St. Cloud Times from Saint Cloud, Minnesota • Page 16

A 28 College football previews St. Cloud (Minn.) Times Sept. 12, 1992' Johnnies set for opener Gopher football Wacker to unveil 'J Receiving Name Rec. Yds. Avg.

TD Ryan Murray (SJ) 14 355 25.4 2 By TOM LARSON Times Sports Wrtter The St. John's University football team opens its 1992 season today with a non-conference game against Bemidji State. Here's a capsule preview of that game: Time: 1 p.m. today at Collegeville. Radio: WWJO (98 FM) in St.

Cloud, 12:45 p.m. with Emmett Keenan doing play-by-play and St. Cloud Cathedral St. John's Offense TE 89 Greg Dummer (6-2, 215, Sr.) LT 78 Matt Olson (6-3, 267, Sr.) LG RG 65 Rob Herrmann (6-1 225, Jr.) RT WR 1 Ryan Murray (5-1 1 1 85, Jr.) FLWR 7 Jeremy Loretz (6-0, 1 65, So.) QB 16 Wade Labatte (6-5, 215, Sr.) FB 48 Matt Cherry (6-1, 220, Sr.) HB 35 Troy Sladek (5-9, 1 80, Jr.) Jeremy Loretz (SJ) 4 37 9.3 0 Cherry (SJ) 4 22 5.5 0 Willie Seiler (SJ) 2 32 16.0 0 Chad Postal (B) 36 732 20.3 10 Dave Schmidt (B) 12 229 19.1 2 Darren Carstens (B) 9 118 13.1 0 Bemidji State Offense 84 Brian Murray (6-1, 225, Jr.) 71 Mark Hogberg (6-5, 280, Sr.) 61 Todd Morse (6-1, 255, Jr.) 56 Brian Snyder (6-3, 245, Sr.) 64 Jim Templin (6-1 265, Jr.) 77 Joe Johnson (6-2, 305, Sr.) 87 Chad Postal (6-2, 200, Sr.) 26 Darren Carstens (5-10, 175, Sr.) 14 Marty Follis (6-2, 220, Sr.) 42 Gary Minnie (5-6, 220, Sr.) 45 Jason Hunkins (5-11, 205, Sr.) 5 Matt Wallace (6-0. 180, So.) Defense 33 RickTwarowski (6-2, 215, So.) 93 Les Bragg (6-1, 260, Sr.) 91 Joe Cummimnas (6-1.

230 tootball coach Gary Fasching adding SJU preview But the Beavers are optimistic this season, returning 14 starters, eight on offense, and the team was involved in what Diaz called his most successful off-season weight training and conditioning program since he took the job in 1989. Records: St. John's was 11-1 in 1991, 8-0 in the MIAC. The Johnnies lost 19-7 to Dayton in the NCAA Division III semifinals in December in Dayton. Diaz turned around a 1-9 team in 1988 and led the Beavers to a 4-5 record in his first season in 1989.

The Beavers fell to 1-10 in 1990 and 2-7 last season. Series The Johnnies have a 9-1 record against the Beavers in a series that began in 1934. Bemidji State's won 6-0 in 1945. Gagliardi has never lost to Bemidji State in five games. Stat comparison (1991 comparison) Defense i commentary.

Situation: The Johnnies and Beavers both open their 1992 schedules today. St. John's, the defending Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference OLBDE 46 Bill Donohue (5-11, 190, Sr. DT 97 Brian Kohorst (6-1 220. So.

