Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 103

I I I I "411 ly1 (j 'ej Saturday, October 31, 1981 The Arizona Republic TU1 EDITIONS oslege-footbali parity gap cholarship rule closes College football notebook said: "Some day I might break my silence about this (the officiating). And it might be in the next 24 hours." And Robinson's and Elway's teams won. Parity, it seems, is great for everybody except the coaches. By Dan Daly Republic Staff Parity, in the National Football League sense, has not yet come to college football. One look at the point spreads makes that obvious.

And unless the NCAA institutes a draft of high school seniors, or starts monkeying around with the schedule the way the NFL does, true parity may never be achieved. But college football still is a lot more fun than it used to be. In 1975, the year the 30-95 rule (no more than 30 scholarships a year and no more than 95 total) was passed, college football's traditional powers Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Southern California, Alabama and Penn State had a combined record of 88-17-3, an .829 winning percentage. This season, they have a combined record of 45-15-2, a .742 winning percentage. Another sign of the times: Neither the Big Eight nor the Big 1Q was represented in this week's Associated Press top 10.

"The national champion will be the team that survives this season," USC Coach John Robinson said. Griping about officiating appears to be more widespread and more vocal this season. That's probably as much a reflection of the balance in college football as of the competence of officials. Questionable calls loom ever larger. Arizona State Coach Darryl Rogers, who has steadfastly refused to comment on the officiating '(on the record), probably has bitten his tongue clear through.

Some of his colleagues, however, haven't been able to restrain themselves. "It's as close to an officiating crew taking one team out of a game as I've ever seen," Robinson said after reviewing films of the Trojans' game with Stanford. "I've never commented on officiating before. I take the ups and downs." Last Sunday, the San Jose Mercury-News ran this headline: "Spartans beat Utah State despite refs." In the story, San Jose State Spartans Coach Jack Elway about putting together a package of Saturday night double-headers. ESPN has never done live broadcasts of college-football games.

"We could show a game that starts at 7 o'clock on the East Coast," Winn said, "and we could follow it up with a game that starts at 7 o'clock on the West Coast. Or 7:30. ASU, being what they are, would figure prominently in a package like that. The entire Pac-10 would. "Everybody is always complaining that they don't get enough exposure particularly West Coast schools and schools that play their games at night.

If we get the contract, they'll get more exposure." The reason Darrel "Mouse" Davis resigned this week as California's offensive coordinator was that Cal Coach Roger Theder wanted to replace Davis' run-and-shoot offense with a a pro-set offense, which the Bears' previously had used. Davis told Bay Area writers that while Theder endorsed the run-and-shoot publicly, he never was totally committed to it. Theder apparently ran out of patience after the Bears, 1-6, scored only six points their lowest output of the season in losing to UCLA last Saturday. Davis called an option play near the Bruin goal line that resulted in a lost fumble. "That's the one that killed us," Theder said.

"We are not a good option team." Davis' days probably were numbered after Gale Gilbert, Cal's starting quarterback, suffered a knee injury in the opener that ended his season. Gilbert's replacement, J. Torchio, has completed only 40.9 percent of his passes and appears lost. Had Gilbert stayed healthy and had he gotten adequate protection Davis still might be working. Davis never did buy a house in the Bay Area.

He and his family have lived in a trailer park since he came to Cal. Theder has a year to go on his contract, and his job is not thought to be in immediate jeopardy. But if he doesn't win next season, when 23 of 24 starters return Southern California and KABC-TV in Los Angeles -wanted to show a delayed broadcast of last Saturday's USC-Notre Dame game at 4:30 p.m. between the' afternoon and evening games on the West Coast but the NCAA Television Committee wouldn't allow it. The time slot was consistent with the NCAA rule protecting games in the same market, but it violated the NCAA's contract with ABC, which allows no rebroadcast before 10:30 p.m.

"They said they've never granted an exception before and didn't want to start a precedent," USC Athletic Director Richard Perry said. "I always thought committees were supposed to break new ground." ABC officials at first sided with its affiliate, then backed off when the NCAA reminded them that the contract was specific about rebroadcasts. It was the first time since 1965 that ABC did not televise the game. "I can see their point when it comes to the contract," Perry said. "I can't argue with that.

