The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 17

5D GJfjf Armtrflttl Ctzr Thunday, June It, 1984 Collier9 sad ret urn not what he expected I o-fc DIoCly UP ff Rutledge Star Sports Writer I 1 Despite losing former Alabama quarterback Walter Lewis, Pepper Rodgers' Showboats have played extremely well in running their record to 7-9 in an inaugeral USFL season. Mike Kelly has played well in Lewis' absence but the key has been the Memphis defense. The Showboat defense comes to play. As a result, the Stallions are favored by only nine points. appears the United States Football League is losing the numbers game telev ision numbers, anyway.

After a good start, ratings for ABC-TV's Sunday games have drifted below 6.0. which was last season's final average rating. Despite the low ratings, ABC has renewed its option to televise the USFL exclusively during the 1985 season. And, if Ted Turner gets his way, the league will get a big financial lift from the projected $42 billion WTBS would pay for exclusive cable rights In 1985 and 1986. But the low ratings can't be good news to the USFL owners despite the big money TV contracts.

They hint that the "made-for-TV" league has not caught the imagination of the viewing public and foretells future problems for the USFL if the situation doesn't change Reggie Collier's return to Legion Field Sunday wasn't nearly the happy, triumphant return he'd envisioned after his January trade to Washington. Sadly, bitterly, the former Birmingham Stallion quarterback watched from the bench as his new club, the Federals, fell apart in the second half, losing to his old club 42-31 in Legion Field. "I'm happy to be back In Birmingham. I've talked to a lot of old friends and coaches. It's good to see them," he said after the contest.

But renewed acquaintances were the only "happy" things about Collier's return. Football-wise, the whole situation was a bummer. "A long game. Reggie?" he was asked. "It was for them," Collier replied, referring to his Federals teammates.

"Like I said, I'm happy to see friends and happy to be in Birmingham, but I wanted to play. I'm definitely not happy about not seeing any action." After playing in just two of Washington's last 11 games and not seeing a down of action in the last six, the former Southern Miss star no longer feels a part of the club. A sad situation for a talent such as Collier's. The Stallions can sew up the Southern Division crown and a first-round hosts' berth in the USFL playoffs by dusting off the Memphis Showboats Saturday night in Liberty Bowl Stadium in a game televised by ESPN. The USFL playoff format has the Division winner with the best record playing the No 2 Wild Card team, with the Division winner with the second-best record playing the No.l Wild Card team.

As things now stand, the first-round matchups would be Philadelphia (top division winner) hosting New Jersey (No. 2 wild card) and Birmingham (No.2 division winner) hosting Tampa Bay (top wild card). This presents an interesting situation, since both games would actually be replays of contests played previous week. The Stars and the Stallions host the Generals and the Bandits, respectively, in the last week of the season. Just one week before the start of the USFL playqffs.

If Birmingham should win, the Stallions would either travel to Philadelphia or host New Jersey in the Eastern Conference championships. New Jersey and Tampa Bay, as wild cards, can't host a playoff game unless it's against another wild card. Though Birmingham blasted Memphis 54-7 in their ii st meeting, don't expect a repeat blowout. I 1 APMM Houston Gambler rookie quarterback Jim Kelly has won his third United States Football League Player of the Week award this season after a record-breaking performance against the Chicago Blitz last weekend. Kelly, who played for new Washington Federals coach Howard Schnelleberger at the University of Miami, completed 21 Of 36 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns as Houston clinched the Central Division crown by blasting Chicago 38-13.

iftfhe Gambler quarterback has not thrown for 4,825 yards and 40 touchdowns this season, breaking pro football records in both categories. Reggie Collier, once the starting quarterback for the Blrmlagham Stallions, Is now riding the bench on the straggling Washington Federals team. And It's a move he lia't happy about. He has played la only two of the Federals' last 11 games and saw no action In last weekend's game against Birmingham. Tullis named assistant From Wirt Reports Walter Tullis, a former professional football player, has been hired ai receiver coach at Alabama MM.

