The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 13

THE LINCOLN STAR Friday, Page 13 Opperman recovering, back to racing for church, ranch if I got it, coach! Maryland forward Steve Sheppard has found that inching the ball down the court with his nose can be effective when he takes a spill. NFL musical chairs to end By William N. Wallace (c) New York Timea New York Now there are four and on Sunday night there will be two as the National Football League's version of musical chairs continues. The four surviving playoff teams will play for the National and American Conference championships on Sunday, Los Angeles and Minnesota at Bloomington, followed by Oakland and Pittsburg at Oakland. The winners qualify for the Super Bowl at Pasadena, on Jan.

9 and the games come in the wake of the controversial division playoffs last weekend. The controversy centered on some questionable officiating that worked against Dallas and New England and some weak telecasting as to camera alertness and commentary that worked against the public interest. The following matchups and previews were accomplished with the help of Bud Goode, the noted sports computer analyst. Goode, working with the Univac statistical systems, is a consultant to half a dozen NFL teams, including the Rams, the Redskins and the Cardinals He is also a long-time Ram fan and in reference to that team he uses the personal pronoun, with ease and conviction The regular-season won-lost-tied records are in parentheses National Confaranca Los Angeles (10-3-1) at Minnesota (11-21) numbers coming out of the computer indicate another tie said Goode. almost zero difference between these They played to a 10-10 tie in overtime in the second game of the season.

In the fifth period a Tom Dempsey middle-range field-goal attempt for the Rams was blocked and later a first- down pass from the Ram 11, badly thrown by Fran Tarkenton, was intercepted by Rick Kay, a linebacker. They cannot play to a tie this time because it is a playoff game and the overtime periods will go on as long as necessary. The longest game? Miami's 2724 victory over Kansas City in the eighth minute of the second overtime on Christmas Day, 1971. Goode suspects that the game will be won, or lost, on the little things like fumbles, out-of-bounds punts, blocked kicks, penalties elements that defy forecasting. The Rams know what they have to do run the ball.

They are good at it, 10th best in the league at 4.1 yards per attempt and better than the Vikings, in 23rd place at 3 7. The Rams are also good at defending against the run, No. 3 in the NFL with 3.6 yards allowed per rush while Minnesota is 21st at 4 3. is where our best chance lies," said Goode by telephone from his headquarters in Los Angeles. don't want Tarkenton on the field.

And the best wav to keep him off is for us to run the The Rams have no Tarkenton. Few do. said Goode, his golden arm is by far the most efficient quarterback in the game. Look at his percent of interceptions to pass attempts only 1.9." In the tie game the Rams, in five periods, ran a phenomenal 85 rushing plays at the Vikings, 19 in the first half at Carl Eller, the Minnesota left end who was playing with a broken thumb. Goode sees the game as even and the betting favorite is Minnesota by 5 points.

American Confaranca Pittsburgh (10-44) at Oakland (13-1-0) The Raiders' advantage maybe their only one is the Ken Stabler-to-CUff Branch passing conbination. Branch averages 25 yards a reception against a league average of 12 for wide receivers. Furthermore, the Raiders led the league by far in touchdown passes with 33, or 20 more than their defense gave up. But the Steelers are ahead in most other statistical areas The vital one. which proved so essential in the victory over Baltimore, was in the rushing game.

The Steelers have been running the ball 23 more times a game than the opposition. A championship team averages 10 more rushes and Oakland's figure is 9.7 more. So 23 means an iron grip on ball control and a devouring of the playing time on the clock. the Stabler-Branch combination doesn't said Goode, it doesn't get them at least two touchdowns, they are out of it. Stabler's arm will be working all the time from a catch-up posture.

The betting points favor the Steelers by 5Mi and Goode agrees The race wasn't that unusual. Jan Opperman was charging for the lead in the Hoosier Hundred big champ car race and the leader spun. Opperman's car flipped when he tried to avoid the accident. He was okay and trying to get out of his car to survey the damage and get off the brack. But just as Opperman was getting out of his wrecked car, another car came sliding into and a fourth car hit the wreckage, leaving a rumpled of including Opperman.

