The Kerrville Times from Kerrville, Texas • Page 6

6 Tuesday, November 10, 1992 Sports jKcrruillc Ektilu Brent Dollar Be careful in criticizing young players (The scene: the phone on my desk rings, awakening me from a daydream as I catch a fluorescent-lign newsroom tan on a rainy Mon day afternoon.) I quickly try to shake the re mnants of the daily deluge oL R.E.M.-injected thoughts out of my cerebral cortex, as I pick up the receiver and say hello. I expected this to be a typica question; i.e. Who do the Cowboys play this time is the Aggie game on will the Spurs be back in San the payment you owe Okay, skip that last one. This phone call is different, how ever, because it's from a radio station-type guy from San Antonio. Funny things, these radio people, they keep thinking that this newfangled technology in going to last.

Don't they realize radio is a passing fad? Anyway, this guy tells me he's from the station that aired the broadcast of the Ingram-Devine football game last Friday. He also tells me he's calling because some Ingram folks feel his broadcast team insulted the Warriors during the game, a season-ending game that saw Ingram fall 55-14. He goes into further detail that apparently some Ingram faithful had taken their portable radios to the game and had heard these negative comments during the game, and they had voiced their anger to the Ingram coaching staff and administration, as well as the Devine coaches. Needless to say, I'm a little shocked. First of all, I explain to the gentleman that I was not in Devine when this alleged incident occurred, seeing as how I was covering another game and therefore did not make the trip, -i He then tells me that the Devine staff wanted to clear up Iiis matter as soon as possible.

He tells me that the coaches are afraid that Ingram players, coaches, fans, and parents will feel the comments originated from the school, not from the station's boneheads who forgot people might actually be listening. I assure him that no one from Ingram, either inside the school or out, has made such a call to me. He again apologizes for any negative light his station may have cast on Ingram's team, school, or community. (Scene two: Minutes later, I make several calls to the Ingram Tom Moore campus, as I try to dig up all the details on this unfolding drama.) After several calls, it seems some folks in Ingram are upset over what they heard on KTXX-FM that night I can't verify what was actually said, because I didn't hear the broadcast nor have I heard the tapes, so I won't aggravate the situation by repealing hearsay. But, I will say this; What were these guys thinking? Okay, so Devine is one of the state's better 3A earns, and they were soundly beating the Warriors on their homecoming game, but that's no excuse to be stupid.

Granted, I don't know what was said, but as a former play-by-play jerson, I know that one thing you lever do is run down a squad your team is playing, even if you're winning big or losing big. It's a given that when you listen small-town stations cover their lometown teams you're going to tear the broadcasters be slightly biased for your squad, but it's unforgivable to show disrespect to an opposing team, no matter how healed the rivalry. The Warriors may have been blown put by Devine that night, and maybe it was a lopsided game, but radio guys (as well as guys who want to do this kind of work in the future) need to keep in mind that this is HIGH SCHOOL football. The players don't gel paid, nor are they on scholarship, they simply wanl to play football. And, consequently, parenis and fans enjoy high school football games because ihe drama and emotions of ihe players are pure, not based on a potential bowl bid or an incentive clause.

Therefore, as a member of the media, I would like 10 offer my apologies lo the folks in Ingram who were offended by these remarks. Events like these put the media in a bad light, so as a journalist I feel if important that I let people know we're not all bad. Now, what was I dreaming about, anyway? Brent Dollar Is a sports writer for he Dally Times. 49ers fold up Falcons, 41-3 ATLANTA (AP) It wasn't a good night for generosity. The Atlanta Falcons were generous hosts lo a San Francisco team with something to prove, giving the 49crs the ball six times on fumbles or interceptions Monday night.

The 49crs turned the turnovers into 24 points in a 41-3 victory which completed their revenge for a pair of losses lo ihe Falcons lasi year. The second of those losses came on Billy Joe Tollivcr's 44-yard, "Hail Mary" pass to Michael Haynes with I second to play. The 49ers (7-2) made sure there would be no last-second surprises in 1992. They whipped Atlanta 56-17 three weeks ago on ihe Wcsl Coast. "When I came in here it was definitely emphasized to me lhal we gol to win these games," explained 49cr defensive back Michael McGruder, who recovered one of three Falcon fumbles.