Game notes: Quarterback Wade Labatte, a senior from Cambridge, will start against the Beavers and will have the unevi-ablejobof trying to replace star and record-setter Pat Mayew, a Kodak All-America selection, MIAC MVP, and the owner of several St. John's season pass DTNG Wade Labatte and NCAA Divi-StartsatQB sion III West Region champion, will be going for its ninth straight season-opening victory. St. John's has not lost a home game in 92 Mark Grommesch (6-5, 250, So 55 Matt Juhl (6-2, 205, Jr.) 52 John Scott (6-0, 220, Jr.) 50 Mike Degen (6-0, 220, Sr.) 23 Mike Narum (5-11, 175, Sr.) 8 Jim Carlson (6-2, 180, Jr.) 28 Dana Gravesen (6-0, 200, Sr.) 4 Eric Kalli (5-1 1 175, 84 Brian Murray (6-1, 225, Jr.) DEDT 91 Mike Ungar (5-10, 225, Sr.) OLBDE ILBLB ILBLB 54 Erik Klein (6-2, 21 5, Jr.) RCBCB 28 Tony Lesch (5-8, 1 85, Jr.) LCBCB SS 20 Scott Wilts (6-2, 1 90, Jr.) FS 30 Greg Thoma (5-10, 185, Jr.) 1 6 Wade Labatte (6-5, 21 5, Sr.) Rushing ing records. Tim Ledwein, a senior quarterback from Annandale, has taken roughly the same number of snaps in practice, but will back up Labatte.

Should St. John's need or have the opportunity to go three deep into its quarterbacks, the probable choice would be sophomore Pat Kemper, from Melrose. Despite the losses of starters Jay Conzemius (187 carries, 1,235 yards and 17 touchdowns) and Sharm Scheuerman (86 carries, 383 yards and 35 catches, 454 yards), the Johnnies won't be hurting at running back, at least in terms of numbers. Fullback Matt Cherry, a senior from Rosemount, and halfback Troy Sladek, a junior from Battle Lake, will start, but reserves will are expected to get a lot of playing time. Chris Wanner, a junior from Moorhead, will rotate in with new offense; By ED STYCH Associated Press Writer MINNEAPOLIS A new era ip, Minnesota football is about to begin, o.i The Gophers open their 1992 against San Jose State at the Metro-dome tonight with new coach Jim Wacker on the sidelines and a new pass-happy offense in the playbook.

But on the field will be most of same players who struggled to a 2-9 rec? ord and last place in the Big Ten last season. Wacker isn't sure how the players recruited for former coach John Gute-kunst's run-oriented offense will fare in his new offense. "You're first ball game you never know, and your first ball game with a whole new group of guys in a whole neW': system, you really don't know what to expect," said Wacker, who coached at Texas Christian the last nine years. "So I'm as anxious as anyone to go out there and strap it on and line it up and start this season and find out what kind of football team we have." San Jose State also has a new coacjf in Ron Turner, who was an assistant ajt Stanford under new Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green. But Turner isn't making too many changes in Spartans' tradition of throwing pass after pass.

Both coaches say they like to pass 60 percent of the time. "The game may never end. The fanK are going to get their money's Wacker said. This is the second meeting betweeft the Gophers and the Spartans, the twd- time defending Big West champions. Jj Last year, the Gophers endured the passing of Matt Veatch, who completed 24 of 45 passes for 385 yards, and the Spartans 26-20 for their first home1; opening victory in four years.

This year the Spartans are led by who replaced Veatch through last season. The junior fin ished 1991 ranked third in the nation passing efficiency for the 6-4-1 tans. He passed for 1,519 yards and 12 touchdowns while starting just three1-, games. Garcia completed 22 of 40 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown in San'11 Jose's season-opener last Saturday, a-; 46-16 loss to No. 17 California.

almost four years and is the favorite among MIAC coaches to repeat as tit-leist. The team is ranked as high as 7th in national polls. Head coach John Gagliardi begins his 40th season at St. John's and his 50th as a coach. He is within 14 wins of becoming only the fifth coach in college football history with 300 career victories.

His 286-94-9 record is the second-best among active coaches, behind Grambling State's Eddie Robinson, the all-time leader with 371 wins. NCAA Division II Bemidji State, a 29-0 loser to St. John's in last year's opener, was 2-7 in 1991 playing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The team's head coach, Kris Diaz, entering his fourth season, is 7-22 at Bemidji State. Name Att.

Yds. Avg. TD Matt Cherry (SJ) 33 165 5.0 4 TroySladek(SJ) 16 78 4.9 0 Matt Malmberg (SJ) 2 61 30.5 1 Brian O'Kane (SJ) 19 72 3.8 1 Gary Minnie (B) 79 274 3.5 0 Marty Follis (B) 99 229 2.3 2 Passing Name Com. Att. Yds.

