St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 33

Coryell Calls San Diego Story 'Terrible Mistake football Js 1 chairman of the board, but the contract is unchanged. He can get rid of me any time he feels like it." Yesterday afternoon, Coryell read what he had said and did not deny that he had said any of it. But he clearly was; shocked that his words had appeared in print. Coryell said he had told Murphy that he should read the articles that had appeared in St. Louis newspapers.

Cor-, yell said he told Murphy that the St. Louis papers contained the only things he wanted to say publicly. "There's just been a terrible, terrible mistake," said Coryell as he again looked at the story that had appeared in the San Diego newspaper. "I thought we-were just having a conversation Over 16 years, Coryell has had many conversations with Murphy. They became close friends when Coryell was coach at San Diego State.

In fact, it was Murphy who spearheaded a drive in 1966 See CORYELL, Page 4 Don Coryell's face paled. He collapsed into a chair in his office at Busch Stadium and cursed softly. Of all the stories that have exploded out of the football Cardinals' offices in the last few days, Coryell was reading the most explosive. He was reading what he had said to a San Diego friend, who also is a sports editor. Coryell was reading words he had uttered in what he thought had been an off-the-record conversation.

That conversation was reported in yesterday's editions of the San Diego Union. The conversation between the Big Red's coach and Jack Murphy, the Union's sports editor, had come after Coryell met Monday morning with Bill Bidwill, the Cardinals' owner. Among other things, Coryell was quoted by Murphy as saying, "If I coach here next season, they'll have to pay me more money so my wife and family can live in San Diego. They're not going to stay in St. Louis and take more abuse.

This place is tearing my life apart." Big Red draft of college players should be run. "I think it would be a lot better if we had coaches out timing and judging talent. Our direction is downhill. Not more than two of our defensive players could start for the New York Giants." And he talked of his contract with the Cardinals. "The contract says I can't do anything in radio or TV or have outside business interests without Bidwill's permission.

I've been trying to have this changed for four years, but it's still there. "Bidwill knows I have invested in racquetball courts in fact, he signed a note so I could borrow money for this purpose. He gave me permission to be Joims fAUff WUh ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14,1977 SECTION 1-8D 7T i -'i bydouggrow 'csL Then, Coryell had talked of what he believed the future of the Cardinals might be. "A lot of our guys are playing out their options and they would scatter if they could.

The coaches are all that's holding this team together. We have such a limited budget, the trend is obvious. Next year, we'll win four games; the year after that, we'll win two." He talked of what might have been this National Football League season. "If we had spent (200,000 to make some trades for defensive players this year, we would have been in the playoffs. Isn't being in the playoffs more important than I think so." Ee talked about how he thought the Strings ington State had demanded full reparations.

Powers was making $32,000 annually and, as yesterday was the first anniversary of his signing on with the Cougars, why didn't he owe "We kind of felt that with the 9 percent interest, $55,000 would be fair," explained Jankovich. The signing of a new coach is ordinarily the Easter of college football, the greening of hopes, old animosities wiped clean, etc. But here was the $55,000 gumming up the works. It seemed improbable that Powers, who will receive a $35,000 annual wage at Missouri and has a three-year agreement, or letter-of-intent or contract, would be expected to pay it. Professor Fred Spiegel, chairman of MU's Committee of Intercollegiate Athletics, pointed out that Powers actually will make $60,000 or more annually once he gets his television and radio contracts set up and his other fringe benefits in line.

Spiegel suggested that if Warren and Linda Powers cut corners, they might pay off $55,000 in three years. He also said the university knew of no prior commitment by any group.or individual to help pay the debt. It would not be illegal if an individual, See POWERS, Page 2 Cteonge players to St. Louis was supposed to have flown the Evansville players to Nashville for a game tonight with Middle Tennessee State. But the original plans fell through.

