Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 47

1 8E January 25, 1985 FRIDAY THE CLARION-LEDGER PRO FOOTBALL -ii i nnuupi mwm muim S- Shame on the Fame9 Bennett popular pick as Bucs coach rat Shrine voting irritates Adderley, how could they snub 'Golden Commentary By RAY DIDINGER Knight-Ridder News Service A caller read off the list of 1985 in By LARRY GUEST Orlando Sentinel Of the dozen expert witnesses invited to testify Wednesday afternoon in the matter of Leeman Bennett as new coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs, perhaps Charlie McClendon struck the most meaningful chord. They re certainly getting somebody different!" Mac gushed after swabbing Bennett with upbeat phrases. "You know John and I are close friends, but Tampa is getting someone very different." Indeed, in finding a successor for controversial John McKay, it would appear that Bucs' owner Hugh Culverhouse ventured as far to the other end of the personality spectrum as possible before tapping his man. The overwhelming consensus of NFL media, coaches, players and administrators who have worked with Bennett paint this former Kentucky quarterback LEEMAN BENNETT mmmmmimmmmmvMwmm "When a man like that can't get in the Hall of Fame, something's wrong. I know players who were disgusted with the voting before but there will be more (public) complaints now.

I can't be the only one who feels this way." The latest exclusion of Hornung was only one of several rank injustices performed by the voters this year. They also voted down Fran Tarkenton, who just happens to be pro football's all-time leading passer, and Don Maynard, the former New York Jet who led the NFL in career receiving yardage (11,816) and touchdowns (88) when he retired in 1973. That was the second rejection for Tarkenton and the sixth for Maynard. How anyone could look at their career statistics and say they don't merit a shelf at Canton defies the imagination. "I guess they're down on Tarkenton because he never won a Super Bowl," said Adderley, a Northeast High grad, now in the cable TV business in the Philadelphia area.

"He went three times (with Minnesota) and lost. "They voted in Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen (ex-Rams) and they never even went to a Super Bowl. I'm not saying those guys don't deserve it, they do, but so does Tarkenton. He has all the (passing) records. What more can a man do? "There are other players who never get mentioned.

Leroy Kelly is a prime example. He took over for Jim Brown in Cleveland, unheralded, rushed for 1,000 yards, ran back punts and kick-offs. He doesn't even make the final ballot. That hurts." The question arises, should Rozelle even be eligible for the Hall of Fame while he is still in office? Players and coaches must be retired five years before they can be considered for induction. Should owners and club executives have different rules? Why not have a separate category for front-office types? Waive the eligibility clause if you like.

Nominate the Rozelles and Lamar Hunts and put them on a ballot all their own. No one says Rozelle doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame, but should his contribution be weighed against that of a Hornung or Tarkenton? It's not fair to Rozelle and surely not fair to the players. "Maybe they can set up a deal where they take in one (executive) every couple years," Adderley said. "Put 'em under another heading like the old-timers. But leave the real voting for the players.

"I hate to see this (controversy) because I know what it means to be in the Hall of Fame. It's the biggest thrill you can have as a player. "I go back every year for the induction ceremony and it's like filling up the gas tank. I see the busts of coach Lombardi and all my old teammates (six are enshrined) and it rekindles the enthusiasm I had as a player. There's nothing like it.

"But I'm so disgusted with this (election) I wouldn't even go back this year except a former teammate (Staubach) is being inducted. This is a bitter pill. Paul missing out again, Rozelle going in. "It just don't feel right." ductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Herb Adderley, Class of '80, provided the commentary.

"Roger "Yeah, Roger deserves to go in his first year (of eligibility)," Adderley said Tuesday. "I played with him in Dallas. He's a winner, a big-play guy." "Joe "I can't believe they didn't vote Joe in two years ago," Adderley said. "He's the man who made the American Football League. He made the Super Bowl.

He belongs." "O.J. Adderley laughed. "Naturally," the former Green Bay cornerback said. "What would the Hall be without the Juice? "Last one, modern era Pete Rozelle." There was silence on the line. Adder-ley needed a moment to sort this out You mean the NFL commissioner was voted in and Paul Hornung, another finalist, was not? "I'm shocked," Adderley said.

"I would have bet anything that Paul would get in this year and I'm not even a betting man. What are these (voters) thinking? "I can imagine how Paul must feel. You practice when it's 10-below zero, you play on a frozen field and get your butt kicked black-and-blue for 10 years, then you see someone who never touched a football get voted into the Hall of Fame ahead of you? "I can't think of too many things that would make me bitter," Adderley said, "but that would. You lose out to another player. not too hard to stomach.