But I don't understand that kind of inflexibility when we're merely trying to serve the community." Perry originally tried to move the kickoff up to 10:30 a.m., so the game could be carried live on a Los Angeles cable station, but Notre Dame officials said it would be too much of an inconvenience to their fans. KABC wound up; showing the game at 1 1:30 p.m. Washington's six victories have come against teams with. a combined 7-35 record. Today, the Huskies take on.

Stanford, 1-6 Washington Coach Don James is running out of nose guards. Sophomore Lynn Madsen, normally a tackle, will start there against the Cardinals because Scott Garnett, Brian Stone and Dean Browning all are injured UCLA fullback Frank Bruno has had surgery to' repair torn cartilage in his right knee and is out for this season Bruins linebacker Brad Plemmons, a native of Auburn, on his decision to attend UCLA: "I left home after high school so I could play with a team that had a chance at the Rose Bowl. Since I've left, Washington's gone twice. And now WSU (Washington State) is (6-0-1)." A delayed broadcast of the ASU-Stanford game was shown last Sunday on the USA cable network. This is perfectly legal.

ASU is prohibited from appearing on live television while it's on probation, but the NCAA penalty says nothing about rebroadcasts local or national. The ASU-Stanford game was part of USA's Stanford package. "I have had no communication with the NCAA regarding Arizona State," said Gordon Beck, USA's college sports coordinator. "For all I know, they weren't even aware we did the game. We've contracted to do a halt dozen Stanford games this season.

We paid no monies whatsoever to Arizona State." The ESPN cable network, which has 12.2 million subscribers compared with USA's 9 million, has refrained from televising games involving teams on probation. Rogers has said that ESPN won't air ASU games because the NCAA, which supplies the network with much of its programming, asked it not to. But according to Jules Winn, ESPN's director of college programming, the NCAA made no such request. "It was solely our decision," Winn said. "We're looking to get an NCAA football contract, and we just don't want to use any schools on probation in any sport.

It's a very sensitive issue. "ASU-Stanford would have been a great game. So would Texas-SMU." Winn said ESPN, a 24-hour sports network, already has had two meetings with the NCAA Television Committee 4 Ft How bad are UTEP's Miners? Wildcats to find out tonight On deck 4 UTEP vs. Arizona 7:30 p.m., Arizona Stadium, Tucson GENERAL Nonconference game. Miners ended a 13-game losing streak last week with a victory over Colorado Slate Wildcats are coming off a 34-19 loss to Washington Stale that ended a four-game winning streak.

Wildcats still have slim hopes for a bowl-game berth and must win to keep those hopss alive Arizona leads series, 33-11-2, including victories in the last seven meetings and 18 of last 19. UTEP lost, 41-24, In last game in 1977 at El Paso. KEY INJURIES UTEP: none. Arizona: middle guard Gary Shaw (shoulder), doubtful; flanker Bob Carter (hip), probable; defensive tackle Chris Schultz (knee), out. WEATHER Clear, low 60s.

CROWD AND TICKETS Expected attendance 45,000. Tickets ($11 sidelines, $8 end zone) go on sale at 8:30 this morning at Arizona Stadium ticket office, southeast corner of the stadium. Probable starters ft pressure The mere fact that it was Arizona which cuffed around USC when the Trojans were No. 1 leaves the Miners about as thrilled as a blind mule in a cactus garden The next-most difficult job belongs to 32-year-old Billy Alton, who was appointed coach four games into the season. After 10 straight losses, the UTEP administration bid a fond adieu to Coach Bill Michael.

And it isn't going to get any easier. Next year, UTEP's non-league opponents include Southern Methodist and Arizona State. Alton has decided to use younger players for the remainder of the season. The 35 points it scored last week was the most by a UTEP team since 1976 when it routed Texas-Arlington, 38-15, in the season-opener of a 1-11 season. "Offensively, we have made great strides," Alton said.

