The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 27

1 Florida's Beasts, Behemoths, Backs And Burners; Jim MacDonald Blue-Chippers Shrink, Overall Talent Grows By BILL BUCHALTER Assistant Sports Editor Recruiting remains the name of the major college football game. The walkons Lee McGriffs and David Poseys and Lee Nelsons notwithstanding, college coaches still make their living selecting prime beef from the high school flesh markets. It's that brutally simple and honest. What isn't simple is selecting the composite best among a good group. The feeling among coaches at Florida, FSU and Miami is that a lot of good prospects are playing in Florida.

Perhaps not as many super individuals as, say a year ago, but more capable of playing major college. Last year, around 125 signed grants-in-aid with major schools. The number could rise this year. But, under the 30 rule, where do you draw the line? A super for one recruiter may be a No. 2 for another.

Need at certain positions may eliminate some outstanding players for some schools. So, torn from the pages of the scouts' loose-leaf notebook are Florida's top prep prospects, broken down into four categories: The beasts, the behemoths, the backs and the burners. Prince Brantley guys who play linebacker and defensive end, the guys who hit the hardest, play the longest, are involved the most. Blue-Chip Beasts: SCOT BRANTLEY (6-2, 219, LB) Ocala Forest a winner who hits with authority, has sixth sense, plays in the tradition of a Ralph Ortega, Glen Cameron, Sammy Green. YANCEY SUTTON (6-2, 195, LB) Tallahassee Leon a super kid who rarely makes mistake on field head-hunter tackier.

JACKIE FLOWERS (6-3, 205, TE-DE) Jacksonville Raines perhaps the state's top athlete potential 190-foot discus thrower another in long line of super Raines' athletes like Harold Carmichael, Leonard Robinson, Don Gaffney, Terry LeCount. CLIFF LEWIS (6-2, 215, LB) Fort Walton Beach has size, strength and speed (4.7 40) to play the middle. DAVID MABARDY (6-1 220, FB-TE-LB) Chattahoochee loves to play versatile athlete who will get better with the competition. MIKE WHITTINGTON (6-2, 220, LB) Miami Columbus another hitter with great range, frame and sense for finding the ball. (Continued On Page 2-C, Col.

1) TPUD Teeh Hii Session It isn't being televised, the prize money is miniscule, galleries are counted by the thimblesful and most of the players are about as well-known as O. J. Simpson's substitute. Yet, the golf tournament being played here this week is one of the most significant of the year. The futures of almost 400 young men are at stake.

For a fortunate few, it could be the most meaningful week of their lives. But for the large majority, it will end in despair, defeat and dejection. The PGA's tour qualifying school, now underway at three Orlando area courses, is to goi Sparks FIRST THE BEASTS, usually the best football players, the T. McGriff CFL Hits First; Argonauts Sign Anthony Davis By Sentinel Star Services TORONTO The Canadian Football League has landed the first punch. The Toronto Argonauts announced Monday they have signed Anthony Davis, former All-American at the University of Southern California and the World Football League's leading rusher when the league folded.

Davis, who played for the Southern California Sun, is the first WFL refugee to sign with another league. The National Football League currently is under a ban prohibiting signing of the players. Although terms of the contract were not released, Argos Owner Sentinel fetar Orlando, Florida SECTION Sports CLASSIFIED (AP) Carpenter Gets Lineman Honor Lonely Is The Name Of The Game Dallas' placekicker Toni Fritsch sits alone on the game tied at 24-24. In overtime, Washington Cowboy bench after missing a 38-yard field goal capitalized on an interception and a personal foul in final seconds of regulation time against Wash- by Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach to win, ington Sunday in RFK Stadium. Fritsch's miss left 30-24.

See story on page 6-C. Bean, Stroble First-Round Leaders With 67 In PGA Qualifying School ters what the state bar examination is to recent law school graduates. Or a screen test to an actor trying to break into the movies. "TPD Tech," as the school is known in some circles, is the place where aspiring golfers gather in search of a tour card the privilege to compete in those rich weekly events such as the Florida Citrus Open. This week 375 players are participating in the six-day, 108-hole grind being staged at Disney's Magnolia and Palm Courses and the Cypress Creek Golf Club.

Odds Staggering Each of them has paid $300 to enter the school. The odds against success are staggering. Although the exact number has not yet been determined, it is expected that only 20-25 cards will be issued. But even those who make it will soon discover that earning a player's card and earning a living on the highly competitive tour is as different as a sand bunker and television's Archie. A tour card does not guarantee its owner a spot in every tournament he wishes to play.

It only gives him the chance to attempt to qualify for tournaments. And any pro golfer, from Jack Nicklaus down, will tell you Monday qualifiers are the most difficult rounds played each week. For every Johnny Miller, Tom Watson or John Mahaffey, each a qualifying school graduate, there are scores of tour players not making expenses, living from week to week with not much more than hope. More than 500 players earned money on the tour in 1975. But less than half of them collected as much as $1,000.

