Banner Graphic, Volume 16, Number 315, Greencastle, Putnam County, 15 August 1986 — Page 6
A6
THE BANNERGRAPHIC. August 16,1986
Flutie still short By HOWARD ULMAN AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) Doug Flutie’s life has changed drastically. Once a middle-class college kid, he is now a wealthy young man. Once a highly-praised Heisman Trophy winner, he now is trying to find a football team any football team that wants him. One thing hasn’t changed. Doug Flutie is still short. The computerized world of professional football is built on numbers. Talent scouts look at a quarterback with numbers like 6-feet-4 and 215 pounds to help decide if he has potential. Numbers describing actual performance sometimes are ignored. Sure, Flutie finished his career with a Division 1-A record of 10,579 yards passing. Sure, he completed 60.4 percent of his passes as a senior. Sure, he threw for 27 touchdowns that year. But wasn’t he also 5-feet--9% inches as a senior? “He doesn’t have the heignt and, you know, after four years of it here I really get tired of talking about it,” Jack Bicknell, his coach at Boston College, said. “The people who say he’s too small, you’re not going to change their opinion.” Bob Woolf may try. He’s Flutie’s attorney, an experienced, determined negotiator about to embark on a severe test of his skills. On Tuesday, the New Jersey Generals of the USFL gave Woolf permission to talk with the NFL about Flutie, who is under a personal services contract to Generals’ owner Donald Trump. Woolf’s first call will be to the Los Angeles Rams, who own Flutie’s NFL rights. The Rams have quarterback problems but they have said they don’t think Flutie will help. If they turn a deaf ear to Woolf, he will ask the Rams to allow him to talk to other clubs. “Don’t you think Washington would be perfect?” Woolf asked. “There’s a lot of places like that.” There also are places where coaching staffs feel they would have to change their offense substantially to allow Flutie to see past tall defensive linemen and utilize his scrambling ability. They’re reluctant to do that. “They can say I’m prejudiced, but I know what a well-released ball does,” Bicknell said. “I know what a winner does. I know how a winner acts and I laugh when these guys say you’ve got to change your whole attack to accommodate Doug Flutie. That’s a bunch of baloney. “They treat him as a sprint-out quarterback who never dropped back in his life.” The popular rap against Flutie, though, may not be shared by all NFL teams. None of them could comment before the Generals gave him permission to talk with the Rams. And the other NFL teams risk charges of tampering if they speak publicly while the Rams still hold his rights. But the man who once was the king of college football, who could turn seemingly certain defeat into victory and who thrilled crowds with wild and wonderful plays is now a man who wants to be wanted. “He’s such a proud kid,” Bicknell said. “He’s somewhat frustrated.” NFL clubs are well into thentraining camps with the season schedule to start on Sept. 7. Flutie spent part of this week back at Boston College’s Alumni Stadium. The seats, once filled with fans cheering his heroics, were empty. With a few friends, he threw a football and caught some passes. He waited and wondered where, if anywhere, he would be throwing a football in the NFL. “If a team doesn’t have a quarterback who can take them to the Super Bowl, they should take a look at Flutie,” Bicknell said. If no one is willing to look, even as an attempt to draw crowds, he has a last-resort proposal. It’s based on some other numbers in Flutie’s life the $8.25 million value of his contract with Trump and Bicknell’s confident it would show that Flutie can succeed in the NFL. “I told Doug once, ‘buy a team and hire me as a coach and we’ll go prove it,”’ he said.
Wffi I dlßk m wk fik Jj§PK v m y 1 it jjr '■ Hftf- •***- V , *
With coach Mark Wildman watching in the background, South Putnam quarterback Chris Arnold throws a pass
Football jamborees 1 week from today
Greencastle, North Putnam and South Putnam high schools will all compete in football jamborees one week from today to officially kick off the 1986 grid season in Putnam County. GREENCASTLE, UNDER the direction of John Fallis, and North Putnam, under the leadership of Rick Malone, will travel to Danville on Friday, Aug. 22 while South Putnam, coached by Mark Wildman, will be at Monrovia. At Danville, the Tiger Cubs and Warriors will meet in the first quarter while Tri-West and the Cougars will meet in quarter No. 2. The Bruins will face Greencastle in the third quarter while North Putnam and Danville will battle in the fourth period. The gates will open at 6:30 p.m. with an admission price of $2 per person. Normal game conditions
Person anxious to get going as Pacer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Chuck Person, the Indiana Pacers’ top draft pick, is anxious to get to Indianapolis in time for the opening of the NBA team’s preseason camp in
IMF
COY BACON Seriously wounded
Bacon shot WASHINGTON (AP) Former Washington Redskins defensive end Coy Bacon, who was recently charged with possessing cocaine, was shot and critically wounded at his home outside Washington, D.C. early today, officials said. The 42-year-old Bacon was shot in the doorway of his apartment in Silver Spring, Md. by an unknown assailant at 12:15 a.m., according to Montgomery County police. Bacon and a woman friend, Velma Fowler, were arrested by Prince George’s County police on July 30 and charged with possession of cocaine after a gram of the drug was found in their car. Bacon was released on his own recognizance. The former defensive end went to the Redskins in a 1978 trade with Cincinnati and played in Washington until 1982. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times during the 19705.