"We are playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores, and they are getting better each game. Of our first 24 people, counting our two kickers, we have 13 people who are new to our porgram (this year)." Brad McEachern, a sophomore, is expected to start at quarterback. His brother, Randy, used to start at quarterback at Texas. Last week, Brad was told 10 minutes before kickoff that he would be the starter. He responded by rushing for three touchdowns and passing for two more.

was busier than a fat boy in an ice cream shop," Mullens said.) And although UTEP generally is regarded as a laugher on anybody's schedule, Arizona Coach Larry Smith said the Miners won't be taken lightly. "They have several players who could play for a lot of teams, including us Kevin Belcher (255-pound guard), Greg Benefield (270-pound guard) and Delbert Thompson (204-pound tailback)." And why shouldn't UTEP be taken seriously? Being a team that loses to the Miners is about as much fun as By Lee Shappell Republic Staff TUCSON At the University of Texas-El Paso, where football victories come about as often as income-tax refunds, the identity crisis is over. The Miners used to look just like their big brothers in Austin they never played like them, they just looked like them in their burnt-orange and white uniforms. Recently, the school added another color, just so there would be no confusion. The color was blue.

Smart choice. Blue as in 13-game losing streaks, blue as in 1-11, blue as in eight victories in seven years, blue as in 11 consecutive losing seasons. The Miners have provided Steve Harvey, author of the Bottom 10, with plenty of material. But look out, world, UTEP is on a one-game winning streak going into tonight's nonconference game at Arizona (4-3). Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Last week, the Miners (1-6) slaughtered Colorado State, 35-29, spoiling the debut of Rams' interim coach Chester Caddas. Previously, the Rams (0-7) had spoiled the season of Coach Sark Arslanian, who was fired. Who would fire a coach going into a game with UTEP? Miners have given sports-information director Eddie Mullens, who is in charge of making the Miners sound good, the most difficult job in the world. i If they can't be good, at least try to make them sound funny, Mullens evidently figures. Excerpts from this week's publicity release: fact that the Wildcats will be rebounding from a 34-19 setback to surprising Washington State leaves the Miners about as nervous as a fire-eater who is afraid of heat.

The Miners do not need a message from the Pentagon to know the Wildcats will be higher than a spacewalker's blood '7 "i 4 UTEP Pos. ARIZONA Offense Eric Anderson (190) SE Kevin Ward (189) Curt Negrinelli (248) LT Marsharne Graves (257) Kevin Belcher (255) LG Frank Kalll (246) Bill Turner (23 1 Glenn McCormick (241) Greg Benefieid (270) RG Gerald Roper (239) Don Moore (260) RT Jeff Kiewel (257) Jerry Jones (201) S-TE Mark Keel (223) Brad McEachern (190) OB Tom Tunniclltte (188) Rob Moore (205) FB Dearl Nelson (188) Delbert Thompson (204) TB Brian Holland (193) Kevin Ward (180) FL Bruce Bush (167) Defense Bubba Hoffman (260) T-FG Dave Wood (239) Tres McLaughlin (235) MG Ivan Lesnik (233) Dan Salter (235) Julius Holt (244) Melvin Besses (205) OLB Gary Gibson (213) Raymond Morris (215) ILB Ricky Hunley (228) Brian Kern (215) ILB John Pace (228) Don Kinmble (2 1 5) OLB Bob Gareeb (223) Joey Whitley (180) CB Jerome Crimes (176) Bill McCormick (184) SS Tony Neely (197) Mike Brown 1 60) FS Al Gross 1 88) Mike Long (175) CB Randy Robhlnt (177) SEASON RECORDS TEXAS-EL PASO (1-6) ARIZONA (4-3) 7 New Mexico Slate 14 18 UCLA 35 15 Texas Ail 37 13 California 14 8 Brigham Young 65 37 Cal St-Fullerton 16 10 Utah 38 17 Stanford 13 3 New Mexico 26 13 Southern Cal 10 12 Wyoming 63 18 Oregon 14 35 Colorado State 29 19 Washington State 34 0 31 at Arizona 0 31 Texas-El Paso- 7 Hawaii 14 at Oregon State 14 atSanDiegoSt N21 Fresno State Texas-El Paso, coming off its first victory of the season, will have to find a way to stop Arizona tailback Vance Johnson in tonight's game. Through the years with UTEP Football records at Texas-El Paso since 1970, the Miners' last winning season: 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 6-4-0 5-6-0 2-8-0 0- 11-0 4-7-0 1- 10-0 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1-11-0 1-10-0 1-11-0 2-9-0 1-11-0 1-6-0 USC to test Washington State 21 at Arizona State Nev Las Vegas 28 Coaches say NAU, Weber evenly matched this year A loss to Washington State would all but kill USC's Rose Bowl hopes because the Trojans already have lost once to Arizona in league play. A loss by the Cougars would not finish them off but would tighten the race considerably. In the complicated Big 10, Iowa would go to the Rose Bowl if it wins its last four games beginning with Illinois today.

