The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 35

Editor: Gregg Hampton Phone: 425-9683 Night phone: 425-9635 1 Toll free: (800) 269-0488 Fax: 425-9639 e-mail: sportsjacksonsun.com Scoreboard 2D Sports 3D Sports 4D Basketball 5D Football 6D Sunday, December 17, 2000 50 years of gum and cards GEORGETOWN, KY. 20, OKLAHOMA STATE 0 fMjEH'MIHM tkwliiljifflili'14iLii Ml MT0TIL The Associated Press Semeka Randall, left, and Tamika Catchings sign the graduation pole in the Lady Vols' locker room after graduating a' semester early on Saturday. Catchings, Randall add names early to graduation pole Tigers use three big plays, defense in 20-0 shutout. By JENNIFER GARVIN The Jackson Sun SAVANNAH They finished it. In a rematch of last year's NAIA championship game, Georgetown passed its way to a 20-0 victory against top-ranked Northwestern Oklahoma State at Jim Carroll Stadium on Saturday.

"Finish it" was a mantra that remained with the Tigers all season. With memories of their previous final still fresh, the slogan worked its way onto the team media guide and into their postgame celebration at Last year, Georgetown blew a 20-0 halftime lead in a 34-26 loss to the Rangers. The two teams notwithstanding, the score provided an additional deja vu, and was an irony not lost on Tigers linebacker Shane Pearson. "We learned from last year's mistakes," he said. "We came out a little flat last year at half-time, thinking we had won the game, and we matured a lot from that." Conventdal wisdom would suggest that a run-oriented team as NWOS would be the one to emerge with success when faced with monsoon-like conditions that make catching and holding onto a football difficult.

But that prediction, while logical, would be wrong, failing to account for a team mostly driven by heart and redemption. The No. 2 Tigers (14-0) take home the title for the first time since 1991, when they were a Division II program. NWOS (13-1) was held to 216 yards below its nation's-best 359 rushing average and ends a 31-game win streak. tV; it' -'kmk- 4:: r- were hitting." Brown was named Offensive Player of the Game after scoring all three touchdowns on catches of 61, 82 and 75 yards.

Eviston, who on Friday was named NAIA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, threw for 274 yards on 12 of 19 passing. Defensive back Brian Landis earned defensive honors for his six tackles and two pass breakups. Please see TIGERS, 6D 00 KIMILY TAYLORThe Jackson Sun Northwestern Oklahoma State quarterback Al Hunt (12) is sacked by Georgetown's Brian Landis, back, as Stephen Lickert (7) looks on Saturday during the NAIA championship in Savannah. Georgetown defeated NWOS, 20-0. Landis was named the game's defensive Most Valuable Player.

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS The Associated Press KNOXVTLLE After they turned their tassels and walked across the stage at the University of Tennessee's commencement ceremony Saturday, graduates Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall were ready to sign the pole. The seniors who helped lead Tennessee to a 39-0 record and national championship as freshmen in 1998 became the first Lady Vols since 1991 to graduate a semester early. Later, family members, coaches and friends crammed into the Lady Vols' locker room at Thompson-Boling Arena, camera bulbs flashing, for a team tradition: signing a concrete support pole bearing the words "Tady Vol tradition" and the signatures of all Lady Vol graduates. Wearing their black robes and mortarboards, Catchings and Randall sat on the ground and happily added their autographs leaving yet another mark on the legendary Lady Vol basketball program.

"It feels good," Catchings, the 2000 National Player of the Year, said. "As a freshman, you come in here and wonder what it's all about. But we're actually part of it now. "I didn't know whether to cry or be excited," she said. Catchings, of earned her degree in sport management.

Randall, of Cleveland, Ohio, earned hers in speech communication. Randall was named an All- Southeastern Conference aca- demic honoree for the first time last season, and Catchings earned the honor the year before. Both will finish out their eligibility with graduate-level classes. The two "Meeks," as they became known with former Tennessee Ail-American Chamique Holdsclaw, have always studied and played hard, head coach Pat Sum-mitt said. "Very seldom do you get both and particularly to have two in the same class," she" said.

