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Show ReflexlJoarnallBidletinl Leader V.V Burke Loafs Around I had heard of the older players Ball At Keith at Nebraska talk of the Orange Layton Before Sprin April 1, 19S2 but never the way it finally Bowl, I imagined it turned out. They really rolled out the red carpet, j 5 Dave Burke Nebraska -- Duncan Journal Reflex Sports LAYTON Former Layton Lancer star Dave Burke said, words could not describe his feelings when he and his prep teammates won the state championship in football. I THOUGHT nothing could compare, said Burke, who spent last week in Layton during spring break from college. When I decided to attend the University of Nebraska, all I could think of was winning a national championship. If winning the state title was as good as it was, I can't image what winning a national title would be like, he said. Burke flew back Monday for spring quarter and the start of spring football. With the year behind him he is more than excited about getting into the thick of things again. He saw some limited action as a freshman but has plans now to expand his football playing horizon. red-shi- rt IN HIS two years at Nebras- ka, Burke has played with been through all the glamour and excitement an Orange Bowl trip can bring and can see how possible it could be that Nebraska could have a national championship of its own. But despite it all. has JiUfl, second thoughts about continuing his football career at the powerful Big Eight School. Heisexcited about the way people in Nebraska love their football, but like most other athletes, he wants to play a lot and doesn't want to wait too long to do it. 'Ive ram. Redshirt years are not had thoughts of g to BYU. If 1 came back to Utah Id go to the Y" because, in my opinion, they are the best football school in the state, said Burke. He claims he still has thoughts about trans-ferin- just for injured players like some are led to believe. PERHAPS THAT is one reason why Ive had thoughts of transfering. The competition wouldnt be quite so fierce at BYU and it might give me a chance to settle down and learn the system while at the same time gaining some personal recognition, he said. When Dave was first recruited by Nebraska, scouts and coaches alike said he would have as great a chance to start as a sophomore as anyone in the program. But those same coaches didnt count on the competition from 50 other full scholarship players and 150 walk-onIt's little surprise Nebraska finds itself among the top ten teams in the country every year. The competition on the team is just as incredible as what takes place in the Big Eight. coming back to Utah, but promises he wont make a de- cision until after spring ball at Nebraska. THE CORNHL'SKERS will have to replace a talented defensive backfield this fall and they plan on using Burke at a corner spot. They told me they plan to play their best athletes in all positions and have given some indication that I may get to start," said Burke. As a freshman Dave ran the ball from the spot but learned the fullback position when other fullbacks were injured. Its s. no secret that the are loaded with talented running backs. Coaches, however, like what they see in Burke and see the day when his contributions will be greater. But, for right now, they think they've found a spot for him at cornerback. I DONT want to THE TRIP to the Orange Bowl was an event of a lifetime, according to Dave. He'd give the love it at wrong impression. Nebraska. If they give me a shot at playing I plan on giving it all Ive got. I just want to he said. play somewhere, The competition is fierce in the Comhusters camp. That is one reason why Burke was redshirted. As a redshirt Dave had a chance to gain more strength and learn the prog 1 heard the older players talk about it but had never pictured it the way it finally turned out. To begin with the team was flown to Miami in chartered planes. Each member of the team was given a $240 meal allowance in addition to two full course dinners a day. They really rolled out the red carpet for us. When we landed in Florida a special committee met us. They gave us oranges and loaded us into three different buses. WE GOT a police escort in the buses to the hotel. When we got off they gave each of us a bag of all kinds of things. It had tanning lotion, cologne, pen sets, sun screems. maps and everything," said Burke. Everyday the team was there they were treated to something new. At the same time the tension was building for their battle with Clemson. "We were all thinking that Georgia had to lose and Texas had to beat Alabama. After things started going our way. our fans started going crazy. The tension was really building. he said. "THE TENSION in the air was thick, recalled Burke. "It was