Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 19

pouts Today's TV tip Coach Digger Phelps and his Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, ranked 13th in today's UPt basketball poll, take on Indiana, which checked in at No. 20. ESPN, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday DECEMBER 3, 1985 RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Section 2B FOOTBALL 3B BASKETBALL 4B AT A GLANCE 5-8B BUSINESS Latest scores UNR's All-Big Sky picks UNR's Foger; top 2 teams First team offense OG: Greg Rea 6-4, 235 FB: Charvez Foger 5-1 1 190 OT: Bob Brown 64, 235 PK: Marty Zendejas First team defense PL: Elston Ridgle 6-6, 235 PL: Tyler Carbone 63, 235 LB: Henry Rolling 60,200 LB: Mark McVeigh 64, 235 LB: Mike Dixon 60, 210 CB: Pat Hunter 60, 180 CB: Joe Peterson 5-10, 180 The Big Sky coaches will release the offensive team today and the defensive team Wednesday. "I can't tell you what they were thinking," Ault said.

"It doesn't matter. You're picking the best quarterback in the conference and this guy has done it all for us. Charvez gains his 1,000 yards as a freshman because people were so concerned about Beavers' passing." Beavers, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior from Davis, became the most prolific passer in UNR history, leading the Pack to a 10-1 record and a berth in the Division I-AA playoffs. Heading into Saturday's playoff game at Mackay Stadium against Arkansas State, Beavers has thrown for 2,617 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has a passing efficiency rating of 151.7.

Stireman's rating is 137.2. Sloan's was 148.8 before Idaho's playoff loss to See BIG SKY, page 2B bring FOGER: Newcomer of the year. Chicago, which had outscored its three previous opponents, 104-3, actually out-gained Miami, 343 yards to 335. But the Dolphins killed the Bears with big plays on offense, defense and special teams. "Monday night games are tough on the Bears," Chicago coach Mike Ditka said.

since Allen took the job in 1980. But back to Monday's game, a rout that did little to instill confidence in a team struggling to survive a disappointing start. "We're playing with a losing attitude and it's snowing up," said point guard Darnell Glenn, who contributed eight points and seven assists. "I think mis game could have given us some confidence had we taken advantage of the mistakes they made." UNR didn't, showing few signs of developing into the Big Sky Conference contender everyone had projected. Beairs to Ic3 l'ssj Big Sky honors Beavers left off By Ray HagarGazette-joumai The University of Nevada-Reno football team placed four players on the All-Big Sky Conference's first-team offense and seven on the first-team defense.

Also, freshman fullback Charvez Foger was named the league's newcomer of the year in a vote of league coaches. While UNR coach Chris Ault is happy for those 11 players, he is miffed about one player who was not selected. UNR quarterback Eric Beavers, the Big Sky Conference's passing efficiency leader, was given only honorable mention status behind first-team pick Dave Stire-man of Weber State and the second-team's Rick Sloan of Idaho. "I'm bitterly disappointed that the vote turned out that way for Beavers," Ault said. "It is really ridiculous.

I don't know of a more deserving young man. I really inink it a slap in the face. Mmrm Marino's arm ends win streak By Fred GoodallAP MIAMI Miami stopped Chicago's journey toward National Football League history Monday night while giving itself a big boost toward the playoffs with a 38-24 victory over the Bears. Dan Marino, showing his record-breaking form of 1984, passed for 270 yards and three touchdowns as Miami's high-powered offense and opportunistic defense ended Chicago's bid to become the first team since the 1972 Dolphins to finish a season unbeaten. Stopping the Bears' 12-game winning streak, however, was secondary.

The 9-4 Dolphins' fourth straight victory boosted the defending American Conference champions into a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East. "It was a great victory for us. We beat an unbeaten team that was playing the best football in the NFL," Marino said. "For us to beat them was a great lift. We know we can compete on their level.

"It has to be the best we've played this season, especially against a team of that caliber," the Miami quarterback added. None of the current Dolphins were on the team when coach Don Shula fashioned the only perfect season in NFL history in 1972. Miami won 14 regular-season games that year and added three more victories in the playoffs, including a triumph over Washington in Super Bowl VII. "We are very proud of this football team because we preserved the Dolphin record, which was very important to us older guys, the coaching staff and alumni," Shula said in a lockerroom where many of his former players, Waves hand By John SchumacherGazette-Journa! MALIBU, Calif. Maybe Sonny Allen should take a long walk along the beach, close his eyes and hope the nightmare washes out to sea.

If that doesn't work, the University of Nevada-Reno basketball coach will have to deal with a most disturbing situation. His team is 0-4, courtesy of a 100-69 drubbing Monday night by Pepperdine University in front of 1,454 fans at Firestone Fieldhouse. "I never think about getting blown out," Allen said. "I never considered the possibility." UNR's legacy in playoffs: just 1 game short By Paul BaumanGazette-Journal University of Nevada-Reno head football coach Chris Ault learned a hard lesson on Dec. 9, 1978.

