COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT / AROUND THE NATION : Newcombe Beats Out Crouch at Nebraska

Nebraska Coach Frank Solich said that Bobby Newcombe will start at quarterback over Eric Crouch on Saturday against Iowa.

Solich tried to squelch rumors that Crouch, a sophomore, left the team when told he was not the starter.

“Certainly he took it hard,” Solich said. “He’s a tremendous competitor. . . . There’s a lot of emotion that runs through young people, and it’s very, very tough on them.”

The rumors appeared to be true when Crouch was not on the field for the start of practice on Monday.

He came a few minutes late, however, because of an afternoon class, sports information director Chris Anderson said.

Crouch was not available to speak with reporters after practice. But Solich said Crouch was scheduled to speak at today’s weekly press conference.

Solich said both players will see significant playing time.

Newcombe, who played wingback as a freshman in 1997, tore a knee ligament in last season’s opener.

Crouch, 4-2 as a starter last season after Newcombe was injured, was Nebraska’s second-leading rusher (459 yards, five touchdowns) and completed nearly 49% of his passes.