McGruder played for Miami last season. "We made it occupational suicide," said Falcons coach Jerry Glanville, whose team outpasscd San Francisco 245 yards to 151, got more total yards, 304 to 303, and more first downs, 20 to 15. "You just can't beat a good football team by giving the ball away." Atlanta fell lo 3-6. "Whenever you can lum the ball over and give it to our offense, that's usually points on the board," said 49cr linebacker Bill Romanowski, who started it by recovering Keith Jones' fumble on the Atlanta 48 to end the Falcons' first possession. Nine plays later, Steve Young passed 12 yards to Odessa Turner for the 49ers' first score.

Don Griffin stopped Atlanta's second drive by intercepting Tolliver's pass for Andre Rison, but the Falcons defense held. McGrudcr's recovery of a Rison fumble al the Falcon 42 led lo Mike Gofer's second field goal, a 32-yar- dcr, and Amp Lee's recovery of Deion Sanders' fumble on the ensuing kickoff set up Tom Rathman's 2-yard touchdown run. San Francisco couldn't take advantage of an Eric Davis intcrccp- lion, bul after Merton Hanks picked off another Tolliver-for-Rison pass at the Atlanta 25, Young hit Jerry Rice with a 19-yard scoring pass. "It's tough when you got your tail end backed up against the goal line a lot of ihe said Falcons safety Scott Case. "When they get a lot of opporlunilics, it's difficult to keep them out." The revenge motive helped push the ball in.

"I think last year kind of really stuck with us," Young said. "Itcost us all ihe ihings lhat we worked for. It was not easy to sil on." Those iwo losses cost the 49ers a spol in the playoffs at a lime when Ihey were playing as well as any learn in the NFL. The Falcons rubbed il in as Glanville proclaimed his learn champions of California. Ailania also bcal Los Angeles iwice and San Diego and Oakland once each.

But Young said the victory also reflected a dclermination born of humiliation last Phoenix. "I think the team took last week very personally. We went down Ihcre and laid an egg," he said. "We've worked hard for this record. I think we were really intent on play- ing a game like we did today." The Falcons, he said, surprised him by not throwing their usual full blitz at him very often.

"I'm nol going to watch film on these guys any more because all you do is gel ready for something they're nol going to run," he said. When the Falcons did fire their firsl full blitz, on third-and-3 at their own 12, Young hit Turner for the score. Meanwhile, the 49er defense spent much of the night in a deep zone that shut down the Falcons' big play offense. The longest pass completions Atlanta could muster were a pair of 18-yarders to Rison and Haynes. "We had some guys open, we just didn't get them the ball, or we got them the ball and we left it on the ground or interceptions," said Tolliver.

"Those things kill you." SC's Smith sets sights on NAIA assist crown By CLIFF NEWELL Times Sports Editor An old advertising saying goes: when you're number two, you try harder. If thai is true, ihcn jusl a lillle more effort will push Schreiner College poinl guard Pally Smilh over the top this season and make her the NAIA national leader in assists. Smith, the 5-7 senior from Victoria, finished second in the nation last season with an average of 8.4 assists per game. Actually, Smith was actually number one for most of the season, but she was beaten out at the very end when Michelle Hendry of Simon Fraser gol red hot in several NAIA playoff games. Her margin of victory was .2 assists per game.

That was a disappointing development for a lot of people in the SC basketball program, including head coach Tom Wells. But Patty herself hardly seemed to mind. "I didn't even know I was leading until the end, when coach Wells told me," she said. "I tried nol lo worry aboul il, and I never looked lo see how I was standing. It would have been nice lo get first, but I wasn't unhappy when it didn't happen.

"The thing thai disappointed me was not making the playoffs." Thai is jusl ihe type of unselfish atlilude a poinl guard musi have. Thai plus the eyes and quickness to SC opens season The Schreiner College Lady Mountaineers open their 1992-93 season tonighl againslSl. Edward's Universily. Tipoff lime is 5:30 p.m. spol ihe opening, and Ihe palience to deliver ihe ball al jusl ihe righi moment.