At least the (player) paid his dues. But Rozelle? Sorry, I can't go along with that." This isn't the first time Paul Hornung, the Golden Boy of the Packers' Golden Era, was passed over by the Hall of Fame selectors. His name has been on the ballot for 10 years but he never has received the majority needed for enshrinement. This says more about the voters' muddled thinking than Hornung's credentials. r- If the men in charge two dozen sports writers and Hall officials --were going strictly on ability and production, Hornung would have taken his rightful place in Canton, Ohio, years ago.

Consider: Hornung led the NFL in scoring three straight years (1959- 61). He set a league record with 176 points in 1960 and the mark survived two decades of expansion, rules changes, longer schedules and immigrant kickers. Hornung played in the 1961 NFL championship game while on leave from the Army and scored 19 points, a postseason record. He had five touchdowns in one game against Baltimore. He was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in back-to-back years (1960-61).

So why is Hornung passed over in the voting held every Super Bowl eve? Because the selectors apparently can't bring themselves to forgive him for as everything that McKay was not: civil, friendly, beloved, compassionate, stable, humble, bland, sober and tolerant. They say he will never be demeaning to players, abusive to reporters or abrasive to the public. Whether the former Falcons head coach will also avoid McKay's Tampa tendency to lose football games remains to be seen. But those who have closely observed Bennett during his 13 seasons as a pro coach foresee a bright new dawn for the Buccaneer franchise. "They're getting a good man.

I think the Falcoas made a mistake," said Atlanta Journal columnist Furman Bisher. The Journal's Falcon beat man, Ed Hinton, assessed Bennett as the "quintessential good guy, very easy-going. I never saw him do anything beyond a cold stare and that was rare." Ray Malavasi, a fellow assistant and frequent fishing pal during the five years they coached for the Rams, said he couldn't recall a single instance when Leeman lost his temper. "A nice, nice man," said Charger vice president Jack Teele, a former Rams executive. "Leeman always had a proper mix of rapport and respect from the players." Said Jim Stanley, a Falcon assistant for two years under Bennett: "He's good with players and coaches.

He has a good relationship with everyone." Bennett's undoing at Atlanta was a three-game stretch ending the strike-shortened 1982 season. Sailing along at 5-2, the Falcons were blasted by Green Bay and New Orleans, then lost to Minnesota in a first-round playoff game. Some observers felt quarterback Steve Bartkowski ran up the white flag in that Minnesota loss and many of his teammates were with him. The next morning, Bisher was there to critique the bizarre season. "That's the only time I ever saw Leeman with fire in his eyes," Bisher recalled.

"He was ready to make some changes. He was really going to rock the bottom of the ship." Bennett showed himself to be a man of considerable spine by showing up at his own Falcons funeral. When Atlanta owner Rankin Smith gathered the fourth estate to announce Bennett's departure, Leeman was right there at his side to help discuss the distressing changing of the guard. In explaining his decision, Smith said at the time, "I feel we've reached a plateau." In truth, the Falcons were about to step off a cliff. In the two seasons since Bennett was fired, the Atlanta entry has been 7-9 and 4-12 under Dan Henning, and a huge banner fluttering at Atlanta Stadium this fall pleaded: "Bring Back Bennett." "When I was fired, I told Rankin Smith I thought he was making a mistake," Bennett said earlier this week.

"I still feel that way. Deep down, I feel vindicated." Bennett's ability to extract such devotion and respect from those who worked under him may have been a vital factor in Culverhouse's decision. Stanley, the Bennett aide, also had been considered by Culverhouse, who closed each interview with this question: "If you don't get this job, who would you recommend?" Stanley gave a strong nod to Bennett. "Too strong, I guess," sighed Stanley. PAUL HORNUNG placing a few nickel-and-dime bets on NFL games.

Hornung and Detroit tackle Alex Karras admitted to wagering on pre football in 1963 and Rozelle suspended them for the season. The two players returned in '64 but, 20 years later, the stigma remains. "It's not fair," Adderley said. "The voters should judge a man by what he does on the field, not off. "OK, Paul made a mistake but he paid for it.

He lost a whole year out of his career, that's enough. There's no reason why he should still be paying for it. It isn't like he shaved points. Vince (Lombardi) forgave him, why can't these guys? "I've said this before and I'll say it again: Paul Hornung should have been the first player off our team inducted into the Hall. He did more, offensively, than either Bart (Starr, the back) or Jim (Taylor, the fullback) and they're both in.

