The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 16

4B The Jackson Sun, Jackson, Saturday, Dec. 8, 1990 Florid a takes what it can from tainted season COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAINESVILLE, Fla. (GNS) Coach Steve Spurrier scrawled on the chalkboard inside a locker room at Florida State's Doak Campbell Stadium and listed the goals his inaugural University of Florida football squad set for itself last spring. 1. A top 10 finish.

2. No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference. 3. A New Year's Day bowl game.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions snatched the third goal away early in the season and the 45-30 loss at Florida State in the season finale probably ruined the first goal. For the Gators, down and out just a year ago, one out of three ain't bad. Especially when you consider: The Gators were one win away from posting the first 10-win season in school history and became just the fourth team ever to post nine wins during the regular season. Finished atop the SEC standings for only the third time in school history. On offense, record-breaking tight end Kirk Kirkpatrick and both starting wide receivers Ernie Mills and Terence Barber must be replaced.

There is reason for optimism in Gainesville. Sophomore quarterback Shane Matthews, who finished the year with 229 completions in 378 attempts for 2,952 yards' and 23 touchdowns, returns after posting the best single-season passing effort in Florida history. Florida's tandem tailbacks Errict Rhett and Willie McClendon also return after finishing the year with: nearly 1,500 combined rushing yards. No other team in the SEC got so much produc-, tion out of its tailbacks. The Gators will also get a break on their-schedule in 1991.

Last season, two of their" three toughest SEC games Tennessee" and Alabama were on the road, but next year those two teams must come to Florida Field, which will be expanded from 72,000 to 83,000 in time for next year's home opener. Max Emfinger, the Houston-based national recruiting guru. "Florida has had some problems the last few years, not only with the NCAA but also with its won-loss record. But they are coming on. When you're one of the best teams in the country, when you're the University of Florida, when you have a dynamic young coach who everybody identifies with you're gonna have no problems with recruiting." Said Allen Wallace, editor of SuperPrep Magazine: "Florida is showing up amazingly frequently in questionnaires returned to us.

Nobody has come the distance they have in such a short period of time." Certainly the Gators will have some holes to fill next season, especially on defense, where such stars like All-America defensive end Huey Richardson, All-SEC linebacker Godfrey Myles, All-SEC corner-back Richard Fain depart along with steady players like inside linebacker Jerry Odom and defensive end Mark Murray. from a distant third in the state football hierarchy to nearly even with the Semin-oles and the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes. All three teams finished with 9-2 regular season records. While Florida State and Miami ready for bowl games, Spurrier and his assistant coaches hope to get a jump in the battle for the state's top recruits. When it came time to hit the recruiting trail last January, Spurrier had only his reputation as a tool to overcome an ongoing NCAA investigation and four consecutive mediocre seasons at Florida.

This year's 9-2 record and Florida's penalty-free future makes things dramatically different. Spurrier believes Florida has a chance to have one of the best recruiting years in school history. The Gators have drawn interest from blue-chip players all over the country, according to many recruiting experts. "You may be looking at the team of the '90s," said Set school records for points in a season, total offense and passing yards. They also set an SEC record for most first downs in a season and finished second all-time in total offense.

"We're number one in the SEC and that's a goal we can be proud of," Spurrier said. "It's certainly been a fine year, an outstanding year for us. We were hoping it was going to be the greatest year ever, but we didn't quite make it. Still, I think it's a season most Gators would take about every year." In fact, Spurrier's contract, signed Dec. 31, 1989, is extended by a year any time the Gators win nine or more games.

Florida's infatuated fans would like to extend Spurrier's contract for a lifetime. In one year, Spurrier took the Gators LSU quickly approves new coach Bowi season kicks off with California Raisin want the right nine people." NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors quickly approved the hiring of Curley Hallman as the school's head football coach Hallman, who was named head coach on Nov. 27, was hired to replace Mike Archer who resigned at the end of the 1990 season. The approval of the board was needed to finalize the deal. "We just need to support him and give him adequate time to do the job that he needs to do," said Bo Campbell, chairman of the board's athletic committee.

Hallman, who had a 23-11 record in three years at the University of Southern Mississippi, was given a five-year contract at LSU. "I really don't feel that," Hallman said when asked if he felt pressure to quickly rebuild the LSU program that went 5-6 this year. "I want to be competitive every Saturday. I want our players to have the attitude that we're going to win. That will be the approach we take, but that's what I've felt every game I've ever gone into." Hallman named seven assistant coaches this week, including four former Southern Mississippi assistants.

He said filling the final two openings on his staff could take a while. "I'm in a hurry, but I'm not going to jump in there," he said. "I Recruiting is the top Hallman said. "We're behind. You're always behind when there's a change in staff, but we'll catch up, he said.

Hallman said he has a wish list for recruiting. "I'd like to get two outstanding" tailbacks. At least two," he said. "Guys with outstanding speed." Defensive linemen and corner-backs that can line up and cover are always high on any coach's list, Hallman said. til on Friday.

Curley Hallman "It's going to take a great commitment to get this program to reach its full potential," Hallman told the board. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) It's the big-play offense of San Jose State against the stingy defense of Central Michigan when the teams meet in today's California Bowl. The Spartans (8-2-1) averaged 35.2 points per game (12th best in the nation), while the Chippewas (8-2-1) merely led the nation in scoring defense, allowing 8.9 points per game. "Most of our wins were in dominating fashion," San Jose State coach Terry Shea said.