"Usually, if you have a great player, you have to motivate them in the classroom, but both of these young ladies demonstrated the level of commitment to excel in both areas." Both seniors went to summer school and believe any athlete can graduate during their eligibility. "If they put their mind to it, anything is possible," Catchings said. riginally, it was an innocent enough marketing plan by the Topps Company. Buy the pink bubble gum covered by a thin layer of powder and, it would come with five baseball cards. Such a deal Fifty years after Topps began packing those cards in with its gum, they are important collectibles, han dled with utmost care, often worth thousands of dollars.

The money is nice. The memories are better. Broadcaster Bob Costas BOCK still car ries a Mickey Mantle card in Eds wallet, a tribute to hiffboyhood hero. The suspicion is that others of his generation lucky enough to owfi one do the same thing. When Topps launched tha baseball-card strategy, company accountant Sy Berger was chosen as its point man.

The first year, 1951, was a disaster. "The finish smelled like kerosene," Berger said. The cards were rede-sighed for 1952 with Berger sketching them at his dining room table. He sighed players, offering casji or premiums. Typical payoffs were toaster ovens, TV and luggage.

fd come into the clubhouse and players would say, 'Hey, Sy, where's the Berger said. "I see old players today and they still say that" The card contract was thcjn and remains today every ballplayer's first endorsement deal, a very special milestone. The operation was new for the chewing gum people. "IVe were absolute neo-. phytes," Berger said.

"The; 1952 series went like hot cakes. We came to the conclusion that we needed a second series. By the time it came out, it was World Series time. We learned that kids don't buy baseball cards at World Series time because football is starting. "We had a lot of cards left civer, packed in boxes in our'tyarehouse.

We couldn't find anyone to take them off our hands. So, we decided to destroy them." IJprger hired a garbage boat, had the cards loaded on board and rode with thefri as a tugboat pulled them off the New Jersey shore. In a flash, the cards weri dumped into the Atlantic Ocean. don't know how many cards there were, but it wa enough to make you a millionaire," he said. "We didn't know." TJie romance of the cards diminished for some when they became so valuable.

By 1991, Topps was forced to slop including bubble gum in the packages because it was damaging the iollectibles not to mention the teeth of the customers. Now the good news, part of the 50th anniversary celebration, Topps is issuing a heritage series with" current players in the classic designs of a half-century ago. Ahd they're putting the bubble gum back in, too. ital Bock writes for The Associated Press. 0 WOT Hal "When I woke up this morning, I didn't know I'd throw for three touchdown passes," said Georgetown quarterback Eddie Eviston, who was unbothered by the rain that fell for most of the game.

"But when you dump it off to Cody Brown, speed kills, and he showed that," Eviston said. "The gameplan was to throw the ball; we knew we couldn't throw it deep because of the conditions, so we went to our short passing game and things Baker: NAIA has a home in Savannah i f'''" I' Sfijp COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDE, 60 Georgetown's Cody Brown scores three times to earn offensive honors Georgetown's Brian Landis earns defensive honors i How they scored Georgia Southern wins Division l-AA Field goal lifts Mount Union to Division III title "You don't find relationships like this too often in sports. We're happy with the organization of the event and certainly with the volunteer support and the hospitality that comes out of that." Steve Baker, NAIA presidentCEO the inn to house all NAIA personnel, in addition to the two teams involved in the game. The facility will also play host to such events as the Banquet of Champions, previously held off-site. "I think that was one of the real selling points to the NAIA" Barker said.

The annual event has been received favorably by local residents during its five-year stay. Please see NAIA, 6D STEELERSMJ Pittsburgh Steelers running back Richard Huntley, left, runs past Washington Redskins safety Mark Carrier on Saturday to score the last touchdown ever at Three Rivers Stadium in the Steelers' 24-3 victory. The Steelers took advantage of numerous Washington breakdowns and five turnovers to usher out a stadium that was the site of some of the NFL's most memorable moments. Details, Page 3D. Finlayson, Leaverton, other Vols earn degrees I .1.