penalties that hurt us and mental mistakes too. Clemson was good but I think on another day we could have beat them. I was amazed at how they accepted us. Even in Nebraska its incredible how people open their arms to the football program and its players, he added. Burke said families in Lincoln would take in scholarship d players and give them a meal, players are treated like sons there. There are plenty of things to lure a star athlete to Cornhusker Country. Dave says the weightroom in Nebraska is the largest in the county. The stadium houses 60.000 and has 113 straight sellouts. home-cooke- to know Steve Davies from Murray who played at Nebraska too. He said he I GOT didnt have any regrets about going there. He told me once he made the traveling squad and the fun he had couldn't be compared. He had many of the same feelings I had when I graduated. He wanted to get aw ay from Utah and playing at Nebraska was the best thing for it. Davies probably could have stayed in Utah, just like I could have. Somehow youve just got to make an intelligent decision anf stick with it." said Burke. BURKE FEELS confident he'll be able to pick up the keys on defense once he starts playing. "Its a little tough to recognize things totally on chalkboard and paper but once you get out there and play its easy to pick things up. It w as easy for Burke to pick things up when he played for the Lancers. The 200 lb. bundle of muscle starred at Layton from the running back position and was a capable defensive back the second half of his senior season. BURKE SAYS he has some good friends that play football for BYU and he tries to watch them on TV as much as possible. "They are all pass, and w e are all run. We grind it out and grind it out while the Cougars mc.ke a 20-4- 0 yard pass that can turn a game completely Dave Burke was visiting Utah for a break between the winter and spring quarters at the University of Nebraska. ing Baylor later on. With their stadium expansion and the support they are getting, they ill attract the bigger schools to their campus. Perhaps the Y has been have to set the records straight plenty of times. w around. held down because of competition within the WAC. It could be better. I know their schedule this year is tougher having to open with Georgia and play- - rious. I'm sure the coaches "AS FAR as recruiting goes, people outside Utah have some weird ideas about BYU and the Mormons." Some of the things they hear and believe are funny more than se "But. overall. I think Nebraska w ill alw ays be among the top ten. They have a class organization and many people support the program." said Dave. ONE AREA in which Dave feels he could contribute to the Cougar program is com plimenting their passing game. "1 was a pretty good receiver in high school and I dont think Ive lost my touch. think I could add a new dimcnlion to their program, if I decided to transfer." he said. As far as playing pro ball. Dave will take it as it comes. If he got a chance to play he'd ttike it. But it isn't going to kill him if he doesn't play on the professional level. . Brain Taylor tosses in 13 Utah By DAVE WIGHAM SALT LAKE CITY Dan Bell led the to a convincing victory over a team from Colorado at the Salt Palace last Saturday night. Bountiful's Utah 111-8- jU lL t fc i -- s1 last week at the Salt Palace. versus Colorado Davis County' was well represented in the Utah all played well in the Viewmont of White John and Bountifuls Dan Bell (second from left). Davis High's Brian Taylor side. elite the coach Utah win. Mike Hall (far right) of Bountiful helped all-st- ar all-sta- 1 BELL, W HO was recently voted as MVP in the 4A ranks this past season, poured in 19 points in leading the local side. Dan got most of his points right under the basket using his size and power moves. Brian Taylor of Davis was next in the scoring department with 13 points. Brian had an shooting, hitting on four of twelve attempts, but he show ed his worth with his ball off-nig- Thump Colorado All-Sta- rs handling and passing. He and Mark Duran, of South High, were team leaders in assists with four each. THE THIRD member of the Utah elite squad, from these parts, was big John White of Viewmont. On the night John had points. He hit five of six field goal attempts, grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots. John was obviously the dominating man in this battle. Utah came out of the blocks in a hurry and the Colorado squad was never in this game. But then, to be honest, no one really expected the team from Colorado to play, even with the best in Utah. The reason for this is. they weren't the top players from their state. According to their coach there was a North against South game in Colorado that the best players stayed to participate in. That meant the