The Tennessean du lieu suivant : Nashville, Tennessee • Page 22

ARENA FOOTBALL Orlando could give Kats fits Page 7C Baseball 4-5C NFL 6C Scoreboard 7C THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1997 The situation in the defensive line for the Oilers is I -any SPORTS oody mom sural ir is history at Team's weak link of recent seasons needs to stay healthy, get Holmes up to speed Bv PAUL KUHARSKY Sports Writer The Oilers' youth movement has its most glaring example on the defensive line, where the average age is a shade under 24 and where tackle Henry Ford, at the start of his fourth season, has seniority. "I cant believe that," Ford said. "We're probably one of the youngest teams in the NFL on the defensive line, said Rex Norris, the line coach. "WeVe 4 got the future, a lot of carryover, continuity." The linemen who have re-turned from last season TRAtiiiO '97 Tennessee State v- i'J -A i Private school's teams will be called Big Blue By JIM WYATT Sports Writer It's been more than eight years since Franklin Road Academy sanctioned use of the Rebel flag and even longer since the pep band has played Dixie. Now FRA has decided to do away with the Rebel nickname altogether.

Beginning this fall, athletic teams at FRA will be known as the Big Blue, the final step of a phasing out process that started more than a decade ago. Several changes have been made over the years to hmbhhbbimbhhmm tone down the MASCOT DIFFICULTIES SatemS TACA speaker and Ole Miss bas- that have been on ketball coach Rob Evans talks campus since the about the difficulties of recruiting Rebel nickname due to the Rebel mascot. On 2C. was adopted 26 years ago. The final move was made to attract a more diverse student body to the predominantly white independent school while at the same time being sensitive to the feelings of others, school officials said.

"I dont know of anyone who was adamantly opposed to the change," assistant principal Gary Clarke said. "We felt, of course, there was a lot of tradition at the school with the Rebels, but we also have to realize the Rebel flag may be offensive to some." The school's board of trustees, a governing body made up of 25 parents and alumni, voted for the change. The school's student body was then given" three names to choose from. While many students were nonchalant about the change, not all agreed with it, junior Jeff Barnes said. "I wouldn't say anyone was mad.

A lot of us just didnt understand the change because nobody feels the word means what it did before," Barnes said. "I loved the nickname 'Rebels' and there was a lot of school spirit that goes with that. It's kind of sad; it'll be tough to get used to a new name." Three other schools in the Midstate Franklin High, Franklin County and Stewart County still use Rebels as a nickname. Officials at Franklin High are also considering a change after a student said the mascot is like saying the school stands for slavery and the Confederacy. FRA football coach George Weicker, who does not have a black player on his current team, said he fully realized the sensitivity of the issue when Dennis Harrison served as one of his assistants in the late 1980s.

Harrison, who is black, is now an assistant football coach at VanderbilL "We had the flag way back then and I made it a point one time to ask Dennis how he felt about it and what it meant to him," Weicker recalled. "He wouldn't ever say too much, but he told me it made him feel uncomfortable." Not long after that the Rebel flag on the helmet was replaced with a shield, designed by a football player at the school, with the letters 'FRA' and the word 'Rebels' at the top. This season there will be no logo on the side of the team's navy blue helmets. Basketball uniforms with the word 'Rebels' displayed across the top will need to be replaced as well as patches on some of the school's other athletic uniforms. Marlins race into third generation There were drivers who had faster cars than Clifton "Coo Coo" Mar-lin.

There were drivers who won more races, who made more money, who received more accolades. ji, But there wasnt a tougher driver in the history of stock car racing than the farm boy from Maury County who was short on financing but long on grit Coo Coo was a $2 steak at an all-night truck stop. He was callouses on a sharecropper's hands. He was pure rawhide and saddle leather. "Coo Coo is a natural-born stock car driver," Tom Powell wrote in The Tennessean some four decades ago.