"Hornung did it all," Adderley said. "He ran the ball. He threw the halfback option pass better than anybody, including (Frank) Gif ord. He was a good receiver. He kicked extra points and field goals.

He was a triple threat, plus. "Paul was the best blocking halfback I ever saw. He helped Taylor to those seasons. I saw Paul flatten Doug Atkins (Hall of Famer who played for the Bears and Saints) one time. Atkins was 6-9, 285 pounds, nasty as they come, and Paul put him on his back.

Most tackles couldn't do that. "Paul didn't have blazing speed but he was smart, he set up his blockers real well. He ran the power sweep to perfection. Vince called him our money player. Get the ball inside the 10 and Paul would find a way to score.

The Associated Press HOW CAN IT BE? Pro Football Hall of Famer Herb Adderley, lower left, called it a major injustice when the shrine admitted NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, right, and passed over all-time leading passer Fran Tarkenton, top, for the second straight year. Tarkenton and Paul Hor-nung, Adderley's teammate with the Green Bay Packers, deserve the honor more than someone who never played, Adderley said, claiming Rozelle shouldn't even be considered in the same category. Tarkenton disappointed about being passed over The Associated Press ATLANTA Fran Tarkenton, holder of several National Football League passing records, says he is disappointed the he was not among the five new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who were enshrined this week. "Obviously it's a disappointment," Tarkenton said. "However, I'm very, very happy for the ones who got in, especially Joe Namath.

Joe had been passed over for a few years." Elected were Namath, O.J. Simpson, Roger Staubach, Frank Gatski and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. "I played my 18 years and loved playing with a child-like enthusiasm. The fun of it all was the 18 years' playing. My work is done.

I have no control over anything after that. The fun of the game is not the awards. It's the playing and team accomplishments," he said. COLLEGE FOOTBALL No coach stands out Showboats release former Reb Fourcade Miami, CBS agree on television contract USFL as Colts' top choice The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS The Indianapolis Colts have completed a second round of Interviews with five men, but right now "there's no leading candidate (for coach) that I can mention." general manager Jim Irsay said Thursday. Tfrr interviewed nine people," said Irsay, son of the Colts' owner, Bob Irsay.

"Out of those, five got a second interview. All the second interviews have been completed. Right now, I'm just gathering a little additional information." The NFL team has been without a head coach since mid-December, when Frank Rush resigned to become coach of the Arizona Outlaws of the USFL. Colts' assistant coach Hal Hunter, one of the five who have had two interviews with the Irsays, is interim coach. Another one of the five who met with Irsay Tuesday and Wednesday was San Francisco defensive coordi Compiled from AP reports Former Ole Miss standout John Fourcade is off the Memphis Showboats' roster.

Gary Huff, who was quarterback coach with the Showboats last year, has taken Fourcade's place on the roster by moving from the coaching to the playing ranks. "My philosophy both as a player and a coach is to do the very best I can and not worry about anything else," Huff said after his shift was announced at the Showboats' camp in Melbourne, Fla. Huff played at Florida State and with the Chicago Bears, the Tampa Bay Bucaneers and the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Besides Huff, the Showboats have Walter Lewis, Mike Kelley and Kevin Starkey as quarterbacks. "I was led to believe that I would be given a fair and equal chance, but I don't think that happened," said Fourcade.

"Hopefully, I will get another chance to get on with another team, either in the USFL, NFL or Canada. I'm only 24 and there's no doubt in my mind that I can play." Also the Showboats announced that Henry Williams, a 5-foot-6, 181-pound wide receiver from East Carolina State University who led the nation in kickoff returns in 1983, has signed with the team. Williams was the Showboats' first pick in this year's draft He was chosen in the third round of the draft after the Showboats traded away their first and second-round picks. Williams, a Memphis native who played high school football at Tunica, played at Northwest Junior College before transferring to East Carolina. Gary Barbaro, a veteran safety for the New Jersey Generals, said there was "a string possibility" he might miss the The Cougars posted a 7-4 record last season before losing to Boston College in the Cotton Bowl, marking the fourth Houston appearance in the New Year's Day Classic in nine years as members of the SWC.