squad that played against Utah was made up of players outside of their top plavers. IN ANY event, the Colorado squad gave away too much, their biggest player was 6'6". This game though, was a coaches delight as just about all of them converged on the game to witness the best Utah had to offer. Outside of John White and Brian Tay lor the big four year schools aren't looking at any of the other nine players. all-st- JUNIOR COLLEGE on with envy at the thought ol getting some of these players. Mark Duran played a great game and his stock certainly went up. Some had felt that Bell might not be big enough but he disprov ed that fact w ith a great game, he led the Utah team in rebounding w ith ten including six offensive boards. Robert Maxwell ol Highland played well as die) John Judkins of the Rams. Steve Shol-teof Roy showed he could play with the big boys, especially on defense. e THIS W AS one of the best Utah teams in a long time. Just with they could have played the best players from coaches, though, were looking Keith Duncan Journal Reflex Sports LAYTON College football players can always come home and find conditions warm and friendly at their good 'ole alma mater. For Dave Burke and Layton High it was so different, THE FOSMER Lancer star returned to Layton High last week while on spring break from the University of Nebraska. I don't get a chance to see Layton play anymore, which is obvious since Im so fhr away, but I occa-- . skmally get a newspaper clipping from my mom or my friends keep me posted, said Burke. I THINK Layton has had some good talent since I graduated, but from what I've gathered they havent had the leadership within the team itself. There hasn't been someone to say 'were a good football team, now let's pull this thing together. Ive heard there hasnt been the team unity there should be, said Burke, He recalled some of the close games Laytons football teams had played. Many games come down to who wants it the most, just like in the Orange Bowl, Clemson wanted it more than we did. It comes down to special teams and who is busting it most down the stretch. ,AS FAR as Coach Gary Hansen is concerned, can lead a horse to water,, but you can't make it ; you f drink. You can teach kids all the fundamentals in the world and believe in them, but you can't play the for them. Die kids have to decide for , game that they want to win and put the thing selves ;r together. As far as Im concerned, I love this place. I had life here. Id like to think . three of the best years , that people who follow us would like to be part of that tradition. 1 think back, not just on football, but basketball, baseball and everything else. The flashbacks are precious to me, We realized that we were not playing for the coaches, the school or the com- - ofy munity, we were playing for us, said Burke. THOUGH LAYTON hasn't had many players turn ( the world upside down in the professional football ? ranks. Coach Hansen is more concerned how his ; former players have fared otherwise. "It s nice to see them go on in football but to see them excell in college, academics or business, is just as satisfying. ' About Burke, Hansen would just as soon see the : former Layton grid star excell at Nebraska as else. He will do well anywhere he decides to but I'm a little concerned about him being happy go, in another program. Its not that 1 have anything against other programs, but many of them don't measure up to what he is involved in now, said Hansen. any-whe- that once teams at Layton realize they are playing for themselves, theyll do alright for ii g DAVE SAID, themselves. "Coach Hansen wants to win 5 in football just as him remember in the semifinal I can much as anyone. senior year. I dont think game against Skyline my there was anyone in the whole stadium that wanted to win as much as he did, said Burke. ONE OF Burkes biggest fans is his coach, Gary Hansen. Its a pleasure to see these guys go on and excell in college. There are many high schools who I have very few, I recall there were seven former Lancers who started at SUSC last fall and you have to be proud of that, said Hansen. y It makes you feel good to see kids like this do well. It certainly makes you fed good about your own program, especially when a coach is under a lot i re HANSEN COACHED Burke for three years at Layton and he mentioned Burke as one who he could always count on. As a head coach that is extremely important. Then Dave went one step more, he had what it took to motivate his teammates. We didnt have the problem of 'too many followers when Dave was around, continued Hansen. One of Daves best attributes is his He may have come to Layton as a sophomore a little too over confident, but in the end he and look where it has tempered his got him, said Hansen. ;; |