That was the day UNR, 11-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation, lost to Massachusetts, 44-21, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. "I underestimated their talent," Ault said. "I've never done that since." Some of UNR's greatest disappointments and triumphs have come in the playoffs. The Wolf Pack has competed in the playoffs three times, losing in the semifinals each year.

Twice UNR has lost to the eventual national champion. There were only four teams in the playoffs when UNR qualified for them in 1978 and 1979, so the Wolf Pack could do no worse than the semifinals. The playoff field was expanded to eight teams in 1981 and the current 12 teams in 1982. UNR will compete in the playoffs for the fourth time in eight years Saturday. The second-ranked Wolf Pack (10-1) will meet sixth-ranked Arkansas State (9-3) at Mackay Stadium in the quarterfinals.

UNR earned a bye in the first round, played last week. Arkansas State defeated eighth-ranked Grambling, 10-7, at Jonesboro, Saturday to advance Pro football Miami 33, Chicago 24 Pro basketball Utah 103, Golden State 100 Pro hockey Montreal 7, Vancouver 0 Pittsburgh 6, NY Rangers 0 College basketball Pepperdine 100, UNR 69 Penn 63, Southern Cal 54 Duke 98, East Carolina 64 N. Carolina St. 88, Tampa 64 Georgia Tech 62, St. Louis 55 Michigan 87, Tennessee 52 UC-lrvine 87, Nebraska 80 Texas Tech 69, Oregon 68 Runnin' Rebels climb to No.

9 NEW YORK University of Nevada-Las Vegas, who dropped a gutty loss to top-ranked North Carolina in the Great Alaska Shootout title game, jumped nine spots to No. 9 in the United Press International basketball poll released Monday. The Runnin Rebels, 4-1, received 180 points from the UPI Board of Coaches. The Tar Heels usurped the No. 1 position from preseason No.

1 Michigan. North Carolina received 26 first-place votes and 511 points. Michigan, which won its first three games, received eight first-place votes and 491 points to drop to second place. Duke, an Atlantic Coast Conference rival of North Carolina and winner of the NIT tournament, moved up two spots from its placing in the preseason ratings to the No. 3 spot with one first place vote and 423 points.

Georgia Tech, which lost to Michigan on national television last Saturday, fell two places to No. 4. Syracuse, which waltzed to victory over its first three opponents, advanced one spot to No. 5. Kansas was No.

6, followed by Georgetown, Kentucky and UNLV. Marquette student critical MILWAUKEE A Marquette University coed was critically injured Monday when she fell from a pickup truck driven by a member of the school's basketball team, who was jailed after the accident, police said. Linda J. Tully, a native of Elmhurst, 111., was taken to Froedtert Memorial Hospital with what police described as a massive skull fracture. She remained in critical condition Monday afternoon, said hospital spokeswoman Ronnie Doyle.

Police said the driver of the pickup was Tom Copa, 21, a center on the Marquette team from Coon Rapids, Minn. Tully was described by police as a friend of Copa. Copa was held for questioning in the accident and later released, said Assistant District Attorney Thomas Schulz, who was assigned to review the case. Randall leads Big Sky BOISE, Idaho Forward Dwyane Randall of the University of Nevada-Reno, the preseason pick of the media to retain the Big Sky Conference basketball crown, has claimed the early lead in the league race for both the scoring and rebounding titles. The 6-7 senior from Gary, is averaging 23 points and nearly 14 rebounds after three games in the young season that has seen the Wolf Pack winless against cross-state rival and 16th-ranked Nevada-Las Vegas, the revived San Francisco Dons, San Diego and Pepperdine.

McEnroe gets another fine MELBOURNE, Australia John McEnroe today was handed his second fine of the $1.5 million Australian Open tennis championship at Kooyong. The 26-year-old New Yorker was fined $1,500 after being given a code violation for verbal abuse in his five-set fourth-round victory over Frenchman Henri Leconte Monday. The fine was announced this morning after men's international Erofessional tennis council officials ad considered the matter. McEnroe was fined $1,250 for an obscenity in his second-round match against South African Danie Visser on Friday. Whitson asks for trade NEW YORK Pitcher Ed Whitson, whose mediocre season was punctuated by a fight with manager Billy Martin, has asked to be traded from the New York Yankees.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said Monday that Whitson's agent, Tom Reich, conveyed the pitcher's desires, adding, "I'll do what I can to accomodate him. I don't know that there's any interest." Whitson signed a five-year, $4.4 million free-agent contract with the Yankees last season. According to the New York Times, the contract includes a provision that allows him to demand a trade. Whitson was 10-8 last season with a 4.88 earned-run average. Wire service reports FEELING MORTAL: Chicago quarterback Steve Fuller pulls half of Monday night's game.

