I Oklahoma State's Corker loves to make a big hit ByTotnShatel Corker has reason to feel good the first two years and I had the linebacker in Oklahoma State history Missourian sportswriter coming into his senior season. Most credentials to try another school. But I All this in the same league and state "experts" think he's going to be all-Bi-g wanted to stay at the school where I had with Oklahoma's George Cumby and Cowboys j-- s all-Amer- STILLWATER, Okla There seems Eight and ica for the second been successful. I wanted to come back, DaryylHunt to be no reason why John Corker year in a row. They're calling him the and besides, the whole thing was just a "In a way, I was surprised," Corker couldn't be Uke most grunting, drooling best defensive player in the nation. simple mistake that was blown out of said "I thought I was doing a good job glance linebackers He likes to play "Our defense will be built around proportion " for the team, but when I missed those at a eSiw Linebacker. He hkes,to be the in middle John Corker, and it's good to have him And to prove it. Corker went out last three games I thought for sure some Coach Jmmy Johnson (first year) J? pSs of things. Most of all, he likes to hit back," year Johnson first coach Jimmy fall and blew offenses out of proportion. other linebacker would get it Offense Pro Set ff', . A But when the Oklahoma F State said. "He plays with an attitude you He looked Uke he was going to break his "It was a great feeling because in Defense-- 5 2 linebacker talks about all llirA1 jsjkW- these things, want a defensive player to have. He 1977 high of 53 tackles high school I didn't think I could play Reluming Leftermen 36 -' he doesn't grunt or drool Instead, a wants to hit He's not bashful about it." But while ninning head first into his with college players They seemed so Top Returnees John Corner LB wide, friendly gnn upon settles his face But it was only one year ago when 41st tackle against Nebraska in big. When I got here, I was getting Bailey QB Greg DB St Sept 15 Wichita State Sept 22 at He Harold Johnson eases back into his chair. And then 6-- people were discussing another attitude Oklahoma State's eighth game, his bigger than they were and the mental Reggie Richardson OG Worley Taylor, Arkansas Oct at South Carolina Oct he rambles on forever about tackling Corker had. After being accused of comeback from controversy fell with a block I had, left me." RB WR 13 at Missouri Oct 20 Nebraska Oct and hitting way James Cowins the a cook raves about stealing stereo equipment from a dorm thud. Corker had tned to tackle I.M Not big enough, though. At times last Promising Newcomers Mark Cromer 27 at Kansas Nov 3 Oklahoma Nov 10 his kitchen or 223-pou- nd a farmer boasts about his room with another fnend, he was Hipp on a sweep, had got thrown to the season. Corker could feel his WR Darryl Sheffey T Neal Armstrong at Colorado Nov 17 Kansas State Nov crops kicked off the team by former coach bottom of the pile, and had his knee body wearing down. So, he got serious LB 24 at Iowa State Corker for you To run-in-s That's him, Jim Stanley, who had had with crushed by a falling lineman about the weights and got himself up to Strengths Overall depth secondary Predicted Finish 5 6 2 5 in the Big not football is a vicious desire or need Corker in the past His future looked Suddenly, he was out for the last 240 in the spring. By the Cowboys' 1979 Schedule Sept 8 North Texas Eight It is a love. A passion vague Even the 1978 Cowboy press three games All at once, the guy opening game Sept. 8, he wants to be at "Say a Billy Suns-typ- e runner is guide had his return listed as everybody thought was a sure all-Bi- g 245. coming at me," Corker said. "And here questionable. Eight pick was no longer on the field. But he's not a fat 240. He can still live I am, just another player on the field Before the spring incident, Corker Corker was two--f or-tw- o in bad breaks up to his reputation of quickness, speed trying to go one on one with this man was your average football player. A for 1978 and range In fact, if he's slow Sept 8, reputation There will be expectations pressure, and I want to fulfill those challenge I like on This is the to meet It good year, but httle else But when "I thought about it a lot, but I tned to look at his knee, not his stomach and pre-seas- hoopla to live up to But things right now ' fills you full of confidence. Stanley finally agreed to give him a be realistic," he said "You can't worry "At the start of fall practice, the knee Corker isn't going to step aside because "But I'm not going to worry about it, "Being able to tackle a ball earner is "second chance," the average player about such things. Sometimes, you can started stiffening up," Corker said of the pressure He had his bad breaks. he said with a smile "I'm going to be a great feeling. Especially when every became a controversial name in benefit from them." "That brought me down I had been up Now , OSU's leading tackier is ready for doing my thing, and trying to satisfy time a runner gets up, you're going to Stillwater Supnsmgly, Corker did benefit He here all summer trying to get it ready some good ones myself I'll leave all that stuff to you see number 43 get up there too and you "When they gave me that second was named "defensive-player-of-the-yea- r" for this season I might be a httle slow "Once the season comes up I want guys That'syour job " feel something good is going to happen chance, I didn't have to take it, I could by both wire services and was right now, but come Sept 8, I'll be people to say what's that John Corker Corker's job is simple enough He's It gives other people inspiration. It feels have gone somewhere else," Corker named to the Kodak all America team number 45 again " doing down there9 Is he the player he's the guy with the love affair on the field good." said "I had made a name for myself Soon after, he was called the best This time, though, No 45 will have a supposed to be'' I think I can handle the NEXT: Oklahoma 29, 1979 Page 5A l Wm ffj if M S COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN, Wednesday, Aug Edelman, Stokowski: centers of attention By Dan Caesar is listed No 1 at the spot on the current Missourian sportswriter depth chart. "I was a httle disappointed, but I'm It'siardly a battle in the classic Ali-Fraz- ier doing my best, and if that's not good mold, but there's a mini war enough, that's all I can do," said going on between two Missouri football Stokowski, a native of Peoria, 111. players who are fighting for the Two other preseason hopefuls for the privilege to snap the ball to quar- 30b. Fred Leiding and Paul Gadt, both terback Phil Bradley juniors, were shelved with physical problems and have fallen behind in the Junior Jeff Stokowski, who saw quite race. Gadt suffered a pinched nerve in a bit of action for the Tigers in the his neck dunng practice Aug. 20, but Liberty Bowl last year while filling in Lading's injury was of the freak for the" injured Pete Allard, entered fall variety practice as the man to beat. But Brad "The Saturday before we came back, Edelman, a sophomore from Parkway I went water skung with some friends I North High School in St. Louis, has was walking along the dock afterwards worked his way ahead of Stokowski and and I accidently kicked a board and broke my toe," Leiding admitted sheepishly. But the sudden loss of two com- petitors didn't slow down Stokowski or Ticket lottery Edelman "We've got a good battle going on opens Thursday there (at center) and I like com- petition," Missouri coach Warren Concerned about your 1979 season Powers said. "I don't want the person football ticket for M U. games9 Well, who folds under pressure m a football about 10,000 other students purchasing game You've got to have character to. individual tickets are also. overcome adversity. If you throw up Actually the proceedure for acquiring your hands and pout, you're not going to student season tickets is quite simple. help me win football games." Thursday arid Friday nights from 6 to Whether Edelman will be the starting 9 the Missouri Students Association will center when Missouri opens the season hold a number lottery. The numbers Sept. 8 against San Diego State remains that will be draw on those nights will to be seen Powers plans to issue one secure spaces on line to pick seats more depth chart early next week, and Saturday.