"If he cant out-drive you or out-run you or out-wit you, then you'd better look out because he sure as hell is going to try to find some other way to beat you." That stubborn streak was passed on to son Sterling. He ran 278 races over 17 years before getting his first Winston Cup victory. He went on to capture back-tc-back Daytona 500s, compile more than $10 million in winnings, and despite a current run of sour luck is considered one of the top drivers in his sport. That same determined glint can be detected in the eyes of Steadman Marlin, 16-year-old son of Sterling and grandson of Coo Coo, who makes his racing debut tomorrow night at Nashville Speedway. Sixteen? Coo Coo probably had motors older than that back when he used a log chain to tow his racers to Nashville in the 1950s and early '60s.

He took on such colorful characters as Bullet Bob Reuther, Chubby Crowell, Paddlefoot Wales, Flookie Buford and Fat Boy Ry-man, and came away with a record four track championships. "I remember when I was Stead-man's age," Coo Coo said. "I couldnt wait to get on the track." Neither can Steadman. Instead of starting out in the lower classes and working his way up, he is barreling directly into the premier Late Model Stock Car division. That's like going from Little League to Class AA baseball overnight "I'm in a hurry to get started," Steadman said.

"I dont have time for that other stuff." Like father, like son. Sterling also skipped the minor divisions in favor of starting at the top. Sterling, who won three Nashville track championships, had the grudging blessing of his mother, Eu-la Faye, on the short tracks. But she didnt want him racing on the su-perspeedways with their breathtaking speeds and attendant dangers. One summer Sterling made plans to race at Talladega, but he and Coo Coo were afraid to break the news to Eula Faye.

Sterling recalled how they finally informed hen "During supper one night, daddy said something like, 'Uh, pass the potatoes Sterling's racing at It took a minute for it to sink in, then mamma hit the ceiling. But she finally calmed down and let me go. She knew I'd be going sooner or later." Steadman's mother, Paula, is (j equally resigned to her son facingV the rigors of racing. "She knows there's ho stopping me," he said. "This Is all IVe ever wanted to do." The Marlins represent racing's past, present and future.

We can read Coo Coo's press clippings and get a feel for what the sport used to be like. We can follow Sterling and see how it's done today. And as for what the future holds, keep an eye on Steadman. Tomorrow belongs to him. Larry Woody Is a Tennessean sports writer and columnist.

He can be reached at 259-8019. managed just 18 sacks in 1996. First-round pick Kenny Holmes is expected to provide a spike in that nearly flat line. But Holmes wont be able to do it all alone, and how the rest of the Oilers' young line clearly a weak link over the last few seasons performs this fall will be a key to the success of the defense. Making things worse last season was a rash of injuries, particularly at tackle.

In all, defensive linemen sat out 19 games hurt. "If we can keep them healthy, we'll be a pretty good unit with a lot of pride," Norris said. "The first barometer is going to be Saturday when the Oilers scrimmage the Atlanta Falcons in Chattanooga. We'll see how hard their technique is then." Nowhere on the field does being a reserve have more importance than on the defensive line. The Oilers, like most teams in the NFL, will shuffle people in and out regularly, putting people on the field in the situations that best suit their talents and limiting everyone's snaps so that they aren't running on empty in late, crucial moments.

"The single hardest thing to do in the NFL is rush the passer in the fourth quarter with two minutes to go," defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. "Players cant give you what they dont have. You have to rest them." Turn to PAGE 6C, Column 1 BILL STEBER STAFF Mike Halapin has gotten a lot of work at defensive tackle and may unseat starter Gary Walker. NFL rejects Sanders' deal -9 Iff New Yoik Times News Service Only three days after signing a five-year, $34.5 million contract that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL, the contract of Detroit running back Barry Sanders was rejected yesterday by the league office. The situation will probably work itself out i in the next few days.

But rf it does not, the Notebook Lions will either have to sit Sanders until a lwieoouil new deal is done or cut several players, since they are techni- AP cally over the league's salary cap. The league gave the team 24 to 48 hours to find a solution. Barry Sanders was all smiles earlier this week. Story on 6C. Suils set tup final rati ice Flyers unveil logo While vacationing In Scotland recently, Nashville Ice Flyers President Mike Friedman received a fax of his Central Hockey League team's logo.

