NU’s Solich to wait on quarterback decision

Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska coach Frank Solich is making some changes he hopes will turn around the slumping Cornhuskers.

Among them may very well be at quarterback, but Solich said Tuesday he would not announce until later this week whether Jammal Lord, Mike Stuntz or true freshman Curt Dukes would start.

Solich has not given any ringing endorsements to Lord since benching him in the Cornhuskers’ 36-14 loss at Iowa State, which combined with a 40-7 blowout at Penn State two weeks before has the Huskers in a bit of a tailspin.

Solich announced Tuesday that at least four players would be getting their first start Saturday against Div. I-AA McNeese State. A new quarterback would make it five.

“If a player has played extremely well in the past and maybe isn’t quite on top of his game right now, you make a change,” Solich said. “If a player is playing at a level as a backup player that is better than the player that is starting for you, then you make a change.”

Freshman right cornerback Fabian Washington who had two interceptions last week right rush end Trevor Johnson, rover Daniel Bullocks and defensive tackle Patrick Kabongo will be getting their first start on Saturday.

Husker back Collins has eligibility restored

Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska running back Thunder Collins had his eligibility restored by an NCAA committee Tuesday and could play Saturday against McNeese State.

Collins, a senior from Los Angeles, was suspended for the last four games for failing to comply with NCAA regulations. He last played in Nebraska’s season opener on Aug. 24, a 48-10 victory over Arizona State.

Athletic department officials have refused to say why Collins served a four-game suspension, only that it did not involve misuse of players’ tickets to Nebraska games.

“We’re pleased Thunder has been reinstated,” coach Frank Solich said. “I talked to Thunder tonight after we received word from the NCAA, and he is excited about getting the change to return to the field.”

Sports information director Chris Anderson said she assumed Collins would play Saturday, but said there was no immediate word on where he would be on the depth chart.

Terps’ Perry out?

College Park, Md. Maryland running back Bruce Perry is doubtful for Saturday’s game against West Virginia, and the Terrapins are considering the possibility of shutting him down for the season. Perry was named the Atlantic Coast Conference offensive player of the year last season after rushing for 1,242 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns. But he has yet to play this year because of a torn left groin.

Vandy QB suspended

Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler has been suspended from the team after campus police charged he vandalized a campus telephone and then tried to evade officers. Coach Bobby Johnson said he had suspended Cutler and receiver Grant Brigham for an unspecified violation of team rules. But a report from campus police said Cutler, 19, was issued four misdemeanor citations for underage consumption of alcohol, vandalism under $500, evading arrest and resisting stop-halt orders.