 ''''''ti tii '''t ik "7: 4V 4 i A4' 4 1 4 4 Ifq 4i 4: i 1 4 5 :4 '-i I 4 zit 0 00 r4- oi 7- NiT 2: int" r-i l'' v4 4ro 1z 0 I Ir'4 11' V'i' '4 1-1: 4t r- 4 1t fl 41 i 4---- s1 444a 'f'''44 0 1 kit '--s-Ns i to --1 I7 ft' 'v tlk it ort 4 to 'IN 3-4 i 'e i 4 1 V' ''''l '''''41 :0 1' 04 7 4: fi tt 4 'yr AV 41A -YP t1 0 -40 VI 4 r''' I v- :::7445: ki Na ''''k 4 4 3t i4TA' 11' 'A tr: -) i- 1 1 -Als l' I i Nii i "vwc- "'''f '''''k 4 4 4: 1 IP rs -'1 I t'-i i 'IC '4''' tif 44 i 1 i ft 00- NI 4 "-Tr 'i 4Aa44 1 i 1 "ii- 4 i 1:: 101 :1 A0 1 :0 sS''' r- "4- 4 1 ee 4 vv t4 OKLAII0MA'S IV I II 0 The middle pitch to Greg Pruitt or Joe 1 diagram above shows Oklahoma's triple Wylie for an end sweep or keep the 1 option "Wishbone-T" attack Quarter- football himself and turn upfield In the back Jack Mildren can hand off to picture at bottom Mildren hands off to fullback Leon i up the Wylie for a big gain off tackle ti so robern '-i ir I '14 0 11 ht II By Jimmy (The Greek) Snyder 1116' '61 Avs 14 LAS VEGAS Another game of the Oklahoma and Nebraska Last game billed that way was Texas and Arkansas two years ago The Razorbacks lost the game and President Nixon lost Coach Joe Paterno's vote when he crowned Texas national champion ignoring Penn State's claims Notre Dame and Michigan State played a big one four years ago It was a 10-10 tie and the press criti- cized Ara Parseghian for playing it cool The Irish were also in a century game in time with 1 the Army who had Mr Outside Davis and Mr Inside 1 Blanchard The game was handicapped even and that's 'lst how it finished a 0-0 tie and 4000 bookies 4 jumped off the bridge You CAN'T blame sportswriters and fans for be- I ing carried away Only in the colleges can two a fine teams come down to the wire undefeated It never happens in the pros Odds are 1000 to 1 it never will Defense usually decides the big game and nobody has to tell Nebraska Coach Bob Devaney the way to pi stop Oklahoma is to keep Greg Pruitt from getting outside Nebraska's man to turn plays to the inside is All-America end Willie Harper a truly amazing i performer 44 But the match that could decide it is between IOklahoma's center Tom Brahaney and Nebraska middle guard Rich Glover Brahaney has been blowing people out of the middle all year for Sooner runners 'J --) Jack Mildren and Leon' Crosswhite Without Bralla--14 ney Oklahoma's Wishbone would be just another offense 0'' 1 Let's break it down J''' NEBRASKA OKLAHOMA SPEED 2 Offensive Line 3 Defensive Line Li 1 Defensive Secondary 1 Kicking Game 1 Less Turnovers 8 Home Team 3 Intangibles le 6 Total 5 Li 1 I 1 i irit: 1 i 1 i I I 'Ji I 0 2' i I 0 1 I 1 6 de t's ies )- ne er ill ly to ng ag Dn ITaS- 1 i er A 2 4 1 1 4 144 AN 4 op pl i 7 i i 4 1 1 1 4-f 41 i -11 'us: i 410N ---44 --4--- s' A ''7- '14 7 4- I (P 1 AO Sa 1 4 3 A At '461 it tt 1 ::) 4 0 1 a i st- 7 sco 0 if "I i or 1 l'ii A i os 4 A i 'li i '1 i 1 fr-P A ei I' 1 43 e-: 4 A 415 t'tt 1 1 i r'''0 A 41 ArN if i' i i Oit 'to ae ') 'It 0' 1 i 4 '14 Ni Jo -4 i' I 1 ki 4- i ir- 1 4 et if 4 I 31 1" 1 I -4 '''''''v- i ''''rt -1 N) 1 i 4 111'' T1''' 1 NEBRASKA'S 'ISOLATION' The diagram above shows Nebraska's "Isolation" play where quarterback Jerry Tagge hands off to Jeff Kinney who follows fullback Bill Olds through the hole At bottom it is shown in action with Olds (44) blocking Kansas State's Keith Best the player who has been "isolated" while reserve tailback Gary Dixon (22) gets big yardage MAKING NEBRASKA a 1-point favorite evens the game See JIMMY THE CREEK Page 3-C Thanksgiving Dinner at Chuck's Place Best Defense Best Offense ThanIcsgiv 11111111M111111 111' I