The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 12

TRtrCDDREIR-JOOTW: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1996 EDITOR: HARRY BRYAN PHONE: 582-4361 FAX: 582-7186 SCORES LINE: 582-4871 FOR Cards' 13-10 win goes by coach's scripi Seldom-used Cooper displays loyalty to Payne Ron Cooper has no incentive to wrap a loyal arm around Jason Payne, his senior quarterback at the University of Louisville. Cooper did not recruit Payne. The previous of coach did. Payne is not the future of the Cardinals' program. Chris Redman, the redshirt freshman, is.

To play Payne is to risk more grumbling from the faithful, who have frequently grumbled their 3 v- 4 i y'St- disappointment about a team that is 5-4 after outlasting Memphis 13-10 yesterday at Cardinal Stadium. Redman, the Male High product, is the popular choice, as well as the right choice, at quarterback. In most RICK BOZICH SPORTS COLUMNIST programs Payne would have been told to enjoy a Senior Day stroll with his parents, to find a comfortable spot on the sideline and to concentrate on getting his degree. But Ron Cooper has created a role for Payne. He is the Cardinals' short-yardage quarterback.

That, Cooper believes, is the right way to treat a kid who has been sacked and shaken in this program for five seasons. Doing the right thing almost turned into doing the disastrous thing for Cooper and Payne yesterday. A Memphis team that should have been beaten by three touchdowns took Louisville into the last play before a Hail Mary pass fell dangerously to the ground off the hands of a Memphis receiver in the end zone. -c KK -mum Tyrus McCloud (52) and Carl Powell, sandwiching Andre Woods, were part of a swarming defense that BY DURELL HALL THE COURIER-JOURNAL held Memphis to 30 yards rushing. Spencer, Rozier in five-player swap Wade runs for deciding touchdown By ASHLEY McGEACHY The Courier-Journal Rico Clark slammed his helmet into the Cardinal Stadium turf in the third quarter yesterday and grudgingly took a seat on the University of Louisville bench.

He had just returned a punt to the Memphis 2-yard line despite having the ball stripped out of his hands, then watching it float in the air for what seemed Tike minutes before grabbing it again. Although the 49-yard punt return was his longest of the year, dwarfing his previous best of 33 yards against Tulane, Clark was livid. He wanted to score rather than just set up the decisive touchdown in the Cardinals' 13- A 10 victory. I tried to cut back so I could dance into the end zone," the senior safety said. "I tried to be too cute." As Clark sulked on the sideline, coach Ron Cooper sent in Ryan Wade a perennial scout-team player adored for his dedication and attitude for a second-and-goal play.

Wade, a fourth-year junior who has played linebacker and special teams and is listed this year as a fullback, had never carried the ball in a See CARDINALS' Page 6, col. 1, this section SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON SPORTS ISSUES What do you think about local teams' chances this college basketball season? About who should replace Bill Curry at Kentucky and Bill Mallory at Indiana. About what our columnists are writing? About any other sports subject? We want to know, and we want to share your thoughts with other readers. Beginning soon, Courier-Journal Sports will begin its own readers' forum, where you can share your views on any sports topic. Letters must be original and contain the signature, address and daytime telephone number of the writer.

Editors reserve the right to condense or reject any letter and to limit frequent writers. Send your letters to: Readers' Corner Courier-Journal Sports P.O. Box 740031 Louisville, Ky. 40201-7431 Letters also can be faxed to (502) 582-7186. Our send them to our e-mail address: cjsportslouisvil.gannett.com relax," Kordes said.

"Nobody knows the kind of pressure these kids were under, especially the last two weeks." The Rockets came storming back after the timeout, scoring six straight points to tie the score. After trading a couple of points, the Pandas went ahead 13-12. "At that pbint, I thought it was ours," Notre Dame coach Kim Gunning said. "(But) we made two costly errors. We needed to win that first game." The Rockets scored the last three points of the first game, wrapping it up when a spike from Notre Dame's Andria Humpert sailed out of bounds.

"I thought Notre Dame outplayed us the entire (first) game," Kordes said. "Somehow we got to 15 before they did." "We needed to loosen up," said Assumption senior Sierra Ashley. Ashley, who had a service ace to set up game-point in the first game, See ASSUMPTION Page 9, col. 5, this section Magic wanted the team's charter flight to Portland. "The last time I got traded, I was the most miserable person in the world.