"It just seems like when we needed the big play, when we needed the turnaround and1 the momentum, we were able to come up with the big play at the right time." The offense is led by Ralph Martini, who passed for 2,928 yards, and Sheldon Canley, who has 1,248 yards rushing and 386 yards receiving. The Chippewas counter with Jeff Bender (1,978 passing yards) and tailback Billy Smith (1,047 yards). But Central Michigan relies on defense, which includes seven seniors led by free safety David Johnson. "Our style of football is very disciplined," Chippewas coach Herb Deromedi said. "It has to do with where you've got to be, what you've got to take away." Both teams came close to finishing with even better records this season.

Kentucky beat Central Michigan 20-17 in a game that turned on a blocked kick. San Jose State lost 20-17 to Rose Bowl-bound Washington and 35-34 to Copper Bowl-bound California after the Spartans missed a two-point conversion attempt. Washington running back wins first Doak Walker award kies' final regular-season game. "It's something of a great honor to me, and I really appreciate being considered as one of the nation's best running backs," Lewis said. The award is named for Walker, 63, a pro football Hall of Famer who won the 1948 Heisman Trophy while playing for Southern Meth IRVING, Texas (AP) Washington running back Greg Lewis was picked Friday as the winner of the first Doak Walker National Running Back Award.

Lewis, a second-team All-America, rushed for 1,279 yards on 229 carries and scored nine touchdowns this season before injuring his right knee in the Hus odist. Jon Vaughn of Michigan was first runnerup and Michael Mayweather of Army was second runnerup. The other finalists for the award were Nick Bell of Iowa, Sheldon Canley of San Jose State, Tico Duckett of Michigan State, Glyn Milburn of Stanford and Tony Thompson of Tennessee. Colorado's Eric Bieniemy and Texas Darren Lewis, first-team All-America running backs, were ruled ineligible for the award, which goes to a junior or senior running back who demonstrates good citizenship, leadership, sportsmanship and fair play. Birmingham may lose Iron Bowl Give A Gift That Gives All Year she believes moving the game to Tuscaloosa is not the solution to ending future violence.

"The Iron Bowl in Birmingham is a tradition, and it is something I don't think should be moved," Mrs. Coleman said. "The spirit of the game would be diminished." The university student newspaper, The Crimson White, ran a letter Thursday from Arrington in which the mayor discussed the incident following Saturday's game. sistant to Alabama President Roger Sayers, said university administrators will consider the student resolution when they meet with Birmingham police officials next week. Clark said they will discuss the findings of the department 's internal investigation of the incident.

Clark went on to say that the Crimson Tide's home games in the series will be played in Birmingham until 1994 under a university contract with the city. "We have no plans not to honor our contract with Birmingham," Clark said. Mayor Richard Arrington, the city Park and Recreation Board and Alabama's athletic department drafted a contract this summer in which the university agreed to play three home games a year at Legion Field through 1994. One of those games will be the Alabama-Auburn game in years that it is Alabama's home game. City Councilwoman Linda Coleman, who is also a member of the Park and Recreation Board, said HIGHLAND jREEN.

Golf Club PINE' 9ffifc At Discount Prices 3801 N. Highland Jackson, Tn. 664-GOLF I MJITIYTH UM-i'K i ill USA. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -The Alabama-Auburn football game must be played in Birmingham through 1994, but last Saturday's police action prompted student appeals for moving the Iron Bowl to Tuscaloosa.

Ten people who ran onto the field after Alabama's 16-7 win over Auburn were arrested. Police took another 10 into custody, but they were later released without being charged. -The University of Alabama student senate Thursday unanimously recommended that the game be moved to Bryant-Denny Stadium from Legion Field. Jackie Wuska, vice president of the Student Government Association, said the student senate also expressed its concern to school administrators and Birmingham city officials. "We're not sure of the effect," Ms.

Wuska said. "But we want them to know that students are against having home games in Birmingham." Culpepper Clark, executive as- Group may try to stop final NAIA contest GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) A civil rights group threatened Friday to seek legal action to halt the NAIA championship football game Saturday if suspended Mesa State tailback Mario Johnson isn't reinstated. The NAACP believes Johnson's civil rights were violated and he didn't receive due process, NAACP regional chairman Lawrence Lewis said Friday. "We are not angry, we just want justice to be done," Lewis said.

'We don't condone violence, but that boy never had any due process." Johnson was suspended Monday by coach Jim Paronto after he was alleged to have hit a spectator in the face with his helmet in the closing seconds of the Mavericks' 10-9 victory over Central Arkansas last Saturday. the Mavericks' starting tailback who led the NAIA in rushing this year, was arrested on a charge of third-degree battery in Conway, Ark. The fan's jaw was broken. Johnson was unavailable for comment. Mesa State president Ray Kieft and Paronto said they would stand by their decision to suspend Johnson.

"Dr. Lewis and myself have a difference of opinion regarding the individual responsibilities associated with being a faculty member, an administrator or a student representing Mesa State College," Kieft said Friday Give a Jackson Sun Gift Subscription. This Christmas give the gift that gives all year. A subscription to The Jackson Sun is a great way to please that "hard to buy for" person on your list and it's hassle-free! The Jackson Sun will send a card from you, notifying the recipient of your gift. r- Yes, start The Jackson Sun gift subscription today! The Jackson Sun by mail in TN.

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