Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 December 2002 — Page 16

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13,2002 ■ PAGE B6

Willingham named Sportsman of the Year SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) —Just about ayuur ago, Notre Dame football was in turmoil, the program shaken by a 5-6 seasonand embarrassed by hiring a coach who bad embellished his resume. And then came Tyrone Willingham to smooth the troubled waters. Willingham took the Irish to eight straight victories in a turnaround 10-2 season, the first year since1993that Notre Dame has won that many games. He erased the bad taste created by the hiring of George OTcary and brought back some of the swagger that had been miming at South Bend. His accomplishments earned him the Sporting News Sportsman of the Year Award, presented on Tuesday. Wearing a Notre Dame logo lapel button, Willingham readied how when he lost out in the first hiring process, he shrugged off the disappointment, prepared to stay at Stanford. Hedenied telling athletic director Kevin White that Notre Dame had made a mistake hiring O’Leary. a I had a great job,” Willingham .said: "Stanford is a wonderful university. What I told Dr. White is I can do a great job. I don't demean or belittle other people. George O’Leary is a fine person and a fine coach. I didn’t tell a previous administration they made a mistake. That’s not me.” Still, he faced a daunting task, piecing together a proud program that had fallen on hard times. Willingham accepted it with zest. He explained his philosophy. ”If you see a mountain, it’s difficult to climb,” he said. "If you see a hill, it’s easier. I saw a great opportunity, a chance to coach die most elite program in die country, a chance to win. "We went in to do the best we could. It’s amazing in life when you go in with the right attitude, what you am accomplish. I was blessed with good athletes eager to be successful at a great university that prides itself on success. We were fortunate. You always have to be in football. The shape of the ball dictates that it doesn’t always bounce right up.” Notre Dame plowed through its schedule, soaring in the polls, restoring the pride. Willingham became the first Irish football coach to win 10 games in his first season. Now he’s selling the opportunity to win No. 11 in the Gator bowl against North Carolina State on Jan. 1. Willingham is the first college football coach to win the Sporting News Award, which began in 1968. Last year’s winner was Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling.

Colts lack mental and physical edge in loss to Titans

■y JAMES M. KEOUOH JR.

The Indianapolis Colts currently have the second-best record in the American Football Conference. Conventional logic suggests this Colts team should be considered Super Bowl contenders. The team continues to sport one of the most explosive offenses in the National Football

League.

Statistically, the defense is now consistently ranked in the top 10 in total defense. The defense has better players that are learning to (day together.

Why not the Colts?

The Colts have been in this

A i

Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George (27) breaks through the Indianapolis Colts' line to score a touchdown on a 1-yard run In the second quarter Sunday, Dec. 8,2002, In Nashville,

position before. In fact, it was ^ »rad SdaMfyns Mocked by Titans tight end Emm Kinney. Directly

the TennesseeTitans that played behind George Is Colts' defensive back Walt Harris. (AP Photo/John Russell)

spoiler a couple of years ago by a championship run. While weekend and once again, the play well enough to win. exposing theCohs’^aring weak- beating the Colts 19-16, the Ti- team’s toughness is now in ques- Tve told (the players). We ness. tans amassed 197 rushing yards tion. . lost the game. There are reasons After the 1999 season, the on 33 carries. Can this team bounce back we lost and now we’ve got to Coltshosteditsfirstplayoffgame The Colts simply could not and gain momentum for a pos- focus on this week. We’ve got to in the team’s Indianapolis his- match the will and physical ag- sible playoff run? Colts head go to Cleveland and get a win. tory. They were facing a Titans gression of the Titans. coach Tony Dungy is hopeful We still have the second-best team that barely made the play- Last weekend in Tennessee, despite the team’s recent per- record in the AFC, so the sky

offs and were favorites to ad- the Colts again had an opportuvance to the next round. nity to provide some dikance However, it wasn’t to be. between themselves and the

Eddie George, and the Titans’ pack in the AFC.

offensive and defensive lines, ran With the AFC South su-

formance. hasn’t fallen all of the way.” “It will he interesting with this One of the reasons the Colts team. I hope we are not that frag-. were beaten is the inability to ile. This one loss in five games stop the run at critical stages of vrill have everybody thinking the the game. The Cohs surrendered

over the Colts and physically, premacy on the line, the Colts sky is falling,” said Dungy. “We almost350yardsoftotaloffense, snatched away any thoughts of were beaten into submission last had a big game and we didn’t including 120 yards rushing.

History has shown that the Colts’ ability to defend the run is an accurate barometer of their likelihood for success. T thought we got outplayed (against the Titans). They just played outstanding football, especially Steve McNair,” said Dungy. “What our goal has to be now is to find a way to get another streak going.” The Cohs next travel to Cleveland to face the Browns. While the Browns have struggled for most of the year, the Colts would not be wise to underestimate this team. They have a tough, physical defense and have an emerging running attack led by William Green. Certainly, the weather and other elements could play a fac-

tor.