I was so depressed," said Seikaly, who was traded to Golden State from Miami two Spencer years ago. "I've had one hour's sleep in tne last day, and-1 feel great. I running on adrenaline, and the excitement level is so high. I wanted to be with this team. They have great players, and this is a great opportunity for me because of the style they play.

I feel like I will fit in right away." In the Magic's 96-92 season-opening loss to Washington, Spencer scored just four points and grabbed six rebounds in 19 minutes. His backup, David Vaughn, had nine points and two rebounds in 23 minutes. From Florida Today and AP Dispatches Felton Spencer, a former standout at the University of Louisville, was given a formidable task when he was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Orlando Magic in August: replace Sha-quille O'Neal. Yesterday, after just one game with the Magic, Spencer was traded with Donald Royal and Jon Koncak to the Golden State Warriors for former of All-American Clifford Rozier and disguntled center Rony Seikaly. "I think they were looking for a center who would be a little more involved offensively for them," Spencer said.

"I think they felt Rony would fit the system a little better. I think they felt Rony would give them a little more respect." The Magic had been interested in Seikaly since the summer, but Golden State insisted that any deal include Spencer. Seikaly, who was suspended by the Warriors before the season after demanding to be traded, was so happy with the deal that he drove from Miami to Orlando yesterday morning to join the Magic in time for Spencer's short tenure in Orlando surprised and upset at least one Magic player. "I'm stunned by this," guard Nick Anderson said. "I'm shocked, to give up two guys who give 150 percent every day.

I had gotten comfortable with Felton. I don't think they gave him enough time to get familiar with his surroundings." Royal scored 12 points Friday. After the game, knowing a trade was on the verge of being made, he and Spencer watched the Warriors' game on television. "It's kind of been a long day for me and Felton," Royal said. I'm real happy that we've gotten into a situation where we feel a team can use us the way we wanted them to use us in Orlando." Said Spencer: "It's going to be a little bit difficult because it's a new situation and it takes some time to adapt.

It might take us a little while, but we'll learn the system and learn what the other guys want out on the floor." To make room for Spencer, Royal and Koncak, the Warriors waived guard Anthony Harris and placed forwards Lou Roe and Andrew De-Clercq on the injured list. Sooth Oldham girls repeat Seikaly's offense "We waited through the exhibition season so we could find out a little more about David Vaughn, and we did," Orlando general manager John Gabriel said. "We also found out a little more about Felton Rozier Spencer. We found out (that other teams were) going to take the ball out of Penny Hardaway's hands, not guard Felton Spencer. We now have another offensive weapon with Rony." Seikaly has averaged 14.8 points and 9.8 rebounds in eight years as a pro.

Spencer, a defensive stalwart, has averaged 6.7 points and 6.6 rebounds during his six-year pro career. Rozier averaged 5.1 points and 5.3 rebounds during two mostly unhappy seasons at Golden State. fore the PK. I don't want to blame the ref." Armento scored her game-winning goal from 20 yards out with 22:59 left. She made a move on Catholics' Megan Skaff then quickly popped a shot that found the top right corner of the net.

See SOUTH OLDHAM Page 9, col. 5, this section Assumption rocks Notre Dame to win volleyball state title Three times Cooper replaced Redman with Payne after the Cardinals moved inside the Memphis 10-yard line. The first time of scored a touchdown. But the next time Payne floated a pass that was intercepted in the end zone. And the final time Payne was betrayed by a running back who cut the wrong way, leaving the quarterback to scramble to his right, losing 7 yards on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

Instead of generating 21 points from those three situations, the Cardinals generated seven. Instead of putting Memphis deep into the cooler by halftime, the Cardinals let Memphis live until the game's final play. For this many will blame Cooper and Payne. Trust me. They heard the boos that erupted behind the Cardinals' bench.

I believe if Redman is your guy, as well as your future, you let him take the team into the end zone. To pull him is to risk sending a message that you don't believe he can find the final 10 difficult yards. To pull Redman is not to do everything possible to prepare him for next season. And next season is one thing Cooper has to think about because of the three disappointing home defeats against Baylor, Southern Mississippi and Cincinnati. Let Redman inflate the lead to 21-3.

