Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 41

College Football MSU Game Report Scoring summary At least there's hope for MSU faithful NebrB till 10 10 16 36 Michigan Stat 7 0S nx-10 FIRST QUARTER EAST LANSING No empty seats. It's a start. The faithful filled up the place Saturday for Nick Saban's NEBRASKA Kris Brown 22 field goal with 12:21 left. Drive: 29 yards. 8 plays.

Thm of posaaaaotn: 2 39. Kay play: Octavkxis McFarlm recovered Derrick Mason's fumble on the opening kickoff at MSU's 34. Nebraska msu a NEBRASKA Lawrence Phillips 2 run with 10:09 left. Brown kick. Drive: 68 yards, 4 plays.

Tim of pos -v Vv iW 4Jeyt I 4 It' first game as coach of the Michigan State Spartans, and do you know what? It looked good. Nobody booed, either. That sounded even better. The Spartans were little match session: 0:59. Kay play: Phillips 27 run plus face-mask penalty to MSU's 16 Nebraska 10, MSU 0.

MICHIGAN STATE Muhsin Muhammad 16 pass from-Tony Banks with 6:28 left. Chris Gardner kick. Drive: 76 yards, 10 plays. Time of possession: 3:41. Key play: Brian Echols recovered muffed punt at Nebraska's 44 Nebraska 10, MSU 7.

SECOND QUARTER Joe Falls another start for MSU. The school was wise to change coaches because it was going nowhere under the old regime. The old animosities are gone, and if anyone at this school brings them back because of individual agendas, he or she should be run out of town. It is simply time for everyone to put their school first and themselves second. Listening, Board of Trustees? As for Saban, he conducted himself in a proper way on the sidelines.

He wore dark green pants and a white shirt and with his earphones on; you could sense his no-nonsense, businesslike approach to the game. I got the feeling he learned some important lessons with the Cleveland Browns. Such as don't play it timid. I liked that he seemed to prepare his team to win the game and not just hang on. I liked the new plays because it told me that these plays might start working with more experience.

Too bad this is Banks' last year because he could be the catalyst for the future. It won't be easy to build a strong program, which is why they were smart to give Saban a five-year contract. Arbor doing TV on the Michigan-Memphis game. He would have seen some surprising things in Spartan Stadium. Such as a new-look offense, mixing the run and pass.

The Spartans weren't always successful.but at least they were trying to work some new plays. They came up with a shotgun formation, for heaven sakes, and quarterback Tony Banks looked pretty good throwing the ball into some tough places. He threw long, he threw short, he even threw from the end zone. And, yes, that was a screen pass the Spartans tried. In other words, there is some hope if they all stay healthy.

The problem is that this was MSU's first game and its execution left something to be desired. The Spartans fumbled too much, committed too many penalties and didn't present much of a running game. It looked as if they missed Duane Goulbourne more than anyone thought. Mostly, though, playing Nebraska was almost like playing a pro team. The Cornhuskers are big and strong and fast and deep and very experienced.

Coach Tom Osborne has everything covered. But remember this: Osborne has been on the job 23 years, and it took 22 of those years to go unbeaten and win a national title. You may even ask how many national championships Bo Schembechler won in his 22 years at Michigan. Everyone on this day seemed to understand the position Saban and his team were in, which was an almost impossible situation as far as winning was concerned. The Spartans were 18'A-point underdogs, and there was never any doubt of the quality of these two teams.

Yet, the whole scene looked good. The place was packed (73,891) and even most of the students were on hand for the opening kickoff. It was a glorious day sunny and cool, with temperatures in the low 70s and the fans seemed to enjoy it all. Enough to come back for more. The Nebraska fans filled both sides of the upper deck, plus two whole sections in the corner of the stadium.

They wore the red and white colors of the Cornhuskers, and the contrast with the green and white of MSU was spectacular. I guess the big thing is that this is NEBRASKA Phillips 1 run with 10:52 left. Drive: 41 yards, 4 plays. Time of possession: 1:15. Key play: Mike Minter interception at MSU's 41.

