The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 7

Wire Services Praise Commodore Defensive Duo i nldhdr lor, Vaoidly' nana moo hadn't won the game. We were able to stop the big play, something we haven't been able to do all year. We Dlan. however, to do it acain." In an interview with UPI writer James Lewis, Chandler said: "By past Saturday. Chandler, a fifth-year senior who almost didn't return this year, in-tercepted a record-tying three passes in the win.

Coleman, a sophomore frrom Humboldt, made 17 tackles three for losses from his linebacker slot. "This means a lot to me personally," said Coleman, an improving 6-1, 200-pounder. "But, it's an inspiration for the defensive team. sity and disappointments, you deserve the good things that happen," Maclntyre said. "Character shows through every time.

They played hard. And I'm very proud, not just for them but the entire defensive team." A Vanderbilt defense which had been giving up points at a record 46.0 clip through seven straight losses, suddenly came to life in a 13-3 win over Memphis State this backer Andrew Coleman was named Southeastern Lineman of the Week by the Associated Press, the other major news wire service. Amazing. Astonishing Two in the same day? From Vandy's defense? Incredible. Deserved is the word, says Vandy coach George Maclntyre.

"When you work hard, and continue to work hard despite adver By JIMMY DAVY At this time last week it was unlikely that a Vanderbilt defensive player would receive any regional media recognition outside of ridicule. Yesterday, second-string Jack Chandler, a defensive back, was named Southeast Defensive Player of the Week by United Press International. At the same time, Vandy line tne way, aon i pian on geuung drafted bv the nrns liVli erp- yA BIBB SPORTS' EDITOR Coleman's football is all in front of him, a fact that has been hammered on by defensive coordinator Ron McCrone, who says Vandy's defensive woes involves a learning process of so many young, inexperienced players. Coleman agrees. "I'm just beginning to get a good feel for what I'm supposed to da.

I'm trying to learn from my mistakes. We all are. And we're getting better," he said. This is the first time this season that Vanderbilt players have been honored regionally by the wire services. The last time it happened was in November of 1978 wnen running back Frank Mordica rushed for 321 yards against the Air Force.

He was named national back of the week by the Associated Press. For double honors, the last time it happened for Commodores was 1977 when flanker Martin Cox and linebacker Ed Smith both now out of school were named on the All-Southeastern Conference team. I'm as happy for Jack (Chandler) as for myself. If one guy on the defense plays good enough for recognition, it means he had a lot of help from everybody else." Chandler's emergence as a star is one of the big success stories of the collegiate season. It is straight out of a late night movie on sports.

You know the plot. Sub pressed into service. Makes great plays. Game won. Crowds cheer.

Add to the plot that he would not have played his fifth season, after being redshirted as a senior in the fourth, if a coaching change had not taken place at Vandy. Asked about Chandlers instant stardom after four and a half unsung years, Maclntyre said: "It's an amazing thing for it to happen. Last year he decided not to play again. I had recruited him as an assistant coach at Vandy when he was a standout player at Overton High, right here in town. He came back and asked me if he could play this year and I was happy to have him.

"He hasn't been a starter. He may not be a starter this week (against Kentucky). But he was last weekend at the right place at the right time. It couldn't happen to a nicer kid." Chandler, who said he was "tickled to death" to be named for any honor, said it was only good fortune he suddenly is cast into the limelight. "I just got the chance to go into the game because the guy who started was tired," the 22-year old said.

"I intercepted a pass and they just kept me in. And the Memphis State quarterbacks just kept throwing the ball to me." Then Chandler added: "Intercepting three passes would not have meant a thing if we CZ 1 I The Attention-Getter ONE MONTH from tonight the attention of college footballers around the world will focus on the grand ballroom of New York's Waldorf-Astoria. That's when and where the 22nd annual awards dinner for. the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame is scheduled. Highlight of the evening undoubtedly will be the presentation of the Foundation's Gold Medal to Rear Adm.

William P. Lawrence. Lawrence is a Nashville native and former star athlete at West High. Currently, he is superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy at Anapolis.

His naval career includes imprisonment during the Vietnam experience. Another honoree on the program will be Dick Moegle, a former All-American at Rice where he was coached by Jess Neely, Van-derbilt's athletic director emeritus. Moegle, of course, has a special niche in football lore. It was Moegle who was victim of Tommy Lewis' of f-the-bench tackle in the 1954 Cotton Bowl game against Alabama. He TENNESSEAN Page 21 TUESDAY November 6, 1979 StoH photo fcy Billy Eotley over Memphis State were recognized yesterday, as both Commodore athletes garnered Southeastern region wire service honors.