I I Cornhus ters 1 e---- I in the Big Eight as the "the snake pit" Devaney said "We've played about as well on the road as we have at home" during his 10 years as head coach The statistic's bear him out with 35 road victories seVen losses and a tie HOWEVER FOUR of those losses came at Owen Field where the Cornhuskers have won only twice in the past quarter century including a 44-14 victory over the Sooners two years ago in the last Nebraska trip south Looking at the contest Devaney said "as far as the regular season goes there's never been two teams who have so completely dominated their opponents and then met each other like Nebraska and Oklahoma this year ht as the the cv a said about as well we have at 'is 10 years as bear him out ictories seven r0111t of those Owen Field thuskers have in the past including a er the Sooners 1 in the last outh the contest 'as far as the goes there's teams who ely dominated and then met Nebraska and ear By JIM AHERN LINCOLN NEB (AP) Nebraska Coach Bob Devaney discounted any home field advantage as he and his top-ranked Cornhuskers headed for Norman Okla and Thankgsgiving Day's "Game of the Decade" against second-ranked Oklahoma Devaney said he felt his team should be favored "I don't know how the people who decide who's the favorite will figure this one but I imagine they might make Oklahoma- the favorite because they're playing at home "BUT IF anyone is the favorite I think we should be because we're ranked No 1" Altho ugh Owen Field at Norman is generally referred LIT Nebr disco adva top-r ed I Than of ti ond-r De' team peopl favor but makc becal home "131 favor becaL Al Nom" at i 1 i so 7N 'N "Mt I 4k---7-1----e 1 itk i l'-'----------- 4 151 1-----' te IN I)) t' )) 4 0'' A i WON 141 i7) i 'fitt 00' I 1 I iti (k 1 4roA 41' io A 4afta i i 4 On OP It 4 60e-or0foodi11 ittl: 4 ok- 49 1010 se do- 0- i oodre Ipm 0 00 0' 00 0 1 41 00 -5 140 to -1 7 1 i100 'V': ---''N''11 i i I '4 -1 '114i 1 4 r------- 3 2 ::::::) ir vi i JACK -------zz -1: AD 4 MILOREM 01000 i pi 5 0 7-'' 01( or olli -t- 7 5- ab ti" 101111111Wall 4z-- 1' Ilim 77-- 1 1 '0' '1' Ibil aik- tr -474 Ak i goV40 4 eRty rett Romm rP ''e J014141-4Y 7 fr 1 f) ei 1 l'AGGE fly I IN Jr --P-- ol i'l" IA" i li I 1-- 4' (( "4- 0 4 -f1---1--- vt' -11 01 kNe S---------- gb qi -) 1 Jo 52-----'--- GREGG 'e tc edvoisoP ydd 40 tops pRunT 7 Ce: wCa it 414 -7 ---r r- ----------2--- All II 4- i 01 6' I 10111s-w ----'---------------------2--------- 't I 4 1 ic along with the theory that Nebraska unbeaten in 29 straight games and 10-0 this season is better on defense than on offense "NEBRASKA IS as fine a college football team as I've ever seen" Fairbanks said "They are a complete football team They do so well in all phases of the game "Nebraska is not the type of team that beats itself To win we have to play better than we have all year long We have to play a com le te Fame Were not going to win it on offense or on defense alone" Fairbanks said he doesn't think Nebraska Coach Bob Dcvaney will make major adjustments on defense "Or COURSE" Fairbanks said "there will be adjustment Nebraska probably will make some adjustment in their secondary for us I don't expect any big change They have the nation's best defense as it is'' Larry Lacewell the Sooners' defensive coach admitted Oklahoma doesn't have the depth on defense some other teams have "Depth in our defense has been a problem all season" he said then sighed and added: "The only good thing that has happened to me this year is I didn't have to defense the Oklahomaoff ease" DEVANEY ILLS said that the theory the Sooners are strictly