Logansport Pharos-Tribune from Logansport, Indiana • Page 9

Scoreboard College bowls and "NFL.playoffs slates; NBA standings, page B2 Surgery helped -Tom" 'Carnegie get rid of -his walking page FRIDAY, December 27, 1991 PAGE B1 From Associated Press 1 dispatches Associated Press Chuck Noll retired after 23 years as Steelers coach. Noll Retires PITTSBURGH Chuck Noll, the only coach to win four Super Bowls, announced his retirement less than a week after the Pittsburgh Steelers completed their fourth losing season in seven years. Since winning their final Super Bowl in 1979, the Steelers have made only four playoff appearances in 13 seasons and have won just two playoff games. They've missed the playoffs six of the last seven seasons and are 51 -60 since their last appearance in the AFC championship game in 1984. In 23 seasons under Noll, the Steelers were 192-148-1 during the regular season and 16-8 in the playoffs.

They-finished 7-9 this season. Steinbrenher Mum TAMPA, Fia. If George Steinbrenner is moving back toward active management New York Yankees, he wasn't talking about it. Steinbrenner, who'has "a 55 per- cent interest in the a phone interview from his Tampa office that a meeting of team partners "could be held sometime later this year." He said he could not discuss any management plans at this point. Steinbrenner was expected to nominate himself to succeed Robert Nederlander, who resigned as managing partner effective Dec.

31, a "source close to Yankees management" told The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J.,.on Wednesday. Neder- lander took over active management of the Yankees on Sept. 13,1990 after commissioner Fay Vincent barred Steinbrenner from involvement in the team's day-to-day operations because of his association with a gambler. Williams Has Stroke MIAMI Williams had a minor stroke recently and is recovering well, according to close friends of the Hall of Fame outfielder. "In a general conversation 1 had with him yesterday, he said he had a little stroke," said'a friend who asked not to- be identified.

Tasked him what the results were. He said didn't amount to "He said he was going to have some treatment where they would; open the artery. He wasn't concerned about it at all." hit.344;with521 homers and 1,839 RBIs in 19 sea- sons with the Boston fled Sox from 1942-60. Ted Williams Had mild stroke It Sports facts Oldest MFL barters I a Y' Oldest VSfeve'DeBergrKC Jan 19 tScott Studwell, Minn' Aug 27, asftSBSffitesOSDS iJ.T.Smith,Phoenix Oct KRTN JOHNSTON Colts Interviewing For Head Coacfo Venturi has had interview, Irsays also interested in MSU's Perles, 49ers Holmgren: INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A meeting between Indi-. anapolis Colts general manager Jim Irsay and Michigan State coach George Perles was the start of what is expected to be a month-long search for a coach.

Irsay, whose Colts are coming off a franchise-worst 1-15 record, met with Perles on Thursday in Chicago. Irsay has also received permission from the San Francisco 49ers to interview offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren, The Indianapolis Star reported today. Also on Irsay's list are Rick Venturi, who directed the Colts the final 11 games of the season after replacing Ron Meyer; Ted Marchibroda, offensive coordinator at Buffalo Sixers Win and a former Colts coach, and Seattle coach Chuck Knox. "My dad (owner Bob Irsay) and I talked Christmas Eve and, besides Rick, have taken positive steps to interview George Perles and Mike Holmgren," Jim Irsay said Thursday evening. "Right now we are in the early exploration stages of an on-going process.

We are beginning to interview aggressively." Irsay, who has had several formal conferences with Venturi, isn't expected to meet with Holmgren until the first week of January. The entire could extend until late January, especially if the Irsays want to see Marchibroda. The Colts will be unable to officially discuss the situation with him until the Bills conclude their season and that could be as late as Jan. 27, the day after Super Bowl XXVI. "I was very impressed with Perles," Irsay said.

"He's, a solid football guy, a solid candidate." Perles, 57, who has previously turned down offers to coach the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, has a 57f 44-4 record in nine years at Michigan State. Although 3-8 in 1991, he has directed the six bowl games. Holmgren was San Francisco's quarterback coach fro'nj 1986-88 before being promoted to offensive coordinator -irt 1989. Again At Indianapolis INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indianapolis seems to be like a second home to the Philadelphia 76ers. Sixers 113 Pacers 110 Philadelphia began a six-game road swing-with its seventh straight win over the Pacers in MSA And that's where the 76ers opened a six- game road swing for Philadelphia by defeating Indiana 113-110 Thursday night, recording their seventh consecutive victory here at Market Square Arena and their 12th triumph in 13 games against the Pacers.