Valparaiso was to have landed in Columbia yesterday afternoon and the charter plane was then to have gone to Evansville, take the Evansville team to Nashville and then fly back to Columbia and return the Valparaiso team to Indiana. But because Valparaiso's flight was unable to land in Columbia because of the fog, plans were changed. Although its plane finally arrived last night, the Valparaiso team remained in Columbia overnight. "I guess they (the Evansville team) must have taken a backup plane," Rochlitz said. "We all use the same See VALPO, PageS mm If this way: "It was a negotiated settlement between myself and Washington State that was very fair.

My wife and I discussed it and we decided it was a sacrifice we felt we could make in view of the opportunity at Missouri." He said he would not disclose the terms of the settlement. Powers went on to explain that as a schoolboy in Kansas City (Lillis High School), he always had wanted to attend Missouri but that he never was invited. Instead (195942) he took a football grant-in-aid at the University of Nebraska. Life took him to the National Football League's Oakland Raiders for six years after that and he was a starting defensive back. Then, in 1969, he returned to Nebraska as an assistant coach for eight years.

It was a great era for the Cornhuskers and included two national championships (1970 and '71) and eight bowl invitations. Last year, he went to Washington State as head coach. After a brilliant start that included a 19-10 opening-game victory over Nebraska, the Cougars finished with a 6-5 record, their first winning season in five years. So why did he leave? Powers explained that coaching at Missouri had always been another pw7irs By Bill Beck Of the Pott-Dispatch Staff COLUMBIA, Dec. 14 Warren Powers, the victim of red-eye flights from here to the West Coast and back again on successive nights, betrayed no signs of weariness except that his voice sounded tired.

It lacked vibrance and enthusiasm. Sometimes, it was barely audible. But when the 36-year-old, Kansas City-born Powers was introduced on campus yesterday as the University of Missouri's new football coach, he answered questions fluently and candidly, except for one. It was about the fact that Powers may be the first coach in collegiate history to have been required to buy up his contract at one institution to take a job at another. And, for Powers left Washington State University to come to Missouri, although he had two years remaining on a three-year contract at Pullman.

When Washington State begins a search for a new coach today, it will mark the third time in three years that such a search has been necessary. Washington State administrators were outraged. So Powers left Washington State in a spate of controversy and he explained it Missouri By Jerry Stack Of the Post-Dispatch Staff COLUMBIA, Dec. 14 -There, but for the grace of God Earlier in the evening it had been easy to joke about some of their recent harrowing experiences. Valparaiso University's basketball team was in town better late than never to play the University of Missouri and both teams could smile about their misfortunes.

Missouri's top two centers suffered injuries in separate accidents last week. Stan Ray broke a bone in his left hand in last week's game against Illinois and Tom Dore suffered strained ligaments in his left knee In an auto accident two days later. And the plane carrying eight Mizzou players to Illinois slid off an icy runway when it landed and plowed into a snowbank. Luckily, no one was hurt. IFogj Forced Flight STALL-STOPPER: Parkway North's Brian Donnelly steals the ball from Ladue's Tim McCoy to break up the Rams' stall late in last night's game at Parkway North.

Donnelly's effort came too late as Ladueranked 12th in the Post-Dispatch large school ratings, held on for a 45-34 victory. Story on Page 3. (Post-Dispatch Photo by Jim Forbes) index The Valparaiso squad, its plane unable to land in Columbia because of dense fog yesterday afternoon, landed in St. Louis and drove rental cars to Columbia. However, the Crusaders didn't arrive until shortly before 8 o'clock, delaying the start of last night's game an hour.

The Valparaiso entourage was stuck in the rush hour traffic as it made its way across the Missouri River bridge at St. Charles. "By the time we get there, Dore'll be healthy," said one Valparaiso player. In all, the drive from Lambert Field to the Hearnes Building took three hours. "I'd hate to drive in this every day," Valparaiso coach Ken Rochlitz said.