And yet, the lure of the tour keeps them coming. Why? Perhaps it's the same reason men left loving families and secure homes in the mid-1800s and headed for California to pan for gold fame and fortune. But for other golfers, such as Orlando's Steve Wilkinson, there's another reason. "It's the competitiveness," says Wilkinson, 34-year-old head professional at Silver Pines Country Club, a nine-hole course in the Pine Hills area. "Each of us, if he has any drive or desire, wants to prove to himself he is as good as the best in his field regardless of what business he's in." Gnve Up Golf The Steve Wilkinson story is a bit more unusual than most at the qualifying school.

For one thing there's his age. Before the week's out, many of his classmates, a large number of whom are in their early 20s, might be calling him "Pops." Wilkinsons background also differs from the majority of students in the school. As one time in his life, he gave up goIT for five years. Following an outstanding athletic career at the small high school in his hometown of Hager-stown, (he won four letters each in football, basketball, track, baseball and golf), he headed for Purdue University. By the time he was a senior, he was captain of the Purdue golf team and one of the best players in the Big Ten.

But after earning his degree in 1963, Wilkinson turned to business instead of golf. A specialist in commercial real estate he went to work for one of the country's largest fast food companies, soon earning as much as $50,000 a year. Rut "wanting something else," ne gave it all up after five years and returned to golf, turning pro in 1970. Ho had not touched a club during this period. "I guess it was the challenge to compete that changed my mind," Wilkinson, married and the father of four children, says.

He has attended the PGA school three times previously and failed. This time however, he thinks he can make it. He opened with a 76 Monday. But then so do the other 374 golfers. ATLANTA () Lambert Reed, Florida defensive line coach, calls tackle Darrell Carpenter "an over achiever." "In no way should he be grading out over 86 per cent every game, but he does it because he has a big heart," Reed said Monday.

"He's a super intelligent, super player." Reed was amazed at Carpenter again Sunday when he graded films of the llth-ranked Gators' Bill Hodgson called it "a million-dollar, multi-year contract." Davis said it covered five years. The 5-9, 190-pound speedster was drafted by the New York Jets of the National Football League, but NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle ruled NFL clubs cannot sign WFL players until next season. Thus, the Jets couldn't pursue Davis. "I decided on Toronto because when I came up here a couple of weeks ago, I really liked the people," Davis said. "Everybody I met made me feel that I was wanted." But he admitted that what really sold him was his first look at a CFL game and the possibilities league rules pose for a speedy rusner to make use of the longer and wider field.

"It was the first time I had been to Canada and only the second time I had watched a game from the stands," Davis said. "I liked the rules, you know, the yard between the defensive line, the blocking, the wider field. "I really think it is suited to a player like myself. The Canadian game can be real exciting." What could have been even more exciting, had the Argos been able to survive the mauling they took Saturday from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that knocked them out of the playoffs, would have been a matchup Sunday with Johnny Rodgers of the Montreal Alouet-tes. "Yeah, I admit that was another reason I decided on Toronto.

Johnny's a great athlete and I was really disappointed when I found out Toronto had lost to Hamilton," Davis said. Under CFL rules, Davis came to Toronto as a free agent with the folding of the WFL and would have been eligible for post-season games. The California Sun, with Davis providing the momentum, was one of the more successful teams at least on the field in the disbanded circuit. He was the league's leading scorer, rushed for 1,200 yards 400 more than any other league player and caught 54 passes. General Manager John Barrow said Davis was the start of an expanded rebuilding program.

Others at that figure are Dale Hayes, a highly regarded player from Pretoria, South Africa; John Jodlowski, Midwest City, Bill Mallon, Framingham, Tommy McGinnis, Memphis, and Gary Robinson, Tampa. Jerry Pate, the 1974 U.S. Amateur champ from Pensacola, and Murphy Trahan of Cocoa, are among a group of seven players tied at 70. Craig Stadler, the 1973 National Amateur titlist Saturday's Georgia-Florida game at Jacksonville will be regionally telecast by ABC-TV, shown in Central Florida on WFTV Channel 9. By JIM MacDONALD Sentinel Stir Staff Awesome Andy Bean.1 former University of Florida golf whiz, turned professional three weeks ago today.

But he played more like Jack Nicklaus Monday than a novice pro in the opening round of the PGA's Fall Qualifying School. Carding seven birdies, the 22-year-old Lakeland resident toured the Walt Disney Palm course in five-under par 32-3567 tying Bobby Stroble, a 32-year-old unattached professional from New Albany, for the 18-hole lead. Stroble, who had nines of 34-33 at Disney's Magnolia layout, is attending the school for the fifth time, having failed to earn a tour card in four previous attempts. The field of 375, one of the largest in the school's history, was split, with onethird playing the Palm course, another the Magnolia and the third at Cypress Creek Golf Club. Second of the scheduled six rounds will be played today, with the players switching courses.

Following Wednesday's third round, the field will be sliced to the low 120 and ties. All play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be conducted at the Magnolia layout. Three more golfers, George Burns, Delray Beach; Sandy Galbraith, Huntington Beach, Paul Purtzer, Phoenix are a shot behind the co-leaders at 68. Another half dozen players, including Cocoa's Beau Baugh, brother of Laura, a member of the women's golf tour, are deadlocked at 69. Jim Ruziecki, Torrance, Calif.