“It’s about mental toughness. We’re going to have to realize how tough it is to go on the road and win these games in December, how emotionally ready we have to be and how physically ready we have to be. We are going into the same type of situation as last week,” added Dungy. After the Browns, the Colts finish the season with the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

C-Webb trial can wait, judge rules

NBA superstar, Chris Webber’s federal trial on perjury charges can wait until after , his season ends, a federal judge has ruled. C-Webb’s father, Mayce Webber Jr. and aunt Charlene Johnson are charged with obstruction of justice and perjury as well. They are accused of lying to a federal grand jury about dealings with former U. of Michigan basketball booster Eddie Martin. Martin says he gave $616,000 to Webber and four other Wolverines players while they were amateurs. Martin, who pleaded guilty to illegal gambling, said he gave Webber and his family $280,000.

Chris Wabbar

“There is no reason I can think of,” said Webber’s lawyer, “tohold the trial in the middle of the season.” He said a trial in the middle of

the season would be a hardship on the NBA, the Sacramento

Kings and their fans.

A federal prosecutor strongly

objected to the delay.

“Frankly, it is obscene,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Convertino said. He said Martin’s age of 68 could present aproblem and said adelay might indefinitely postpone the trial.

* *

Pacers coach not cited for out-of-state driver's license

for driving in a lane that been dobed following a accident on Interstate 465 the Westside of Indianapolis, the officer asked to driver’s license, and was rehis car

them to his Michigan main

proper procedure when they Thomas was not dted for confronted Indiana Pacers having an out-of-state driver’s

was a

said Col Scott Minier of the mb.

Marion County Sheriffs |

De- Thomas issued a t m ^tirtHav Mvintp H#

co&tieFMd that one <

was a breakdown in ers might have been in cation and it will run crash, but police said 1

Leaders form alliance to increase business

community involvement with Colts

Several prominent business ing the alliance, and both voiced said Bedell, ICVA president, and community leaders have their strong support for the ef- who previously headed up tourioined together to form the fort. ism and convention efforts in

“Just as Mr. Tagliabue said in St. Louis, a city that lost its NFL October, our business commu- team to Arizona in 1988. “Losnity must be actively engaged ing a team takes away a rity 1 s life with the Colts for Central Indi- and identity, and it takes a mamana to continue as a viable NFL moth effort to get one back.” community,” Mayor Bart “In the past 20 years, IndiaPeterson said. “I am very pleased' napolis has fought hard to be a thesedvicleadershavethefore- big-league city, which translates

into more visitors, conventions and better opportunities for economic development,” said Marsh, chairman & CEO of

joined together

Colts-Business Alliance, a coalition of Indiana businesses and organizations committed to keeping the National Football League (NFL) viable in India-

napolis.

The alliance was formed in

response to NFL Commissioner

Paul Tagliabue’s challenge to the sight to address this important business community to get in- task today.” . ' volved with and support the In- “We know that success comes dianapolis Colts. Tagliabue ad- from teamwork and that’s what

dressed the Economic Club of this alliance will do. Working Marsh Supermarkets. “Having Indianapolis this past October, with businesses, we hope to over- an NFL franchise is a big part of The alliance will seek to: come some of the challenges we that image and reality.” •Strengthen the relationship face and build not only a strong “The National Football between tiie franchise and the franchise but a strong commu- League and the Indianapolis Central Indiana business com- nityforthelong-term,” said Jim Colts are an integral part of the munity. Irsay, owner and CEO of the Indiana community, and we • Expand relationships be- Indianapolis Colts. must do everything we can to tween the franchise and compa- The alliance and its various keep our city viable for both,” nies throughout the state. committees will meet periodi- said Mays, chairman of Mays •Build a base of support that cally throughout the year. Chemical and publisher of The will keep the NFL viable in In- “In their 18 years in Indiana, Indianapolis Recorder,

dianapolis. the Colts have given so much The alliance co-chairs are back to our community,” said Ellen Annala, United Way of Annala, United Way president. Central Indiana; Bob Bedell, In- “Whether it’s the arts, educa-

dianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA); Don E.

Marsh, Marsh Supermarkets; have been there time and time from the outside as one. AlWilliam Mays, Mays Chemical again for Central Indiana.” though we’re a Northern IndiCo.; and Don Sherman, “I’ve seen firsthand what hap- ana-based business, the Colts Walerfield Group ofFort Wayne, pens to a community when it project a big-league image that The alliance will spawn sev- loses a major league franchise,” benefitsour bottomline as well.”

era! committees to review and address various issues including community outreach, corporate recruitment, fan development, public awareness, regional development and season

ticket sales. ^ The alliance also will release

periodic “white papers” detailing statistics, facts and other information concerning the NFL’s impact on Central Indiana and other regions across the

country.

Hie City of Indianapolis and tiie Colts were integral in form-

apol

“The benefits of the Colts go way beyond Indianapolis and Central Indiana,”said Sherman, chairman of the Waterfield

tion,feedingthehungryorhelp- Group in Fort Wayne. “Our eninghousethe homeless, the Colts tire region and state is judged

Bill Badtll, co-chalr of tho Cotts-Buslnoss Alliance, speaks during a press conference unveiling the now group. Also pictured (left) Is Bill Mays of Mays Chemical. (Photo courtesy

wwwxolts.com)

SPORTS BRIEFS

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum adds Latin Legacy The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum recently announced that it is expanding tiie offerings of its well-established and successful licensing program. A new line called “Negro Leagues Latin Legacy” will honor the historical connection between Negro Leagues baseball and Latin American baseball and inform the public of its continuing effect on present-day Mgjor League baseball.