From: maryb@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Jayhawk Post #42 (Top-ranked offenses)
Date: 7 Nov 92 00:45:00 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services

This article is from the Friday, November 6, 1992 issue of the University
Daily Kansan.

TOP-RANKED OFFENSES TO CLASH IN LINCOLN
by David Bartkoski, Kansan sportswriter

   The number 13 is often considered unlucky. The number seven is thought to
bring good luck. But No. 13 Kansas hopes the opposite is true when it plays
No. 7 Nebraska at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in Lincoln for sole possession of first
place in the Big Eight Conference.
   The Jayhawks, 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference, will try to defeat the
Cornhuskers, 6-1 and 3-0, for the first time since the 1968 season, the last
time Kansas went to the Orange Bowl. The game, which will be shown on ESPN,
may decide who goes to this year's Orange Bowl.
   Kansas coach Glen Mason said the Cornhuskers would give Kansas all it could
handle. "If you tell me there are six better teams in the country than
Nebraska, I want to know who they are," he said. "We're going to have to
perform at our best, whatever that may be. Our best may not be good enough,
but that's what we strive to do each and every week."
   Nebraska leads the nation in scoring offense with 42.4 points a game and in
rushing offense with 351.1 yards a game. Sophomore Calvin Jones and junior
Derek Brown rank first and second in rushing in the conference. Jones, who
averages eight yards a carry, has scored nine touchdowns and rushed for 770
yards. Brown has carried the ball 125 times and gained 735 yards. He ranks
21st nationally with 101 yards rushing a game. Last year in Nebraska's 59-23
defeat of Kansas, Jones rushed for 294 yards and scored six touchdowns against
the Jayhawks.
   Mason said that Nebraska's rushing offense was almost unstoppable. "No one,
and I mean no one, rushes better year in and year out," he said. "I've not
seen many people be able to stop that offense, and no one's been able to do it
on a consistent basis."
   The Jayhawks rank ninth nationally in rushing offense. However, they will
be without senior fullback Monte Cozzens, who injured his knee against
Oklahoma State. Sophomore fullback Chris Powell will start in Cozzens' place.
Powell has 25 yards on 11 carries this year.
   The Kansas defense will face a freshman quarterback for the second straight
week. Last week, Oklahoma State freshman quarterback Gary Porter played the
entire game against the Jayhawks. This week, Nebraska freshman quarterback
Tommie Frazier will start against Kansas. Frazier has rushed for 231 yards and
passed for 301 yards in five games. He did not make any turnovers in
Nebraska's 52-7 clubbing of Colorado last week.
   The Cornhuskers lead the nation in turnover margin, averaging two more
takeaways a game than their opponents. Kansas junior kicker Dan Eichloff said
that turnovers could play a part in the outcome of the contest. "Whoever plays
mistake-free football is going to win the game," he said. Eichloff is
currently five points shy of Bruce Kallmeyer's record of 233.
   Nebraska senior punter Mike Stigge averages 44.7 yards a punt, the 11th
best average in the nation. Stigge has the longest kick this season of any
conference punter, an 87-yard boot against Oklahoma State.
   Both Kansas and Nebraska have players that won honors for defensive
performances last week. Kansas junior free safety Kwamie Lassiter, who had two
interceptions and caused a fumble against Oklahoma State, was named national
defensive player of the week by Sports Illustrated in the November 9 issue.
Nebraska senior defensive tackle John Parella was chosen as the Big Eight
Defensive Player of the Week. He made eight tackles and had three quarterback
sacks against Colorado. Nebraska senior linebacker Travis Hill helped the
Nebraska defense hold Colorado to eight yards rushing, the Buffaloes' lowest
rushing total in almost eight years. Hill is one of 10 semifinalists for the
Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's best linebacker.
   Nebraska's defense will battle the Kansas offense, which ranks fourth
nationally in scoring with 38.5 points a game.
   Kansas senior tailback Maurice Douglas said he thought the Jayhawks were
just as good as Nebraska. "I think we have as much talent on our football team
as they have on theirs," he said. "If we play our game, I think we can win."

NOTES:
--Nebraska is 74-21-3 against Kansas.
--Nebraska coach Tom Osborne is 19-0 against Kansas, and Osborne's teams have
 outscored the Jayhawks 909-139.
--Eichloff's scoring average of 9.5 points a game ranks sixth nationally. He
 has kicked 1.75 field goals a game, ninth best in the nation.

Posted to r.s.f.c. by "Kansas Mary"