Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 31

PORTS Friday, April 20, 1984 Page 31 1 ArcM forced. I was forced out. I was asked to resign and I don't know why. Why don't you ask Dr. Wilson those questions and don't let him off the hook I don't know if it was a pattern when Willard Bailey was hired, but I do know Willard and I'd hate to think he has any objections to working with me." Bill Archie 7 A By CHARLIE DENN Sports Writer NORFOLK Norfolk State Athletic Director Bill Archie resigned Thursday afternoon, a week after university officials had asked him to quit.

School president Dr. Harrison B. Wilson accepted Archie's resignation after the two met at length Thursday. A news conference called for mid-morning had to be postponed, however, when it became apparent Archie, the athletic director for 13 years, was reluctant to give up. "I was forced out," the 53-year-old Archie said.

"I was asked to resign and I don't know why. Why don't you ask Dr. Wilson those questions and don't let him off the hook?" Wilson failed to return phone calls Thursday night but released a statement through a school spokesman. "I met this morning with Bill Archie and I have accepted his resignation," Wilson said in the statement. "It is one of a series of steps we're taking to reorganize the university." Norfolk State football coach Dick Price quit in early November under similar circumstances, but remained as an assistant athletic director and an instructor in the physical education department Archie also will remain as an instruc- Tom Foster and Warner Hessler also contributed to this story.

'What's wrong? What have I They said 'nothing, we're Well, my record speaks for itself." During Archie's 13 years, Norfolk State won 27 CIAA championships, the latest coming this past basketball season. Norfolk State also led the nation in football attendance at the Division II level this past fall. "I've been to Seattle recently and I just got back last night," said Price. "I got to school this morning and heard the rumors. If they're reorganizing the athletic department, I'd better check tomorrow morning to make sure I've still got a job.

"Everything has been running smoothly. I don't understand the need for change. What can I say? I'm surprised at what has happened." Former Norfolk State basketball standout Richard 'Pop' Pitts, now the coach of the boys' team at Menchville High, also expressed surprise at the move. "I always thought Bill Archie was a go-getter," said Pitts. "I'm sure he didn't want to leave but the school president has been there for several (eight) years and I'm sure he wants his own people in there.

"But if he (Dr. Wilson) cleans house, he's gotta realize he's messing with some good people." Archie came to Norfolk State in 1961 as the football coach and compiled a See Is, Page 33, Columns 2-3 tor in the physical education department. Oddly enough, Prices's successor, Willard Bailey, is mentioned as the most likely replacement for Archie. Bailey, formerly head football coach and athletic director at Virginia Union, was hired as head football coach and assistant athletic director at Norfolk State in February. "I can't tell you anything," Bailey said at his campus office.

"I've heard the same rumors you have but I don't have a statement to make at this time." Bailey then left for the day, reportedly on a recruiting trip. Until a replacement can be found, Bailey, assistant AD Price and Associate Athletic Director Ike Moorehead will run the department. "It's unusual for a school our size to have two assistant athletic directors and one associate," said Archie. Neither Archie nor CIAA Commissioner Bob Moorman, however, would say that Bailey was specifically hired to eventually become athletic director. "I don't know if it was a pattern when Willard Bailey was hired," said Archie.

"But I do know Willard and I'd hate to think he has any objections to working with me." "I would be very disappointed if Willard Bailey came to Norfolk State with the knowledge that his appointment would cost Bill Archie his job," said Moorman. Archie said the rumblings first began last week when he received a letter from Wilson, informing him of a staff re-organization in the athletic department. That letter asked for Archie's resignation. "I went to them with it and said, file photo Out Norfolk State Athletic Director Bill Archie resigned Thursday, saying he was forced out of his job. Weidbaer keeps NBA in right BersiDective J.I i pi O- r.

s-M) 1 Tom I Knott i i r-fj Columnist -V UVA AP photo Celtics' Dennis Johnson drive through Bullets'. Jeff Ruland (43), Rick Mahorn. in hand. After all, William and Mary had sent the same number of players to the NBA as Thomas Nelson Community College. But Weidner played in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and went to a pre-draft camp in Chicago and started to merit attention.

Marty Blake and those sleuths who judge talent started to jot down some interesting things about this gritty player from (What's that school again?) William and Mary. By the Spurs' rookie camp, Weidner knew he had a chance. He also knew he couldn't pull it off this time. Not as a fourth-round draft pick. Not in San Antonio with draftees John Pax- Celtics hold off Bullets; take 2-0 lead in series son, Darrell Lockhart and Kevin Williams ahead of him.

So he went to Holland, to a town 60 minutes south of Amsterdam, and played in a pro league for about six months. After the club gave him the pink slip, he returned to the United States to pursue his education. "There are things more important than playing basketball," he said. Then, with all the impact of a Kareem sky hook, his agent called and asked, "Do you want to play for the Spurs?" Now, really. You're kidding.

Do you want a rebate on this year's tax return? Weidner didn't play a lot for the Spurs, but he didn't expect to. In eight games, he logged a grand total of 38 minutes. He scored eight points and pulled down 11 rebounds. A Spurs' official said Weidner never really received a chance but improved his chances of making next season's club. That bit of wisdom does not excite Weidner.

This year, after he attends rookie camp, he will demand a decision from the Spurs about his status. He does not want to show up for preseason camp in September and then get released. If that happens, it will cost him another school term. He wants to become a lawyer, you understand. Now, he's in Chicago, where he's checking into the law schools at DePaul and Loyola.

Unlike his basketball brethren, Weidner refuses to let the odds control him. Unlike them, he's a breath of fresh air. "Now sports agents, those guys don't do too badly," he said, laughing, sounding at ease. As well he should. His was an in-your-face exclamation mark on all those computer-charged souls who measure everything but a guy's guts.