The Dolphins, who sacked Chi-himself together after being sacked by Miami during the first cago quarterbacks six times, won the game, 38-24. including 1972 stars Larry Csonka and Bob Kuechenberg, joined in the celebration. "What's really important is it keeps us tied for first (in AFC East)," Shula added. "That's important for these players that are here the now generation." SECOND TEAM DEFENSE: Daryl McCoy (DB). HONORABLE MENTION: Eric Beavers (QB), Scott Threde (TE), Thai Ivery (WB).

Associated Press referring to the NFC Central Division champions' 5-12 overall record in such games. The Bears are winless in nine road starts on Monday night. "Nobody's invincible. Nobody's See MIAMI, page 3B "We're getting better, but we've got a long ways to go," said center David Wood, who finished with nine points and five rebounds. "This i a rebuilding year, no doubt about it." UNR looked at least a year away against 3-1 Pepperdine, a team that showed signs of developing into a Top 20 team.

The Waves put this one away early, parlaying some red-hot shooting and aggressive rebounding into a 49-32 half-time advantage. See WAVES, page 3B ference team and he also was an honorable mention All-American at quarterback. Erickson, who appeared at the morning press conference along with his wife Marilyn, said the passing attack is the easiest way to score and the easiest way to turn around a football program. He added his first goal is to be competitive in the Western Athletic Conference and he thinks that can be accomplished quickly. Erickson said he was attracted to Wyoming by the university's football tradition, by its personnel, by the faculties and by the athletic department staff.

The coach is expected to begin work full-time on Thursday. He said he will immediately evaluate players on the team to see what the squad's recruiting requirements are. Erickson also said he plans to bring four assistant coaches from Idaho with him. He was a graduate assistant at Montana State in 1968. After a brief stop at Washington State, he took the head coaching job at Central High School in Billings, in 1970.

He returned to Montana State as an assistant coach in 1971-'73, then served for two years as the offensive coordinator at Idaho. Similar stints at Fresno State and San Jose State led the head job at Idaho in 1981. Pack its worst loss in 5 years, 1 00-69 Idaho coach Erickson signs 4-year contract at Wyoming That's because Allen is a positive thinker. Monday's massacre, however, produced few silver linings. UNR was outrebounded, 41-22, and watched Pepperdine shoot 59 percent from the field en route to handing the Pack its worst loss since a 112-71 defeat at Iowa in 1980.

There could be more storm clouds ahead. The Pack returns home today to prepare for a Thursday meeting with Pacific-10 Conference favorite Washington in Lawlor Events Center. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. A loss would mark the worst UNR start 1978: Lost to Massachusetts, 44-21, In semifinals. Finished with 11-1 record.

1979: Lost to Eastern Kentucky, 33-30, in semifinals. Finished with 8-4 record. 1983: Defeated Idaho State, 27-20; defeated North Texas State, 20-17, in overtime; lost to Southern Illinois, 23-7, in semifinals. Finished with 96 record. 1985: Received first-round bye; will play Arkansas State In quarterfinals Saturday at Mackay Stadium.

to the quarterfinals. The I-AA playoffs began in 1978, the same year that UNR shifted to that division. Massachusetts entered the game ranked fourth nationally at 8-3. "We did a poor job of preparation," Ault said. "We were obviously overconfident.

Why, for a team trying to build a program, I don't know. Also, our quarterback (Larry Worman) was coming off a knee injury. "We thoroughly got beat. Massachusetts was a very physical football team. They just lined up and came after you." UNR made the playoffs the following year with an 8-3 record and suffered a See PLAYOFF, page 2B LARAMIE, Wyo.

(AP) University of Idaho football coach Dennis Erickson has been named head coach of the University of Wyoming Cowboys. Wyoming officials, in a morning news conference Monday, announced that the 38-year-old Erickson has signed a four-year contract. Erickson, who replaces Al Kincaid as the head coach of the Cowboys, said he plans to bring a wide-open offensive attack to Wyoming. The coach, who compiled a 32-15 record during his four years at Idaho, strongly emphasizes a passing attack. At Idaho, that attack was dubbed the "Erickson Air Express" and it generated an offense that averaged nearly 500 yards a game during each of the past three seasons.

This year's Vandals won the Big Sky Conference title with a 6-1 conference record. They were 9-3 overall. Idaho lost to Eastern Washington, 42-38, last Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. Idaho provided the only blemish on University of Nevada-Reno's 10-1 record with a 25-21 victory on Sept. 28 in Moscow, Idaho.

Erickson earned a bachelor of arts degree from Montana State University in June 1970. During his playing career at Montana State, the former quarterback twice was named to the All-Big Sky Con.