Nebraska Quarterback’s Injury Worse

What appeared to be a slight knee injury for Nebraska quarterback Bobby Newcombe could be more serious than initially thought.

Nebraska quarterbacks coach Turner Gill said Sunday that Newcombe is listed as doubtful for next week’s game against Alabama-Birmingham because of a slight tear to his posterior cruciate ligament.

Newcombe suffered the injury on an option play--which ended in a four-yard touchdown run by running back Dan Alexander--in the third quarter of Saturday’s 56-27 victory over Louisiana Tech. At first, the injury was thought to be only a knee sprain and Newcombe continued to play.

Gill said the staff expects to know more today about Newcombe’s condition. He said the injury won’t require surgery but if Newcombe’s knee swells, next week’s start will probably go to freshman Eric Crouch.

Newcombe is a sophomore who played wingback and returned punts last season.

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Even though Chris Weinke starts for the first time in nearly nine years, the Florida State quarterback knows exactly what to expect in tonight’s Kickoff Classic at East Rutherford, N.J.

“They will come after me. They know I have no game experience,” said Weinke, the 26-year-old sophomore set to lead the No. 4 Seminoles against No. 14 Texas A&M; at Giants Stadium.

Weinke, though, has a team loaded with stars such as wide receiver Peter Warrick and tailback Travis Minor, as well as the wisdom of Bobby Bowden, who begins his 23rd season as coach of the Seminoles.

“If they bring everyone and blitz us,” Weinke said, “they’re going to leave someone open. And we have a lot of big-play guys.”

That’s what worries Aggie Coach R.C. Slocum.

“I think it’s really going to test these young players of ours,” Slocum said. “They don’t have any idea about what they’re fixing to get into.

“I don’t think anyone would be surprised if Florida State beats us because they beat just about everyone they’ve played in the last 10-11 years. We can very well lose and come back and win the rest of them. We’re going to make this a positive experience.”

Weinke returned to Florida State last season after leaving school in 1990 to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. He spent six years in the minors before deciding to return to the Seminoles. He inherited the starting job at the end of spring practice when Dan Kendra was lost for the season because of a knee injury.