TD Wade Labatte (SJ) 6 14 210 1 Tim Ledwein (SJ) 11 16 107 0 Follis (B) 65 164 1118 12 passes for 77 yards and was intercepted once. The Johnnies, who piled up 332 yards on offense, held the Beavers' attack 145 yards and 11 first downs. St. John's coaches aren't sure what to expect from the Beavers defensively. Defensive coordinator Greg Berg is in his first season in charge after coaching the linebackers for two seasons.

Berg was a graduate assistant at Bemidji State in 1987-1988, and left for one season to teach physical education at Valley City State in North Dakota. He also was Valley City's defensive Sladek, and Brian O'Kane, a junior who ran with Sladek at Battle Lake, will get time behind Cherry. Halfback Matt Malmberg, a sophomore from Tartan, also could see substantial action. Coaches also like freshman fullback Korey Dean, of Poplar Bluff, and has been running him among the first two offensive teams, but he has been slowed by a muscle pull in his leg. Bemidji State again will start quarterback Marty Follis, a fair passer who had a rough outing against St.

John's in last season's 29-0 loss. Follis hit 7 of 20 Huskies look for first win at Minnesota-Duluth SCSU preview By TOM ELLIOTT Times Sports Writer The St. Cloud State football team plays its second straight non-conference game of the season today against the University of Minnesota-Duluth. A capsule preview: Time: 1:30 p.m. today at Griggs Field, Duluth.

Radio: WJON (1240 AM) in St. Cloud, 1p.m. with sports director John Schroeder doing play-by-play and for St. Cloud State Offense 86 Todd Hodapp (6-3, 225, Sr.) 64DeanDirkes Jr.) 60 Mike Thissen (6-1, 245, Sr.) 59 Bob Kronenberg (6-3, 254, Jr. 66 Chad Mever (6-3.

260. Sn Minnesota-Duluth Offense TESE 83 Noble Rainville 80, So.) LT 79 Lee Bowman (6-3, 270, So.) LG 55 Bob Dahl (6-1, 240, Sr.) ,) RG 71 Dave Emerson (6-2, 255, Jr.) 78 Dave Dahlstrom (6-3, 260, Fr mer Minnesota Viking and Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebacker Peter Najarian handling color commentary. Situation: It's both teams' second non-conference .) RT 74 Bob Schwartz (6-1, 275, Sr. WRTE 86 Jeff Walker (6-3, 225, Sr.) WRLHB 32 Jim Lindberg (6-1 21 0, Sr.) QB 1 1 Greg Valasky (6-1 1 90, Jr.) FB 35 Scott Munger (6-1 21 0, Sr.) TBRHB 30 Mike Nelson (6-1 205, Jr.) 83 Noble Rainville 80, So.) Defense Jim Mauer (SCS) 5 26 5.2 0 Dennis Hennen (SCS) 9 23 2.6 0 DougDoering 3 22 7.3 0 JimLindberg(D) 27 124 4.6 0 Greg Valasky (D) 10 45 4.5 1 J.C. Jones (D) 4 35 8.7 0 Passing Name Com.

Att. Yds. TD Jim Mauer (SCS) 17 6 60 0 Scott Larsen (SCS) 8 2 25 0 Greg Valasky (D) 17 11 92 1 Receiving Name Rec. Yds. Avg.