Nebraska 17, MSU 7. NEBRASKA Brown 47 field goal with 3:36 left. Drive: 51 yards, 9 plays. Time of possession: 3 00 Key play: Clinton Criilds 25 run to MSU's 37 Nebraska 20, MSU 7. THIRD QUARTER for the defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers, losing 50-10.

But you can forget the score. Everyone knew this was going to happen. No surprise. More important was how the Spartans would look under their new boss. Would they look weak? Inept? Or would they show some promise? As it turned out, they looked a little of each disorganized at times, certainly rusty, yet poised, with some promise on offense.

Too bad George Perles wasn't here to see this game. He was over in Ann NEBRASKA Brown 20 field goal with 10:18 left. Drive: 44 yards, 9 plays. Time of possession: 4:42. Key play: Chikfs 40 kickoff return to MSU's 46 Nebraska 23, MSU 7.

MSU Gardner 24 field goal with 6:27 left. Drive: 72 yards, 11 plays. Time of possession: 3:51. Key play: Mason 22 pass from Banks to MSU's 46 Nebraska 23, MSU 10. NEBRASKA Phillips 1 run with 4:29 left.

Run failed. Drive: 78 yards, 5 plays. Time of possession: 1 58 Key play: Reggie Baul 51 pass from Brook Berringer. Nebraska 29, MSU 10. NEBRASKA Phillips 50 run with 1:10 left.

Brown kick. Drive: 76 yards, 4 plays. Time of possession: 1:36 Nebraska 36, MSU 10. FOURTH QUARTER NEBRASKA Ahman Green 57 run with 13:24 left. Brown kick.

Drive: 66 yards, 3 plays. Time of possession: 0 50 Nebraska 43, MSU 10. NEBRASKA James Sims 80 run with 8:23 left. Brown kick. Drive: 80 yards, 1 play.

Time of possession: 014. Nebraska SO, MSU 10. Attendance: 73,891 IO -w Schedule Thursday, Sept 14 MIDWEST Toledo at W. Michigan, p.m. Texas Christian at Kansas.

8 p.m. SOUTHWEST Texas MM Kinqsville at SW Texas 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept 16 EAST Georgetown, C. al lona, Noon Rhode Island al New Hampshire, 12:30 p.m. Maine al Boston 1 p.m.

Lehigh at Colgate, 1 p.m. ViHanova at Delaware, 1 p.m. Bucknell at Fordham, 1 p.m. Holy Cross at Massachusetts, 1 p.m. William Mary at Northeastern, i p.m.

SI. John NY at Pace, 1 p.m. Temple at Penn 12:08 p.m. 4 Cornell al Princeton, 1 p.m. Canisius at Siena, 1 pm, Mansi at si.

t-rancis, i p.m. Monmouth, N.J. at St. Peter's, 1 p.m. 7 UP v.

i'Ji! Stony Brook at Wagner, 1 p.m. Brown at Vale. 1 p.m. Duke at Army, 1:30 p.m. Columbia at Harvard, 1:30 p.m.

Lalayette at Hofstra, 1:30 p.m. Dartmouth at Penn, 1:30 p.m. Navy at Rutgers, 6 p.m. Michigan al Boston College, 630 m. Cent.

Connecticut SI. at Connecticut, 7 p.m. Robert Morris at Duquesne, 7 p.m. SOUTH N. Carolina St at Florida Noon Cincinnati at Virginia Tech, Noon Arkansas at Alabama, 12:30 p.m.

New Mexico St. at Georgia, 1 p.m. NC Central at Howard 0., 1 p.m. Citadel at Richmond, 1 p.m. Manvine, Term, at Davidson, Appalachian St.

al N. Carolina Ml, 1:30 p.m. E. Tennessee St. at VML 130 p.m.

Georgia Tech at Virginia, 1:30 p.m. Cent. Michigan at East Carolina, 2 p.m. Jacksonville St. al Ala Birmingham, 2:30 p.m.