Hit appointment was announced today by the school's new coach, Id Wyche, who said his staff now is complete. Tullis, a graduate of Delaware State College, played for Green Bay In the National Football League during the 1878-80 seasons and with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League In IMS. Since succeeding Ray Greene as the coach, Wyche retained Freddie Jones as the linebacker coach and hired four new assistants, Johnnie Williams, defensive coordinator; Ralph Bishop, offensive line; Brawnsky Towns, defensive backs; and Iddlo Sher red, offensive backfleld. Jaguars sign pitcher Kangus Mark Kangus, who turned In a 5-1 record during two seasons as a relief pitcher at Gulf Coast Community College In Panama City, will play for the South Alabama baseball team. The 8-foot-, 100-pound Kangus signed a letter of Intent to transfer) South Alabama, said his new coach, Steve Klttrell.

Cardinals sign USA's Johnson Lane Johnson, who broke the NCAA record by stealing 89 bases for the University of South Alabama during the 1984 baseball season, signed a contract Wednesday night with the St. Louis Cardinals. Johnson, a sixth-round pick by the Cardinals in the recent major league draft, signed for a bonus of an undisclosed amount and leaves today for the organisation's Class A farm club In Erie, Tb Mobile Pnu Register reported. The centerfielder and leadoff batter for USA, Johnson stole 89 bases In 103 attempts, at one point stealing 30 bases consecutively without being thrown out. Later be put together a string of 30 straight steals.

Simpson pleads guilty to coke charge Former Tennessee fullback Hubert Simpson, who once scored four touchdowns In a Volunteer romp over Notre Dame, now faces 15 years In prison for selling cocaine. Simpson, who was kicked off Tennessee's team in 1980 for missing a practice, pleaded guilty Wednesday to selling one ounce of the Illegal drug to his former agent and lawyer. U.S. District Judge Thomas Hull Is to sentence Simpson on July 13. The 36-year-old former athlete faces a maximum 15 years In jail and $25,000 fine.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped a charge that Simpson attempted to sell 18 pounds of cocaine. The transaction never occurred but Simpson had agreed to sell the drug for 8480,000, prosecutors said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruts Deadrick said he had reserved the right to object to the sentence If Hull gives Simpson probation. Simpson's former lawyer and agents John Mark Hancock of KnoxvlUe, pleaded guilty June 1 to selling" an ounce of cocaine to an undercover agent Drug testing recommended The NCAA should start testing college athletes regularly for use of performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids, a committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association has recommended.

The NCAA Special Committee on Drug Testing, In a preliminary report dated May 81, endorsed random, year-rounding drug testing beginning next year, The AUmbU Constitution reported in today's editions. The panel, established at the NCAA convention In January, la to Issue. Its final report July 1.. The committee's chairman, University of North Carolina physical education professor Carl Blyth, said the panel compiled a list of between 65 and 70 performance-enhancing drugs, Including steroids, amphetamines and cocaine as well Ingredients found in commonly used cold medications and cough syrups. Caffeine, found In coffee, tea and many soft drinks, also la banned when consumed In high concentrations.

The list Is similar to one developed by the medical commission of the International Olympic Committee. Berst admits taping Tarkanian A top NCAA Investigator has admitted to secretly taping conversations with basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian and also says he bad no physical evidence to support efforts to suspend the coach In 1977. David Berst, the NCAA's director of enforcement since 1877 and aa employee of the sports governing body since 1973, admitted under questioning Wednesday that ho had made It a practice to tape conservations. Berst admitted he taped several conversations with Tarkanian without the coach's knowledge. 0) affS3 'J! MAHUMCTUftD SY A MAJO U.S.

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mttiton not HKtuOtfl 111 luwim 1 HK. gnw una nw. CATTSASLC3Ti: court battle which could have an Impact on the NCAA's enforcement methods. Tarkanian la claiming the NCAA violated due process In demanding he be suspended for two years la 1977 after bis University of Nevada-Las Vegas basketball program was slapped with a two-year probation for 38 recruiting violations. Tarkanian obtained a court Injunction prohibiting the suspension and the case has languished In legal limbo for seven years while Tarkanian has compiled one of the iMet records in college basketball.

Doctors disagree cn drug use There la a difference of opinion among physicians boat the danger of using the drug growth hormone to enhance muscle development la athletes. The drag la gaining popularity among American athletaa. According to aomo physicians, It can have broad and dangerous effects, according to War YottTtmit? Bat one who disagrees about Its use is Dr. Robert P. Kerr of San Gabriel, who told nmatthattha aae of the hormone Is acceptable.

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