Iowa is a four-point favorite. Iowa (16th both polls) would go to the Rose Bowl if it ties Ohio State (18th UPI) for the league title because the Buckeyes went to Pasadena in 1980 and Iowa hasn't gone since 1959. Ohio State plays Purdue today. League rules state that when two teams tie for the title and don't play each other in a season, the team that hasn't gone to the Rose Bowl the longest time is the league representative. Republic Sport Winn Washington State gets a chance to prove itself once and for all as the battle of the West continues for the ultimate trip to the Rose Bowl.

Southern California, Washington State, Washington and UCLA will be fighting this week for first place in the Pacific-10 Conference, but Washington State, the team overlooked at the start of the year, is a sentimental choice to survive and to go on and win the conference title. The unbeaten Cougars (12th UPI, 14th AP) have to get by USC this week. And that is never an easy task because once again the Trojans (third UPI, fourth AP) are among the nation's best. Today, USC is favored by 13 points over the Cougars, who are 6-0-1 and fighting for their first bowl appearance in 50 years. NAU vs.

Weber State 1:30 p.m., Wildcat Stadium, Ogden, Utah GENERAL NAU has its first winning streak (two games) In a year after beating Montana State, 20-14, in Flagstaff last week. The Lumberjacks established a running game against the Bobcats, led by freshmam tailabck Jerry Holder's 47 yards and one touchdown and tailback Rusty Summers' 99 yards. Quarterback Scott Lindquist is still completing more than 60 percent of hit passes and has passed for almost 1,400 yards this season. Bill Hickman Injury will be blow to NAU's Inside linebackers. Hickman suffered a severe pinched nerve In his neck In practice.

The injury was tlrsl thought to have been a broken vertabra, but trainer Mike Nesbitt said the X-rays were negative. The Lumberackt are left with only Jeff Gonter and Kevin Gaston as lns.de linebackers. Weber State Is coming oft Its second loss In a row, both conference games. Last week Boise State beat them in Ogden, 33-19. and the week before the Wildcats (4-3) lost at Nevada-Reno, 28-14.

Weber State's key player Is quarterback Milt Myers, junior-college transfer. Myers has completed 132 of 246 pesses for 1,436 yards and 12 touchdowns In his first even games with the Wildcats. Myers Is seventh among NCAA Divison 1-AA total-offense leaders (214.3 yards a game), and Weber State ranks fifth In passing offense (252.7-yard a game average). Weber State leads the series, 10-7. Last year, the Lumberiacks won In Flagstaff, 32-7.

Dunkel Index rates Weber Stale a one-point favorite. KEY INJURIES NAU: fullback Reggie Gooden (groin), Inside linebacker Bill Hickman (neck), out; offensive tackle Brad Bartholomew (ribs), offensive 1 tackle Fred Smith (ankle) and Junior Solomon (shoulder), probable. Weber Stale: outside linebacker Bob Casper (thumb), out. WEATHER Clear skies and cool at game time; high of about 61 degrees. Probable starters Cal shot down offense, coach says By Bill Bradley Republic Staff FLAGSTAFF For the past two years, the series between Northern Arizona University and Weber State College has been upsetting, but this season definitely will be different.

In 1979, when NAU (then 4-1) wait ranked third in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1-AA poll, the Wildcats beat the Lumberjacks, 34-10, in Ogden, Utah. Before that game, Weber State had lost five straight games. Last year, when Weber State was 4-1 and ranked fifth, the Lumberjacks defeated the Wildcats, 32-7, in Flagstaff. After the game, Weber SUte lost five straight. But this season, neither team is ranked, neither team has an outstanding record and both coaches think the teams will be evenly matched when they meet today at Wildcat Stadium in Ogden.

Kickoff p.m. 121 don't think we're very differ-Jit; teams," Weler State Coach Mifce Price said. "On paper, the gnrrie's a tossup. And I don't think thw year we have any type of huue-court advantage." '-NAU Coach Dwain Painter agrees that the game will be close. TWe can't say we've got momentum coming off our win (last week) over Montana State (NAU's second straight victory)," Painter said.