When il comes lo gelling the ball to her teammales, Smith is the best poinl guard lhat Wells has ever had. Explaining Smith's abilities, Wells said, "Pally can dribble Ihe ball with eiiher hand, plus she can pass ihe ball with eiiher hand. Her peripheral vision is outstanding. She has a real wide focus." Actually, il jusl seems that Pally was born to be a point guard. Her father is Mike Smith, a longtime outslanding coach al Victoria High School, so it was natural that his daughter would take up the game.

"Being the passer is the role I've played ever since I played little YMC A ball," Pally said. "The boys had lo be the scorers, so I passed the ball." Smith went on to have a fine career at Victoria and earned a scholarship to Schreiner. However, her first two college season were hindered by two knee injuries. She was forced to wear a knee brace that greatly restricted her mobility. But as a junior the brace came off, and it made all the difference.

"She was so much quicker," said Wells. 'Teams like St. Edward's were able to press her before, but they couldn't last year." "The doctor released me after iwo years," Smith said. "It was hard not having the brace at first. It was a safety blanket.

The first time I played without it was in a preseason game, and I fell going after a ball. I got back up withoul being hurl." Wilh a full season ahead of her, Smith is already the all-time SC assist leader with 454, and she holds almost every-school assist record worth holding. Now, as the lone four-year senior on the team, she faces bigger challenges than ever. Most of the people she delivered ihe ball lo a year ago are gone, and in iheir place are a flock of lalcnted but inexperienced freshmen. "I'm hoping Pally can be more of an offensive player," Wells said.

"We've had a big dropoff in Ihe people we lost, and we need more points oul of Ihe poinl position. With her quickness, she can lake Ihe ball lo the basket a lot more." Pally maintains she isn't worried about being the senior leader, saying, "Our freshmen are real good and real smart. They have some jit- lers now, bul once Ihey gel a couple of games in they'll be fine." Becoming the national assist leader will not be an easy task. Bul it is still within Smith's capabilities. "We'll just have to see how the team develops," Wells said.

"If everything turns out okay, Patty will get them the ball." bl I2 it elner College barel mlssed Thompson) 3 year ag (TlmeS Ph0t Ph0t by Da Piniella takes over reins of Mariners Lou Piniella Is taking his third whirl at managing. SEATTLE (AP) Lou Piniella withstood the demands of working for New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenncr and Cincinnaii Reds owner Marge Scholl. Now he may be facing an even bigger challenge: trying to turn the Seattle Mariners into winners. "If I felt lhal I wasn't going to succeed, I wouldn't be here," the 49-year-old Piniella said Monday after becoming the 10th manager in Ihe Mariners' checkered history. "We fully intend he'll win here as a manager," general manager Woody Woodward said.

"He's a winner." "He doesn't really ihink about anything but winning," said John Ellis, chief operating officer of the Baseball Club of Seattle, which owns the learn. One month after resigning as Schotl's manager in Cincinnaii, where he led Ihe Reds to a World Series litle in 1990, Piniella took over a team that had the worst record in the American League lasl season. He signed a ihree-year conlracl worlh $2.5 million. In addilion, the Mariners have the option of picking up Piniclla's contract for the 1996 season. Although the Mariners have had 15 losing seasons in iheir 16 years in Ihe American League, things mighl be differcni now under their new, Japanese-led ownership group.

The Baseball Club complcled its purchase of ihe Mariners from Jeff Smulyan on July 1 and then walched ihe learn stagger to a 64-98 record, losing a club-record 14 consecutive games in Seplember. "I was disappointed as can be, bul I didn't feel responsible," Ellis said. The new ownership group was formed in Seatlle when it was feared lhal Smulyan mighl take the learn to St. Petersburg, Fla. The Baseball Club signed AL batting champion Edgar Martinez to a long-term contract.

It's trying to do the same thing with 22-year-old Ken Griffey one of baseball's leading young players. The Baseball Club was looking for a fiery, aggressive, experienced manager to replace the fired Bill Plummer. The Mariners think they got lhat in Piniella. "I'm not too soft," Piniella said. "I want the players to have fun but I want them to know the way to have fun is to give 100 percent on the field.