downfield during Thursday afternoon's practice session at the school. (Banner-Graphic photo by Keith E. Domke)
will be the rule of the day. AT MONROVIA, the Eagles will play in quarters one and four. In the opening stanza, they will face Owen Valley while in period No. 4, South will oppose Monrovia. Monrovia and Edgewood will meet in the second period while Owen Valley and Edgewood will square off in the third. The jamboree begins at 7:30 p.m. on the 22nd. Cloverdale does not participate in a jamboree. However, the Clovers will hold their intrasquad scrimmage in the morning on Aug. 22. The game will not be open to the public, however. On Aug. 29, the regular season opens with Greencastle traveling to Cloverdale to face the Clovers. North Putnam plays host to Monrovia while South Putnam is at home against Tri-West.
October, but Person’s agent says contract negotiations still have a long way to go. However, both sides seem optimistic. “He’ll be in training camp,” said Pacer General Manager Donnie Walsh. “As I’ve told Donnie, I’ve never had a player miss a day of camp,” said Person’s agent, Herb Rudoy, whose clients also include former Pacer Billy Knight. Walsh said he and Rudoy have been making proposals and counterproposals since the Pacers selected Person out of Auburn in the June draft. Rudoy says the latest proposal is on Walsh’s desk. “I’m confident we’ll work out an agreement,” Rudoy told the Indianapolis News. Neither participant in the money dealings for Person admits to feeling any pressure to get the signing done quickly. But Walsh said he would like to have it done by the time new coach Jack Ramsay holds his skills camp on Sept. 4-6. “We’ll try,” Walsh said. “How much are three days worth?” “These things take time,” noted Rudoy. Rudoy says he’s asking for a “realistic” contract for his client. “The money we are seeking makes sense,” he said. “You’re not talking about a 40th pick or a 50th pick. You’re talking about the fourth pickerson at Auburn University, where he is spending the summer, he is working out. “He couldn’t be happier that the, Pacers hired Jack Ramsay,” the Chicago attorney said. “His impression is that Ramsay is a great teacher. Also, Ramsay has a history of playing young players.” Rudoy said Person is anxious to get the contract matters completed because Person and his wife, Kim, would like to come to Indianapolis before camp begins and find a home.
USFL's talent Flood gates opened 1 year ago
By BRIAN TRUSDELL Associated Press Writer Some of the league’s top players were freed when the USFL decided this month to postpone its 1986 season. However, some NFL executives believe most of the younger league’s best talent abandoned it a year ago. “There are four really outstanding players this year: (Kelvin) Bryant, (Herschel) Walker, (Jim) Kelly and (Irv) Eatman,” New England Patriots Director of Player Development Dick Steinberg said of the players made available when the USFL owners decided they would not play this year after receiving just $3 in damages in their antitrust suit against the NFL. “Those guys can come in and have a pretty immediate impact. “There are another 15-20 guys who are at another level and will help their clubs once they ease into their club’s systems.” Some say, though, that last year’s group of 79 players who jumped from the USFL to the NFL was a much larger, more complete pool. This year, there have been 35 former USFL players going to the NFL, including the celebrated signings of Walker with the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant with the Washington Redskins and Eatman with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kelly is negotiating with the Buffalo Bills. “Many of the best players in that league came out last year,” Chicago Bears director of player personnel Bill Tobin said. “We got ours out last year.”