offense-oriented and do not have a good defense is a lot of hogwash "Oklahoma's defense is vastly underrated" Devaney said "You've just heard more about their offense" By ROBERT MOORE Associated Press Sports Writer 1 NORMAN Okla (AP) 1 Can the nation's No 1 college football defense stop the No 1 offense? This appeared to be the big question today as top-ranked Nebraska and second-ranked Oklahoma wound up preparations Or Thursday's nationally televised game of the year The kickoff is set for 1:50 pm CST Nebraska has yieldcel only 171 yards a game Oklahoma's blistering wishbone offense has averaged 563 yards a game 70 THE question quarterback Jack Mildren the trigger man in Oklahoma's otfense flatly said "No" Sooner halfback Greg Pruitt who has averaged 95 yards a play said "We'll win' Both are impressed with the Black Shirts Nebraska's defensive unit but insisted Okla- homa can move the ball against the Cornhuskers "They're better on defense than any team we've played" said Mildren generally re-' garded as the best triple pt I quarterback in the country "However we don't think anybody can stop us" 1 PRUIT WHOSE rocket running has netted 1423 yards said bluntly: "I am confident we wilt beat them because I have confidence in our team and myself I think we proved we played our best under pressure back there when we beat Southern California Texas and Colorado in a row I don't hihk Nebraska has played -a pressure game this year" Coach Chuck Fairbanks of Oklahoma 9-0 doesn't go By RI Associatet CaNn(ItIth5eiAn offense? foo tball This a ril question Nebraska Oklahoma bons Cor ly televise The kickc Pim 11 nNa e'sybCarbSra Id's: ss' I i i fense has a game 7'0 THE back Jack ger man fense flail telr alfbac as avow said Bco' kth" sa he ie' 'I fensive uni homa et against the "They're than any t( said Math es opt i gird a country "1 think anybo I 1 1111 running yards said "I am c( at them ence I confid myself I II played our sure bad abseatanSdoucoth( don't hit played a year" Coach CI Oklahol Starting Lineups Nebraska Woody Cox (5-9167)-Sr Daryl White (6-4 238) Soph Dick Rupert (62 221) Sr Doug Dumper (63 237) Jr Keith Wortman (6-3 238) Sr Carl Johnson (6-4 232) Sr Jerry List (6-1218) Jr Jerry Tonne (6-2 215) Sr Jet( Kinney (6-2 210) Sr Johnny Rodgers (510 171) Jr Bill Olds (6-2 215) Jr wc Doi Eel Cal Jer Jer Jet Jot Bit Offense Pos Oklahoma SE Jon Harrison (5-9157) Sr LT Dean Unruh (6-3 240) Jr LG Darryl Emmert (6-2 218) Sr Tom Brahaney (6-2 231) Jr RG Ken Jones (6-4 236) Jr RT Robert Jensen (6-5 245) Jr TE Albert Chandler (6-3 228) Jr QB Jack Mildren (6-0 199) Sr T111HE Joe Wyhe (6-1182) Jr FLRHI3 Greg Pruitt (5-9 183) Jr FS Leon Crosswhite (6-2 207) Jr Defensi mma (5-9157) Sr (6-3 240) Jr (6-2 218) Sr 1 (6-2 231) Jr i4 236) (6-5 245) Jr iler (6-3 228) Jr 1(6-0199) Sr 5-9183) Jr 'lite (6-g 207) Jr Pos Oklahoma LE Raymond Hamilton (6-1 237) Jr LT Lncious Selmon (6-1226) Soph MEMLB Steve Aycock (6-2 208) Sr RT Derland Moore (64 252) Jr RE Lionel Day (6-0 231) Sr SLR Albert Qualls (6-3 2'22) Sr NVLE Mark Dritteoll (6-0 200) Sr IklSS Larry Roach (6-0 181) Jr Kenith Pope (6-0 200) Sopb RCB Steve O'Shaughn(1sy (5-11180) Sr SIS John Shelley (6-0195) Sr 'I (6-1 237) Jr i-1 2'26) Soph 208) Sr 4 252) Jr 311 Sr 222) Sr 200) Sr 181) Jr sr 195) Sr Nebraska John Adkins (6-3 221) Sr Larry Jacobson (6-6 252) Sr Rich Glover (6-2 234) Jr Bill Janssen (6-2 228) Sr Willie Harper (6-3 207) Jr Bill Sloey (6-2209) Jr Bob (6-2 209) Sr Dave Mason (6-0 19)) Sr Joe Blabak (5-10 1841 Jr Jim Anderson (6-0 180) Sr Bill Kosch (6-0176) Sr Jol Ric II Bil Bo Da' Joe Jin i i i I i gainnonnindow---- immninmmomMommm.