No pulse, no heartbeat and serious head injuries, obvious from a crushed helmet, neck and shoulder injuries and the track doctor's pronouncement of death seemed to be the end of the popular driver, formerly of Beaver Crossing remember much besides the ambulance people telling me I going to make it to the Opperman said from his home in Noxon, Mont. had a huge hole in my head and they told me I would be paralyzed on my left side for life if I did make it. saw some pictures of the wreck and me lying on the track and I even looked dead to Opperman said. He was unconscious and in critical condition for six days following the accident. That was early in September'and now after a month and a half in the hospital, weeks of recuperating, and of Opperman is working out, getting in shape for another season of auto racing.

been a struggle up until the last week because I got so out of shape from just lying in the hospital like a he said. got my balance back and I can run without getting dizzy. You have to be in shape to Give up racing? Retire and go into some other business and be glad to be alive? That seems to be the answer most persons would find. But Opperman has a mission and the only way he can complete it is through racing. The mission is love for others race because the only way I can make a lot of money to support my church and the 160-acre ranch to rehabilitate drug he said.

still have fun racing but I don't just Stop Action By Ken Hambleton Jan Opperman Recovering race for fun anymore The ranch, sponsored by USCRY (Us Concerned Racers for Youth), is taking shape now and the Solid Rock Church is completed. Opperman, an ordained minister, holds services for the local populace. have to pay annually to keep the ranch and the land the church is on. And getting hurt shortened my earning said Opperman. awhile I wasn't too sure we were even going to have something to eat this winter.

the crash has turned out to be a blessing There hasn't been anything better in my he said. like to do things for myself and being helped is kind of humiliating but it builds character. also brought out the best in people close to me and strenghtened my committment to Christ. feel a lot of people came to life because of the crash and the extent of my said Opperman. if my life is the price, cheap for what was gained.

"I felt I had a strong bond with God before the crash, but since then had to rely on God for more and I've gotten said Opperman. people, drivers and fans, never helped so much before the crash, but now I think we re all closer to God. God wants me to drive be back because that's the way He uses me. I start all over from the beginning every spring and the first race, I always wonder if I lost said Opperman. race tommorrow and I won't get in a car until ready.

animals you know my profession and the only thing I can do that good to make money to support the church and ranch and my Opperman said. When will Opperman quit a good finish in the Indy 500 this year or winning some big races would do he said. Opperman will have his best chance ever in the Indy 500 with a new car owned by Longhorn Racers. much better equipment than I had last year before the Indy and we finished sixth at the Ontario 500 in the last race we ran, said Opperman. bitten by the racing bug but I'm tired of taking the beating Blair big change for CU Osborne anxious for bowl trip By Virgil Parkur Sports Editor Kim Kujath and Dale Zabrockie are not exactly household names among Big Red football fans.

But, they were the first string fullback and I-back Thursday when Nebraska coach Tom Osborne's club held its final Lincoln workout prior to the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl game. been a little frustrating since we got back from Osborne admitted after the brisk one-hour drill in sweat clothes. we reassembled to start preperations for the bowl Osborne explained, was so darn cold it was all we could do to survive. Now, it warms up a little, the players are all involved in final exams. had a different group missing from every practice.

been hard to accomplish Osborne points out that he has been shorthanded at running back all season with the loss of Monte Anthony (surgery), Dave Gillespie (reinjured hamstring pull) and Gary Higgs (not making the bowl trip because of classroom deficiency), we're thinner than ever back there Fullbacks Dodie Donnell and Keith Steward, plus I-backs Richard Berns and Byron Stewart all had a final exam Thursday. Osborne is thankful his team played Hawaii, Dec. 4. are pretty the NU coach declares. were a lot of mental mistakes during the practices this week It's a good thing we had that Hawaii game.

Without that we would have been without any organized work since the Oklahoma game Osborne says looking forward to next workouts in Houston. hope We can have some good sessions down there. We have to. We'll have to get a lot better before we play Texas Osborne warns that the Red Raiders do everything well will have to be particularly conscious of Allison (Tech quarterback Rodney). He runs the option well, is a good passer and a real scrambler.

He's made a lot of big plays for them this Osborne adds. scrambling quarterbacks always seem to give us a lot of problems." Osborne said that while the Huskers are working on special defenses to stop Texas Tech. won't make a lot of drastic changes in the basic defense we play. You do that for one game or one player and be The team is off Friday, then will assemble Christmas morning for the flight south, with a practice scheduled that after- now at Rice Stadium. Editor's Note: This is the last in a seven-part series on Big Eight basketball teams.