Tennessee at Florida, 3:30 p.m. BetlvCookman al Tn -Chattanoooa. 3:30 p.m. Daniel Mean1 he Detroit News Nebraska's Jared Tomich sacks Michigan State's Tony Banks. Herbie returns Nebraska mascot Herbie Husker's retirement lasted less than a month.

Athletic Director Bill Byrne made the announcement Saturday before the Corn-huskers'game against Michigan State. Byrne announced in August that Herbie, an overall-clad fanner with an aw-shucks grin, was being retired after 21 years. The image, Byrne said at the time, did not market well elsewhere in the country. That sparked an outcry from Herbie loyalists. "Herbie's going to be there today," Byrne said before the game with the Spartans.

"We had so many letters and calls about this that it became a distraction. We decided just to put him back out there." The decision also means Herbie will be at next Saturday's home opener against Arizona State, Byrne said. The mascot missed the season opener at Oklahoma State on Aug.31. This is so great, this is America democracy at work the people from across Nebraska have spoken," said Ken Kramer of Omaha, president of the Save Herbie Foundation. "It's been a down-in-the-dirt, bloody war.

Herbie was a part of the team, a part of the family." Kramer presented Byrne with petitions two weeks ago demanding Herbie's reinstatement. Welcome back On the first play of his first game as MSU's coach, Nick Saban watched helplessly as wide receiver Derrick Mason fumbled on the kickoff. Change of heart Reporters from the Daily Nebraskan will be allowed to attend practice after all. Cornhuskers Coach Tom Osborne banned the reporters after their newspaper published two cartoons critical of his team. Some believe Osborne was trying to avoid possible legal action.

One cartoon showed a caricature of wide receiver Riley Washington practicing in a prison jump suit. Washington was ordered Friday by a Lancaster County judge to stand trial on charges of second-degree murder. The second cartoon depicted running back Lawrence Phillips driving a car with dollar bills blowing out the back. In with the new It will take a little time to get used to it, but the Spartans marching band sported new uniforms. The change, from spats to hats, leaves the Spartans with a mostly white uniform and black shoes.

The Nebraska mascot now sports red football pants and a white jersey. We like him better in overalls. And what is this new wrinkle in MSU's offense? The shotgun? This formation was a banned substance in the George Perles era. No-show So where was MStFs former coach? Actually, Perles was at the Michigan-Memphis game in Ann Arbor doing play-by-play. We always knew Perles was a closet Wolverines fan.

Red seas Everyone loves a winner. That's why there were large pockets of red in the stands from nearly 10,000 Cornhuskers fans. Terry Foster Michigan St. at Louisville, 4 p.m. Eton at W.

Carolina, 4:30 p.m. Grambing vs. Hampton at E. 6 p.m. McNeese St.

at James Madison, 6 p.m. Charleston Southern at S. Carolina 6 m. Clemson at Wake Forest, 630 m. East Stroudsburg at E.

Kentucky, 7 p.m. Jackson St. at Florida MM, 7 p.m. Wofford at Furman, 7 p.m. Georgia Southern at Marshal, 7 p.m.

West Virginia al Maryland, 7 p.m. Middle Term at Morehead 7 p.m. Tennessee Tech at Samlord, 7 p.m. Louisiana Tech at South Carolina, 7 p.m. Kentucky at Austin Peay, 7:30 p.m.

Morgan St. al Liberty, 7:30 Alcom SI. vs. Alabama SI. at Mobile.

8 p.m. Heather StoneThe Detroit News Michigan State's Marc Renaud tries to break downfield against Nebraska's pesky defense. Auburn at LSU, 8 pm. SW Louisiana at Meiriohis. 8 p.m.

MSU Notebook MSU SE Missoun al Murray 6 p.m. Delia St at NW Louisiana. 8 m. Troy St at Nichols 8 p.m. Prairie View vs.

Southern al Bat. Rouge, 8 Dm. Osborne wants to see polls change criteria MIDWEST Arizona at Illinois, 12:30 p.m. Towson St. at Dayton.

