Posted: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 6:00 pm
Sandro DeAngelis has lost his starting job. Again. The Nebraska senior place-kicker, who missed a field goal and had a field-goal and an extra-point attempt blocked in a 34-27 loss to Iowa State, will be replaced by sophomore David Dyches against Oklahoma, NU coach Bill Callahan said Wednesday.
"We just feel that David can come in and give us a lift in that area," Callahan said. "Again, to Sandro's credit, he's contributed quite a bit here. He's done a lot for us."
DeAngelis will continue to handle kickoffs, Callahan said.
This is the third time DeAngelis has been unseated from his starting role in his career. He lost the job in 2001 to Josh Brown and again last year to Dyches in NU's second game.
Dyches was 14 of 21 on field goals last year and has made his only attempt this season, a 46-yarder at Texas Tech.
DeAngelis is 4 of 9 on field goals this year, with a long kick of 41 yards. He's 33 of 34 on extra-point attempts. Dyches was 32 of 32 on PATs last season.
APPROACHING 1,000: I-back Cory Ross, who continues to sit out of practices while battling a turf toe injury, is 63 yards shy of 1,000 yards rushing this season. Nebraska hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher at I-back since Dahrran Diedrick in 2001. "I'm just really proud of what he's accomplished," Callahan said. "It'd be great to see an I-back get a full grand. I mean a thousand yards, not a thousand dollars."
PRACTICE REPORT: Nebraska practiced in the rain on the grass fields Wednesday before moving indoors after dark. Chad Sievers was excused for personal reasons but will return today, Callahan said. "We got a lot of good work done," Callahan said. "It's good to get on the field when there's bad weather and there's rain. It helps to get your timing down in a different manner."
Brian Rosenthal