The Santa Fe New Mexican from Santa Fe, New Mexico • Page 177

Sports Section Santa Fe, N.M., Thursday, November 26,1987 Howard University files suit vs. NCAA $9 million suit charges school was denied a Division l-AA playoff bid for racial reasons WASHINGTON (AP) Howard University sued the NCAA Wednesday and asked a federal judge to stop this weekend's Division I-AA playoffs because its team, with a 9-1 record, was excluded. The $9 million suit, which also names the Division I-AA selection committee, charges the predominantly black school was denied a playoff bid "for unlawful and racially motivated reasons" even though it had a better record than any other team in the playoffs. Howard asked U.S. District Judge John Garrett Penn for a temporary restraining order against this weekend's first-round games until the full case can be argued in court.

Big Apple next stop for Lobos NEW YORK (AP) Eight years ago, the New Mexico basketball program was in a shambles, following a recruiting scandal that cost the Lobos four years on probation. Now, New Mexico, under Gary Colson, is back to respectability and Friday night will play what the coach calls its "biggest game since then," against Seton Hall in the opening semifinal contest of the Big Apple NIT at Madison Square Garden. Iowa State will face 14th- ranked Florida in the other semifinal, with the winners meeting Saturday night for the title, following a consolation game between the losers. "The boys from the desert finally made it here," Colson said at a press conference Wednesday. Colson's "boys" were so awed about coming to New York that one player, freshman Rob Robbins, from little Farmington, N.M., told the coach, "I can't wait to see the tall buildings." "The tallest thing he has seen is the third floor of his dorm," Colson said.

New Mexico, coming off a 2510 season, its best ever, reached the semifinals by beating Weber State 88-72 and upsetting UCLA 77-66. Seton Hall, also coming off its finest season in eight years (15-14, including two victories over highly touted Georgetown), advanced to the final four by defeating George Mason 85-63 and Middle Tennessee 93-61. Iowa State, 13-15 last season, outgunned Texas 100-83 and Purdue 104-96 in the first two rounds of the tournament, played at campus sites, while Florida, 23-11 last season, downed Jacksonville 82-52 and No. 18 Georgia Tech 80-69. Colson said that playing in New York could accomplish what four straight winning seasons have been unable to do make the NCAA tournament take notice of New Mexico.

Despite 85 victories in the past tour years. New Mexico has been ignored by the NCAA, having instead to settle for four invitations to the postseason NIT. "We play in the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) and we play in a lot of small towns, so we don't get a lot of publicity," Colson said. Colson was coaching at Pepperdine when the recruiting scandal rocked New Mexico and Norm EUenberger was fired as coach in December 1979. Colson had a premonition he would get the New Mexico job.

"I was living in a house boat in Marina del Rey (Calif)," he recalled. "I picked up a copy of the Los Angeles Times and I saw the headline (about berger) and that John Bridgers, a friend of mine, had gotten the athletic director's job at New Mexico. See Lobos on Page C-2 A hearing on temporary restraining order was scheduled for Friday. The suit alleges the NCAA has violated federal anti-trust regidations and the contract member schools have with the association. "When the time for championship consideration arrived, defendants blatantly ignored Howard's superb record and instead imposed irrational, arbitrary and racially discriminatory criteria," the suit charges.

It also names as defendants the four members of the playoff selection committee who the suit said "have developed friendships which influence their ability to rank or rate a fellow competitor school objectively." Michael Scott, lawyer for the NCAA, would not comment on the arguments in the suit. "It's our intention to defend the NCAA's interests," he said. Scott said NCAA officials could not recall such a suit over playoff slots ever being filed before. Howard President James Cheek told reporters Tuesday that the suit is part of "an all out war" on the NCAA. "One of the hallmarks of this institution is that it has fought and destroyed racism in every manner it has ever manifested itself," said Cheek.

The suit said the selection process for the playoffs "was fraught with irregularities and was and remains designed to exclude colleges and universities such as Howard." Asked by reporters why Howard did not complahi previously about the system, Howard Deputy General Counsel Francis Smith said the school only sought legal action "when the door was closed in our face I don't think we're involved in sour grapes," he said. "We believe we have a compelling argument. We believe a fair- minded judge will listen to our complaint. Howard won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title this year, but missed the playoffs by one spot when it was ranked 18th nationally among Division I-AA schools. Texas clashes Texas Page 9 -5 Dallas might start White against Vikes AP Laserphoto KC defender Mike Bell, left, hammers Freeman McNeil of the Jets in a recent game.