1 p.m. Iowa al Iowa 1 p.m. Kent at Ohio 1 Delaware St. at W. Minois, 1 p.m.

Butler at Millikm, 130 p.m. Kentucky at Indiana, 2 p.m. Arizona St. al Nebraska, 2 p.m. Miami, Ohio at Northwestern, 2 p.m.

Drake at 2 p.m. Evansville at Greenville, 2:30 p.m. VanderMI al Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. Wis Whitewater al Valparaiso, 2:30 p.m. Akron al Bowling Green, 3:30 p.m.

Washington at Ohio 3:30 p.m. UNLV at E. Michigan, 6 p.m. Gtenville St. al Indiana 7 m.

Ball St. at Minnesota, 7 p.m. Slippery Rock at Youngstown 7 p.m. Buffalo at Illinois 7:30 p.m. Lock Haven at N.

Iowa, 7:30 p.m. Tenn -Martin at E. Illinois, 6 p.m. SOUTHWEST Oregon St. at North Texas, 2:30 p.m.

Southern Meth. at Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Texas, 3:30 p.m. Tulsa al Texas MM, 5 p.m. S.

Minors at Arkansas 7 p.m. Mississippi St. at Baylor, 7 p.m. SW Missouri St. at Oklahoma 7 p.m.

Missouri at Texas Tech, 7:30 p.m. Southern U. at Prairie View, 8 p.m. Tuiane at Rice, 8 Angeio St. at Stephen F.Auslin, 6 p.m.

Vaktosta St al Texas-El Paso, 9 m. FAR WEST Hawaii at Wyoming, 2 p.m. NE Louisiana al Colorado, 2:10 m. Utah al Western SI 3 p.m. Colorado SI.

at Air Force, 3 30 m. Oregon al UCLA, 3:30 p.m. Minn -Dukith al Montana. 3:35 p.m. N.

minors al San Jose 4:30 p.m. Sonoma St at Idaho, 6:05 m. Wisconsin at Stanlord. 6:30 m. Utah al New Mexico.

8 m. St Mary's, Cat at Weber 8:05 p.m. CS Norlhridge al Idaho 8 30 m. Montana St at Cat Poty-SlO, 9 pm Sam Houston SI. at Base 9 OS p.m.

Abilene Christian al Arizona, 9 05 m. Southern Miss at Utah 905 pm. San Diego SI. at Brigham young, 9 30 Sacramento St. at Washington, 9 36 m.

Pacitic at Fresno 10 m. Houston at Southern Cat, 10 p.m. sophomore Marc Renaud, starting in place of injured tailback Duane Goulbourne, fumbled at the 32. Nebraska turned that turnover into a 10-0 lead on a 2-yard dive by Phillips less than five minutes into the game. The Spartans got the next break as Nebraska's Mike Minter mishandled a punt that was recovered by MSU's Brian Echols at the Cornhuskers' 44.

Banks went for the long ball to Nigea Carter on first down. An interference penalty on the play gave MSU the ball at the 29. On second-and-16, Banks connected with Muhsin Muhammad over the middle. Muhammad spun to the sideline for a 25-yard gain to the 10. The Spartans cashed in on third down from the 11 as Banks found Muhammad in the middle of the end zone.

The offensive line supplied Banks with plenty of time to find an open receiver. Nebraska also turned it over on its next possession. Frazier fumbled at the end of a 14-yard gain after a big hit by cornerback Demetrice Martin. Travis Reece recovered at MSU's 30. The Spartans moved to the Nebraska 46, but Saban elected to punt on a fourth-and-1 play.

Nebraska turned the field position around with a drive into MSU territory and then a punt by Jesse Kosch that was downed at the Spartans' 5. Banks tried to get MSU out of the jam on third-and-9 from the 6, but his pass was intercepted by Minter at the MSU 41. With Berringer taking over at quarterback, Phillips responded with consecutive runs of 19 and 18 yards. He then scored on a 1-yard dive for a 17-7 lead with 10:52 remaining in the half. Continued from Page ID splits time with Frazier anyway.