J. football." One part of the facilities that will change is the Pickwick Inn, which will undergo a $16 million facelift expected to be completed in May. The which includes plans for an indoor pool and conference area, will make it possible for KIMILY TAYLORThe Jackson Sun The Georgetown, football team celebrates winning Saturday's NAIA National Championship Football game in Savannah. NAIA president and CEO Steve Baker said Saturday that Hardin County will play host to the game for at least three more years. a By JENNIFER GARVIN The Jackson Sun SAVANNAH Barring any unforeseen hurdles, the national championship game will return to Savannah for at least three more seasons, NAIA president and CEO Steve Baker said Saturday.

"You dont find relationships like this too often in sports," Baker said. "We're happy with the organization of the event and certainly with the volunteer support and the hospitality that comes out of that" It was rumored that Saturday's national championship game would be Jim Carroll Stadium's last. Hardin County has played host to the event since 1996. "We have agreed in principal to a three-year extension," said Terry Hasseltine, the NAIA's championship event coordinator for football. "Basically, it's a contractual thing to make sure both sides are comfortable with the agreement.

We just want to make sure that both parties are happy. Personally, it would have saddened me to see it move on. Dean asked to be listed in hospital records as Devunte Fletcher to avoid publicity. His medical bills totaled $5,349 and he told hospital officials the Rams or NFL insurance would pay for the treatment. Dean used the same practice at Missouri Baptist and Forest Park hospitals.

Bills from his stays there were nearly $26,000. Sentencing is set for March 2. The Associated Press transportation and this fall finished a second degree in 1 marketing. In addition to Finlayson and Leaverton, linebacker Eric Westmoreland, defensive back Eric Campbell, punter Sammy Frogg, receiver Josh Houston and tight end Neil Johnson also graduated. Former players Kevin Simons and Billy Ratliff also picked up their degrees Saturday.

Simons lettered for the Vols as an offensive lineman from 1985 to 1988. Ratliff, a team captain last season, was a four-year let- terman as a defensive tackle for the Vols and completed his eligibility in 1999. "This is one of the best days we have the whole year," coach Phillip Fulmer said." "Each one of them has a dif-" ferent story and a different; background, but the end' result is that they have all; taken a great step in a successful life and that is what we are all about." for consecutive 3s "It shows a lot of consistency, and trust from my teammates getting me open to take those shots," said Bradford. The junior has now made at least one 3-pointer in every game of his collegiate career, Virginia Tech's Wally Lancaster held the previous record, hitting a 3-pointer in 73 consecutive games from 1986-89. ric Associated Press College roundup, 5D.

The Associated Press KNOXVTLLE Seven Tennessee Volunteers missed Saturday morning's football practice to attend graduation. Two former Vols also earned their degrees at the end of the fall semester. II 1. 1 11 1 I John Finlayson, a native of Selmer, completed his under-graduate work in agriculture economics in ii Finlayson years and has one year of eligibility remaining. Punter David Leaverton, who earned Academic All-District honors and is a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, received his second degree on Saturday.

Leaverton previously received an undergraduate degree in logistics and Bradford sets record CHICAGO With his cheering Illinois teammates surrounding him and the fans on their feet, Cory Bradford held a basketball aloft in his right hand, a shy smile on his face. The NCAA record for 3-pointers in consecutive games, a mark that had stood for 11 years, was now his. Bradford's 3-pointer with 13:43 left in the first half Saturday against Arizona extended his streak to 74 consecutive games. MORNING BRIEFING Tm excited about it's been a great partnership Hardin County Executive Joe Barker said. "This community is identified with this championship.

When you mention Hardin County and Savannah anywhere there's an NAIA university, it means championship i -i Man impersonates Rams LB for treatment 4 St. LOUIS Walter Dean can't block or tackle looks nothing like St Louis Rams linebacker London Fletcher. But that didnt stop him fronj impersonating Fletcher and -racking up more than $30,000 in hospital bills. Dean pleaded guilty on Friday to using a false Social Security number, other false identification and claiming to be Fletcher when he checked intcSt Luke's Hospital on April 7, officials said. According to court records, is ifcrt The Associated Press.