For those of you who reserve a corner of your heart for the overachiever, this fellow from Allentown, will make your morning. Brant Weidner knows all about starting behind the athletic eight ball. He knows all about being a big, lumbering white kid with limited basketball skills. He knows all about the hard-work ethic. His head is on so straight it's frightening.

Perhaps, when Weidner's middle-aged, he'll tell his kids about this past season. You see, he was there. In uniform. Among the world's best. He was signed by the San Antonio Spurs near the end of the season and appeared in eight games and sat the bench in 11 others.

His first field goal attempt in the National Basketball Association was rejected by Ka-reem Abdul-Jabbar. It was stamped with a get-that-weak-stuff-out-of-my-face postmark. "He (Jabbar) caught it (shot) with his elbow and sent it into the fourth row," Weidner said. For a slow-footed, foul-prone kid out Parkland High School from a hard-hat town Billy Joel made immortal, it was heady stuff. The Weidner-Jabbar encounter is a full-court pass ahead of the story, however.

At William and Mary, Weidner was an honor student and an honorable performer, a player, who didn't make the All-ECAC South team until his senior year. He was a genuine student-athlete, one of those William and Mary hybrids school officials boast about. But Weidner in pro basketball? You've got to stop doing banana peels. A year ago, anyone not destined to wear a straight jacket would have said the only way Weidner will ever walk into an NBA arena is with a ticket stub grab a 29-19 lead after the first period. But the Celtics got the first 12 points of the second quarter and went on to 49-47 halftime lead.

Boston has now won 12 of its last 13 games. WASHINGTON (IS): Ballard 8-1? 4-4 20, Ruland 5-10 6-8 16, Mahorn 2-3 0-0 4, Sobers 7-15 4-4 18, F. Johnson 6-11 0-0 12, McMillen 2-5 1-2 5, Dave 1-2 0-0 2, Molone 0-3 0-0 0, Davis 3-3 0-0 6, Kopickl 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 35-74 15-18 85. BOSTON (88): Maxwell 2-5 3-4 7, Bird 10-17 3-3 23, Parish 4-12 3-6 11.

Henderson 10-15 1-2 21, D. Johnson 3-15 6-7 12, McHale 2-6 2-2 6, Buckner 1-2 0-0 Wedman 2-4 2-2 6. Totals 34-76 20-26 88. cutting the margin to 87-85 with 53 seconds left. Ruland fouled Robert Parish, who converted one of his two free throws with 14 seconds remaining.

Washington then called timeouts with 14 and five seconds to go to set up its final shot. Ruland took it with one second left, but his three-point attempt missed the mark. Boston can wrap up the best-of-five series Saturday afternoon in Washington. The Celtics, who have won 30 of their last 37 games with the Bullets, led 17-14 before Washington went on a 15-2 run to Boston 18 21 17 (5 30 20 19 88 BOSTON (AP) Larry Bird got four of his game-high 23 points in a decisive 10-2 surge midway through the fourth quarter and the Boston Celtics held on for an 88-85 victory over the Washington Bullets Thursday night, and a 2-0 lead in their National Basketball Association playoff series. Greg Ballard's field goal had given the Bullets a 78-77 edge before Dennis Johnson's jumper launched the spurt with 8:13 remaining.

Bird followed with two free throws and Kevin McHale got a basket, putting Boston on top 83-78 with 7:23 left. Joe Kopicki's 18-footer cut the lead to three, but Gerald Henderson sank a jumper and Bird hit a turnaround as Boston grabbed a 87-80 lead with 4:42 to Play. But Washington clawed back on a free throw by Jeff Ruland, a jumper by Ricky Sobers and two more foul shots by Ruland, I rv Three-point goals None. Fouled out None. Total fouls Washington 25, Boston 23.

Rebounds Washington 32 (Ruland 10), Boston 37 (Bird 12). Assists Washington 22 (Ruland 8), Boston 22 (Bird 6). Technicals Mahorn, F. Johnson. A 14,890.

OPEN HOUSE Brant Weidner with San Antonio 1 Saturday April 21, 1984 9 am-4 pm Young red-faced over USFL comments R100RT SPECIAL SALE INCENTIVES ON ALL '84 MODEL INVENTORY Demo Rid A R80ST LAST EDITION MODELS IN STOCK BMW MOVIES A REFRESHMENTS DRAWING FOR DOOR PRIZE PREOWNED BMW'S IN STOCK CHICAGO AP) Los Angeles quarterback Steve Young said Thursday that he felt "horrible" about all the attention given his prediction that the struggling United States Football League "may soon fall by the wayside sooner than you think." "I got involved in league politics and I shouldn't have," said Young, who recently signed a $40 million contract with the Express to become the highest paid player in professional football. "I learned my lesson, and I'll bear the brunt for it. I hope people don't make a big deal of it. Im not perfect. But you've got to be careful hat you say.

I will fromiow but we'll just have to recover," he said, adding that his speculation of how many teams would likely survive a merger with the NFL is "just guessing along with every other sports fan in American about what's going to happen." He says he has no regrets about signing with the USFL Express and emphasized that "I'm having the time of my life out there on the field." Earlier Thursday, the USFL issued a sharp response out of its New York office. "His comments vere unfortunate," said See Page 34, Columns 1-2 on. In a telephone interview with Chicago reporters the day before, the 21-year-old quarterback said he thought the National Football League "is just going to quietly take on about four or five teams very exciting ballclubs and then watch the rest of the league fall by the wayside. And It might happen sooner than you think." But at a news conference Thursday evening, after arriving for Friday night's game with the Chicago Blitz, he pleaded guilty to talking too much about things he shouldn't have. "I guess I threw an interception there, f.lAQS f.lOTCnCYCLGG 6101 Jefferson Ave.

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