"It was a black-and-white fax," Friedman said yesterday. "I just had and $36 $34 million for between Jackson agrees to one last year IUI.MIII.I one reaction wow!" The Flyers yesterday unveiled their logo that shows a polar-like animal with fangs, Pegasus-style wings and tall, skating with a million. Jackson will earn considerably less, but his salary, believed to be worth about $5.7 million, is the highest ever for an NBA coach who Is not also a cen- hockey stick. Colors are silver and blue with a i I Z7' J. I black background.

"It's unique, eye-catching and out of the or-f dinary, said Friedman, who took over the franchise after last season's owner, Alan Balch, filed for bankruptcy. "It's like a Japanese snow monkey," said Friedman's wife, Sara, a marketing assistant NBA REPORT ON 2C Ex-TSU star Carlos Rogers resigns with Toronto, and Orlando signs top pick Johnny Taylor of UT-Chattanooga. In a brief statement from his Montana home, Jackson avoided mention of the bitterness that surrounded his contract negotiations. "I'm grateful for a team that loves to work together and with a great coaching staff we are once again prepared to conquer that monster an NBA title." One more chance appears to be all hell get "I want to emphasize this will be his last year," general manager Jerry Krause said. The Bulls have won five titles in the last seven seasons.

eral manager. JACKSON Jackson made $2.7 million last t. sea- Tennessean News Services CHICAGO Phil Jackson is back with the Chicago Bulls for one last year, a $6 million man ready for another NBA championship run. With that piece of business done, Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman also are expected to be resigned. The Bulls already have turned down all trade offers for Scottie Pippen, who has one more season left on his contract.

Jordan has said for the last six months that his return to the team was contingent on Jackson being re-signed. With that taken care of, Jordan, who earned $30.14 million last season, is expected to sign soon with the team. The logo was created by local artist Arden von Haeger, who lists some of his clients as the NBA, NFL. Turner Broadcasting and World Cup soccer. "People may ask what actually is an Ice Flyer I can't tell you myself," he said.

"It's like a winged monkey) a winged abominable snowman, a bigfoot." The schedule has yet to be released, but Friedman said the home opener is tentatively set for Oct. 18 in Municipal Auditorium. HAROLD HUGQINS son. The league's highest-paid coach is Boston's Rick Pitino, who will earn $7 million, but he is also the Celtics' president. "I know the city of Chicago is breathing easier tonight," the coach's agent, Todd Musburger, said yesterday.

1 TRACK AND FIELD Carl Lewis will run his last competi PRO HOCKEY Detroit Red Wings defenseman mm tive race Aug. 26 at ST Rprlln Th uinnor of i I RESULTS Roger Clemens became the first 16-game winner In the majors as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-0. American League, on 5C. Barry BondS hit his sixth career grand slam and Bill Mueller added a two-run homer as San Francisco beat Philadelphia 16-4. National League, on 4C.

A 3-run home run helped the Omaha Royals beat the Nashville Sounds 9-5. On 5C. COLLEGES Tennessee's 31st Annual All-Sports Picnic will be held tonight at 6 p.m. In the National Guard Armory at 3401 Sidco Drive. Football coach Phillip Fulmer, women's basketball coach Pat Summitt and new men's basketball coach Jerry Green will be on hand.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students at the door. The Southern Heritage football bowl game between Tennessee State and Jackson State will be televised live on BET at 7 p.m., on Sept. 13. Vladimir Konstantlnov awakened yesterday from the coma he has been In since a June 13 limousine accident. Dr.

Karol Zakalik said yesterday he Is not yet fully awake, and It is too soon to tell if he or team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov will fully nine Olympic gold medals will run a 400-meter- relay with his Santa Monica Track Club teammates Leroy Burrell, Mike Marsh and Floyd Heard as part of an International Amateur Athletic Fed SECTION EDITORS John Gibson, Sports Editor, 259-8022. Assistant Sports Editors: Michael H. Jones, 259-8013; Kevin Procter, 259-8014. Senior Writers: Jimmy Davy, 259-8298; David Climer, 259-8020. To report sports news: 259-8010.

Sports fax machine: 259-8828. eration Grand Prix. recover. On 3C. KONSTANTWOV LEWIS.