Bell should be a force in the Chiefs defense today. IRVING, Texas (AP) Danny White has decided he wants to be a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys as long as they need him. "I'm planning on playing at least two or three more years if I can get my wrist problems settled down," White said in an interview. White could be back in the starting lineup for the Cowboys against the Minnesota Vikings today. Retirement rumors have surfaced because of White's injury which causes his passing to be erratic.

He has another year left on his contract. "Right now my wrist is feeling better than it has in a long time," White said. "It's feeling almost 100 per cent. The rest did wonders." White's desire to stay with the team rated as something of a surprise because Coach Tom Landry has been grooming Steve Pelluer as the club's quarterback of the future. Landry said Wednesday that "I won't decide who will start at quarterback until after the pregame warmups.

Either way both of them will probably play. The cold weather might be a factor on Danny's wrist." NFL "I feel I can still contribute a lot," White said. "I may have to have an operation to fix the wrist. But I feel I have some good years left." White, 35, missed Sunday night's 20-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins while Pelluer threw as many interceptions as touchdown passes, two each. White has completed almost 60 per cent of his passes this year but has 12 interceptions to only six touchdown passes.

Dallas is 5-5 in the NFC East and must defeat Minnesota 6-4 in the NFC Central to keep alive hopes for an NFL wild card spot. The Vikings have quarterback indecision of their own. Coach Jerry Burns used three passers last week in a 24-13 victory over Atlanta. Tommy Kramer has a bruised right hand and Burns could start Wade Wilson against the Cowboys. "We may not make a decision until just prior to the game," said Burns.

"All I know is that this is a must game for us." Lions host Chiefs in battle of league's sorriest teams PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs, looking to snap a club- record nine-game losing streak, will start veteran Bill Kenney at quarterback today against the Detroit Lions. The Chiefs and Lions have the two sorriest records in the NFL. Kansas City is 1-9, Detroit 2-8. Kenney, who has been around through three coaches and at least four other quarterbacks since joining the Chiefs as a free agent in 1979, suffered a broken left wrist Nov.

1 against Chicago, but Coach Frank Gansz can't wait for it to heal. Kenney throws right-handed. "I think our best chance to win is with Bill Kenney. We need a win," Gansz said. That means Frank Seurer, who started the past two weeks, is back on the bench.

"Frank Seurer is a fine young quarterback for the future," Gansz said. "But I don't think he's ready to work a short work-week and be able to win." Kenney, 32, has played out versions of this scenario before. "I've gone through so much here," Kenney said. "There was Steve Fuller, then Tom Clements came in, and he was going to be the savior. Then it was Todd (Blackledge), then Frank.

It's always me and somebody. "If that's the role they want me to take, I'll take it." Kenney took over at San Diego, week after the strike ended, replacing Blackledge. Production perked up, but the team continued to lose. He continued to play after breaking his wrist, but Gansz went with Seurer the last two games. Sunday, however, Seurer completed only 13 of 32 passes for 107 yards with one interception, and the Chiefs were held to 201 yards in a 23-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

"We really struggled. We've come close a couple of times, but it just didn't happen for us," Gansz said. "Last week, the wheels just came right off the cart." So, again, Kenney got the call. "The way I look at it, the last three years, if I wouldn't have gotten hurt, I wouldn't have to be worrying about it," Kenney said. "But the job has always come back to me." The Lions hope their quarterback traumas are behind them.

Coach Darryl Rogers gave the job to Chuck Long, the second-year pro out of Iowa, at the beginning of training camp and he has held it ever since. Long's production, however, has been disappointing at times. He has completed 146 of 250, a completion rate of 58.4 percent, for 1,599 yards and seven touchdowns. "The Lions quarterback is an impressive young guy," Gansz said. "I like his arm.

I think he's got a big league arm, I think he's got big league ability." Mora looking to make 3AA title run By FANCHO MORRIS The New Mexican Staff Numbers don't lie. Four starters and a bench depth of 10 could add up to a shot at the District 3AA championship for the Mora Rangers, provided they can improve on a couple other figures. Third-year head coach Mark Cassidy believes his team of five seniors, seven juniors must shoot better from ttie field and the free throw line to be in the district race. "We shot 36 percent from the field as a team last season and Prep basketball we lost three or four games at the free throw line," Cassidy said. "We have to improve in both areas.