The outstanding efforts of Vanderbilt defensive back Jack Chandler, left, and linebacker Andrew Coleman in the Commodores' 13-3 win Hester, France Debate Purses Mash driailh THERE'S YET another man with a Nashville connection who is to be honored on the same Hall of Fame program. His name is Thomas C. Scott, a successful insurance executive who resides in New York. He is among the 10 men to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Scott starred at the University of Virginia under the coaching of Art Guepe, Vandy's By LARRY WOODY The future of automobile racing in Nashville may hinge on the outcome of a long-distance telephone conversation today.

Lanny Hester, president of Nashville International Raceway, will be one one end of the line from his office in Bristol. Bill France Jr. president of NASCAR, will be on Hester said the 52 percent increase would mean he must pay an additional $123,000 for his four Grand National races, two each at Nashville and Bristol. There are only three NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks (less than a mile in length) in operation, in addition to the Bristol and Nashville tracks. They are at Martinsville, North Wilkesboro, N.C., and Richmond, Va.

Hester feels the short tracks are being required to play a disproportionate percentage of their profits from the gate into the purse. He points out that Nashville draws 20,000 fans for its Grand National races while Daytona may draw fans. "A $121,000 purse at Nashville would be approximately 35 percent of the track's potential gate," he said. "The Daytona 500 purse this year was less than 10 percent of "I won't even dignify a question like that with an answer," France replied. France maintains that the drastic increase in race purses is necessary, but won't comment further.

"He won't discuss it with me," said Hester. "That's going to be the purpose of the phone call today. I'm going to try to negotiate with him. If we can't re-negotiate that 52-percent increase he's asking well, that may be more than the business can stand." Hester, who already owned Bristol International Raceway (another short track), bought the Nashville track last year. He immediately announced an 18 percent increase in the purses of his two Grand National races.

Hester said he had also planned on a 22 percent increase in the two purses this season bringing each one to $100,000, including contingency money. "And we were making those increases without being asked," said Hester. "I don't want to sound like I'm being cheap or stingy, because that's not the case. I want Nashville to be known as a big-purse track. Several of the drivers told me they were happy with the 18 percent increase last year and I feel the 22 percent increase we had planned for next season would have been fair.

But 52 percent is unreasonable." the other end in his office in Daytona Beach, Fla. Hester will be attempting to talk France out of a dramatic 52-percent increase in race purses that NASCAR says must go into effect by next season. He says such an increase would mean the track would have to operate at a loss. "As far as I'm concerned, a decision like that (increase) means NASCAR is possibly taking racing out of Nashville," said Hester. "It's unreasonable and unfair.

It would be very hard to operate under those conditions." Then Hester added: "I don't know; maybe that's what they're trying to do." France, attending Sunday's Dixie 500 in Atlanta, was asked about reports that NASCAR is, indeed, trying to run the short (and less-profitable) tracks out of the 1 Ik hM i me potential gate. Asked if he would close the track if France refuses to re-negotiate the 52 percent increase, Hester replied: "I can't say for sure right now. There's too much involved and too much that could happen. There might even be a chance that we would have to use the track for something in addition to auto racing I just don't (Turn to Page 23) Tom Scott Art Guepe Among Black Colleges Sheridan Poll Ranks TSU First By DAVID CLIMER An often-ignored survey called the Sheridan Poll yesterday seconded a fact that John Merritt has known all along. Tennessee State is the best black college football team in the nation.

That poll, which ranks the nation's top black teams by a panel of coaches and writers, placed Mer-ritt's TSU Tigers in the top spot. Grambling and Jackson State are in a tie for second. "It's about time, that's all I can say," Merritt boomed yesterday as John Merritt Knew It All Along Stargell Fans Watch Willie Not Blazers PORTLAND, Ore. (UPI) An out-of-town spectator didn't get to see the Portland Trail Blazers staged a great comeback to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in overtime. "I was sitting on the aisle and a big crowd started to congregate," said Willie Stargell, who had to leave the game early when he was surrounded by autograph seekers.

"People pay $11 or $12 to see a basketball game and the ones all around me and behind me couldn't see it. Out of consideration for them I thought I'd better go." It had been announced on the public address system in the third quarter that the Pittsburgh Pirates slugger was in the audience at Memorial Coliseum. Stargell said he particularly wanted to see the game, especially since Blazer forward Maurice Lucas is from Pittsburgh. "Luke (Lucas) means an awful lot to this ball club. I've been thinking about going 1-on-l with him," he joked.

Stargell was in Portland as part of a 13-city tour on behalf of the fight against sickle cell anemia. "I want to create an awareness," he said. "A stir of conversation. Maybe people wll read more about it, get more information. "My daughter has the traits of it," said Stargell, who has been involved in the fight against the disease since 1970.