He'd hate to play his early season schedule every day, too. The Crusaders, having upgraded their schedule to the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, are winless after Bob Broeg Looks At Powers Play Page 2 Hrabosky Won't Get Bonuses From Redbirds Page 2 This Blues Trade Makes Sense Page 3 High School Roundup Page 3 Sports Shorts Page 4 Lakers Get Adrian Dantley Page 4 Reaction To The Evansville Crash Page 5 For The Record Pages 6-7 dream. "I knew a lot of close friends would be hurt," he said, "but Linda and I saw it as an opportunity that might never come again. After all, the Missouri job hadn't been open in the last 20 years. Most people in the business understand coaching changes.

Still, it was a hard thing to go through." Now came a pertinent question: "Do you mean you made a cash settlement to leave Washington State?" Powers was asked. Powers replied that he had made such a settlement. That reply was passed over because there probably were only three persons in that crowded room in the Student Union who knew the terms of the settlement Powers, his wife, Linda, and Missouri Chancellor Herbert W. Schooling. Both Powers and Schooling had made it clear that the settlement was not being made by the University of Missouri.

It was several hours later that Sam Jankovich, athletic director at Washington State, spelled it out. To gain his freedom, Powers had plunked down $5,000 in earnest money and signed a promissory note to pay $55,000 over a three-year period at 9 percent interest. But that "reimbursement" or "penalty" clause in Powers' contract at Wash five games. Three of those five losses were to Notre Dame, Illinois State and Missouri. Mizzou defeated the Crusaders, 91-75, last night in Columbia.

Problems, problems. Everyone has problems. "We're just trying to survive now," Missouri Coach Norm Stewart said of his 4-2 Tigers. "I was just hoping we could get here tonight and play," said Rochlitz. All those problems seemed insignificant last night when word reached Columbia of the tragedy that had befallen the Evansville University basketball team.

A plane carrying the Purple Aces crashed shortly after takeoff last night, killing all 29 persons aboard. "It's a tragedy," said Rochlitz. "It's unbelievable." Rochlitz was shaking his head. The plane that had flown the Valparaiso dii- ioj and 1 tj im 1 Wssf PL IP 111 II II II PRICES GOOD DEC 14 thru 17 SELECT FROM 100'S OF GIFT ITEMS! HOLIDAY PARTY LIQUORS CANADIAN CLUB 75 LITER 5.47 iRfccprcafcioRal Stores DRAMBUIE FIFTH 9.97 HEUBLEIN COCKTAILS All Flavsrs FIFTH 3.47 POUGNACVSOP AA. Cognac 9.97 7Ue Cptoe BEER Mr BASKET OF DISCRIMINATION a wicker badttt containing the makings for a Christmoi cheer 1207.

-f 1 CANS AMARETTOdi SAR0NNA Liqueur FIFTH 9.77 CHIVAS REGAL 12-YR. FIFTH 9.97 CANADIAN MIST 75 LITER 4.17 STROHS IffiLfflX M-Ui. CANS A GIFT CIGARS COLA 1 rift, i si 4A I1IA OF UTMU GARCIA VEGA with FREE Pan and Pencil Set BOX OF 30 CIGARS 1ST! COCA 8 COLOSSAL CORK A Hmutoted cork container from Aleitii txhint with fifth toch of Scuvipnon Bionc, Caber Souvignon and Row' d'Anjou. Offt 11 3 FINLANDIA GIFT BOXaof oondlwt9li'mtibrTa(Wtal. fcnWi farad iliujMr.

My umM ki on OWtlM iCARRY-OUT if 1 MIa fe6 80 and Johnnie Walker Red ptui oppetitm to pleat ROLLA SELECTION boi coMwm two (if tin Soove Sola, one fifth Votpohtefci one fifth Rom BoNb. am SERVIClT the am HOME 99 0 Plus Dep. SODAS 4f99 All Flavors and Mixers FULL LITER BOTTLES 7-UP 2WS 89( YOUR CHOICE BEAMS CHOICE Wildlife Edition OR OLD FITZGERALD 80 Pxlmt 7197 DECANTER fifth CHARGE SERVlCEf DELIVERY! FRESII-CUTCIIEESEBARSl.