By Mark Gordon Staff Sports Writer Fans in Boulder have to look far for a change with this year's Colorado basketball team. Take the coach. He's Bill Blair, who last year guided Virginia Military Institute to the NCAA quarterfinals. known for being dynamic. Already, he has guided cheers at CU Fieldhouse during a nonconference game when he felt spectators weren't enthusiastic enough in cheering for CU.

Whether that will help win games is debateable. But definitely going to give the first-year Buff coach some publicity and perhaps will attract more fans to the ancient Boulder stracture The Buffs went 7-19 overall last year including a 4-10 league mark good for a sixth-place tie with Oklahoma State. CU returns 13 lettermen from that squad including four starters. Starting center Larry Vacullk, a 6-7 product from Omaha Ryan High School, finished fourth in conference rebounding last season (8.0) with a fine .520 field goal fans to be disappointed Pittsburgh (UPI) Steeler Dwight White says a lot of fans are going to be disappointed if they expect Pittsburgh's AFC duunplonship game with the Oakland Raiders Sunday to be a bloodbath. think people are expecting to see the Little Big Horn out White said, referring to all the publicity this week surrounding thebloodshed likely to come out of the match between the two arcfarivals.

think going to be a high intensity game, with some vicious hitting out White said. But, he added, aoes on every Each team, he said, will be concentrating so much on playing football that there be time to settle old grudges, such as the feelings about the concussion Georgs Atkinson gave Lynn Swann in their season opener last got too much to lose to fighting," White said. got too to worry about fighting. I think who most fighting is probably going to to lose doss the I up the White said be figures the fans at Oakland Coliseum Sunday probably will be more bloodthirsty than any of the players, and he blames the news media for those hot feelings. read, this book where they referred to them (reporters) as the painters of the mass media, making a picture of he said.

when the people see it, disappointed. know what like to do with those people? like to get them out on the field for about one quarter. People like to talk about blood and elbowing when not thsir All the stories and broadcasts about the "holy Sunday have prompted the Steelers to tease Swann about whether he ll be ready to protect himself if Atkinson or any other Raider strongarms him. But Swann said he's not even worrying about whether he'll be a target, btftutt be plans to get his revenge for the concussion that hampered him most of the not going to worry about it because out of my control. just have the last laugh whan we come home AFC champions Swann said.

really want to go in and play a super ball game. Oakland is where I started off the beginning of the season and the season go too well. "So I want to go oid there and have a good game and in that way be a payback Injured running backs Franco Harris and Frenchy Fuqua went outside for the first time this week Thursday and walked gingerly around the snowcovered field at Three Rivers Stadium, then adjourned to the training room. Fuqua said his sprained knee is feeling much better and that he will be ready to play Harris said his bruised ribs still were bothering him and that he had no good news to report on his status, which still is officially listed as questionable running mate, Rocky Bleier, did not take any exercise, but he said his sprained toe feels much better and he was optimistic be ready to play The limp he's had all week was barely Track meet set In Omaha Omaha The Plains Club of Omaha will sponsor a high school open and masters track meet for men and women Sunday at p.m. in the UNO Fieldhouse events In track and held Registration will be at the meet.

No excuses for Sooners: Switzer Tempe, Arts. (UPI) If nhlfiinmf fheold hapfjfw to fall victim to underdog Wyoming in Fiesta Bowl, the Sooners could Name it on a lack of practice time. But they won't certainly won't be a crutch for said Sooner coach Barry Switier in explaining exams cut into the Oklahoma practice seadons. While Wyoming arrived here Dec. II, the could not leave for Arizona until Tuesday night.

To complicate matters further, their charter flight was delayed and the Sooners did not land until the hours Wednesday, forcing Switzer to call off one of the day's two scheduled practices. very disappointed we haven't had what we would like to consider the proper preparation for a bowl said. practicad Monday and Tuesday whan we found about an hour in the morning that we didn't have but about IS no-shows for practice because of exams. like to have more time for preparation, but that won't be anything that is a deciding factor in the he added. Larry Vacullk now helping Buffs percentage.

Vaculik has had a fine start. In the early statistics, hitting 563 on field goals and .813 on free throws. In the backcourt. both starters return, including the team's leading scorer Emmett Lewis. Lewis, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Gary, averaged 15 points a game last year and connected on 32 of 38 free throws for a fine .842 percentage Lewis is already off to a fine start this year.