Then give Payne his playing time. To put Payne in the game because of his ability to scramble and then have him throw a pass is to not give your team its best chance to succeed. If you plan to throw, have your better passer Redman do the throwing. To Cooper, none of that matters as much as treating Payne with the respect he believes the veteran quarterback has earned. Truth be told, what Cooper is doing here is displaying loyalty to a kid who opened his career by eagerly coming to of to learn how to play quarterback from the master, Howard Schnellenberger, and is concluding it by becoming a spare part in an erratic offense.

Payne is not a problem at curfew time. You won't find his name on the police blotter. He has overcome a bad start academically. Some benched starters disrupt team harmony. Payne has remained so popular among his teammates that they voted him captain.

Cooper sees reason to reward, not embarrass, a kid like Payne, who started the season as the of starter and eventually lost the job to Redman because of an injury. The reward is giving Payne the goal-line job. Doesn't matter if he throws an interception. "I just didn't put enough juice on it," Payne said. "I'll take the blame." Doesn't matter how loudly the faithful howl.

"I don't care what anybody says about him, Jason is a special kid," Cooper said. "He's just as important to this football team as anybody on the squad. He's the one who peps guys up." Ron Cooper showed loyalty, a rare trait in college sports today, to Jason Payne yesterday even if it almost cost of a football game. Armento gets winners' goals By BOB WHITE The Courier-Journal VERSAILLES, Ky. Nikki Armento ended her high school soccer career on a memorable note by leading South Oldham to its second straight girls' state championship last night.

Armento, an All-America senior, scored both goals as South Oldham completed a 27-0 season by rallying to defeat Lexington Catholic 2-1 at Woodford County Park. "I've seen All-Americans before, but I've never seen one who could take over a game in a moment like Nikki can," said South Oldham coach Cy Tucker after his team's 33rd win in a row over two seasons. "We'll never have another one like her. She's the best I've had in 21 years of coaching." South Oldham trailed 1-0 at half-time before Armento was tripped by Catholic's Allison Phelps in the box just 35 seconds into the second 40-minute half. Armento then scored on the penalty kick, with the ball going in the left corner of the net for a 1-1 tie.

"I could tell the goalie thought I was going the other way," she said. BY STEWART BOWMAN, THE COURIER-JOURNAL Lexington Catholic's Tamara Tichenor, left, raced for the ball with South Oldham's Llndsey Byrd in yesterday's state title match. By KENZIE WINSTEAD Special to The Courier-Journal UNION, Ky. Assumption set out to erase some bad memories in the final of the Kentucky High School Volleyball State Tournament last night. The Rockets (37-2), ranked No.

1 in the state and the nation, rallied past Notre Dame 15-13, 6-15, 15-3 at Ryle High to claim their second straight state title and fourth in five years. Notre Dame (32-7), located in nearby Park Hills, was the last Kentucky team to beat Assumption, in the semifinals of the 1994 state tournament. The Rockets returned to the site where they suffered their last lost to a Kentucky team and erased those haunting memories, just barely. The Rockets came into the game tight and fell behind 10-4 before 2,200 fans. Assumption coach Ron Kordes called a timeout to settle his team down.

"I was just trying to get them to Long shot wins Global View, the longest shot in the field at 21-1, ran down Partner's Hero in the stretch and scored a half-length victory in the $100,000, Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs. C1 1 "The PK (penalty kick) was the opportunity we were looking for," Tucker said. "We knew Lexington Catholic was a team that didn't score a lot of goals." Lexington Catholic coach Terry Quigley questioned the penalty on Phelps. "It would be classless of me to say the referee was wrong," Quigley said. "He was there and closer.

They were already pressuring us be Sacramento at Dallas Houston at Phoenix Portland at Seattle Utah at LA Clippers Roundup on C3 NBA RESULTS INSIDE Detroit 90, Atlanta 78 Miami 97, Indiana 95 Charlotte 109, Toronto 98 Cleveland at Washington Philadelphia at Chicago Boston at Milwaukee INDEX College Basketball 2 Pro Basketball 3 Scorecard 4 College Football 5-8 High Schools 9 Outdoors 10 Horse Racing 1 1 Gilbert shares lead Lexington native Larry Gilbert and Dave Eichelberger share the lead in the Emerald Coast Classic on the Senior PGA Tour. Jay Sigel and Dave Stockton are tied for third, two strokes behind. C9.