The NCAA Football Rules Committee has liberalized its controversial blocking rules to permit blockers to fully extend their arms on both running and passing plays. In addition, the committee abolished after one year the rule that gave the receiving team the ball at its 30-yard line when a kick-off went through the end zone on the fly. College football this fall will revert to the old rule which puts the ball at the 20 on all kick-off touchbacks. The rules committee met earlier this week at Point Clear, and the new rules were announced Thursday at NCAA headquarters in Shawnee Mission, Kan. Under the old rule, blockers were not allowed to extend their arms "more than one-half of a full extension" unless they were blocking "behind the neutral zone while retreating" that is, pass-blocking.

They may now legally block with the shoulder, hands, outer surface of the arm or any other part of the body provided the hands are in advance of the elbows, inside the frames of the blocker's and opponent's bodies and at or below the shoulder of the player being blocked. Bill Jones, one of the nation's most sought-after running backs, has made a verbal commitment to join SMU. "I want to be part of Pony Express HI," the Corsicana, Texas, player told the Dallas Times Herald. In his prep career, Jones Compiled from AP reports The University of Miami and CBS-TV signed an unprecedented $2.05 million agreement Thursday granting the network the rights to televise the Hurricanes' football games for two years, the school announced. Miami is the first school without a conference affiliation to sign with CBS, which has agreements with the Big Ten, Pacific 10 and Atlantic Coast conferences, said network spokesman Doug Richardson.

Miami athletic director Sam Jankovich said the pact with CBS would not affect the school's affiliation with the College Football Association, which has a similar agreement with ABC-TV and ESPN. The deal calls for CBS to televise at least three Miami games over the next two seasons, two in 1985 and one in 1986, and gives the network the option of airing a second game in 1986. Jankovich said the Hurricanes are free to negotiate with other networks for rights to any games not shown by CBS. Bill Yeoman, who has led the University of Houston to four Cotton Bowl appearances in nine seasons in the Southwest Conference, signed a two-year contract extension that will raise his annual salary to 100,000. Yeoman's new contract will extend through the 1988 season and renew automatically on Jan.

1 of each year. The 57-year-old Yeoman had been earning $71,000 annually. The announcement ended weeks of uncertainty about the future of the veteran Houston coach and sidetracked grumbling among some UH regents who claimed an announcement at the Cotton Bowl concerning Yeoman's contract was premature. season because of an injured left knee. Barbaro, who has been working out with the Generals this week in Orlando, left camp to go to his New Orleans home to rest the knee.

He said doctors advised him against putting stress on the knee. "I'm just pretty much in limbo at this time," Barbaro said in a telephone interview. "It's an unusual position, not knowing what the future holds." Barbaro signed with New Jersey before last season after seven years with the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. Former Arizona State place-kicker Luis Zendejas, the newest member of the Arizona Outlaws, said that he hopes to join an NFL team in July. Zendejas, who set an NCAA career scoring record of 368 career points last fall, signed a one-year contract with the Outlaws for a guaranteed $55,000.

The pact includes an option, but Zendejas said he considered the USFL season as a six-month NFL tryout. "That's what it seems like. Exactly," he said at a news conference here before his first pro practice. "I hear there's a lot of NFL teams looking for a kicker like St. Louis, Miami and the New York Jets." Halfback Eric Jordan remained a no-show, and veteran safety David Greenwood was sidelined by old knee problems, as the Oakland Invaders worked through two practice sessions in Mesa, in preparation for the upcoming season.

The team also announced several roster changes, including the signing of free agents Reuben Vaughan, Kurt Garl and Pat Bou-dreaux. nator George Seifert, who said he expected to learn in a few days if he'll get the job. The meeting was the second with Seifert since he helped the 49ers defeat Miami in the Super Bowl Sunday. San Francisco coach Bill Walsh had recommended Seifert for the coaching vacancy, but asked the Colts to not meet with him until after the Super BowL The first meeting was held Tuesday in San Francisco. Jim Irsay would not indicate if Seifert was the club's top choice Wednesday.

"I think it (the meeting) went well like the others. I don't think it's fair to put him in the driver's seat ahead of anyone else," Irsay told reporters. The Colts have said they were looking for an offen-sive-ininded coach. However, the stock of Seifert, 44, has undoubtably been boosted by San Francisco's postseason performance. The defense allowed only one touchdown in three games.

The 49ers also led the NFL in defense against scoring during the regular season, Others mentioned recently as candidates for the Colts' job are Hunter, Joe Bugel, the No. 2 coach for the Washington Redskins; Rod Dowhower, offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Cardinals; and Buddy Ryan, the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears. rushed for 3,100 yards, and 38 touchdowns..