In the first five games, he averaged 20 points the best start for any Big Eight player. His running mate is Jay Sierra, a 5-9 senior. He will be pressed by Clayton Bullard, a 6-3 sophomore from Omaha Powers By Chuck Sinclair Staff Sports Writar When Warren Powers was contemplating a head football coaching job while serving as defensive backfieid coach for the University of Nebraska, he pondered over possible assistant coaches in case bis dream became reality With acceptance of the Washington State University head football poet last week, John dreams also became realities The successful Omaha South High School football coach was offered a position on staff working either with the offensive line or backs. whole time 1 was thinking about being a head coach, I was constantly thinking about who my assistants would Powers said. name was always at the top of the think do a hell of a job for Powers added.

the kind of guy who can turn programs around He's done it everywhere been at David City, McCook and Omaha South successful 13 Central, and Jim Cummins, a 6-5 senior. Blair acquired hearalded guard Toney Ellis, from tradition-rich DeMatha High School (where Nebraska guard Eric Coard hails) near Washington, C. Possible contenders for Vaculik's backup or a forwards' spot include 6-7 sophomore Alfred Hicks from Dever and Kurt Schoenhoff, a 6-6 junior from Westchester, III After losing their first two games (to New Mexico ami Texas-El Paso), the Buffs won five straight, defeating Air Force, Jacksonville, Arkansas- Little Rock, Long Beach State and Fort Lewis College. The Buffs dropped an 81-62 decision Tuesday night at the University of Washington as Bullard scored 12 points and Vacullk and Lewis each added 10 Colorado opens Big Eight Tournament action in Kansas City's Kemper Arena against coach Joe Cipriano Huskers at 7 05 Tuesday. NU stopped CU twice last season The game will be a good chance to measure the Buffs' improvement in the first month of the season under Blair The Schedule December: 27-30 Big Eight Tournament Kansas City.

Mo January: 3 at Nevada Las Vegas 8 lowa State 12 at NebrasKa, 15 Kansas State 19 Missouri, 22 at OKiahoma 26 at Oklahoma State, 29 at Kansas February: 2 Nebrasna, 5 at Kansas State. 9 at Iowa State 12 -Oklahoma 16 at Missouri, 19 Oklahoma State 23 Kansas, 26 Btg Eight campus piayott March: 3-4 Big Eight playofts at Kansas City, Mo The Roster Ht. Class Hometown Beniamin, GregOF 6 4 so Tnornton, Colo Berry, Alvin 6 3 Jr. Detroit. Mich Bolen, Dave F6-4 Jr Bonn, Germany Bullard, ClayfonG 6-3 So Omaha, Nebr.

Cummins, Jim 6-5 Sr. Fort lupton, Co'o EMiS, Toney G6-1 Fr. Washington, C. Hicks, Alfred 6-7 So Denver, Coio Mmya, Tom 6 4 So Muncie, Ingi Lewis, Emmett 6 1So Gary, mo Mueller, Greg 6 6Sr Denver, Coto Schoenhoff, KurtFC Jr Westchester. Ill Sferre, Jey 5 9 Sr Syracuse.

Vaculik, Larry 6 7 aJrOmaha. Nebr Wente, TomF-C 6 7 Jr Rochester, Mmn Returning starters are boldfaced Faiman to join on WSU staff John Faiman WSU assistant in the high school coaching ranks provided him with a 66-46-3 career coaching mark with his 1976 Packers finishing 7-2 after he had served as Shrine Bowl head coach for the 1976 game think Just Faiman said. been in high school coaching for 13 years and I figured about time to move on to better things Faiman said he feels better about the situation knowing South has a good nucleus coming back next year, but he expressed regrets that he hadn't had a chance to consult with his team before the announcement was made on an Omaha television station Thursday night was planning on calling a team meeting Saturday so I could get together with my kids and tell them personally," Faiman said feel really bad about that They deserved to know before this Faiman played his collegiate football at the University of Nebraska with Powers as a quarterback and safety in the early '60s guess basically, I'm just real happy to be going with a guy like Warren," Faiman said makes leaving a lot easier. We've been good friends ever since our college have eight full-time assistant coaches," Powers said hope to have at least six of them named before we leave for Washington after the first of the year Powers said Price, a Washington State grad, is familiar with the area and should be a tremendous asset to in recruiting.