Arizona
(11-1 record; Dick Tomey, 11th year) |
Nebraska
(9-3 record; Frank Solich, 1st year) |
School's Bowl Record: 4-7-1
Coach's Bowl Record: 3-3
Last Bowl Appearance: December 27, 1997 (Beat New Mexico 20-14 in Insight.com Bowl)
Record in Holiday Bowl: First appearance |
School's Bowl Record: 18-18
Coach's Bowl Record: 0-0
Last Bowl Appearance: January 2, 1998 (Beat Tennessee 42-17 in Orange Bowl)
Record in Holiday Bowl: First appearance
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Offensive Stud |
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Trung Canidate, RB, Jr. (167 carries, 1,220 yards, 10 TDs): Speedster with the unusual name (son of Jimmie and Ruth, no less) may be best unknown back in nation.
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Bobby Newcombe, QB, So. (50-79, 712 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 83 carries, 228 yards, 8 TDs): 'Huskers are a different team when superquick signal-caller is in there; still undetermined whether he will play.
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Defensive Stud |
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Marcus Bell, LB, Jr. (139 tackles, 13 TFLs): Was anyone else playing defense? Bell had more tackles then next two leaders combined.
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Chad Kelsay, DE, Sr. (72 tackles, 6 sacks, 14 TFLs): After splitting time at left end in '97, led team in TFLs and was third in tackles.
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Player to Watch |
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Chris McAlister, CB/KR, Sr. (15 career INTs): Finalist for Thorpe and Tatupu awards; seventh player in NCAA history to return a punt, kickoff and interception for touchdowns in same season.
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Josh Heskew, C, Sr.: All-Big 12 performer was only returning starter on offensive line, which has long been the backbone of Nebraska's success.
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Key Stats |
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No. 12 nationally in rushing defense (102.8 ypg). |
Despite struggles, No. 11 nationally in scoring defense (15.3 ppg) and No. 16 in rushing defense (116.8).
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Surprise Stat |
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Arizona remains the only Pac-10 school never to play in the Rose Bowl. Why? See below.
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Still No. 6 nationally in rushing offense (253.8 ypg) -- but that was 138.8 yards below 1997 number.
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1998 Turning Point |
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December 5 -- Miami upset UCLA, knocking the Bruins down to the Rose Bowl and preventing the Wildcats from making their first Pasadena appearance.
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October 31 -- A 20-16 loss to Texas showed that the 'Huskers were not the power they had been the past five years.
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Key to Victory |
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Keep Nebraska's option attack under control. |
Hope the inconsistency that has plagued the team all year sits on the sidelines for one game.
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Outlook |
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Long known for their defense, the Wildcats have a tough task but should be able to slow down Nebraska.
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Normally we'd say Nebraska has all the tradition, but this season that seems to have departed with Tom Osborne. Then again, Arizona's schedule was nowhere near as tough as the 'Huskers' slate of opponents.
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