71 Mike Smith, Selma, Ala. 71 Mike Sullivan, Ocala 71 Steve Veriato, Bryan, Tex. 71 Mike Walters, Tallahassee 71 Gary Koch, Tempie Terrace 72 Kelly Every, Ormond Beach 72 Earl Humphries, Alexandria, La. 72 Barry Smith, Jacksonville 72 Ken Cody, Laguna Beach, Calif. 72 Dean May, Palm Springs, Calif.

72 Rick Maxer, Longview, Tex. 72 Larry Stubblefield, Kailua Haw. 72 Dan Bradley, Phoenix, Ariz 72 Don Graham, Medicine Hat, Alb. 72 John Pigq, Nacogdoches, Tex. 72 Jimmy Wittenberg, Memphis 72 Jim Booros, Allentown, Pa.

72 Dav Corzilius, Wilmington, Del 72 Don Pooley, Riverside, Calif. 72 Don Baker, Santa Monica, Calif. 72 Gar Hamilton, Toronto, Ont. 72 Stan Altgelt, Dallas, Tex. 72 John Melnick, Simons Island, Ga.

72 Andy Bean, Lakeland Boblw Stroble, New AfDany, Ga. 67 Sandy Galbraith, Hunt. Beach 68 George Burns, Delray Beach 61 Paul Purtzer, Phoenix, Ariz. 68 Beau Baugh, Cocoa 6r Dale Hayes, Pretoria, S. A.

6' John Jodlowski, Midwest Ok. 69 Bill Mallon, Framingham, Mass. i' Tommy McGinnis, Memphis 69 Gary Robinson, Plymouth, Mich 69 Murphy Trahan, Cocoa 70 Jerry Pate, Pensacola 70 John Bodin, Atlanta, Ga. 7f David Canipe, Fayetteville, N.C. 70 Charlie Gibson, Klamath, Calif.

7' Fred Haney, Alcha, Ore. 70 Mark Pfeil, Redondo Beach, Cal. 70 Greg Trompas, San Diego, Calif. 71 Jim Chancey, Lynn Haven 71 Steve Feldman, S. Anselmo, Cal.

71 Bob Gilder, Corvallis, Ore. John Harris, Tampa 71 George Kelley, Newman, Calif. 7' Jim McAnally, Edgewood, Tex. 71 31-14 victory over Auburn Saturday. The 245-pound junior from Jacksonville only graded 99 per cent against the Tigers.

Carpenter made 11 tackles, had six assists and was credited with four big plays in the game, three of them sacks Carpenter thus was named The Associated Press Southeastern Lineman of the Week, and he claimed it against some outstanding competition. It was a weekend of exceptional play by linemen in the Southeast. Carpenter edged out such stalwarts as Ben Williams of Mississippi, Steve Cassidy and Kenny Bordelon of Louisiana State, Bob Baumhower and Conley Duncan of Alabama, Harvey Hull of Mississippi State and Florida's Sammy Green. from LaJolla, opened with a 74 and is well back in the field. An international golf star, England's Maurice Bembridge, a member of the British Ryder Cup team and the fellow who shot a final-round 64 in last year's Masters, had his problems at the (Continued On Page 3-C, Col.

1) some of the propaganda old poison mouth dispenses on Monday night football. ANYWAY, Herb Holiday, Seminole's debonair publicist, did some typical fast talking to keep me in the field. He also sold me on the idea of sharpening my sulky skills with a practice spin that's how Zeke and I got together. Harry Bush gave me instructions before we started jogging. He explained that workouts are run in a clockwise direction while, as every railbird knows, the race always goes counter-clockwise.

He also told me to keep the reins taut, ride the bike with my knees bent and negotiate turns by tugging the right or left rein. Zeke, who knew the ropes, moved easily as we trotted onto the track. He pretty much set his own pace on a bright, cool morn. Only a few horses were jogging. Skimming over the hard-packed sand in such free-wheeling fashion quickly spawned delusions of grandeur.

It was invigorating, exhilarating and refreshing "work." With every stride, my confidence skyrocketed. (Continued On Page 5-C, Col. 1) By JIM CARFIELD Sentinel Star Staff I was taken for a ride the other day. Fella named Zeke Perkins really roped me in. At first, he was as sweet and gentle as his ma.

Then he turned thuggish and nearly got me bumped off. He didn't mean it, though. Zeke isn't a real hit man he just got a little riled up at me because got too cocky for my own good. Before somebody gets the mistaken impression I've somehow gotten into trouble with the mob, let's back up a bit like Zeke did. Zeke isn't really a bad hombre, you see.

He's a trotting horse. Belongs to Harry and Peggy Bush, who race a string of standardbreds at Seminole Turf Club. It all started when I agreed to drive in the Casselberry harness track's annual Media Race Wednesday night. It's one of the feature events of the third annual Marty Stein benefit night card. I'd heard Howard Cosell was entered with a horse named Silence Is Golden.

But that turned out to be as accurate as Zchc Zaps Ambitions Of Upstart Star 1.