The difference in the game was Nebraska's ability to run the ball at will against MSU, including 240 yards on the ground in the first half. Meanwhile, MSU opened up its offense as promised with a strong passing game from quarterback Tony Banks. But the Spartans couldn't mix it up enough as Nebraska shut down their running game. The Spartans needed to get an early lead if they hoped to pull an upset of the defending national champions. But early mistakes, including a fumble on the opening kickoff and another on the first drive, put MSU in a hole.

Nebraska (2-0) turned those two turnovers into a 10-0 lead. The Cornhuskers committed three turnovers in the first half, including two fumbles, but still led 20-7 at halftime. Besides the two turnovers, MSU also had nine penalties for 63 yards in the first half. The Cornhuskers' superior strength and quickness prevailed in the second half. The Saban era couldnt have gotten off to much worse of a start.

Derrick Mason, considered one of the top return specialists in the nation, fumbled on the opening kickoff at the 34-yard line. The Cornhuskers moved inside the MSU 10, but after an incomplete pass into the end zone, Frazier was stopped for 2 yards on third-and-6. MSU's defense got a lift out of the series by holding Nebraska to Kris Brown's 22-yard field goal. MSU used two personal-foul penalties to get into Nebraska territory on its first possession. But By Dave Dye The Detroit News EAST LANSING Although pollsters selected his undefeated team over another undefeated team, Penn State, for last season's national championship, Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne would like to see a change in the system.

Many people want to see a playoff, but Osborne would settle for some revision in the way the polls are determined. "The thing I would like to see would be the college football polls be based on some objective criteria rather than subjective material," said Osborne, whose second-ranked team beat Michigan State, 50-10, Saturday at Spartan Stadium. 1 think it would be ideal if we had some type of a strength-of-schedule index. Some statistics have to be taken into account. Certainly the win-loss record would be the big statistic.

"I think there is a better way to determine 1-2-3 if you're going to have a poll, than writers' and coaches' opinions. I say that as a voter because I know my vote is certainly not real scientific. It usually occurs in the wee hours in the morning on Saturday. "I try to scramble around and figure out who beat whom. I don't have any idea about how well teams played.

Sometimes you see a score and later on you see the film and realize the score wasn't at all indicative of what happened in the game. I think everybody is in the same boat- Slow starters The Spartans have spotted their opening opponent a one- or two-game advantage each of the last seven years. Nebraska defeated Oklahoma State in its opener last week in a game that had been moved up from later in the season. MSU Coach Nick Saban has said he would favor moving up a game on the Spartans' schedule in the future to keep the situation from happening again, but he's not sure it's feasible. Briefly Based on last season's records, MSU plays the most difficult schedule in the country this year, according to the NCAA News.

The Spartans' 1995 opponents combined for a 75-42-5 record last season against Division I-A opponents (except MSU) for a percentage of .635. Temple's opponents had a 73-43-2 record Nine MSU players made their first collegiate start They are senior offensive guard Tony Popovski, junior center Matt Beard, sophomore offensive tackle Flozell Adams, junior guard Brian Mos-allam, sophomore tailback Marc Renaud, junior defensive tackle Chris Smith, junior defensive end Jabbar Threats, sophomore linebacker Travis Reece and sophomore cornerback Shon Hart. Mary Houhanisin, 20, a junior business adirunistrationpre-law major from Brighton, became the first female drum major in the 125-year history of MSU's marching band. Fuichigan State sch Date Opponent Result Sept L. 50-10 Data Opponent Time Sept 16- "at Louisville (PASS) Noon Sept.

23 at Purdue 2 p.m. Sept. 30 B.C. (ABC) Noon Oct. 7 Iowa 1 p.m.

Oct 14 at Illinois 2 pm. Oct. 21 Minnesota 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at Wisconsin 2 p.m.

Nov. 4 Michigan 1 p.m. 'j Nov. 11 at Indiana 1 p.m. Nov.

25 Penn State 1 p.m. PASS will televise the Iowa, Illinois and Michigan games on a same-day, tape- delay basis. 1.