"But we're doing things a lot better. "We had ou best game on offense and on defense all year last week. We've got confidence when we play now. We're playing like we're capable of playing." Painter said that Price, who was hired this year, has renewed interest in football at Weber State. The main reason for the Wildcats' success this season has been a junior-college transfe, quarterback Milt Myers.

Myers has completed 132 of 246 passes for 1,436 yards and 12 touchdowns. His total-offense average of 214.3 yards a game ranks him seventh in the nation. NAU plans to use five defensive backs most of the game, Painter said. "They (Weber) can strike from anywhere on the field," Painter said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how well our secondary has improved." The leading Weber State runner is junior Kelvin Matthews, a Phoenix East High graduate, who is averaging 5.6 yards a carry.

Weber State has lost its last two games, to Nevada-Reno, 28-14, and to Boise State, 33-19. Painter said the Lumberjacks plan to stay with a new three-running-back offense, using freshman tailback Jerry Holder as a wingback. They also will use their tight end and split end more. Against a basically new offensive line, which the Lumberjacks introduced last week, Price said he probably wants to take advantage of it with some different defensive alignment. WEBER STATE Curt Miller (205) John Mitchell (252) Dave Oansie (252) Bret Frodsham (234) L.

Livingston (230) Sam Slater (275) Scotl Zelmer (205) Mill Myers (193) Kevin Matthews (2 10) PhM Swan (210) Eric Allen (16) United I'reHK International PORTLAND, Ore. Darrel "Mouse" Davis, who resigned this week as offensive coordinator for California, said his run-and-shoot offense never was given a full chance to work at Cal. Davis, who resigned as head coach at Portland State to take the California job, said he still believes in the run-and-shoot. "When I came down (to Cal) I had a commitment that I would have the offense and that we would not get into a situation where we would panic and the offense would be jerked from me," Davis said. "I got that commitment out of Roger (Cal Coach Theder), and I got it from Roger again in front of the athletic director (Dave Mnggard) to make sure.

You know I had a good situation or otherwise I would not have left (Portland State)." Last Tuesday, Davis was told that Theder was bringing back some of the Bears' old pro-set offense for today's game against Oregon State. Davis immediately resigned as the Bears' offensive coordinator. "Tuesday morning a coach and I were preparing a practice plan and Roger came in and wanted to talk," Davis said. "We went and talked and he said that 'I have made up my mind, I'm going to change. I'm going to run some of the stuff we did last I said, 'OK, it's your decision.

I'm not going to be a part of that particular He said he'd like to have me stay and help him and I thought if I were to do that I would turn out to be a negative influence on his offensive approach, like he had been on mine. I didn't want that." Davis said there was nothing in his contract about having full control of the Cal offense. "I thought that word was enough," Davis said. "Now all that's been changed. In fact, it's (the run-and-shoot) been under constant scrutiny.

There been a very negative approach since Imllgame one. It's not just like it happened today." Davis, who coached Neil lmax, a National Collegiate Athletic Association record setting passer, at Portland State last year, said he has seen the run-and-shoot work in the Pac-10. "I'm more convinced than ever it can work at this level," Davis said. "In fact, I was somewhat surprised at the ease in which you can move the football. I'm more convinced alout the plan than I ever was." NORTHERN ARIZONA Pos.

Offense Kevin Margerum (175) SE Brad Bartholomew (245 LT Scott Allen (265) LG Jim Polenske(26S) Paul Smith (258) RG Fred Smith (268) RT Rick Rodrulguez (232) TE Scott Lindquist (200) OB Mike Jenkins (198) TB Rusty Summers (207) FB Dion Jergol 193) FL Defense Bruce Kindall (215) OLB Willie Sellers (263) LT James Gee (228) NG Larry Barnes (246) RT Dick Shumway (2 10) OLB Jeff Gonter (235) ILB Kevin Gaston (215) ILB Kevin Tyler (155) LCB Daryl McCoy (187) RCB Jeff Smith (190) SS MattPalacioOBof FS Jeff Moore Curtis McGhan John Ktvanaugh Terrence Phillips Kevlh Flye Danny Rich Mlcke Nichter Elbert Gray Sammi. Reeves Kris Jugler Ryan Hill (237) (J27) (328) (225) (220) (222) (179) (1117) (tt4) 1 hi 4.