TD Kenny Pierce (SCS) 2 25 12.5 0 Chad Gilman (SCS) 1 19 19.0 0 David Murphy (SCS) 1 15 15.0 0 Todd Hodapp (SCS) 1 12 12.0 0 Jeff Walker (D) 4 50 12.5 1 Jason Crane (D) 3 22 7.3 0 Eddie Widmeyer(D) 2 16 8.0 0 Kenny Pierce (6-3, 186, Sr.) 3 Coddy Harris (6-2, 192, Sr.) 9 Jim Mauer (6-1, 193, Sr.) 32 Jim Holasek (6-0, 220, Sr.) 34 Charles Dean (5-9, 201 Jr.) Jr.) Defense 81 Shawn O'Brien (6-4, 241, Sr.) 77 Pat Schwinghammer (6-4, 250 Sr.) 94 Marco Dinzeo (6-1 250, Jr.) 90 John Hemming (6-1 230, Jr.) 42 Brad LaCombe (6-0, 220, Sr.) 37 Mike Gromacki (6-1 235, Sr.) 4 Matt Steensland (5-1 1 1 95, Sr OLBDE 60 Scott Graunke (6-2, 220, Fr.) DT NGDT 73 Jim Wagner (6-4, 250, So.) DTDE OLB 81 ILBMLB 52 Dan Gotz (6-2, 225, Jr.) ILBOLB 44 Gary Daniels (6-2, 205, Jr.) in total offense last week while piling up 355 yards of their own. "Yeah, but Eau Claire's a Division III school," Malosky said. "You can't compare them to St. Cloud. That's a whole different thing.

Teams in our league (the Northern Intercollegiate Conference) can play that league for one game. But not for a whole season. We couldn't do that." No team blitzes more than Minnesota-Duluth. The Bulldogs stunt and send different players in on almost every play. "We've got to be patient and take our time out there, wait for things to happen and not rush things," Martin said.

"We know they'll be coming." On the injury front, tight end Todd Hodapp sustained a bruised knee and offensive tackle Dean Dirkes turned an ankle against Idaho. Both will play. Scott Knapp (6-7, 315, a projected starter at offensive tackle who broke a bone in his foot in preaseason, won't play this week. He may play in the NCC opener against Nebraska-Omaha next week. For Minnesota-Duluth, starting left tackle Ryan Severson (6-2, 290, Jr.) is out with a viral infection.

Fullback Scott Munger (6-1, 210, who didn't play last week, will start today. Fullback Brett McEnelly (5-11, 220, So.) is out with a knee injury. Halfbacks Andy Cerrato (pulled abdominal muscle) and Bill Bussey (sprained ankle) are both out. Malosky is a little upset that he did not enjoy the benefit of a videotape exchange with St. Cloud State.

Malosky said he has not received a tape of the Huskies' game with Idaho. St. Cloud State, he said, will have a tape of his team's game with Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The quote: "We need to get it going to get ready for the conference," Martin said. "Just because we played a Division I game doesn't mean we're going to beat Duluth.

"We've got to come to play and be ready for them. Duluth's got a good team." .) CB 24 Lance Sage (5-1 0,1 75, Sr.) 4a make Hardy (6-1, 205, Sr.) 27 Jesse Akemann (6-2, 1 96, Jr.) 31 Adam Danielson (5-1 1 205, Jr, 13 Ted Larson (6-1, 200, Jr.) SS 48 Chad Whiterabbitt (6-2, 200, Jr.) FS 27 Jason Wolf (6-1 205, Sr.) CB 42 Lane Harstad (6-0, 180, Sr.) 11 Greg Valasky (6-1, 190, Jr.) The Spartans never got untracked the game, turning the ball over fivey times and finishing with minus-40 yards rushing. They had 199 total yards, their lowest in seven seasons. It also didn't help that San Jose losf three offensive starters before the gamtf 5 when tackle Reuben Johnson, guarlri Alten Faletoi and fullback Thompson were ruled academically ir'3 eligible. They'll sit out the Minnesota game, too.

"We've got to play better," Turner "1 said. "We didn't execute in any phase of the game. We've got to play harder and with more intensity. We had a lot of1 new players who were not used to that type of tempo." Wacker also is concerned about inexperience, especially on defense and: among his receivers. Third-year quar-M terback Marquel Fleetwood is back, but-! top receivers Omar Douglas, and Lewis Garrison combined for, just 23 catches last season.

"Will we be able to play the game without the silly penalties, without the bust in the secondary, without the big, mistakes, without the offensive line" turning the linebacker loose and getting the quarterback killed?" asked. "We really need to have poisfc and play with confidence and exe; cute." ToddHodapp game. For St. Plays despite injury Cloud State, it's the final tuneup for the North Central Conference opener next week against Nebraska-Omaha at Selke Field. For Minnesota-Duluth, it's the second straight home game before playing at St.