Stargell said he figures he was lucky regarding his hitting accomplishments in the World Series. "Fact is, he said, "They just caught me at a time when I was hitting. I not a fancy dude at all." Stargell was last in Portland when the Pirates f)layed the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast eague and he hit a mammoth home run during a contest prior to the exhibition game. "When we put on that uniform, we put out an all-out effort, Stargell said of the Pirates' hustle in the Beaver game. "Even if we're playing the Chinese Little League.

Yiu don't cheat yourself or the fans." skipper from 1953-1962. Scott was an Ail-American end at Virginia in 1952. Conceivably, Scott had as much to do with shaping the history of Vanderbilt football as any individual who never wore a Commodore uniform. SCOTT, as a player, was what I call an "attention getter." It was on a warm, late-September afternoon in Charlottesville, in 1952 when Scott caught the attention of Vanderbilt ball carriers. He led a Virginia defense that demolished the Commodore offense.

The Scott-led Cavalier defenders smothered Vanderbilt beneath a 27-0 shellacking. At the end, the Commodores had generated a total offense of 61 yards, 63 rushing and minus 2 passing. The real attention Scott attracted that afternoon, however, was aimed directly toward Guepe. It was already common knowledge in Nashville that Vandy officialdom was put out with Bill Edwards inability to maintain the fiscal level of football at Vanderbilt. Edwards had come to Vandy as the replacement for Red Sanders after the 1948 season.

Despite creditable records of 5-5-0, 7-4 and 6-5 his first three years, Edwards' administation was in the red. One story is that the five-year amortization plan for the addition of 6,500 westside seats in 1949 had been botched. Somehow, the story goes, the financial planners had overlooked the fact that half the revenue from the new seats was to be paid to the visiting teams. NEVERTHELESS, Guepe's magic at Virginia was being accomplished on a financial shoe-string when compared to the budgets of most Southeastern Conference schools. Guepe, for instance, had a total of 26 players on scholarship not all of them full (Turn to Page 23) Problems In Secondary Vols he' announced the news along the outer edges of the Tennessee State practice field.

"I didn't know when they'd get around to putting us up there. I guess they couldn't avoid it anymore." The ascension to No. 1 was a slow, laborous process for Tennessee State, which lost its first two games of the year and had been snubbed by the Sheridan Poll as late as four weeks ago. On Oct. 16, the Tigers were listed at No.

7 entering their homecoming game with Florida One week later, after the epic 20-3 conquest of then-unbeaten FAMU, Tennessee State rose to third, but still ranked behind the Tallahassee-based Rattlers and second-place Virginia Union. Last week, following Florida second straight loss, Tennessee State moved up to No. 2, behind Virginia Union. But Virginia Union dropped a 14-7 decision to Morgan State last Saturday, sending TSU to the top of the heap in black college football. News of that No.

1 ranking was a bright spot for the Tigers as preparations began for this week's trip to Nevada for a Friday night matchup with Nevada-Las Vegas, a team which possesses a world of offensive talent and an 8-1 record. "We've never been that strong on polls around here because you don't know how these things are compiled," Merritt said. "But we thought all along we were one otthe (Turn to Page 24) Big Concern For The move of Holt to the secondary leaves special teams star Carlton Armstrong, a junior from Pearl High, as the top backup to Craig Puki at one linebacker spot. The defensive bad news does not end there for the Vols, who must contend with All-American halfback Vagas Ferguson as well as quarterback Lisch. Middle guard Carlton Gunn is apparently out for the game, leaving walk-on Steve Kluge as the probable starter.

Listed as No. 2 at that spot is an unknown quantity, walkon A. J. Fox. On the offensive ledger, senior David Rudder, a former walkon, moved ahead of sophomore Jeff Olszewski and into the No.

2 Quarterback spot, ranking behind starter Jimmy Streater. KNOX VILLE Tennessee will ha ve to make do with a patched-up secondary on Saturday when the Volunteers host Notre Dame and its passing star, Rusty Lisch. The critical strong safety position is minus its top two players as the Vols prepare for the Fighting Irish. Starter Bill Bates was injured during last Saturday's loss to Rutgers and is probably out of the Notre Dame contest. His backup, sophomore Mike Terry, is also injured and is doubtful for the game.

Those injuries forced head coach Johnny Majors to move junior Val Barksdale to the No. 1 strong safety spot on the depth chart when the Vols worked out last night at Neyland Stadium. Back of Barksdale ft a former linebacker, 6-3, 185-pound Lemont Holt..