Dorsett admits he flew
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) A contrite Tony Dorsett admits he flew off the handle over Herschel Walker’s contract and the Dallas Cowboys running back wishes the outburst was uncharacteristic. “The contract surprised everybody,” Dorsett, a 10-year veteran, said. “I flew into a rage. I showed a lot of immaturity.” Dorsett, who asked to be traded and warned he could be a “disruptive force” on the team, said Thursday instead of popping off publicly “I should have gone behind closed doors (with club president Tex Schramm). I might have handled it a lot better.” Then he laughed at his quick temper, saying “I wish I could say it was uncharacteristic of me.” Schramm said he will not trade Dorsett no matter how much he protests Walker’s five-year, $5 million contract. “I told him I didn’t even intend to talk about trading him,” Schramm said. “We’d never trade Tony. He is too much a part of our organization. “Tony would like to pull back what he said,” Schramm said. “He feels sorry he let it flow out. He didn’t mean it. He was just mad and being egged on by the media.” “My feelings haven’t changed a great deal,” Dorsett said. “I had a nice conversation with Tex so they would know where my head is at and I know where they are at. ” Dorsett did not repeat he wanted to be traded but did not take it back. Asked about the reaction of the fans, he said “I’m not worried about the boo birds. They don’t put bread and butter on the table. They have a tendency to forgive and forget.” Schramm said he and Dorsett “shook hands before he left. Sure, he was still a little hurt but he’ll be OK. He’s a good kid, a good man.” Schramm said things would be fine once Walker, who agreed to a
Castro did not make Cuba's decision
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Cuba’s decision to participate in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis was not made by Fidel Castro, however the Cuban president says he’s very pleased about the agreement, according to the president of the National Olympic Committee of Cuba. Cuba had originally said it might not participate in the games because officials believed the Pan American Sports Organization had promised Havana that the event would be held there. In an interview published in Friday’s editions of The Indianapolis Star, Manuel Gonzalez Guerra, president of the National Olympic Committee of Cuba, said a trip made to Cuba by the Indianapolis organizing committee contributed to Cuba’s change of heart. Officials of PAX-Indianapolis visited Cuba recently to speak to Cuban officials about participating in the games. Guerra told the Star through an in-
sports
Chicago signed former Arizona Outlaws guard Tom Thayer and former Chicago Blitz tight end Tim Wrightman last season and this year have signed center Larry Rubens, formerly of the Memphis Showboats. Last year, most of the USFL’s top stars fled to the NFL including quarterbacks Bobby Hebert (New Orleans) and Steve Young (Tampa Bay), running backs Maurice Carthon (New York Giants), Craig James (New England) and Mike Rozier (Houston) and punter Sean Landeta (Giants). “I think Herschel Walker will have an impact, he’s one of the best players in professional football,” Tobin said. “Same with Kelvin Bryant. But this wild scramble to sign USFL players is a farce.” The scramble to sign players probably will be limited with the mandatory roster limitation of 60 approaching on Tuesday and the NFL owners decision Wednesday not to increase the opening-day rosters from 44 to 49 players. However, the owners have allowed clubs a two-exhibition game exemp-
f mW** * L \uu,xer " > \ 34,
Herschel Walker smiles as he displays his new professional football uniform after he signed a $1 million a year contract with the Dallas Cowboys Thursday. guaranteed contract Wednesday, practices in a Cowboys’ uniform for the first time today. “Things will calm down, life goes on,” Schramm said. “We’ve got a football game coming up.” Asked if he would renegotiate Dorsett’s contract, Schramm replied, “I feel comfortable with his contract.” Dorsett, who had fallen into financial trouble over several sour business ventures, missed training camp last year until the Cowboys’ renegotiated his contract. Dorsett, who has a salary of $450,000 per year, had originally
terpreter that PAX-I officials “were extremely convincing and extremely honorable and honest people,” Guerra said that Castro would not be attending the games, but that “there is great joy on his pari for Cuban participation in the games, and also great joy on the part of the athletes of being able to go to the games.” Guerra said his committee was responsible for Cuba’s decision. Speaking from his Havana office, Guerra said his nation intends to send 300 athletes to Indianapolis, the first time Cuba has joined Olympicsstyle games in America since 1959. He said the announcement is indicative of Cuba’s desire to find more ways its teams can compete in the United States and the world. Asked if a deal had been made for Havana to get the 1991 games, Guerra said, “There could not be any deal made because the games are awarded by the Pan American Sports Organization, and they will meet in Barbados in November.”
tion for late USFL players from their signing date. And while some question the impact the “second-level” players will have on the USFL, others wonder about the signifigance of the big names. “They don’t carry their Heisman Trophies on their helmets,” Giants General Manager George Young said. “They have to prove themselves just like everybody else.” Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke has said the signing of Bryant to a four-year, $3 million contract could be the key for his team to get to the Super Bowl. But Steinberg said the second-year USFL players might contribute just as much. Carthon gained just 70 yards last year in the NFL, but he had just completed an 18-game USFL season plus the playoffs. “There’s a whole lot of reasons those guys will be better this year than last,” Steinberg said. “And the reasons are all obvious. “They will come in ahead of where they left off last year. ”
off handle
The 34 is the same number he has worn on his back in high school, college and with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. (AP laserphoto) welcomed the thought of playing in the same backfield with another Heisman Trophy winner, but was steamed when details of Walker’s contract came out. “If this team does not pay me like they are paying their other back, I would suggest strongly that the team try to trade me or pay me because I’ll be very unhappy and... I can be a very disruptive force,” Dorsett said. Walker was to return from personal business in New Jersey and attend Saturday night’s exhibition game in Los Angeles against the Raiders.
Guerra also said Cuba’s athletes were expected to excel in boxing, baseball, basketball, women’s basketball and both men’s and women’s volleyball, handball, cycling, rowing, weight lifting and fencing. He said the the reaction in Havana to the news that Cuba would be participating in the games was overwhelming. Investigation continues UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) The grand jury that investigated the death of basketball star Len Bias was to turn its attention again today to the athletic program at the University of Maryland. Athletic Director Dick Dull, basketball Coach Lefty Driesell and Chancellor John Slaughter, the top official at the university’s main campus at College Park, were among the witnesses subpoenaed to appear by Arthur A. Marshall Jr., the prosecutor handling the Bias investigation.