Francis (111.) next week. The Bulldogs open the Northern Intercollegiate Conference season Sept. 26 vs. Northern State. Records: St.

Cloud State is 0-1 after losing to NCAA Division 1-AA University of Idaho 42-9 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. Minnesota-Duluth is 1-0 after beating Wisconsin-Eau Claire 17-6 at Griggs Field. Series: Minnesota-Duluth leads the series 14-13. St. Cloud State beat the Bulldogs 17-14 last year at Selke Field, but lost at Minnesota-Duluth 17-14 in 1990.

The Huskies last won at Griggs Field in 1978, winning 30-23. Stat comparison (After one game) Rushing Name Att. Yds. Avg. TD Charles Dean (SCS) 18 55 3.1 0 Jim Holasek (SCS) 7 33 4.7 1 Cloud State coach Noel Martin said.

"They have a good reputation and year in and year out, they probably could play in the North Central Conference. They've got great facilities, a great area to recruit from and he (Malosky) certainly does a good job." Malosky is the winningest active coach in NCAA Division II. He has a 219-99-11 record and is in his 35th season as Minnesota-Duluth's head coach. Minnesota-Duluth returns 10 of 22 starters from a year ago, including left guard Bob Dahl, center Ted Greely (a Kimball High School graduate), right tackle Bob Schwartz and tight end Jeff Adler, cornerbacks Lance Sage and Lane Harstad and free safety Jason Wolf all return. The Bulldogs like to throw to their tight ends.

Walker had eight receptions against the Huskies last year at Selke Field. He's Minnesota-Duluth's leading receiver. Their No. 2 receiver is backup tight end Jason Crane (6-2, 220, Linebacker Brad LaCombe leads the Huskies in tackles with 14. Defensive back Adam Danielson is second with eight tackles.

For Minnesota-Duluth, middle linebacker Dan Gotz leads the team with seven tackles. Wolf has six tackles and one pass interception. The Bulldogs Game notes: If one listens to Minnesota-Duluth coach Jim Malosky, the Bulldogs don't stand a chance against St. Cloud State. "We're not very deep and we don't have a lot of experience," Malosky said.

"St. Cloud's too big and a little too much for us at this time of the year. "We're just hoping for two things: that we try to win and that we get ready for the rest of our schedule. I just nobody gets hurt." Of course, St. Cloud State hasn't won in Duluth since 1978 and the two teams annually have had close, tough games.

"Duluth is a good football team," St. Walker on offense. On defense, left tackle Jon Lamers, right end Mark held Wisconsin-Lau Claire to 12b yards Michigan, Notre Dame vie for bragging rights; FSU, Clemson collide championship. And their game could go a long way toward deciding the title. "I see the setting of a great game," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said.

"I can sense the intensity of it now." Clemson is the defending ACC champ. Florida State, a longtime independent power, joined the conference this year. The last time these teams met in 1989, the Tigers won 34-23, handing Florida State its worst loss in 35 games. Texas opens its home schedule against a team that upset the Aggies 35-34 last year. That was at Tulsa, howl-; ever.

This is at College Texas. Wally Richardson, who was on Pennr State's scout team this summer, beO comes the second true freshman to start for Joe Paterno since 1966 today against Temple. Forced into action by, injuries to the other Richardson directed three second-half; scoring drives last week in a 24-20 vic- tory over Cincinnati. Temple is winless in 15 trips to State College, Pa. Associated Press Forget the bragging rights.

This game is for laughing rights No. 6 Michigan at No. 3 Notre Dame. Just ask Jerome Bettis. In a 24-14 victory last year, Michigan held Bettis, a fullback, to 28 yards rushing.