If they do thai, nobody will have problems wilh me." Despile the Reds' numerous injuries, he managed thai team to 90 victories in 1992. Cincinnati finished eight games behind Atlanta in the NL Wesl and Piniella lefl when he could nol reach a deal wilh Schotl. In Seallle, Piniella rejoins Woodward. They worked together in ihe Yankees organizalion in Ihe 1980s. Piniella also served as Steinbrenner's general manager in New York.

He knows ihe new Mariners' ownership isn't going to go overboard on its spending, but has been told by Ellis and Woodwajd that they want to field a competitive team. He's looking for instant results. 'We expect a team thal's going to play .500 baseball or belter next season," Piniella said. When Plummer was let go with a year left on his two-year, $500,000 contraci, his six-man coaching staff was fired, too. At Piniella's news conference, the Mariners announced Ihe signing of iwo coaches: Ken Griffey Sr.

as hilling coach and Sam Perlozzo as third-base coach. Sports briefs Mountaineers outscore HTC The Schreiner College Mountaineers outscored Huslon- Tillotson College in a scrimmage on Saturday. SC outscored HTC in the firsl period, 50-31, and third period, 43-35. HTC had a 33-32 edge in the second period. Russ Levine poured in 29 poinls to lead SC, including 5 3-poinl shots, and grabbed 9 rebounds.

Tim Powers and Dwight Govan added 19 points each. Alex Re- mschel scored 13 and Eddy Maher had 10. The Mountaineers have Iheir final scrimmage againsiTrinity University on Saturday. SC opens its season on Nov. 17 against St.

Edward's Universily in Edington Center. ITM jayvee romps by Devine INGRAM The Ingram Tom Moore junior varsity football team captured the Districl 26-AAA runner-up title with a 34-12 win over Devine on Thursday in Warrior Stadium. ITM in its first year of football in Class 3A, finished second in the districl behind champion Bandera. Head coach Dale Bode said, "It's been a really good year for our guys, they've performed well. This season will definitely be a boost to our program next year." Heath Taylor and Hole Davison scored two rushing touchdowns each in the win, while Jason Brandt added a score on a 1 -yard TD run.

Brandon Rabik blocked a Devine punt, and the Warrior defense caused and recovered five Devine fumbles. Peterson teams split with Boerne BOERNE The Peterson Middle School eighth grade foot- ball teams closed out the 1992 season by splitting iwo games with Boerne on Tuesday of last week. In the game, Peterson (7-1) defeated Boerne 22-20 to notch their seventh victory in a row. Patrick Howcll scored on a 50-yard run in the firsl quarter, Peter Welly had a 3-yard TD jaunt in the second quarter, and Nick Kirkpatrick scored on a 45-yard run in the fourth period. Alex Ybarra added two PAT's, and defensive standouts were Kirkpatrick and Willie Oliveras.

The team (1-6) suffered a 8-0 loss to Boerne. Offensive standout was Mack Ruggles, while Jason Perry was the defensive bright spot for the Spikes. Tipton places 10th in Penick tourney AUSTIN Taylor Tipton of Kcrrville, now competing for the University of Texas, lied for lOih place at the 23rd Annual Harvey Penick Intercollegiate Golf Tournament this pasl weekend in Austin. Tipton scored a 215 (73-71-71) in helping ihe Longhorns take the team championship wilh an 843, eight strokes betler than the University of Houston. Tipton was a high school standout at Tivy from 1985 to 1988, winning three medals in slate tourney play, including ihe 1986 stale championship.

Tourney medalisl was Anders Hansen of Houston with a 209, one stroke better than two UT golfers lied for second, Jean-Paul Hebcrl and Justin Leonard. Smokeout golf set Nov. 19 KERRVILLE The 1992 American Cancer Society's "Great American Smokeout" golf tournament will be held on Nov. 19 at Schreiner Municipal Golf Course. There will be a shotgun tee off at 1 p.m.

The entry fee will be $5 per player, with the entire purse being distributed in gift certificates to Ihe winning teams. Since this popular event has been completely filled up in past years, golfers are urged lo sign up as soon as possible. To register for the tournamenl, or for further informaiion, conlact SMGC at 257-4982. Correction The name of Marty Munoz was accidentally left of ihe lisl of players on Tivy's districl championship jayvee fpoiball team in Saturday's edition of the Kerrville Daily Times. Munoz was a member of ihe starting backfield.

The Times regrels Ihe error..