"We just play with confidence in certain places," said Charles Barkley, who had 24 points, including a crucial three-point play that produced two technical fouls against Indiana coach Bob Hill. "It just builds. I don't know why we play so well here. "This victory was important for the team," he said. "But this isn't just a one-night stand, we have five more games.

We have to build on this win and add five more to it." Philadelphia took the lead for good en route to only its fifth road victory in 12 games with 2:30 left when Ron Anderson hit a jumper from the lop of the key to give the 76ers a 1'06-104 lead. Barkley followed up with a layup and was by LaSalle Thompson with 2:04 left. Hill went onto the floor to protest the call and had to be escorted to the dressing room by assistant coach Billy Knight after being ejected. Hersey Hawkins, who had 22 points, hit the technical shots and after Barkley made his free throw to complete the 3-point play Philadelphia had a 111-104 advantage. "I'm going to go through all the proper procedures about the officiating," Hill said after the game.

"I'll have Donnie (club president Donnie Walsh) call the league office and I'll call Darrell Garretson (the league's supervisor of officials). "I didn't say anything to the officials all night. I'm not going to stand there and watch it. You go all season, see these kinds of calls go against you a million times, and in a tight situation like this, I felt I had to make a point." See PACERS, Page B2 Associated Press Philadelphia guard Mitchell Wiggins (L) goes to the floor in an attempt to draw a foul on Pacer Reggie Miller. Wiggins was charged with the foul.

NFL Rookies Of The Year Named Offense: Russell Rushes For 959 Yards In First Year With Patriots NEW YORK (AP) It took Leonard Russell just one season of major college football to make an impression on the NFL. It took Russell one season in the NFL to impress everybody else. Russell, the first running back chosen in the draft, was selected today as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by The Associated Press. The New England Patriots star received 34 of 82 votes by media members, easily outdistancing running back Ricky Ervins of Washington, who had 14. "I felt that I could play (in the NFL)," Leonard Russell New England running back Russell said.

"It was a hard adjustment for me. I had a lot of people here to help me out. John Stephens was a big help." Stephens, the 1988 offensive rookie, helped inadvertently by holding out until the week before the season started. Russell won the job and hdd it, gaining 959 yards, fourth in the AFC, despite missing nearly two full games. "Next year," Russell said immediately after gaining 45 yards in the season finale, a 29-7 loss at Cincinnati, "I want 1,500 yards to make up for this year." Stephens, has no doubt Russell will get it.

"Leonard was capable of gaining 1,000 yards," Stephens said. "He had it in him and a lot more." Russell played just one year at Arizona State after two seasons at Mount San Antonio Junior College. He rushed for 810 yards' and nine touchdowns for the Sun Devils, then opted to turn pro. The pros liked what they saw and the 235-pound powerhouse was the 14th choice in the-draft, "He-hasn't played that much," Patriots coach Dick MacPherson said. "That's a beautiful body that hasn't been bruised up." See RUSSELL, Page B2' Defense: Croel Makes Impact On League And Broncos' Opponents DENVER (AP) Impact.

It's the word his coaches use to describe Denver Broncos rookie linebacker Mike Croel. And it's the reason Croel was selected on Thursday as the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year. Croel was a landslide winner of the award, getting 68 of the 82 votes from media members. Atlanta nose tackle Moe Gardner was a distant runner-up with seven votes. Although not a particularly productive player at Nebraska, the 6-foot-3, 231-pound Mike Croel Denver linebacker Croel soared to the top echelon of the draft ratings after clocking 40-yard dash times of sub 4,5 seconds at the scouting combine in Indianapolis.

Shortly before the combine, he was timed by a coach in 4.48 seconds un- teard of speed for a player his size. That made him irresistible to the Broncos, who made Croel the fourth player selected in the NFL draft in April. He did not disappoint. Croel reported 28 days late to training camp while his contract was being negotiated, but wasted little time making his presence felt. He moved into the starting lineup in the fourth game of the season after outside linebacker Tim Lucas broke his leg.

By mid- season, he had recorded eight sacks and was threatening the NFL sack record for rookies of 12 set by San Diego's Leslie O'Neal in 1986.. An injury (sprained left-foot) and an illness (chicken pox) late in the year, caused him to miss three games, and he finished the season with 10 sacks, second on the team to Simon Fletcher's 13 'This is a nice award," Croel said. "I was' hoping I would get. it, but I didn't know if. missing those games at the end would hurt me.

I guess it didn't: See CROEL, Page B2 Keep up on all of Loganland's sports: subscribefto the PHAROS-TRIBUNE by calling (219) 722-5000..