Michigan flanker Walter Smith is still poking fun at his old high school teammate. "He kept bragging about how they beat up on us," Bettis said. "I tried to come back, but it boiled down to they won the game, so he always got the last laugh." Bettis ran for a school-record 20 touchdowns last year, but he by no means represents the sum of the offense that will be on display. Each team also has an experienced, premier quarterback, Elvis Grbac of Michigan and Rick Mirer of Notre Dame. The game is Michigan's season open- dash, Washington coach Don James says Kaufman is the fastest tailback he's ever had at the school.

The Huskies are 33-point favorites. Last year, Kentucky rallied from a 28-6 deficit to trail Florida only 28-26 with seven minutes left before losing 35-26. Wildcats coach Bill Curry isn't sure what his team will remember from that game, the good or the bad. "It's hard for this age group of kids to remember the day before yesterday, let alone last year," Curry said. Kentucky was 0-7 in Southeastern Conference play last year, and that, for sure, is something they'd all like to forget.

Curry calls playing at Florida "perhaps the ultimate test in college football." The Gators are 12-0 at Florida Field under coach Steve Spurrier. It's early, but already Florida State and Clemson are beginning to think about the Atlantic Coast Conference Maryland (0-1), Oregon (0-1) at No. 21 Stanford (0-1), Bowling Green (1-0) at No. 22 Ohio State (1-0), No. 23 Virginia (1-0) at Navy (0-0), and Western Carolina (1-0) at No.

24 Georgia Tech (0- Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez is certain of two things: His Badgers have no business playing Washington today, and his kickoff team will have as little business as possible with Napoleon Kaufman. Kaufman, a sophomore, rushed for 159 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown, on six carries in Washington's 31-7 victory at Arizona State last Saturday. While a backup to senior Jay Barry, Kaufman will handle all kickoff and punt returns, if he can get to them. And Kaufman, says Alvarez, is "a guy you have to consider not kicking the football to." With his 4.22 speed in the 40-yard Top 25 er. The Irish debuted last week with a 42-7 victory over Northwestern.

The rest of today's schedule features Wisconsin (0-0) at No. 2 Washington (1-0), Kentucky (1-0) at No. 4 Florida (0-0), No. 5 Florida State (1-0) at No. 15 Clemson (1-0), Tulsa (1-0) at No.

7 Texas (2-0), Southern Mississippi 1-0) at No. 8 Alabama (1-0), Texas (0-1) at No. 9 Syracuse (1-0), Temple (1-0) at No. 10 Penn State (1-0), Middle Tennessee State (1-0) at No. 11 Nebraska (1-0), No.

12 Colorado (1-0) at Baylor (0-1), Arkansas State (0-1) at No. 13 Oklahoma (1-0), and No. 20 Tennessee (1-0) at No. 14 Georgia (1-0). Also, there's Cal State-Fullerton (1- 0) at No.

16 UCLA (0-0), No. 17 California (1-0) at Purdue (0-0), No. 18 Mississippi State (1-0) at Louisiana State (0- 1) No. 19 North Carolina State (2-0) at rax: Mm I JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ I jM UNDIH ATI IH HAMI'ION --S. HECTOR I I I Big Ten looking into adding 12th member am, FROM THE THOMAS AND MACK CENTER, LAS VEGAS WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH AT 7:30 P.M.

1 STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) The misnamed Big Ten Conference has directed its 11 schools to think about adding a 12th member when a moratorium on expansion expires in 1994, Penn State's athletic director said Friday. Any expansion would involve a school next to a Big Ten state, Jim Tar-man told the Penn State board of trustees. Tarman said athletic directors and coaches also have discussed the possi bility of a football championship game similar to the Southeastern Conference title game Dec. 5.

"I'm not sure I really prefer to see that happen," Tarman said. "Philosophically, I do think that's not good for college football, but certainly financially, it's going to be great for the Southeastern Conference." When the Big Ten admitted Penn State in 1990, it agreed to a four-year moratorium or expansion. Tarman said the movement was triggered because the Pacific 10 Conference is considering expansion to 12 members. The Pacific 10 and Big Ten are linked through Rose Bowl contracts and have had television contracts together. Tarman said he has heard that schools considered for membership in the Big Ten are Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse, in no particular order.

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