If we do, we can challenge for the district championship." Mora lost only one starter, Greg Gutierrez, from a 13-10 team that lost in the district tournament to Questa, but the Rangers also must replace a key reserve and two other players who elected not to play this season. The offense will revolve aroimd Gary Pacheco, a 6-1 center, and 6-1 forward Ronald Martinez. Pacheco led the team in scoring and rebounding a year ago, averaging 17 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. Martinez chipped in 11 points and 8 rebounds per contest. "We're going to take the ball inside," Cassidy said.

"That's where our strength is." Other returning starters are 5-7 guard Manuel Romero and 510 forward Justin Garcia. Romero is coming off a 12-point, 6- assist per game season. The well-deep bench includes 5-10 Scott Martinez, 5-9 Belamino Romero, 6-0 Ricky Garcia, 511 John Olivas, 5-7 David Bowers, 5-7 Phillip Trujillo and 5-9 Matthew Espinosa, who led the Rangers junior varsity in scoring last year. In January, Mino Romero, a 5-11 junior transfer from Cimar- row, becomes eligible. "Our experience, I hope, will be to our advantage," Cassidy said.

"It looks like we've got depth on our bench, too. I hope Mora Datf. Opponent Site Dec. Claylon Invite away Dec. 11 Raton away Dec.

13 McCurdy home Dec. 17 Klollday tourney away Dec. 21 West LM Vegas away Dec. 28 Mora Invite home Jon. 8 Taos home Jan.

9 Penasco away Jan. IS Questa away Jan. 22 EscBlante home Jan. 33 Santa Rosa away Jan. 30 Pecos eway Feb.

5 Escalante away Feb. 6 Pecos home Feb. 13 Questa homo Feb. 19 Santa Rosa home to play at least 10 every game." Mora plays 12 of those contests in December, starting on the 3rd with the Clayton Invitational. Class AAA schools Taos, West Las Vegas and Raton are other tough non-district foes.

Michigan 'Bama running backs, Syracuse quarterbacic head Camp All-America team NEW HAVEN, Conn. Running backs Lorenzo White of Michigan State and Bobby Humphrey of Alabama and quarterback Don McPherson of Syracuse have been named to the 1987 Walter Camp Ail- American football team. Walter Camp, a Yale coach known as the father of American football, started his ail- American team in 1889. The latest team was selected by coaches and sports information directors from Division IA schools. White, a senior repeater from the 1985 team, rushed for 1,454 yards this year, while Humphrey, a junior, rushed for 1,172 yards this season.

The third running back named to the team was Gaston Green, the all-time leading rusher at UCLA. Green, a senior, had 1,098 yards this year. Mcpherson, a senior, was the second most efficient passer in the nation this year, leading his team to a perfect 11-0 record. They were among the players selected from 18 teams representing 13 states. Named as the team's wide receiver was senior Tim Brown of Notre Dame.

He accumulated 1,647 yards in receiving, rushing, punt run- backs and kick-off returns. Senior Keith Jackson of top- ranked Oklahoma was named the team's tight end. The rest of the offensive team includes: Seniors John Elliot of Michigan and Dave Cadigan of Southern Cal at tackle; Seniors Mark Hutson of Oklahoma and Randall McDaniel of Arizona State at guard; Senior Nacho Albergamo of Louisiana State at center; On defense, the team was led by senior lineman Chad Hennings of Air Force, who had 27 quarterback sacks this season. Also named to the team were: Junior linemen Tracy Rocker of Auburn and Broderick Thomas of Nebraska, and senior Daniel Stubbs of Miami; Senior linebackers Chris Spielman of Ohio State, Ken Norton of UCLA and Aundrey Bruce of Auburn; Senior defensive backs Chuck Cecil of Arizona, Jarvis Williams of Florida and Bennie Blades of Miami, and junior back Deion Sanders of Florida State. Tom Tupa, a senior at Ohio State was named the team's punter, while David Treadwell of Clemson was named the placekicker.

Treadwell, a senior, kicked 87 of 88 extra points. TOMMY Honored AP Laserphoto HEARNS by WBC WBC names Hearns boxer of the month MEXICO CITY The World Boxing Council Wednesday named Thomas Hearns as its boxer of the month for November. Hears won the middleweight title from Argentina's Juan Domingo Roldan earlier this month. Hearns became the only fighter ever to win titles in four weight classes. Honorable mention went to Roger Mayweather for winning the superlightweight title from Mexican Rene Arredondo.

The Associated Press.